As I turn the pages

My take on: Remember Me

2013-05-19T00:01:00.000-04:00

Growing up in Bosnia, Selma was a typical teenager. She got good grades. For the most part, she was a dutiful daughter. She had a close-knit group of friends. Selma even had a boyfriend named Johnny, whom she tried to hide from her parents. But Selma's adolescence took a horrific turn in 1992 -- the start of the Bosnian War.

Remember Me by Sanela Ramic Jurich paints a horrific portrait of the war. People were raped, murdered, and tortured for no reason other than their religious beliefs or that they dared to talk back. I was 10 years old at the start of this war, old enough to remember this time period but honestly I don't. There were some passages in this book that I stared at in shock and with wide eyes. Why? I just couldn't believe how cruel some people could be. This is a fictional story, but I'm sure plenty of people who survived the war can see themselves in Selma.

Selma should have been worried about teenage things, but slowly her way of life gets stripped away. The child of a Muslim-Catholic couple, Selma begins to worry that she and her family could lose their lives because of their beliefs. Friends you see on Monday could be gone on Tuesday. People have to leave their homes. People don't know who they can trust. Your friend can quickly become the enemy. If you're living in fear, are you really living at all? Selma can't be normal anymore. One by one members of her extended family are murdered, her father is arrested, and Selma herself is forced into a concentration camp. This is where the book became hard to read. Each day spent at the camp strips away at Selma's soul. She is raped and tortured. She begins to see herself as damaged goods. If she survives, will Johnny still love her? Will her parents and family still love her? Will people know what happened just by looking at her? How can life ever go back to normal?

I'm not going to give too much away, but Selma's time in the concentration camp changed her life in many, many ways. If you want to know what I'm talking about, read the book!! Selma does survive. She reunites with her mother, and begins a new life in America. Their transition to America is where I have a problem with this book. The parts in America felt a little rushed. Entire years are glossed over with just a few paragraphs to sum them up. I felt there was more emotional depth to the story before Selma came to America. Once in Chicago, Selma seems to shut down emotionally and is focused on achieving the "American dream." There's nothing wrong with that, but Selma wasn't dealing with the emotional trauma she suffered in the past. I know some people do that as a means to cope, but this part of the story felt a little uneven. I might not have liked everything in this book, but overall it was very good and worth reading.

Rating: Give it a try

Note: I received an e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

My take on: Orphan Train

2013-05-13T00:01:00.000-04:00

The cover of Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline lets you know that this girl has a story to tell. What a sad looking girl on the cover. What or who could make her so sad? Before reading this book, I didn't know that orphan trains were a part of history. It's really sad to know that they existed.

From the late 1850s to the 1920s, orphaned children in overcrowded cities were put on trains to be "adopted" in cities throughout the U.S. I say "adopted" because it really seemed like this was a form of indentured servitude. I'm sure some children were placed with loving families, but some were not. Some were put to work. Some worked until they collapsed. Some went hungry. Some were abused. Some were made to feel like they were a burden. In this book (which is fiction), Irish immigrant Vivian Daly was one of those children. At 91 years old, the painful memories of the past still haunt her.

Troubled teenager Molly Ayer knows what it's like to feel alone and unwanted. The 17-year-old has bounced around several foster homes, and is about to age out of the system. A stupid mistake could force her out of her latest placement. But 50 hours of community service could save her butt. Enter Vivian Daly, who needs to clean out her massive attic. It's not the most conventional of community service projects, but in the process Vivian and Molly learn not just about each other but themselves. There is a huge generational gap, but they can relate to each other more than people their own age.

Vivian was born Niamh Power in Ireland. Niamh, her parents, and siblings came to New York in search of a better life. But tragedy ruined all of that. A fire wiped out most of her family. Niamh's sister Maisie might have survived the fire, but no one will tell her the truth. Instead she is forced into an orphanage and eventually an "orphan train." All of the children on these trains are forced to stifle their personalities. They can no longer be themselves. They have to impress potential adoptive families. Children who speak up are perceived to be bad. You can't have an opinion. You can only speak when spoken to. You can only do what you're told. Niamh does as she is told. In the process she is no longer Niamh, her new employer...I mean "family" renames her Dorothy. Any ties to her former life have to be pushed deep down.

After two horrible foster homes, Niamh is slowly disappearing. When she is finally in a good home, Niamh has to change again. Now she is Vivian, a replacement for a couple who lost their child. But can she finally be herself? What if she says or does the wrong thing? What if she is sent away again? She can't relax. She always has to have her guard up, something Molly can relate to. Molly has bounced around several foster homes. Everyone assumes she's a problem kid. Few people take the time to get to know Molly. Even Molly's boyfriend, Jack, doesn't truly know what it's like to be her. Vivian and Molly both know what it's like to be judged based on their appearances and their family history. They would rather be judged by their actions and their character.

Vivian and Molly form an unlikely friendship, but in this book it works. They can be honest with each other. They can let their guards down. It's ok to be vulnerable in front of each other. Their friendship makes the world a little less lonely. As much as I loved this book, I felt like the ending was a little abrupt. There is certainly hope for the future, but it felt like this book could have benefited from one or two additional chapters.

I've never read a book by Christina Baker Kline, but I will in the future. With Orphan Train she turned a turbulent piece of history into an emotional, inspiring, and engaging piece of fiction.

Rating: Superb

Note: Orphan Train is the May selection for She Reads. I received a copy of the book from the publisher (HarperCollins)

A different view of motherhood

2013-05-12T02:23:00.001-04:00

I'm not a mother. I don't when or if I will be a mother, but I do like to read books about the family dynamic. I say this because I'm currently reading She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders by Jennifer Finney Boylan.

Jennifer Boylan used to be James Boylan. Yes, take that in. After years of denial, marriage, and children, Jennifer had to be Jennifer. But how do you parent and navigate the world after of decades of living as a man? You've changed on the outside physically, but are you still the same person on the inside?

"I was born in 1958, on June 22, the second day of summer. It was also the birthday of Kris Kristofferson and Meryl Streep, both of whom I later resembled, although not at the same time. One day when I was about three, I was sitting in a pool of sunlight cast onto the wooden floor beneath my mother's ironing board. She was watching Art Linkletter's House Party on TV. I saw her ironing my father's white shirt -- a sprinkle of water from her blue plastic bottle, a short spurt of steam as it sizzled beneath the iron. 'Someday you'll wear shirts like this,' said Mom.

I just listened to her strange words, as if they were a language other than English. I didn't understand what she was getting at. She never wore shirts like that. Why would I ever be wearing shirts like my father's?

Since then, the awareness that I was in the wrong body, living the wrong life, was never out of my conscious mind -- never, although my understanding of what it meant to be a boy, or a girl, was something that changed over time." --- pgs. 19-20

Being born in the wrong body? I can't really fathom what that must feel like. But I'm curious to read Jennifer's perspective on parenting and the world at large after making such a big change.

I will also be reading her latest book, Stuck in the Middle With You: A Memoir of Parenting in Three Genders. Stay tuned!!

A book for Mom!!

2013-05-10T00:01:00.000-04:00

As Mother's Day approaches, I'm sure we're all scrambling to come up with ideas of what to give mom. Here's a little something to add to the list... Journey Across the Four Seas by Veronica Li.. She's stopping by my blog to tell us a little bit about her book..

FREE MOTHER’S DAY READ May 11 and 12:
JOURNEY ACROSS THE FOUR SEAS Kindle version

She was one of the first Chinese women to go to college. But wars and She eventually brought the family to the U.S. It's an inspirational story of the human will to survive and improve the lives of the next generation. Writing the book was my way of thanking my mom for what she’d done for me.

revolutions upended her life and turned her into a refugee in search of a home.
JOURNEY ACROSS THE FOUR SEAS is a true story of my mother's life in China.

Let me explain how I got to write this book. About twelve years ago, my parents came from California to live with me in the DC area. California had been the place we immigrated to in 1967. I was the only one who came to the East Coast. My four siblings were still in California, and they’d all taken turns in caring for my parents. I felt that my turn had come. I used to work for the World Bank, but I had quit my job to stay home and write. As a writer, my schedule was the most flexible. We held a family conference and we all agreed that I was in the best position to take care of my parents.

Now, my mother was a fantastic storyteller, and she loved to tell stories about her life. I’d listened to them many times when I was a child, and never gave them much thought. But my friends heard them for the first time and were fascinated. Somebody suggested that I write the stories down. I also thought it was a good idea. So I sat down with her and taped her stories.
Then came the question of whether to write it as a biography or a memoir. My first inclination was to write it as a biography. It would be from a third person point of view, and I would be free to put in my own interpretation. However, after a few chapters, I decided to make it a memoir in my mother’s voice. Her voice was so beautiful, so lyrical, that I knew I had to let it sing.

My take on: Manuscript Found in Accra

2013-05-09T00:05:00.000-04:00

I've never read a book by Paulo Coelho before, but sometimes it's hard to pass up a book by author of his caliber. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from his latest book, Manuscript Found in Accra. The title makes me wonder what exactly was found in Accra. I wasn't sure if I should be taking that title literally or figuratively. I was intrigued and had to find out which was true.

As Jerusalem awaits the invasion in 1099, a mysterious man, known as the Copt, reads words of wisdom to the people. I found myself thinking, do words really work in situations like this? Wouldn't some sort of action be a better way to go? I was expecting a fictional narrative, but it feels more like a self-help or advice book. In this story, everyone is frightened. Everyone is worried about the future. Will they survive the impending invasion? Will there be anything left for them after the invasion? I thought maybe there would be some kind of action taken, and the words of would be a small piece of the book. But each chapter is a lesson for life, lessons that are very relevant even in 2013.

There are a lot of gems in this book, but there was one that stood out the most to me. I can't quote it directly, because I have advanced copy. The gist of my favorite passage is that young people are big dreamers and they also dream of solving the problems of the world. It sounds so true. When you're young you think you can do anything, but once you go out in the real world you start to think differently. You develop a more cynical view of life, and you struggle to find your place in life. It's a great insight, but I'm not so sure people awaiting an invasion would want to hear it!

Stay away from people who think they are stronger than you because they are hiding their own problems or insecurities. A good lesson for everyone.

I got the impression that this is supposed to be fiction. I read fiction differently and I have different expectations. Most of the time when I'm reading fiction, I'm expecting to be transported into a different world and to be entertained. When I'm reading non-fiction, biographies, memoirs, or self-help, I'm expecting to learn something new or to be inspired. I felt a mix of everything with this book. I think this is one of those books that has to be read twice. I think I would have an even greater appreciation for this book if I read it twice. In my experience, I think the words sink in deeper with a second read. It's a short book, so it's definitely worth the time. I think there is something for everyone in this book, so give it a try.

Rating: Give it a try

Notes: I received a copy of the book from the publisher (Knopf) in exchange for an honest review.

It's time for a giveaway!!!

2013-05-02T00:01:00.000-04:00

I don't do this often, but I was given the opportunity to host a giveaway for A Curious Man by Neal Thompson. Here's a little info on the book....

"Howard Hughes crossed with P.T. Barnum, Robert “Believe It or Not” Ripley was a lonely, buck-toothed cartoonist turned eccentric millionaire and renowned world-traveler who in the 1930’s and 1940’s earned international fame by journeying to the farthest corners of the earth in search of the world’s most exotic curiosities. But for all his success in uncovering oddities, no piece of Ripley’s collection was as remarkable as the man himself. From his youth as an awkward young artist with an innate empathy for “freaks,” to his golden years spent on a private island stocked with rare artifacts and strange pets, Ripley lived life on the kind of grand scale normally confined to fiction. Now with A Curious Man: The Strange and Brilliant Life of Robert “Believe It or Not!” Ripley (Crown Archetype; May 7, 2013) acclaimed biographer Neal Thompson has delivered a marvelously compelling account of this great American story, told for the first time ever—a thrilling tale of the underdog who taught us to believe in the unbelievable."

Hopefully, the Rafflecopter giveaway posted below works. Let me know if it doesn't!! The giveaway is for U.S. and Canada residents only, and ends in one week. Just enter your e-mail and leave a comment. Extra entries if you follow my blog or on Twitter. Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My take on: Seduction

2013-04-29T00:01:00.000-04:00

The last book I read by M.J. Rose (The Book of Lost Fragrances) was a journey for the senses. Her latest book, Seduction, is a book for the mind. What do I mean by that? There are several storylines going on, but reincarnation and the supernatural are reoccurring themes. I don't know that I believe in such things, but M.J. Rose certainly makes you think about them.

This is the fifth book in Rose's Reincarnationist series, but I don't think you need to have read all of them. But it does help to have some context on the characters. Mythologist Jac L'Etoile is back, and her life is in a state of flux after the last book. She's questioning her sanity. One moment she's having a conversation in the present day, and the next her mind is pulling her into the past. The colors, the sounds, and the smells are changing around her. Is it real or imagined? Jac is afraid to explore either possibility. She just has to focus on the present, and focus hard. If she can do that, Jac will be ok. But a friend from the past offers an opportunity that's too good to resist.

Theo Gaspard, who once spent time in a mental institution with Jac, has stumbled upon the lost writings of novelist Victor Hugo. It's possible those writings hold the key to a Celtic mystery. Of course Jac can't resist. This is an opportunity to not only prove or disprove a myth, but it's also an opportunity to learn about herself. Maybe the visions will stop. Maybe she will go back to normal. If there is such a thing as normal. I kind of felt like I was inside Jac's head. You feel the highs and lows of someone who is struggling internally.

One of the other intriguing storylines is Victor Hugo himself. M.J. Rose puts a fictional and supernatural spin on Hugo's life following the death of his beloved daughter Didine. In the aftermath, Hugo and his family are devastated. They were very vulnerable. A fellow writer convinces Hugo and his family to take part in seances. They were able to communicate with Didine's spirit with what I presume was a crude Ouija board. I loved that part of the book. It was great to imagine what life and the supernatural element was like in the 1800s. Back then (I think) people were more willing to believe in mysticism. Hugo sought out mediums to communicate with not just Didine but the devil. I would think that would be a big no-no!! But if you're grieving, I guess you'll try anything.

I think the book is beautifully written. I just think several of the storylines could have stood on their own. I had the same problem I always have with books like this. Early on, I get attached to certain characters, but I have to wait several chapters before I can get back to their storyline. I think Jac is my favorite character. She has an air of vulnerability. Unraveling the mystery might be harmful to not just her psyche, but her safety. Despite the dangers, she's still willing to push forward. I don't think her story is finished, and I will definitely be back to see what happens.

Rating: Give it a try

Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher (Simon & Schuster) as part of a blog tour with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

My take on: The Great Escape

2013-04-23T02:30:00.002-04:00

I don't read a lot of sequels/series. But if you pulled me in with the first book, odds are I will read the second book. I LOVED Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, so of course I wanted to read the sequel. By the way, if you're reading this I'll assume you have read the first book. In a nutshell, Lucy Jorik, the adopted daughter of the a former U.S. president, runs out on her fiance Ted Beaudine on their wedding day. Everyone is left to wonder why. Call Me Irresistible was Meg's story, now we get Lucy's point of view in The Great Escape.

I liked the idea of getting Lucy's point of view. By the end of Call Me Irresistible you know Lucy is in a better place, but you don't know how she got to that point. Why did she run out on Ted? It seemed like such an impulsive act for a 31-year-old woman. Maybe if she was younger, but at 31 aren't you supposed to be more mature than that? It's great that Lucy realized marrying Ted would be a huge mistake, but she probably should have figured that out sooner. Ted is everything a woman could want, handsome, rich, from a good family, and of course he's PERFECT. But does Lucy really want perfection? Of course not.

Lucy runs off without a plan or money. She runs into the mysterious biker Panda. Yes, you read that right a grown man nicknamed Panda. He's a "friend" of Ted's, and helps Lucy run from not just Ted but reality. They clash constantly. She can barely get a few words out of him. It's hard to break through his thick exterior. He doesn't want to reveal anything personal. He tries to make Lucy afraid of him, so she will run off back to her rich parents. But Lucy can't go back, not yet. Going back to a normal life would force Lucy to face her problems. Of course there is a lot of sexual tension between Lucy and Panda. They could give into their feelings. But what about all the complications that come with romance? Well it's a good thing Lucy and Panda convince themselves what they have isn't a romance. Yeah right!!

Panda is really Patrick Shade, a former Army vet and police officer Lucy's parents hired to look after her. When Lucy realizes that she is furious. Was anything with him real? Was he with her simply because he was paid to? Lucy runs off again, but not far from Panda. She ends up taking over his vacation home. This is where the book got a little too convoluted for my tastes. If the plot was just Panda, Lucy, and a few minor characters, it would have been fine. But there are several subplots, and they take away from Lucy's storyline. There's Bree, a white woman who has returned to the glory of her youth, and her mixed race 12-year-old charge Toby. Why do I bring up race? A big deal is made about it in the book. Bree is rebounding from divorce, at the same time she is made the guardian over the grandchild of a long-time family friend. Bree and Toby alone could have carried their own book. Then Panda returns with a client in tow, Temple Renshaw, a demanding reality TV star. I didn't like Temple at all. She came across as the typical spoiled and entitled reality starlet. Yet Lucy finds the good in her, and as readers we are supposed to as well. Quite frankly, I did not. I don't think her character was necessary, but I guess as a plot device Temple was necessary. Without her how would Panda and Lucy have been able to reconnect?

Overall, there were some things I liked and some things I didn't. The ending felt a little awkward and rushed. But I loved Lucy and Panda's chemistry. Right off the bat, they sounded like an old married couple. They can crack jokes on each other. They can be rude to each other. They can pretend to not like each other. But you know all of this is in the name of love.

Rating: Give it a try

Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher (HarperCollins) as part of a blog tour with TLC Book Tours

My take on: Heart Like Mine

2013-04-22T12:01:00.001-04:00

I didn't know it was possible, but I think Heart Like Mine has surpassed Outside the Lines as my favorite book by Amy Hatvany. She is extremely adept at tapping into the complex nature of families. Heart Like Mine is no exception.

Grace McAllister never wanted children, but everything changed when she met Victor Hansen, a handsome restaurant owner and divorced father of two. Victor is everything Grace has ever wanted. He makes her laugh. He's attentive. He doesn't want anymore children, which is a big plus in Grace's book. She could see herself having a future with Victor. His children, 13-year-old Ava and seven-year-old Max, live with their mother Kelli and are only around Victor on weekends. She can do this. She can be a stepmother, albeit an evil stepmother in the eyes of Ava and Kelli. Max is always sweet to her, while Ava is full of teenage angst and resentment. But, Grace can do this. The kids are only around on weekends, she can put up with the rude comments and looks. The kids are only a slight blip in her long-term goals. She doesn't have to be a mother. The kids have a mother.

Of course there's a twist here, otherwise there would be no point to the book. Kelli dies suddenly, leaving Victor and Grace to pick up the pieces. How did she die? Amy Hatvany's writing certainly hints at suicide. Growing up with strict and unloving parents, Kelli always felt alone. She was always looking for love. She always needed someone to love her and pay attention to her. There was a hole in her heart, one that not even Victor or her kids could fill. A long-buried secret comes to the surface just before her death. But is it possible Victor's engagement to Grace, sent her over the edge? Reading the book, I wasn't so sure of that. The book alternates between Grace, Ava, and Kelli's point of view. Each chapter that Kelli narrates reveals a little more about her past. Initially, Kelli comes off as the bitter ex-wife. But as the book progress, I just felt so sorry for her. She's one of those characters that you just want to give a hug. You want to tell her that it's going to be ok. Kelli was never able to pull herself out of that hole before she died. It was just so sad.

Kelli's death was so abrupt. Grace and Victor don't understand why she died. The kids don't understand why she died. Her death left everyone in a position they were unprepared for. Victor was used to Kelli handling everything. Now, he has to get into the parenting routine. It's no longer taking them to his house on the weekends and dropping them off at Kelli's afterward. He has to get them to school. He has to help with homework. He has to shuffle them to after-school activities. It was so much easier when all of this was Kelli's problem. But now, the kids aren't just his responsibility. Ava and Max are also Grace's responsibility. Victor says he will take on much of the burden, but even he can't do it all. When a crisis at work takes up all of his time, Grace is thrust into the role of co-parent. A role she didn't want. Can she handle it? Ava and Max both act out, but that's to be expected after losing a parent. After some time has passed they should snap right out of it. Right? Max is so much easier to handle, and he will also have his dad to teach him how to be a man as he grows up. But what about Ava? She was so close to her mother. Will Ava want or even be receptive to any type of guidance from Grace?

The road ahead is very bumpy for this family. Will Victor allow Grace the freedom to discipline the children? Or will he take their side? How much is too much? Grace might not be their biological parent, but that doesn't give them the right to disrespect her. Everything changes when a once comfortable existence is thrown into turmoil. Every family is different, but I think a lot of people, young and old, can relate to the themes in this book. I have a step-parent, and I could very easily identify with Ava. But I could also see Grace's point of view. Does she really have the strength to continue this relationship now that she has to be a parent? This isn't what she wanted. Is Victor worth it?

By the end of the book, I wanted more. I kept thinking, this family's story isn't done yet. There is hope for them, but I wanted to keep reading about their journey. This is a book that's definitely worth reading!!

Rating: O.M.G. !!!

Note: I received an e-galley from the publisher (Simon & Schuster) in exchange for an honest review. But since I'm such a big fan Amy Hatvany's books......

of course I had to pick up a hard copy when I say it at Target!!

Calling all real-life heroines!!!

2013-04-19T15:25:00.002-04:00

HARLEQUIN'S MORE THAN WORDS AWARDS, 2014:

CALLING ALL REAL-LIFE HEROINES!

Each year, the Harlequin More Than Words award is given to three women who have worked hard to change people’s lives for the better. Inspired by their accomplishments, Harlequin donates $15,000 to each winner's charity of choice and then pairs each winner with a bestselling Harlequin author who turns her story into a novella that's released to the public as a free e-book.

Nominations for the 2014 awards have just opened and will be open until August 9th. To nominate someone you know who is making a difference in the world, or to nominate yourself, you need to submit a few sentences on the nominee, the charity she's involved in, what inspires her and how she's inspiring others. The nomination form is available here:
http://www.harlequinmorethanwords.com/nominate/.

After the nominations are closed in August, the entrants are narrowed down to 5 finalists and the public votes for 3 winners (in November). Then, winners are announced in December, and honored through the $15,000 donation, the novella written about them and feature coverage on Harlequin's site! (http://www.harlequinmorethanwords.com/). It's a great program to honor all of the women who spend their time and energy doing things for others and might not be getting the recognition they deserve!

As a bonus, you can check out the 3 ebooks about the 2012 winners - available for free!

The books are:

- Good Neighbors by Sheila Roberts (inspired by Sally Spencer, who manages a mentoring program that rescues at-risk children)
- Just Joe by Carla Cassidy (inspired by Helen McGovern, who oversees Emergency Food Network, a food bank that serves all county residents, including those with health restrictions)
- Light This Candle by Cindy Dees (inspired by Mindy Atwood, who runs Patches of Light, a nonprofit organization where anonymous angels pay the rent for parents of desperately ill children)

Download them for free from Harlequin here: http://www.harlequinmorethanwords.com/novellas/.

Download them for free from Amazon here (Kindle-friendly versions): http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=node%3D1286228011&field-keywords=%22Harlequin+more+than+words%22&rh=n%3A1286228011%2Ck%3A%22Harlequin+more+than+words%22

Download them for free from B&N here (Nook-friendly versions): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/harlequin-more-than-words?store=allproducts&keyword=harlequin+more+than+words

My take on: Evidence of Life

2013-04-15T01:04:00.001-04:00

Abby Bennett is looking forward to a little alone time. Her son, Jake, is away at college, prepping for exams. Her husband Nick and daughter Lindsey are set to embark on a camping trip. It should be a nice, relaxing weekend for Abby, but it quickly turns into a nightmare in Evidence of Life by Barbara Taylor Sissel.

A rain storm rips through the Texas Hill Country. Bridges, roads, and highways are flooded with water and debris. Worry and fear set in quickly for Abby. Everyone fears the worst -- Nick and Lindsay must have died in the deadly storm. Everyone that is except Abby. The police, her best friend, Katie, her son, her mother, her mother-in-law, and her husband's law partners all want Abby to face facts. She can't accept that the life she once knew is over. They've vanished without a trace, but Abby refuses to give up hope. Nick will come home and listen to his beloved jazz music. Lindsay will come down the stairs with a brush and ask her mother to braid her hair. Jake will come home from school with a heap of laundry, and then Abby will make a big family meal. Everything will go back to normal as long as Abby doesn't give up hope.

As the book progresses, I kind of wanted Abby to give up. At some point you have to face facts and move on. She has another child who needs her love and attention. She needs to move on. She needs to find a way to get back to normal. But it's easy for people who aren't in her situation to pass judgment. Immediately after their disappearance everyone is understanding. Right away everyone wants to help. Right away everyone has empathy for your situation. But... Soon a month goes by, then another, then another, and another. There are moments when Abby is ready to face facts, but some strange occurrences prevent that. An open door, a missing jacket, and strange phone calls. Maybe Abby's mind is playing tricks on her. Or maybe it's all real, but who will believe Abby?

With each chapter, Abby learns something new about Nick, his job, and her marriage. Nick was accused of stealing money from a big settlement. But he was cleared. Abby never believed he was that kind of lawyer. He wasn't that kind of man. He might have been hiding things from her, but at his core Nick was a man of integrity. Whatever he was worried about or might have been involved in, Nick would never jeopardize Lindsey's safety. There has to be some explanation.

This book will remind you how fragile life can be and how quickly a once comfortable life can quickly fall apart. The resolution is very satisfying, but I think it took a little long to get there. Everyone in Abby's life says over, and over, and over that she needs to move on. That can get a little repetitive. But the last 60-80 pages were very suspenseful. Towards the end I was speed-reading, I couldn't wait to find out the truth. You start to wonder if Nick and Lindsey are alive or is someone playing a cruel joke on Abby? This is a book worth reading.

Rating: Superb

Note: I received a copy from Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc. in exchange for an honest review.

My take on: And Then I Found You

2013-04-12T23:30:00.001-04:00

On paper, Kate "Katie" Vaughn has the perfect life. A loving family, a loving boyfriend, and a successful business. She should be happy. She wants to be happy, but something is missing in her life. Actually someone is missing in her life. A very painful, but loving, decision has always nagged at Kate. If she can find a way to move on, maybe she can find true happiness. In a novel inspired by her own family, Patti Callahan Henry explores love, loss, courage, and family.

Since she could remember, Kate has always been in love with Jack Adams. With him she was Katie. With him she knew she was loved. With him she knew they had a future, if only he could just wait for her. Wait? Wait for what? After college, Katie knew she wanted to be with Jack. But Katie wasn't quite sure who she was as a person. What was her purpose in life? Could she be doing more? A job as a camp counselor for at-risk young girls proved worthwhile for Katie. She become attached to these girls. The only problem with this new career, it was in Arizona several states away from Jack in Alabama. What was supposed to be a short-term gig, became a long-term one. Every year there was another excuse for Katie not to begin her life with Jack. Were those girls really more important than him? Or does Katie believe Jack will wait for her. Their love should be strong enough to survive a long-term separation?

How long can she keep stringing Jack along? How long before he wants more out of life? I was truly in their corner. They seemed to belong together. But sometimes things don't work out the way they should. Sometimes you have to go through strife before you can find true happiness. That's the case for Katie and Jack. Years of waiting proved to be too frustrating for Jack, and he marries someone else. But not before one final goodbye with Katie, resulting in a pregnancy. What do they do now? Will a baby bring them together? Maybe now Jack will realize how much he misses Katie and want to raise this baby. It would be so nice if life worked out so easily. Katie makes the painful but selfless and loving decision to give the baby up for adoption. Loving a child and being able to care for a child are two separate things. Katie realizes that. As much as Katie wanted to keep her baby, a little girl she named "Luna," love alone wasn't enough. Her parents think Katie is giving away her baby. It's hard for them to understand. Katie knows she is giving her daughter the best gift possible -- parents who are ready to provide a loving home.

Thirteen years pass, everyone has moved on in the best way they can. Katie is now Kate. She owns and runs a clothing store, and has a loving boyfriend Rowan. The name "Katie" is part of a past she would like to forget. Jack is now a divorced, single father. And...somewhere out there their daughter, whose name is Emily Luna Jackson, wonders where she came from. They should be happy. But for all three of them, there is something missing from their lives. Kate is afraid to fully open herself up to Rowan. She can't tell him everything. She can't tell him about "Luna." Telling him would just open up old wounds. She constantly yearns for someone who is no longer hers -- Luna. But maybe she should deal with those old wounds. For Jack, the past is in the past. His heart has healed, going backwards could only make things worse. Emily knows she has loving parents, but she often wonders if her birth parents ever really loved her.

Of course, you know that's not all there is to the story. Otherwise...what would be the point of the book. In this age of social media, it's not all that hard to find someone. A Facebook request by Emily to one of Kate's sisters sets off a chain reaction of events. It's euphoria at first. Finding someone you thought was lost to you forever is sheer euphoria. But what are the consequences? What happens once the honeymoon stage is over? Nothing is ever the same. Now that Emily and Jack are back in her life, there is a renewed sense of happiness for Kate. But why couldn't she be happy before? Is Rowan not enough?

This is my second go-round with Patti Callahan Henry. I loved Coming Up For Air, so of course I wanted to take part in a review for And Then I Found You. I'm sure it couldn't have been easy for Patti Callahan Henry to write this book. Her younger sister also gave up her daughter for adoption, who later found her biological family via Facebook. This latest book is a bit of an emotional roller coaster. Yes it feels a bit like a love story, but that's more of a backdrop. You start questioning what makes a family? Emily might be ready to know where she came from, but what about her parents? Maybe Kate would have been better off ignoring Emily's friend request. On the one hand, it's great that Kate and Jack are reunited with their daughter. But on the other hand, is it really in their best interests to be reunited? What if Kate and Jack want more than Emily or her parents are willing to give? What happens if someone oversteps their bounds?

Overall, the book is dealing with very heavy subject matter. But Patti Callahan Henry handles it with a lot of grace and dignity. Definitely worth reading.

Rating: O.M.G.!!

Notes: I received a copy of the book at the request of Wunderkind PR. And I Found You is also the April selection for She Reads. I received a copy of the book from the publisher (St. Martin's Press)

My take on: Beautiful Ruins

2013-04-08T00:45:00.001-04:00

I'm not sure where to start with this one. There is so much going on with Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter. Some of it is really good, and some of it is just ok. I've wanted to read this one for a while. Not because I knew about the storyline. Why did I want to read it then? The cover. That cover is gorgeous. That village by the sea looks so inviting. It looks like a place to just relax. A place to sit by the sea with a glass of wine and a book.

The story begins in the coastal Italian city of Porto Vergogna in 1962. Spanning several decades and countries, Beautiful Ruins (in my opinion) is a love story. Do you follow your heart, no matter who it hurts?

Following the death of his father in 1962, the young Pasquale Tursi has just come home to Porto Vergogna. He has plans to revitalize the family hotel, but a young American actress is about derail those plans. A promising acting career and a part in the upcoming epic Cleopatra, is put on hold on when actress Dee Moray is exiled to this small coastal city. In this world, it seems Elizabeth Taylor wasn't the only one having an affair with Richard Burton. Only in the case of poor Dee, she is pregnant with his child. A shady doctor and a shady Hollywood exec, Michael Deane, convince the beautiful blond that she is dying of stomach cancer. It sounds so cruel, but given the time period I could totally see it happening. Sure Cleopatra was shaping up to be a flop, but does the studio need an additional scandal attached to the picture? Shenanigans like this probably still go on, no matter who they hurt.

If Dee had been told the truth, would she and Pasquale ever have crossed paths? Probably not? Pasquale can't fully understand English, and Dee doesn't fully understand Italian, but they can still communicate. No words are needed to show how devastated Dee is. No one, except Pasquale, cares what happens to her. No one appears to be coming for her. No words are needed to show how much Pasquale cares for her. Over the course of a few days, Dee and Pasquale form a bond that spans 50 years. Somehow you just hope they can find their way back to each other. Outside forces brought them together, maybe those same forces can bring them together again.

In the present day, Michael Deane is still mixing things up in Hollywood. When Pasquale shows up at his studio searching for Dee, I thought this would be Deane's chance at redemption. Throughout the book, Deane is portrayed as a conniving, egotistical jerk. Maybe he is ready to make amends. You will have to read the book to find that one out.

The present day aspects of the book were a little slow for me. I was more engaged in the 1962 storyline. Getting a glimpse into the past was far more interesting for me. The book isn't a linear narrative, and it goes back and forth between the past and present. Sometimes the breaks between the past and present were too long for me. I kept reading because I wanted to get back to the 1962 angle. Towards the end the book, it starts to pick up again, but then the ending fell a little flat for me. I'm thinking, "that's it?" But...I'm glad I kept reading because a certain passage near the end stuck out for me.

"All we have is the story we tell. Everything we do, every decision we make, our strength, weakness, motivation, history, and character -- what we believe -- none of it is real; it's all part of the story we tell. But here's the thing: it's our goddamned story!" -- Pg. 266

It's said in a drunken moment, but it makes a lot of sense. I took it to mean that no one can take your story from you, it's your own tell and your own to shape. Good words to live by!

Rating: Give it a try

Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher (HarperCollins) as a part of a blog tour with TLC Book Tours

Boooooooo UPS!!

2013-03-27T22:58:00.002-04:00

I think many book lovers will tell you that the sound of a UPS truck brings joy. You just know that the UPS driver is coming to your door with something good. Today, I received two packages. In one package, the books were shiny and perfect. In the other package........well look at that photo above. I loved Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, so I jumped at the chance to take part in the blog tour for the sequel. I'm still looking forward to reading The Great Escape. But look at what happened to this wonderful book. The book is all out of shape. The package itself looked like it had been stuffed in a corner.

The back looks like someone punched it. Some of the pages are torn. And the spine.......

The spine is broken. It's been a long, long, long time since I've broken the spine on any book -- hardcover or paperback. Granted, this is a review book. I didn't spend any money on this, but I will be buying my own copy. In the future, I think all books should be marked as FRAGILE!!

Before I was a blogger.....

2013-03-26T00:01:00.000-04:00

Fair warning, this post might be a little rambling. Over the past couple of weeks I've been thinking about the type of reader I was before I was a blogger. Before I was a blogger, I read approximately 25-30 books per year. Since I started blogging, I read 60+ books per year. Every year I go on Goodreads and sign up for the reading challenge. In my mind, I have to outdo or at least read the same amount of books per year. Before I started blogging, I just picked up whatever caught my attention in the bookstore. I don't think I was aware of when certain books came out. I don't think I paid as much attention to plot and pacing. If I liked it, I liked it. If I didn't, I didn't. I wasn't thinking a particular book would have been better if an author had done X, Y, and Z. Since I've started blogging, it kind of consumes me. I'm also in graduate school for book publishing. When it comes to school, I have to think of books as a business. And....that comes with its own set of challenges. So, I have to have books on the brain 24/7.

Why am I saying this? I don't see myself quitting on my blog any time soon, but I think I'm hitting the wall. The wall that all bloggers hit at some point. Because I'm in school right now, I can't always devote my attention to my blog. I often wonder if I'm doing enough as a blogger. How do I keep it fresh? Is it enough to just post reviews? What else could I be doing? How do other bloggers do it so well? I'm often thinking, why didn't I think of that? Why does another blogger gush over a book that I thought was terrible? That one plays in my mind over and over.

And.....lately blogging is starting to feel like a like job. I'm sure everyone who blogs feels like that at some point. But this isn't my job. If it was, I would be in heaven. If book blogging was my job, I would be devoting as much time as possible to make this the best blog possible. But that just isn't the case. Publishers, publicists, authors, and others send me what sounds like a great book, but sometimes it's just not for me. I feel guilty if I don't read a book fast enough. I also hate to say I don't like a book. I hate to not finish a book, but sometimes I have to give up. When I don't finish a book, I feel like I've broken my obligation. But again this isn't my job and I do this in my spare time. But I can't escape the feeling that I'm letting someone down if I don't finish a book.

I hope at least some of this makes sense. I think I just needed to vent a little bit. Everybody is different, but sometimes I wish I could be more unique with my blog.

P.S.: Don't worry, I will be posting some reviews soon. I have a couple coming up with TLC Book tours!!

My take on: Surfacing

2013-03-18T00:01:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I read a book that is just hard to quantify. Surfacing by Nora Raleigh Baskin is one of those books. It deals with a lot of big issues, grief, forgiveness, and teen sexuality.

Sophomore Maggie Paris is a bit of an enigma. She's a star on the swim team, but she doesn't always seem to like it. She has one loyal friend in Julie. Everyone else keeps their distance from Maggie. Why? Maggie's mere presence has the ability to bring out the best and the worst in people. When Maggie is around, fellow students feel the need to be honest about their deepest secrets. Sometimes they don't want to reveal those secrets. Maggie's parents are no different. Her parents spend more time arguing than dealing with their feelings. The whole family is avoiding the elephant in room.

Maggie was just five years old when her big sister Leah drowned. Ever since that day, Maggie and her parents have been harboring feelings of guilt. It was already a marriage in trouble before Leah's death, and after was no different. They had twin boys, Dylan and Lucas, following her death, but that did little to save the family. If you don't deal with the underlying problems, how can you truly move on? Maggie just seemed to be barely holding it together. She needed some kind of guidance. Her parents love her, but they're too involved in their own mess to see what's wrong with their daughter. Her still developing teenage brain comes up with a wild plan.

Maggie sets her sights on Matthew, a self-absorbed jock. If she has sex with him, somehow her life will be better. She will become a "woman." She will somehow have all the answers. Maybe the guilt surrounding Maggie's death will go away. This part of Maggie's personality and character just didn't seem to fit with the book. Maggie and Matthew's interactions didn't seem like normal teenage behavior. Matthew was a jerk and he dominated the relationship. What he did to Maggie seemed more like rape to me. She's not really sure she wants to have sex with Matthew, and when they do she spaces out. Mentally, she's not even there when Matthew is on top of her. Matthew appears indifferent or not satisfied by her, and Maggie thinks that's her fault. If she can be better at "it," then Matthew will like her. She starts dating another boy, Nathan, but only wants to use him as practice for her budding relationship with Matthew. Nathan truly cares for her, but sometimes Maggie doesn't see it until it's too late. I just felt so bad for Maggie and for teenagers like her. A boyfriend or girlfriend truly isn't the best way to measure your self-worth.

The book alternates between the past and the present. Leah's character also narrates part of the book. In the past, Leah and Maggie had a typical sibling relationship. As the oldest Leah was always annoyed by her little sister. But you can see they loved each other. Back then Maggie was a happier child. Now, she's a teen in need of guidance. I wish the book was a little longer. I wanted more on the sibling relationship and her relationship with Julie. It's not a bad, it's actually pretty good. I just wish there was more.

Rating: Give it a try

Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher (Candlewick Press) in exchange for an honest review.

My take on: Dark Tide

2013-03-14T01:39:00.003-04:00

I feel a little let down. I've heard such great things about Elizabeth Haynes' previous book Into the Darkest Corner. I've heard that Into the Darkest Corner was a great thriller, and I was kind of expecting that with Dark Tide. The elements were there, but I feel Dark Tide just fell short.

How does this sound? A boatwarming party lets out, late at night a body washes up against the boat, the body is discovered by the victim's former friend, and now that friend has to figure out what's going on before the killer comes after her. Sounds intriguing doesn't it?

Genevieve has led an interesting life. Growing up, she and her dad shared a deep love for boats. He taught her everything he knew about boats. Genevieve knows one day her dream of living on a houseboat will come true. She has a high-paying sales job, but it's not enough for her. She needs a second job to make her dream come true. What's the answer? Becoming a stripper...I mean dancer, or a dancer who strips or a pole dancer. Stripper just didn't seem to be in Genevieve's vocabulary. She was just a dancer who took her clothes off for money. Why? Because someone said she was a natural during a pole dancing workout class. It seemed a little far-fetched, but who am I to judge? Genevieve swears she won't get wrapped up in the lifestyle. Stripping is merely a means to an end.

When the book opens, Genevieve has already given up both her jobs and is living a new life on her boat, Revenge of the Tide. When Genevieve discovers the dead body of her friend Caddy, she can't believe her luck. Her once shady lifestyle has not only come back to haunt her, it has washed up next to her boat. None of her new friends know all of the details of Genevieve's past. Should she tell the police? What if they suspect her? What if they discover the package she is hiding? Yes there is a whole other subplot, one that I could have bought into if the end result was actually satisfying.

Genevieve is holding onto a mysterious package for her "friend" Dylan, a bouncer/enforcer at the strip club. They were a little more than friends, and Genevieve seems to be pining away for him. He won't contact her unless it's absolutely necessary. Even when she contacts him, he seemed a little indifferent or that he wasn't surprised. Could Dylan have killed Caddy? I certainly asked myself that question, but I quickly dismissed that theory. Dylan is definitely a hard-nosed guy, but he seemed to have a soft spot for Genevieve. Only he doesn't want to show any kind of weakness or vulnerability.

The novel flashes back between the past and the present. We learn all about Genevieve's struggles with her day job and her night job. Her daytime boss is a jerk, and she slowly learns that her nighttime boss, Fitz, is a criminal. But the money is too good on both sides, so Genevieve will just have to tough it out.

Sometimes when I'm not really into a book I will just give up and stop reading. But this was a book, I didn't want to give up on. I kept reading because I believed that the ending -- the ultimate payoff -- would be spectacular. I kept thinking there had to be an awesome, suspenseful, edge-of-my-seat ending. I thought all of this has to be leading to something, but I was just underwhelmed. The culprit behind Caddy's murder wasn't a surprise. To me, Caddy's murder was just a red herring. The overall book seemed to be more about Genevieve overcoming her own naivety and stupidity, and the end result was boring not thrilling.

Rating: Meh

Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher (HarperCollins) as part of a blog tour with TLC Book Tours

My take on: The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow

2013-03-12T01:10:00.000-04:00

I think it's safe to say that I have never read anything like The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow by Rita Leganski, and I probably never will again. It is very, very, very unique. It's set in Louisiana in the 1950s. In 2013, it's jarring to read about the traditions and social mores that existed back then. It's a little hard to put into words what the overall book is about. Is religious faith powerful enough to help a family heal? Is voodoo powerful enough to help a family heal? Or, does a mute little boy have the power and the strength to help his family heal? This is the type of book that you have to read in order to truly understand it.

The first two sentences are the precursor to the overall theme of the book.

"Bonaventure Arrow didn't make a peep when he was born, and the doctor nearly took him for dead. But the child was only listening, placing sound inside quiet and gaining his bearings because everything had suddenly changed."

Bonaventure Arrow was the product of his loving parents Dancy and William. But Bonaventure's birth was shrouded in heartache and sorrow. William was shot to death by a disfigured and mysterious man named the Wanderer. Dancy was never the same. Her unborn child could not only feel her sorrow, he could hear it. As he grows up, Bonaventure doesn't speak. But he speaks without speaking. He knows how to communicate with hand-written notes, gestures, and emotions. This level of communication is what makes him special. He can hear sounds nearby and afar. Even his mother's overwhelming grief has a sound. Bonaventure doesn't know what he can do to make her heartache go away. Would things have been different if his father were alive? If William were alive perhaps Bonaventure would know the sound of his own voice.

Bonaventure's unique gift, isn't so unique to everyone. His grandmother Adelaide is so obsessed with her Bible and the local church. She doesn't take the time to get to know or understand her grandson. She's convinced the devil has control of his tongue. She's determined to get the devil out of him. Anything that's different is wrong in Adelaide's mind. It's her mission to "fix" everything that is wrong, no matter who it hurts.

Despite his death, Bonaventure does get to know his father. William doesn't want to go to heaven, he wants to be his son's guardian angel. People might think he's strange or crazy, but Bonaventure gets to communicate with his father. No one but William and Bonaventure can hear these talks. It sounds sweet and innocent, but is William really helping by staying behind? William's spirit casts a shadow over everyone in the house. Sometimes Bonaventure wishes he was like other children. He wishes his dad were still alive, just like other kids his age. William's mother Letice is also consumed by guilt. She believes sins from her past caused William's death. If Letice could just find a way to forgive herself, maybe she could move on. Dancy blames herself for his death, too. She often drowns herself in alcohol. No one can move on, not even William.

It takes a perfect stranger to help the family heal. Trinidad Prefontaine, a Creole woman, is also blessed with unique gifts. She has an instant connection with the entire family. She can see and understand what's below the surface. The average person wouldn't know that something is wrong with Letice and Dancy. She gets them to tap into their feelings. All three women have led different paths, but they're able to see how similar they really are.

Leganski's writing style takes some getting used to. The writing is almost lyrical, and I think it works here. But I feel like I missed something. There is a lot of mysticism and magic in this book, and sometimes I didn't understand it all. Overall, I think this is a very unique and inventive book.

Rating: Give it a try

Note: The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow is the March book club selection for She Reads.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher (HarperCollins)

My take on: The Shortest Way Home

2013-03-06T17:50:00.002-05:00

It took me several months to finish The Shortest Way Home by Juliette Fay, but that's not because it was a bad book. It was a great book. I just get distracted by other books.

What did I love most about The Shortest Way Home? The family dynamic. Juliette Fay expertly captured how complex families can be. One moment you're running from your past, and the next you could be forced to face it. In The Shortest Way Home, Sean Doran has been on the run for 20 years. He's not running from the law, but from his future.

Sean has spent 20 years working as a nurse in war-torn areas. Those places were heaven compared to the storm waiting for him at home in Belham, Masschusetts. Moving from place to place and never putting down roots is the norm for Sean. He doesn't want to grow old with a wife, kids, and a white picket fence. His mother died of Huntington's Disease, and there is a 50% chance Sean will get it. It strikes in the mid-30s. At age 44, Sean would rather not get tested. Sean would rather not know his fate. He wants to end his life on his own terms in Mexico.

While Sean has been saving lives around the globe, his sister Deidre has been holding down the fort in their childhood home. Their brother Hugh died six years ago of pneumonia, but his son Kevin is deeply in need of guidance. Their feisty Aunt Vivvy is starting to show signs of dementia, and refuses to see a doctor. Deidre wants a life of her own. She wants to be an actress. She wants Sean to know how much she's given up to take care of Kevin and Aunt Vivvy. Sean can do so much for strangers, so why can't he do the same for his own family? Sean is truly burned out from all the travel, but in his mind a trip home is just temporary. He'll stay long enough to recharge his batteries, catchup with old friends and get to know his nephew. It's all temporary. He can't let himself get sucked in.

Of course Sean gets sucked back in. He realize how much life has passed him by. He doesn't know much about technology, especially computers, cell phones, and e-mail. He didn't know that Cormac, his best friend in high school, and his wife are struggling with fertility issues. He didn't know how much Kevin is struggling to fit in at school. He didn't know that shy Rebecca "Becky" Feingold had a crush on him in high school. After several weeks in town, Sean is struggling internally. He's reconnected with Cormac. He's helping Aunt Vivvy around the house. He's helping Kevin come out of his shell. Becky is helping him rebound physically and mentally. His relationship with Becky is going beyond friendship, it's a budding romance.. Sean is doing everything he hoped to avoid. He's connecting with people, and he is actually enjoying it. But there's still something very big hanging over his head. Huntington's Disease. He might be out of the woods, but the debilitating disease could take away everything. Is it better to know? Or is it better to live in the moment? Living in the moment might have worked for Sean in the past, but that won't do for everyone around him. Before going home, Sean thought he had everything figured out. But Becky and Kevin have altered his destiny. They've made him realize that a future might be possible.

The book is very well paced. On the surface, everything isn't what it seems. There's a lot of depth to most of the characters. I thought Deidre was a little one-note. She always seemed angry and a little self-absorbed. I wanted to like her, but I just didn't. Maybe that was intentional. She'd spent so much of her youth caring for her family, she was just ready to be selfish. Maybe her character was a way to show Sean that he needed to change. Overall, I loved the book, and would gladly read another book by Juliette Fay.

Rating: Superb

Note: I received a copy of the book from FSB Associates in exchange for an honest review.

Upcoming reads!!

2013-03-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

I think you all know that I read a lot...and now I'm going to read some more. Soon I will be taking part in blog tours with She Reads. Think of it as a large online book club. I will be reading one selection per month for them. Most of the books will be by debut authors, but there will be a few exceptions. The March selection is The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow by Rita Leganski.

It takes place in New Orleans. But I think it's the opening line that will get a lot of attention.

"Bonaventure Arrow didn't make a peep when he was born, and the doctor nearly took him for dead."

Isn't that a great first sentence? It just makes you want to read more.

Normally, my reviews for She Reads will be posted during the first week in the month of publication. But I received this book a little late, so maybe by the second week of March I will have my review up. Stay tuned and happy reading!!!

My take on: Tide Ever Rising

2013-02-28T00:35:00.002-05:00

It isn't often that I advocate for a book to be longer, but in this case I do. I think Tide Ever Rising by Mandi Tucker Slack should have been longer. I don't read ghost stories, but the premise behind this one seemed intriguing. History teacher Kadence "Kadie" Reynolds loves to explore ghost towns, her younger sister, Maysha, sure doesn't share her hobby. The remnants of a burned out house yield some mysterious items. When Kadie stumbles upon an old can containing jewelry and an old journal, she knows she's onto something. She has to find the family in the journal. She won't rest.

All the elements are there for a good story, but I just thought everything moved too quickly. A little too quick to be believable sometimes.

The journal belonged to Charlotte Clark, and was filled with heart-warming tales of her family, including her twin sister Adelaide. Somehow Charlotte's spirit is still around. Possibly Charlotte's spirit is somehow guiding Kadie, who discovers that Adelaide is still alive, and is determined to find her. Kadie rather impulsively leaves her home in Utah, and sets out for Washington -- with a reluctant Maysha in tow. The sisterly bond between Kadie and Maysha feels very genuine. They are very close. They play off each other. They banter back and forth with each other. Both of them are always right, and the other is wrong. Maysha believes they are on a wild goose chase, and Kadie believes this is her mission. Her fiance, Robert, doesn't understand Kadie's determination, either. The way the book is written you know there is trouble in paradise with Kadie and Robert. But I would have rather had a couple of anecdotes that demonstrated what was wrong with their relationship. The few scenes Robert's in occur over the phone. Eventually, Kadie breaks off the relationship after making gaga eyes at another man. It just wasn't enough for me, which became clearer as the book went on.

When Kadie finds Adelaide's home, her family, including her grandson, Logan, and granddaughter, Beth, are reluctant to believe her intentions are genuine. Who wouldn't be skeptical? A random stranger shows up on your doorstep and wants to see your frail grandmother. What would you do? It isn't long before Logan and Beth realize everything Kadie is saying is genuine. Adelaide wants to meet Kadie, but reading the journal brings back a flood of memories. Memories of a fire that killed her entire family. But Charlotte's body was never recovered? Was she even there the night of the fire? What happened to Charlotte? Logan believes a prominent political family was behind the fire, and just like Kadie wants to know the truth. But discovering the truth has dangerous consequences.

It was around page 100, that the book kind of lost me. I don't want to give too much away, but Kadie and Logan are forced together and have to rely on each other for survival. The fate of Logan's daughter, Zaza, hinges on their survival. I could have bought into that if the book wasn't moving so quickly. How could two people who've only known each other a few days have such a deep bond? They had only made a few inquires into the fire, and already their lives are in danger. It seemed like such a big leap. For me, this stopped being a ghost/paranormal story midway through and morphed into a thriller. Then every so often you have a ghost element thrown in. I was just expecting this book to go in a different direction. It was a pretty good book, I just wish there was a little more depth to some of the relationships between the characters. Now, just because this wasn't my favorite it doesn't mean the rest of you won't like it. So, give it a try!!

Rating: Give it a try

Note: I received an e-book at the request of the author (Mandi Tucker Slack) as part of a blog tour

My take on: Parlor Games

2013-02-25T00:30:00.000-05:00

The real May Dugas will go down in history as a notorious con artist. But I think the fictional May Dugas in Parlor Games by Maryka Biaggio will go down as a very misunderstood woman. She didn't steal from men, they liked giving her nice things. She didn't run from the law, she was just securing a higher status for herself in society. The Pinkerton detective chasing her has it all wrong!!

The first chapter asks you to be the judge. The first chapter and beyond puts you inside the head of May Dugas. The first chapter opens in 1917 with her civil trial for fraud. Her former friend Frank Shaver claims May conned her out of large sums of money. As the book progress, we alternate between the trial and the past. We learn how May Dugas came from humble beginnings, and slowly turned into a crafty social climber.

The fictional May Dugas wanted excitement, romance, money, and a higher social status -- something that just wasn't available in her small town of Menominee, Michigan. She quickly attached herself to the wealthiest man in town, but he was a little too tame for her tastes. Ok, so she faked a pregnancy. But she did leave town to spare poor Robby's heart and reputation. She had his best interests at heart. She went off to Chicago in search of a better life. Ok, so she kept taking Robby's money and pretended to still be pregnant. She never expected him to show up in Chicago. He was supposed to be getting on with his life, not pining away for her. Ok, so she started "working" at a fancy whorehouse, it was just to pay the bills and maybe meet a handsome rich guy. Robby was crushed when he learned May wasn't pregnant, but hey it isn't like she didn't try to warn him off. She was trying to be honest mixed with a little dishonesty, if that makes sense.

Robby wasn't worth her time anyway. A bigger fish named Dale Andrews has caught her eye anyway. Ok, she wasn't honest about what she did for a living. She was trying to spare him the embarrassment. Ok, she got caught up in a fraudulent stock scheme. She was setup I tell you!! She was setup!! I was on May's side, but who is going to believe her? Her fiance Dale and his rich daddy sure didn't. May almost had a little piece of happiness, but Pinkerton detective Reed Dougherty put a stop to it. But May was not about to be outdone. Ok, so she blackmailed Dale's father into giving her money. It was so she could leave town without tarnishing the good name of the Andrews family. So what that she had to leave Chicago, there are plenty of other rich...I mean nice men out there for May.

May can find a man anywhere. Milwaukee, San Francisco, Shanghai, Hong Kong, London, and New York are all full of rich...I mean nice men out there for May. It was in Tokyo where May met and fell in love with Johnny Graham. Ok, so she was on the run from authorities in San Francisco. But they were looking for a woman named Pauline or was it....Oh I can't remember May Dugas had so many alias I can't keep them straight. She wasn't being dishonest. She changed her name to give herself a fresh start. Johnny Graham should have been her fresh start. I was truly on their side. Yes, Johnny came from a wealthy family, but it truly didn't seem to be about the money this time. If only that nosy Reed Dougherty could mind his own business. He truly ruined May's chance at true love.

The trial with Frank is a bit of a joke to me. How can a lawyer like Frank claim to have been swindled. Nobody forced her to give May money. Nobody forced May to give Frank extravagant gifts. They were friends. They confided in each other. Sometimes they were a little bit more than "friends." But this is the early 1900s people, so we won't talk about that. Shhhhhhh!!! Two women having romantic feelings for each other in the 1900s is the big elephant in the room. But Maryka Biaggio handles that part with a lot of grace.

I wanted to believe in the good in May. But it was kind of hard to after reading the last chapter. Has she truly learned anything, or will the cycle always continue? I don't know if the real May Dugas was such a complicated character, but the fictional character was a joy to read about. When the book was over, I just wanted more, and I think other readers will, too.

Rating: O.M.G. !!!

Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher (Doubleday) as part of a blog tour with Authors On The Web

Please welcome Maryka Biaggio !!

2013-02-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

Here's a little Q&A with Maryka Biaggio, author of Parlor Games.

1. When did you first stumble upon the story of May Dugas?

In the summer of 2010 my parents and I were traveling through Menominee, Michigan, and decided to stop at their Information Center. Prominently displayed on a shelf was a pamphlet by Lloyd Wendt entitled Life of May Dugas of Menominee. It started with this line: “She was down in our files as the most dangerous woman in the world.” That got my attention! We straightaway drove to the Menominee Historical Society to purchase the pamphlet. When I expressed interest in May Dugas, the attendant showed me the only memento they had of her—a gorgeous bejeweled black gown. May was not only dangerous—she possessed a sense of style as well as the money to afford the best of attire.

2. What about May intrigued you?

Once I read Wendt’s write-up of May’s life (as told by his Pinkerton detective informant), I knew I had to write about her. The story posed so many questions: How much of a challenge was it for her to break out of societal expectations of the time? What motivated her? How did she feel about the men she extracted money from? Was she a victim of powerful men or did she lure them in with blackmail in mind?

3. Did writing this novel require special research or travel? Have you been to many of the places May visits in the book?

I did a great deal of research online about the period, customs, and events. But I also traveled. For instance, I visited the National Archives in Washington, DC, to search for May’s passport and travel records. While I was in San Francisco, I checked out her stomping grounds at the historic Palace Hotel. In Chicago I studied buildings that were in existence when she frequented the city. I had traveled in China in 1985, not too long after it opened up to outside visitors, and I drew on that experience in portraying May’s sojourns in the bustling cities of Hong Kong and Shanghai. A professional meeting had taken me to Mexico City in the 1990s, so I was familiar with its sights and the surrounding geography. I also arranged a trip to the south of France while I was working on the novel. I paid the requisite fee to enter the exclusive gambling lounge at the Monte Carlo Casino, where I was able to soak up the ambience of the scene—the beautiful, inviting decor, the serious expressions of the gamblers, and the shuffling of chips—just as May did during her visits there.

4. Which place that you haven’t visited would you most like to see?

The Chateau de Pallandt, the country estate of the Dutch Baron who May wed, is still in existence. May and the Baron were married on the grounds and lived there for many years before moving to London. This gorgeous property is now a luxury bed and breakfast owned by Baron and Baroness d' Hooghvorsis. I would love to go for a stay and gift a copy of my novel to the current proprietors.

5. How much of the novel is based on historical record?

All the key events in the novel are based on actual occurrences as reported in either Lloyd Wendt’s pamphlet or newspaper reports of the time. I wanted to be true to this woman’s fascinating life, which I hope heightens the reader’s interest in her. Of course, the daily events and conversations are my constructions, albeit designed to paint a picture of the larger events.

6. Without giving anything away, what were your favorite scenes to write?

Writing about May was such a delight! Once I found May’s voice, the story flowed rather easily. I especially enjoyed writing about her first big adventure in Chicago. It wasn’t easy going, and she really did need to call on her wits and wiles to avoid the pitfalls that many young women succumbed to in America’s big cities at that time.

7. May is a captivating character and many readers end up rooting for her. Did you want the readers to feel conflicted about May?

Absolutely. In order for May to have successfully traveled the world and entered the circles of so many interesting and wealthy men, she had to have charm and charisma. I wanted the reader to experience that firsthand and contemplate May’s motives for telling her story. Was she trying to dupe the reader or simply confide in and earn the trust and approval of her listeners?

8. May is quite a unique character. Do you see yourself in her at all?

I’d like to think I have a bit of clever resourcefulness about me. My family moved around a great deal during my childhood and adolescent years, so I had to learn to adapt to strange places, meet new people, and foster fresh friendships. Perhaps I gained some measure of adaptability and resourcefulness from that experience. I did have great fun trying to figure out how May pulled off her many exploits, but I myself am too encumbered with a diligent superego to ever attempt such intrigues.

9. How has your background as a professor of psychology helped you in your writing?

I hope that after eight years of study and thirty years of teaching clinical psychology I have translated some of what I know into my writing. Since I am knowledgeable about human development, personality functioning, and diagnostic categories, I tried to bring that understanding to bear in imagining May’s formative years, motives, and some of the self-delusions she may have operated under.

10. Was this your first writing effort outside of academia?

No, from an early age I was fascinated by fiction and have always wanted to write a novel. During my academic career I took some university courses in creative writing and dabbled in short stories. But it wasn’t until the year 2000 that I decided to take the leap into novel writing. I toiled over and submitted three novels for publication before I wrote Parlor Games. I view those novels as my proving ground. With each one, I felt my mastery improve, and I want to keep pushing myself to ever-greater writing challenges.

11. What’s your writing routine like?

I rise early, take a brisk walk, breakfast over articles about writing, and read the daily newspaper. Then I steal away to my study and write all morning, blocking out, as much as possible, the distractions of e-mail, phone, and doorbell, as well as the neighborhood children squealing at the school bus stop. I don’t schedule appointments during this time if at all possible. I like to immerse myself in writing for a good three hours every weekday. That time flies by, and my usually astute stomach sometimes forgets when lunchtime has arrived. I often use afternoons and weekends for research and other writing-related tasks.

12. Are there any authors, writing in either historical fiction or other categories, whom you’ve looked to for inspiration?

Barry Unsworth is one of my favorite authors. I had occasion to meet him at a writer’s conference a few years before his passing. We talked about two of my favorite books by him—Sacred Hunger and Sugar and Rum. He was charming and personable, and I will forever remember the wonderful conversation we shared. Barbara Kingsolver’s novel of a missionary family in the Congo, Poisonwood Bible, influenced me a great deal, particularly the skill with which she captured the voices of her varied characters. One of my favorite books about a real person is Joyce Carol Oates’ Blonde, a fine literary work that brilliantly evokes Marilyn Monroe’s complex personality. It’s my favorite book by Oates and she, in fact, has divulged that it’s one of her favorites as well.

About Parlor Games

The novel opens in 1917 with our cunning protagonist, May Dugas, standing trial for extortion. As the trial unfolds, May tells her version of events.

In 1887, at the tender age of eighteen, May ventures to Chicago in hopes of earning enough money to support her family. Circumstances force her to take up residence at the city’s most infamous bordello, but May soon learns to employ her considerable feminine wiles to extract not only sidelong looks but also large sums of money from the men she encounters. Insinuating herself into Chicago’s high society, May lands a well-to-do fiancé—until, that is, a Pinkerton Agency detective named Reed Doherty intervenes and summarily foils the engagement.

Unflappable May quickly rebounds, elevating seduction and social climbing to an art form as she travels the world, eventually marrying a wealthy Dutch Baron. Unfortunately, Reed Doherty is never far behind and continues to track May in a delicious cat-and-mouse game as the newly-minted Baroness’s misadventures take her from San Francisco to Shanghai to London and points in between.

The Pinkerton Agency really did dub May the “Most Dangerous Woman,” branding her a crafty blackmailer and ruthless seductress. To many, though, she was the most glamorous woman to grace high society. Was the real May Dugas a cold-hearted swindler or simply a resourceful provider for her poor family?

As the narrative bounces back and forth between the trial taking place in 1917 and May’s devious but undeniably entertaining path to the courtroom—hoodwinking and waltzing her way through the gilded age and into the twentieth century—we're left to ponder her guilt as we move closer to finding out what fate ultimately has in store for our irresistible adventuress.

About the Author

Maryka Biaggio is a former psychology professor turned novelist with a passion for history. Twenty-eight years after launching her academic career she took the leap from full-time academic to scrambling writer and now splits her time between fiction writing and higher education consulting work. More information about Maryka and Parlor Games can be found on MarykaBiaggio.com, including a discussion guide, historical information, recommended reading and a fun “Parlor Talk” feature. You can also find out more about Parlor Games on Facebook.

My take on: Cherokee Talisman

2013-02-21T00:51:00.002-05:00

"In 1775 perspective came with the color of your skin."

Powerful words by David-Michael Harding, author of Cherokee Talisman. That statement was true then, and it's still true today. I don't know much about this particular piece of history, but Cherokee Talisman is a fictional but well-researched book.

Chief Tsi'yugunsini aka the Dragon wants to protect the land of his ancestors from the greedy hands of white men. Not everyone agrees with him. A deal for land is supposed to be in the interest of peace. From the white man's perspective, buying land from the Cherokee is for their own good. But where does it end? One large parcel of land can become two, then three, and on and on until all Indians are completely wiped out. They're savages right, what do they need with the land. Dragon can see their motives and he wishes others in his tribe would do the same.

When Dragon takes the young Totsuhwa under his wing, the two men band together to protect the land. This is where some of the more graphic details of the book begin. As history progresses, Indian women and children are being kidnapped, raped, and abused. Dragon and Totsuhwa's actions are certainly violent, but given the era and what had already been done to so many Indian tribes is it really that far out of character? You and your ancestors are being killed and in some cases forced off of your land. Someone is trying to force you off what is yours. Someone else believes they are entitled to what is already yours. I think most people would fight to keep what is rightfully theirs. As Totsuhwa matures, he marries and teaches his own son to adhere to Cherokee traditions. But, Totsuhwa's relationship with his son is constantly being put to the test by white men. You start to wonder if they will ever find some peace.

The writing is very detailed, but it was also very dense. It took me awhile to get through some parts and I had to reread some passages, because I didn't understand some of the material clearly. The writing is also very realistic and makes you question why some former leaders of this country are so revered despite their role in trying to wipe out an entire race. Overall, this was a very sad and graphic read.

Rating: Give it a try

Note: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

My take on: The Dogs of Winter

2013-02-18T00:01:00.000-05:00

Looking at the cover of The Dogs of Winter by Bobbie Pyron, I was expecting a cutesy story of a young boy and his dogs. Boy was I wrong. Instead, I read a story about a young boy with incredible courage and strength. Bobbie Pyron took the true story of Ivan Mishukov, and turned it into an adventurous, emotional, and heart-breaking piece of fiction.

In The Dogs of Winter, five-year-old Ivan Andreovich lives in a bubble. His mother is his whole world. He enjoyed watching her cook and clean. At night, Ivan cherished the moments when his mother read to him at night from a book of fairy tales. Theirs was a peaceful life, until he came along. Ivan's mother met a man, a rather evil man. He wants Ivan gone. He doesn't like Ivan. The feeling is mutual, Ivan just wants this man to go away. Ivan doesn't get his wish, instead this sweet little boy has his life turned upside down. His mom disappears and Ivan is abandoned on the streets of Moscow.

Alone and scared, Ivan clings to the memories of his mother. He clings to the good times. He clings to the memory of her in a red coat. He clings to a single black button from that precious red coat. Everywhere he goes, Ivan is looking for his mother and hoping she is wearing that red coat. He misses his mother, and knows she is missing him. He asks every person on the street if they've seen his mother. Ivan is lost literally and figuratively. He needs help. Who will help him? Who can he trust?

Help comes in the form of a group of street kids. They know how to steal and hustle. They spend their nights huddled under benches in the warm train stations. The more time Ivan spends with them, the less he feels like himself. His mother taught him to be respectful and not to steal, but that's what Ivan has to do to survive. The memories of his mother are also starting to fade. What did she look like? What did she sound like? Does she remember what he looks like? He's not even Ivan anymore, he has become just another street kid. Kids who most of the time are invisible to the public.

Ivan doesn't stay with these kids for long. There's too much fighting going on. There isn't much trust within the group. Instead, Ivan finds solace in a pack of dogs. The dogs don't get angry at him. The dogs don't judge him like the people on the street. The dogs take care of him emotionally and they watch over him. Now that his mother has become a distant memory, the dogs are the closest thing to having an actual family.

As the weeks, months, and years go by this young boy goes from being sweet, innocent Ivan to the wild "Dog Boy." He doesn't remember what it feels like to sleep in a bed, brush his teeth, take a bath, or eat at a table like a normal boy. He is no longer "normal" by society's standards. Normal for him is living in abandoned shacks, hollowed out trees, or on trains. Normal for him his begging strangers for money. Normal for him is dodging the police and the nuns who want to put him in an orphanage. Normal for him is digging through the trash for food. Normal for him is caring for the dogs when they're sick and playing with them in the woods when they're healthy.

While I was reading the book, I was starting to believe that the streets and the dogs were the best option. He could languish for years in an orphanage. The streets offer him the opportunity to be free without rules. But every time the winter rolls around, you can't help but feel sorry for this young boy. He needs more loving and tenderness than a pack of dogs can provide. Sometimes you forget that the main character is just a child. He develops the maturity and resourcefulness of someone much older.

Ivan's relationships with the dogs are at the heart of the book. You start to wonder if they can survive without the other. Whenever they get separated, Ivan and the dogs always find their way back to each other. Ivan and his dogs can communicate with each other with sounds, gestures, and emotions. The dogs know when he is hungry, happy, or sad and vice versa. I loved this book. I loved the writing. I loved the characters. The book is adventurous, engaging, happy, sad, and an overall emotional roller coaster all rolled into one.

Rating: O.M.G. !!!

Note: I received the book from the publisher (Scholastic) as part of a blog tour with Virtual Author Book Tours.com