Reading Frenzy

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball

2011-12-03T11:36:00.000-08:00

Let's begin the Christmas books reviews with this wonderful story for the holiday season!

By Donita K. Paul

From the back of the book:

In a sleepy, snow-covered city, Cora Crowder is busy preparing for the holiday season. As she searches for a perfect gift, a fortuitous trip to Warner, Werner and Wizbotterdad’s (a most unusual bookshop) leads to an unexpected encounter with co-worker Simon Derrick. And the surprise discovery of a ticket for a truly one-of-a-kind Christmas Ball.

Just my opinion:

Oh, my goodness, this has to be one of the most fun and pleasant books I’ve read in a long time and just right for the holiday season!

Cora is a very shy and reserved young woman. She’s the kind of person who easily gets lost in the crowd. Not often noticed, she likes being anonymous. She doesn’t have many friends and is estranged from her family. It’s just her and her cat (who also often ignores her) living in her plain and quiet apartment. Each morning, she goes to work and each evening, she returns home for another peaceful night. For many, it would seem like a boring existence, but Cora is quite content. All that changes when she runs into Simon Derrick, one of her supervisors, while visiting an unusual bookstore in the middle of one of the oldest sections of the city. Owned and operated by three odd gentlemen, it’s a shop of the kind you just don’t find very often. She purchases a book as a Christmas gift, says a few words to Simon and heads back to her little apartment. As she looks through the book, a slip of paper falls out. It’s a ticket to a Christmas ball.

And because of that ticket, Cora’s life is about to change.

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball is such a wonderful story. With wizards and magic sprinkled into the mix, it’s a completely new take on the holiday season. It’s such fun to read and is bound to lighten the stress that often comes with preparing for Christmas. You really must read this one!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

2011-12-01T12:07:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited about this holiday season! Now that it's December, I will be posting a variety of reviews for holiday reads (along with my usual reviews), so come back often for a visit. Share your thoughts in the comments box and I may have few surprises for my loyal followers along the way. Reviews start this week, so stay tuned!

2011-11-24T08:41:00.000-08:00

Dark Song

2011-11-17T11:12:00.000-08:00

By Gail Giles

From the back of the book:

Marc said he heard that darkness when he creeped houses, when he stood over people while they slept. The song the predator’s heart sings when it hears the heart of the prey.

Ames is not the person she was a few months ago. Her father lost his job, and her family is crumbling apart. No more private school, cushy mansions, or best friend to hang with … now, all she has is Marc.

Marc, who loves her more than anything. Marc, who is so obsessed with his gun collection. Marc, who won’t let anyone stand in his way where Ames is concerned—especially her parents. Mom and Dad, role models of lies and self-absorption, aren’t exactly innocent … but is Ames prepared to commit the ultimate betrayal against them?

Just my opinion:

Written for young adults, this story describes what happens when family situations go horribly wrong. Here’s a father who loses his job for embezzling funds, a mother who is often emotionally distant, a spoiled teenage girl who is on the verge of rebellion and a younger daughter who is being groomed to act just like her older sister someday.

Ames is the consummate spoiled teen. She’s always been given everything she wants and expects that. Raised in an upper-class neighborhood with like-minded friends at a private school, she is so self-absorbed that she can’t understand when her father is suddenly without a job and they have to find a way to cope with no money. No, she won’t give up her cell phone or her $50 a month iTunes budget. She also still expects to have all the clothes she’s used to.

Matters only get worse when they have to sell the “extras” they have accumulated just to put food on the table and pay the bills. Plus, her mother is so angry at Ames’ father for the situation they are now in that she further distances herself from her children.

Nightly arguments soon become the norm and Ames is shocked when her father comes close to striking her for talking back.

The only solution seems to be uprooting the family and moving from Boulder, Colorado, to Texas where Ames’ grandparents – who she didn’t know existed – live. They are landlords for a series of low-income houses that are in poor condition and have agreed to let them stay in one and fix it up to pay the rent. Unfortunately, they also have a serious grudge against their son, who stole from them and disappeared with the money.

Ames meets Marc and falls head-over-heels in love. Yet, Marc has his own set of issues. He’s 23, violent and attracted to young teen girls, such as Ames, who is only 15. He worms her way into her heart and he offers her the ultimate solution to her family problems.

This is a very well-written book that could potentially open the eyes of young girls who are also on the verge of striking out against their parents, whether physically or verbally. As you read the words on these pages, you can see the results of Ames attitude and you hope you never sounded like that with your own mother or father. It’s quite a story and one both teens and parents will get something out of.

My favorite passage from the book:

Were we all born smart and then learn to be stupid? Do we lost our honesty when we lose our innocence?

Honoring Those Who Served

2011-11-11T08:27:00.000-08:00

Happy Veterans Day, everyone. This is the day we take time to honor those who have served to protect our country and preserve our Constitutional rights. I love the picture above, which I found on Yahoo images. The silhouette reminds me of my husband when he is wearing his uniform. He wore it proudly for 40 years! Today, he is selling Buddy Poppies to help support those veterans in need in our community.

Life, Liberty, and Pursuit

2011-11-09T08:20:00.000-08:00

By Susan Kaye Quinn

From the back of the book:

When college-bound Eliza falls into a cruise-ship pool, she doesn’t expect to fall in love. And when navy recruit David pulls her from the water, he finds her surprisingly hard to resist. But a whirlwind of rescues, candlelit nights, and beachside misunderstandings pulls them into a four day love affair that threatens to break their hearts before their love has a chance to start.

Just my opinion:

Eliza’s mother and new stepfather decide to take a cruise and invite her along before she heads off to college. As she stands on the deck enjoying the view of the ocean, she spots a very attractive young man near the rail. When he turns and looks her way, she quickly backs into the shadows, falling into the pool.

David is on the cruise with his family and sees a pretty young woman standing on the deck late at night. When she backs into the pool, he rushes over to find her floundering. He jumps in and pulls her out of the water and takes her right away to the infirmary. Not satisfied with the care they are giving her, he brings his father, who just happens to be a doctor, to look her over.

It’s definitely a set-up for a whirlwind romance between these two young adults, yet they keep finding reasons why they shouldn’t attempt a relationship. For one, David is getting ready to leave for boot camp as he is a new Navy recruit. Secondly, Eliza will be heading for college once she gets back from home.

To complicate matters, David’s sister is doing everything she can to get them together, but their parents aren’t very keen about the idea. But after Eliza saves David from a band of robbers on shore, there’s no stopping them from falling in love.

This is such a fun book! Written for young adults, Susan Kaye Quinn creates a story that has a wonderful flow to it. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters. I especially liked David’s brother Tomasz, who is such an entertaining flirt! He brought such exuberance to the book.

I had put off reading this book for a while because the print is so small and I wasn’t sure if my eyes would get too tired, but it turned out to be OK. I’m glad it did … I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this story for the world!

Pump Up Your Book blog tour: Space by Emily Sue Harvey

2011-11-07T00:23:00.000-08:00

From the back of the book:

Emily Sue (Harvey) delivers us a deeply moving story of a family on the brink. Dan and Deede Stowe have worked for year, planning and saving for their idyllic retirement years. Just when they finally are about to realize their dream, their adult, recovering drug-addict daughter, Faith, moves back in with them and everything changes. Their “miracle child,” complete with druggie baggage, upsets the tranquil balance of the Stowes’s existence. Private romantic moments evaporate. Faith’s endless needs intrude hour by hour, devouring their finances, their emotions, and most crucially, their space. In turn, Faith finds herself bereft of everything she cherished most: her health, her marriage, her child, her family, her reputation and, most of all, a space to call her own.

About the author:

Emily Sue Harvey, author and speaker, writes to make a difference. She is a past president of the Southeastern Writers Association and has contributed to several volumes in the bestselling Chicken Soup and Chocolate for Women series. She has also published articles in multiple women’s magazines, websites and other anthologies.

She is the author of the novels Song of Renewal and Homefires, as well as the novella Flavors. Her new novel Spaces will be followed by another novel (Unto these Hills) later in 2011. To find out more about Emily, visit www.renewalstories.com or www.emilysueharvey.com.

Just my opinion:

This is a book that will definitely grip your heart. Here is a happily married couple who are looking forward to the golden years. They’ve spent years planning for it and everything seems to be going according to that plan until their grown daughter returns home – complete with a number of issues revolving around her drug addictions. Between her lies and stealing from them, as well as the court and rehabilitation costs, the couple watches their life savings begin to disappear. It’s a horrible situation any family could, unfortunately, find themselves in.

Emily Sue Harvey delivers the story with such finesse and understanding. She relates the pain and agony the characters must deal with in a way that takes you right into their hearts. You feel their anger, their frustrations and their sadness as they try to fix what’s gone wrong in their lives.

I’ve been a fan of Emily’s writing for quite a while now. I took part in the Pump Up Your Book Homefires blog tour in June (you can find that review here). And I’ve also read her novella Flavors, so I’m looking forward to her newest novel Unto These Hills when it hits the stands.

Emily certainly has a way of pulling the reader right onto the pages of her stories, often not an easy thing to do for an author. She also shows how a little hope and trusting in God to see you through difficult situations can be an immense help in times of need.

Please check out her books and give them a try. I’m sure you will enjoy them.

For more information about this blog tour, go to the Pump UpYour Book website. For information on purchasing Space, check out this link to Amazon, where it is available in both paperback and Kindle editions

Fall back!

2011-11-06T10:22:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone remembered to change their clocks last night before going to bed! It was time to "fall back" an hour. I certainly enjoyed that extra hour of sleep!

Blog tour: Collecting Innocents by CK Webb and DJ Weaver

2011-11-04T09:35:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the blog tour for the new book Collecting Innocents: The 911 Adbuctions, hosted by the authors themselves. This is the sequel to the novel Cruelty to Innocents, which I read and reviewed in June (that post can be found here).

Ebook description:

Highway travel can be lonely and treacherous. Broken down vehicles litter the Emergency Lane like corpses on a battlefield. What if you were alone with no one to call when you found yourself stranded? Your only companion; your small child sleeping in the back seat. What would you do?

Just my opinion:

Collecting Innocents starts off with the abduction of 4-year-old Moira and her mother Tammy, catching your attention right from the first page. They were driving from Florida to California when their car broke down in Louisiana. Tammy's friend Stacy contacts the police in a panic when Tammy didn't show up in California. Where is she?

A short time later, Tammy's body is found in a swamp. Moira -- and the car -- is still missing. So, Saving Angels, an investigation firm formed in response to a series of abductions that occurred in another part of the country, is called in to help. The finding of Tammy's body is followed soon after by the discovery of another body. All evidence points to a serial killer.

I really enjoy reading the books of these two authors. I've read books written by more than one author in the past and in some, you can definitely tell who wrote which chapter or section. However, these two ladies blend the story together in such a smooth way with good dialogue and descriptions. There's not a lot of overly written explanations, making it a pleasure to read and understand the plot. They stick to the storyline and don't bring in extraneous garble. The plot is interesting and keeps you glued to the page.

I'm so glad CK Webb and DJ Weaver asked me to read Collecting Innocents. It was a pleasure!

For more information about these authors and this series and tour, visit their website. There, you will also find information about the next book Avenging Innocents: The Final Chapter, which I'm also looking forward to reading!

A Trace of Smoke

2011-11-03T11:16:00.000-07:00

By Rebecca Cantrell

From the back of the book:

Hardened crime reporter Hannah Vogel knows all too well how tough it is to survive in 1931 Berlin. Still, she is devastated when she sees a photograph of her brother’s body in the Hall of the Unnamed Dead. Ernst, a cross-dressing lounge singer, had many secrets, a never-ending list of lovers, and plenty of opportunities to get into trouble. While attempting to maintain her budding romance with a handsome, upstanding backer, Hannah delves into the city’s dark underbelly to flush out her brother’s murderer.

Just my opinion:

As if Hannah doesn’t have enough trouble trying to survive on a paycheck that barely covers her own expenses, suddenly a 5-year-old boy appears on her doorstep with a birth certificate claiming she is his mother and her dead brother is the father. She knows, of course, that the papers are counterfeit, but now she must figure out how to care for Anton, who has managed to find a way into her heart, and who killed her brother. Her quest leads her down a path of danger and risk for both her and Anton.

This is definitely a book that is on my list of favorites. Written in a way that takes the reader right into the heart of Nazi Germany and the beginning of Hitler’s popularity as a party leader, the story weaves its way through a time when fear was a mainstay for those who disagreed with the political forces of the time. As you peruse the pages, you are taken back to a time that will make you appreciate where you are now.

As a bonus, the author does an excellent job of telling this tale and you soon find yourself caring deeply for Hannah and hoping she is able to survive for her sake and for the sake of the little boy she must now protect.

Well-written, this is a story you will want to add to your list of books to read. Plus, a few twists at the end make the story all that more intriguing.

Happy Halloween!!!

2011-10-31T10:46:00.000-07:00

Do you have plans for tonight? We will stay home and pass out treats for little ghosts and goblins that appear on our doorstep, while my son and his wife takes our grandson out in his Yoda costume.

Our neighborhood is usually pretty quiet on Halloween. Not many houses on our street are lit up. Most people are off to parties or taking their kids trick-or-treating. So, because we’re just about the only house on the block with a light on, ghouls think it’s kind of a waste of time.

That means we enjoy even more the ones who do show up!

Here’s a little trivia about this spooky holiday: Why are bats one of the symbols of Halloween?

In ancient times, people gathered around giant bonfires to ward off evil spirits. Small flying insects were attracted to the warmth and bright lights these fires created … the same insects that were natural food for bats.

The people would see the bats flickering in and out of the light from the fire and they became part of the Halloween lore. This connection grew stronger with the discovery of the vampire bat in the 17^th century and tales circulated throughout Europe of bats that drank blood.

It soon became a natural association – a creature that drinks the blood of its prey in the dark of night!

Birds

2011-10-30T10:24:00.000-07:00

Edited by Fiorella Congedo

From the book jacket:

This lovely book showcases the delicate copper engravings of birds created by Georges-Louis Leclerc, Compte de Buffon (1707-88), for his masterpiece work Histoire naturelle, générale et particuliére. The glorious birds captured within are original reproductions of Leclerc’s art, which depicts the vibrant hues of the birds’ feathers, the varying length of their wings, and their wide-eyed expressions as they stand perched, always alert for symbols of danger or other forms of life that might serve as their next meal.

Just my opinion:

If I could say I’m in love with a book, this would be the one. When I first opened the pages, I was instantly enthralled by the wonderful pictures.

Georges-Louis Leclerc, Compte de Buffon, was one of the most respected naturalists of his time. He created a very large series of copper engravings of the birds he came to appreciate and respect. Taking those same extraordinary pieces of art, Fiorella Congedo has compiled them into a book that is nothing less than fascinating. Anyone who recognizes the value of nature and-or art will enjoy gleaning the pages of this wonderful book.

Bonus: A DVD in included with the book that contains all the pictures on it – to be used by readers at their discretion!

As a nature lover, this book is one I will treasure for years to come. It will sit alongside my copy of Audubon’s book with those superb images of birds in their natural habitats.

Pump Up Your Book blog tour: A Christmas Journey Home by Kathi Macias

2011-10-25T08:05:00.000-07:00

Welcome to another Pump Up Your Book blog tour. This one features a wonderful new holiday book by Kathi Macias.

From the back of the book:

During Isabella Alcantata’s seventh month of pregnancy, her parents and siblings are murdered in gang- and drug-related violence—in a home targeted by mistake. Isabella knows the same thing could easily happen to her and her husband, Francisco. When her grandfather offers to hire a “coyote” to bring them across the border to America, she agrees.

Living on one of the smaller spreads along the Arizona border, Miriam Nelson becomes furious with God and turns from her faith when her border patrol agent husband, David, is killed in a skirmish with drug smugglers. Her mother and young son do their best to woo her back from anger and bitterness.

Isabella and Miriam—one driven by fear and a promise, the other by bitterness and revenge—must make their journeys along different pathways to the same destination on Christmas Eve. Forced to face their personal demons, Isabella and Miriam soon discover a common yearning to bind them together in a most miraculous way.

About the author:

Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored more than 30 books and ghostwritten several others. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs.

She is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats and writers’ conferences and won the 2008 Member of the Year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association).

Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias lives in Homeland, Calif., with her husband Al. For more information about her, stop by her website.

Just my opinion:

A Christmas Journey Home is a modern-day tale of the Nativity story told in the New Testament. Here is a young Mexican woman who enters the U.S. illegally with her husband. Through a grueling set of circumstances when they first arrive, her husband is killed by camp raiders and she must continue on alone.

On the other side of the story is another young woman whose husband is killed by drug smugglers while he is on duty as a border patrol agent. Left with a small son to care for, bitterness and hatred become her mantra. She now hates illegal immigrants more than anything and she is quickly burying herself in her own, secluded world.

When fate brings these two women together, they must find a way to trust and care for each other … and to communicate. It’s a touching story and a great read for the upcoming holiday season.

For more information about this blog tour, visit the Pump UpYour Book website. Look for this book at your favorite bookstore or visit Amazon for details.

Pump Up Your Book blog tour: The Pub Across the Pond by Mary Carter

2011-10-21T00:46:00.000-07:00

From the back of the book:

Carlene Rivers is many things. Dutiful, reliable, kind. Lucky? Not so much. At thirty, she’s living a stifling existence in Cleveland, Ohio. Then one day, Carlene buys a raffle ticket. The prize: a pub on the west coast of Ireland. Carlene is stunned when she wins. Everyone else is stunned when she actually goes.

About the author:

Mary Carter is a freelance writer and novelist. She is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, which is part of the Rochester Institute of Technology. The Pub Across the Pond is her fifth novel. You can learn more about her books at marycarterbooks.com.

Just my opinion:

When Carlene Rivers wins an Irish pub in a raffle, she sees it as the opportunity to finally get out from under her dead-end life. Caring for her father since her mother’s death has been stressful, to say the least, and she’s ready to strike out on her own. Who would have thought she’d fall head over heels in love with the quaint little pub, the odd ball clientele she inherited … or the previous owner?

I absolutely adored this book. It was such a fun read and I kept rooting for Carlene throughout the entire novel. I’m not sure if I agree with her choice of men, but I have to admit, he does sound fascinating.

I don’t want to tell you too much about the book because I don’t want to give anything away. I really think you should read this for yourself.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I’m very impressed. Her characters are well-developed and she takes you right into the pages with her descriptions of the setting. I’ve never had a huge desire to travel to Europe, but after reading The Pub Across the Pond, Ireland does indeed sound enchanting.

For more information about this blog tour, visit the Pump UpYour Book website. You can purchase the book at your favorite bookseller. It is available at Amazon by clicking here.

Salvation City

2011-10-18T08:21:00.000-07:00

By Sigrid Nunez

From the back of the book:

In the wake of a flue pandemic that has ravaged much of the U.S., orphaned thirteen-year-old Cole Vining is taken into the home of an evangelical pastor and his young wife. In isolated Salvation City, the small southern Indiana town where they live, Cole feels sheltered and deeply loved, yet still an outsider. His new world is starkly different from the secular one in which he was raised, and he must struggle to understand as everything he has ever known is now challenged.

Just my opinion:

Coming of age novels are always quite interesting to me and I especially enjoy looking at how the author approaches this issue. Salvation City presents a new twist to the topic as we watch a boy grow into a young man in the wake of a flu pandemic that killed his parents.

Cole is a character you easily learn to like and sympathize with. He is raised in a rather lenient household with progressive parents who care very deeply for him, although they have some difficultly showing their love at times. After their deaths, he is sent to an orphanage where the other children can often be quite cruel. He is finally adopted by a preacher and his wife, who come to love him very much and are willing to show and tell him that.

As he goes through puberty and learns to adapt to his new surroundings, his story gets more and more complex.

This is a fascinating tale that looks at how different the world could be following an epidemic of radical proportions. The author does an excellent job of portraying the changing world and the effect it has on those who survive.

It’s a great read and one I didn’t want to put down. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this book and I hope you get a chance to read it.

Some favorite passages from the book:

The best way to remember people after they’ve passed it so remember the good about them.

We’re all going to die, that’s for certain. And the thing for folks to do is stop wasting their energy being all headless and fearful like a herd of spooked cattle.

When it came to spreading infection, they were informed, they themselves—school kids—were the biggest culprits.

It’s not like every other bad thing stopped happening to make room for the flu. People are still getting cancer and having heart attacks and strokes and road accidents. The idea that we could handle any kind of surge on top of that—whoever’s fantasy that was, it was never going to happen.

Nothing sadder than a bunch of Christians trying to prove they’re every bit as hip as the lost.

Sometimes when things turn out this way, survival can feel like betrayal.

Outside the light was pale. The sky looked low and as fragile as eggshell, as if a rock hurled hard enough could smash it.

Grey Pine

2011-10-11T17:09:00.000-07:00

By T. Lloyd Winetsky

From the back of the book:

On May 18, 1980, the eruption of Mount Saint Helens captured the attention of America. The communities east of the Cascade Mountains were woefully prepared for the devastation and disruption that followed, transforming for many a bright spring day into a murky, twenty-hour night. Grey Pine is the story of Phillip Stark, a bright and innovative young science teacher who attempts to treat the ash fall as an opportunity for experiment and wonder, but who is constantly thwarted by the resulting havoc in the community, and his own personal demons. As his health declines, his relationships suffer. The chaotic and often dangerous situations with his alcoholic father, irksome neighbor, unreliable girlfriend, and strained friendships derail any attempt to regain control of his life. All the while the omnipresent ash from the volcanic eruption acts as a symbolic reminder of his oppression and inability to break through.

Just my opinion:

This is the story of one man’s spiral into a deep depression – and his struggles to fight it, even as he continues to give in to its pull. It’s a fascinating psychological study of mental illness and the effect it has not only on the sufferer but those around him, as well.

Following the death of his mother, Phillip’s father falls into severe alcoholism. When he’s drinking, he becomes verbally abusive and Phillip begins to see his father as two different personalities … the father whom he loves and the stranger who takes over his body when alcohol enters the picture. As he struggles to try to stop his father from destroying himself, he begins the blame others for the circumstances he finds himself in.

The effect on Phillip is nothing short of heartbreaking. He stops eating properly, he can’t sleep, he withdraws from friends and family and he self-medicates with ulcer medication. He also begins to exhibit some compulsive tendencies when the eruption of Mount St. Helens leaves the area under a blanket of ash and Phillip spends all his waking moments working to clear up the mess in his yard and on the street.

I found this book interesting on several levels. First, I remember vividly the mess we all dealt with here in eastern Washington following the eruption of the volcano in 1980. Life basically stopped for several days as we dug ourselves out of inches and inches of gray powder. Reading Grey Pine, I can see how this gloominess could cause sadness in those already suffering from depression. I would compare it to seasonal affective disorder, in which the darkness winter can throw those afflicted by it into melancholy.

I also enjoy reading books that have a psychological milieu. I find it fascinating reading an author’s take on these issues and theories, especially those who have done their research and know something about the disorders.

Last month, I read the book Maria Juana’s Gift by this same author. I very much enjoyed that story, too, and you can read that review here. He is currently working on another book and I hope to have the opportunity to also read that one. For more information, you can visit his website.

T. Lloyd Winetsky wrote Grey Pine in 2007. The book was reprinted in 2009, just in time for the 30^th anniversary of the eruption. The updated version includes photos Mr. Winetsky took outside his home in Othello, Washington, where he was living in 1980. Those familiar with my profile know I now live in Othello, although I was living about an hour northeast during the ash fall.

I'm also excited to report that this author will be doing a book signing at The Old Hotel Art Gallery in Othello in December. That is a very special treat because we don't get that many authors in our small city. We typically have to travel an hour or so to the bigger areas for book signings!

Be sure to stop by the author's website at tlwinetsky.com.

Just below, you will find my favorite passage from the book. I was drawn to this sentence because of my own experiences. As day turned to night and the ash began to fall, my oldest son, who was 3 years old at the time, disappeared. I found him out on the back patio, grabbing handfuls of ash and throwing them up into the air. He was in seventh heaven as he proclaimed, “It’s snowing!” That’s quite a treat for a little boy to have snow in the summer!

My favorite passage from the book:

Leaning out the doorway, he watched the flecks of ash fall like steady snow caught in a car’s high beams.

The First Gardener

2011-10-07T08:52:00.000-07:00

By Denise Hildreth Jones

From the back of the book:

Jeremiah Williams has been tending those gardens for over twenty-five years. And like most first families who have come and gone, this one has stolen his heart. Mackenzie and her husband, Governor Gray London, are enjoying a sweet season of life when a tragedy tears their world apart. As the entire state mourns, Mackenzie falls into a grief that threatens to swallow her whole. Though his heart is broken, Jeremiah realizes that his gift of gardening is about far more than pulling weeds and planting flowers. It’s about tending hearts as well.

Just my opinion:

This is a lovely and touching story, yet very sad at the same time. When an awful tragedy rips through the first family of Tennessee, Jeremiah Williams reaches out to help. With kindness and patience, he delivers advice and compassion to the governor and his wife, hoping that he can, in his own way, bring some healing and mercy to their lives.

I found this book very compelling and tender, as well as poignant. I also found myself drawn to the characters, especially Jeremiah. The author made we want to get to know them better, especially when a little twist at the end made me say, “Ah, hah!”

I also feel this would be a wonderful selection for book groups, as there is much that could be discussed about the story and how similar tragedies have affected the lives of those around us. Can we take the example of Jeremiah and use it to help our own friends?

Beautifully written and stirring, this is a book you’ll not want to pass up if you are looking for your next reading adventure.

My favorite passage from the book:

No heart is bigger than a child’s. And at no time is a heart more moldable than in childhood. So our job is to offer children the opportunity to see where the needs in their community lie. And I am confident that when they see the need, they will have a desire to help meet that need. All we have to do is lead them.

Incognito

2011-10-04T08:29:00.000-07:00

By Gregory Murphy

From the back of the book:

New York City, 1911, William Dysart, born to wealth and married to a society beauty, longs for a life of purpose, but feels trapped by circumstances and by the wishes of his wife and domineering father. Having lost his mother as a boy, he’s repressed all memories of her mysterious death—but feels his work as a lawyer is something that would have pleased her.

Just my opinion:

This really is an enjoyable read. Set at the turn of the 20^th century, the author does an excellent job of depicting life during that time period among the newly elite of the upper northeast portion of the country. Relationships were definitely different at that time as people bowed to the wishes of their families and did what they had to in order to remain in the good graces of society.

For the protagonist in Incognito, he does everything to keep his wife and father happy … within reason. However, living that life is beginning to depress him. His wife isn’t happy because she wants more and more to impress their wealthy friends and one way she is determined to do that is to live in a house that is designed for parties and other similar social events. She feels their current home isn’t going to make the type of impact on them as she wants, so she bargains with his father to help them build a house she can be “proud” of.

But for William, he’s quite content where they are and feels they simply cannot afford to live the lifestyle Arabella desires. They are beginning to argue incessantly and he’s questioning his feelings for her -- and if he ever truly loved her.

Entering the picture is a young woman who William meets while working for a client who has plans to turn her Long Island property into a national park. In order to do that, she is determined to expand by getting her hands on the woman’s land, which is right next to hers. But Sybil doesn’t want to sell and tells William as much. She refuses to accept all offers, even with the threat of having her home condemned and taken over by the state. That would mean it could be given to her greedy neighbor.

William is puzzled by the whole scenario and decides to find out the true story of why his client is so set on having the property and why Sybil is refusing to sell. In the meantime, he is finding himself more and more drawn to the young and pretty Sybil. In fact, he’s actually finding himself falling in love with her.

Incognito is a book that captures your attention and it’s not easy to put down. I loved the story itself, as well as the history aspect. Engaging and evocative, it will have a place on my favorite reads of the year.

Some favorite passages from the book:

That’s what life is all about—making and unmaking mistakes, getting back on the track and moving on. The problem with mistakes is that they have the habit of growing into such big, fat, lovely excuses.

I thank God women are too sensible to be blinded by things like physical beauty.

William opened the paper and read:

Incognito

Unknown and unknowing

I assumed that disguise

till love lifted the veil

and I could see with your eyes

Favorite Books of 2011 Mini Challenge

2011-10-01T13:54:00.000-07:00

This mini challenge is hosted by Cindy at her Princess Bookie blog. Stop by and give it a try!

Challenge: Write up a blog post telling me the top 5 books you read in 2011 that you loved! That were your favorite!

These are some of my favorites ... in no particular order!

Letters from Home by Kristina McMorris

The Lake of Dreams by Kim Edwards

Friendship Bread by Darien Gee

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

The Music of the Spheres by Elizabeth Redfern

Friday Fill-Ins

2011-09-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

And...here we go!

1. I need to get my desk cleaned off.

2. We never realized how lucky we were.

3. A great deal of fun is to be had between a book cover.

4. I'd love an old-fashioned ice tea in a big tall glass.

5. It was announced that another satellite will fall next month.

6. I have an unreasonable fear of steak knives.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to finishing the book I've been trying to get read for almost two weeks, tomorrow my plans include starting a new book (finally) and Sunday, I want to read, read, read!

Scam Phone Calls

2011-09-29T09:39:00.000-07:00

This post is off-topic (not about books), but I wanted to call everyone's attention to this issue.

This morning, we received a call from someone looking for my son. The man said there was a lawsuit filed against him and he had papers to serve. He gave me a toll-free number for my son to call. When I asked who the number belonged to, he said it was for a law firm in California but wouldn't tell me which one.

I googled the number and found others have received calls asking to contact this same number. The reasons are always different, although I did find one comment from a young man who was given the same story I was.

A few months ago, we received a similar call from someone looking for my husband's son. The caller said he was named in an assault lawsuit and when I googled the number he was supposed to call back to, I came across a huge list of complaints.

These people are good at what they do. They know a lot about who they are calling, including personal information.

But don't be fooled!

If you or someone you know receives a call that is in any way suspicious, please do the same and google the phone number you are given. It can save a lot of worry and stress.

In Malice, Quite Close

2011-09-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

By Brandi Lynn Ryder

From the book jacket:

When Tristan Mourault—expatriate aesthete and heir to a world-renowned collection of Impressionist masterpieces—catches sight of young Karen Miller during a trip to San Francisco, he knows he must have her. Convincing himself that she deserves more than the frayed, middlebrow life she was born into, he sets in motion a campaign of flattery, enchantment, and romance that sweeps Karen off her feet. First, he stages her disappearance. Then, her transformation. Karen, the ordinary fifteen-year-old girl, becomes Gisèle—Tristan’s daughter by day, his lover by night, and the crowning achievement of his lifelong quest for beauty and perfection.

Just my opinion:

This book could only be described as eerie. It’s outright spine-chilling, with its sinister and disturbing theme. Not for the weak at heart, this book is very vivid as it takes the reader in a different kind of world where the rich are capable of getting exactly what they desire, regardless of the consequences to others. Absolutely fascinating, the story delves into the minds of the mentally disturbed, as well as the frightening effects of sexual perversions.

The story revolves around adult Tristan Mourault, who has a serious attraction for teen Karen Miller, who is sexually abused by her father. Tristan is attracted to Karen and begins stalking her, learning about her family life and her desperate need to escape. He then works his way into her heart, earning her trust and convincing her to come with him to the other side of the country. He stages her death so the authorities won’t look for her.

However, her younger sister is never convinced that she died and works with the local police force to continue investigating her disappearance.

If you enjoy thrillers, In Malice, Quite Close is definitely a book for you. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Some favorite passages from the book:

She was at that transcendent age: old enough to sense her power and too innocent to use it.

Obsession, you see, requires neither audacity nor courage, but only servitude.

This is how she was. Bright as a diamond that catches your eye in a window full of other jewels.

Things come to a meaningful end in books, but in life things are just things. Disconnected things. And everyone pretends to have control.

Love is life’s greatest hoax, my sweet. There is no love between men and women, because there is no understanding. There is only delusion.

All stories must come to a finite end. That is their beauty.

Banned Book Week: September 24 to October 1

2011-09-24T09:16:00.000-07:00

Each year, the American Library Association hosts a Banned Book Week event to bring attention to censorship of some of the works by highly acclaimed authors that has been challenged by the public. People, especially parents, claim these works are detrimental to young children and should be taken from the shelves of local libraries.

Here is what the ALA has to say regarding the freedom to read. I’ve shortened it somewhat so if you want to read the statement in its entirety, you can do that on the ALA website.

This freedom, not only to choose what we read, but also to select from a full array of possibilities, is firmly rooted in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Although we enjoy an increasing quantity and availability of information and reading material, we must remain vigilant to ensure that access to this material is preserved; would-be censors who continue to threaten the freedom to read come from all quarters and all political persuasions. Even if well intentioned, censors try to limit the freedom of others to choose what they read, see, or hear.

Most (objections) occur in schools and school libraries. Challenges are typically motivated by the desire to protect children.

Individuals may restrict what they read themselves or their children read, but they must not call on governmental or public agencies to prevent others from reading or seeing that material, the ALA said. The challenges are not brought by people merely expressing a point of view; rather, they represent requests to remove materials from schools or libraries, thus restricting access to them by others. Even when the eventual outcome allows the book to stay on the library shelves and even when the person is a lone protester, the censorship attempt is real. Someone has tried to restrict another person’s ability to choose.

The following is a very small piece of the list of books that have been challenged in the past few years. I’ve read these books myself. Take a look and pay particular attention to how many of them added to our understanding of different events in the history of our country and the world, as well as day-to-day issues. You can see the rest of the books on the ALA website.

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank: Officials at the Culpepper County, Virginia, public schools decided to stop assigning a version of Anne Frank’s diary due to the complaint that the book includes sexual material and homosexual themes.

Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson: Teachers in the Richland, Washington, high schools said the book deals with prejudice against Japanese-Americans in the Pacific Northwest during and after World War II.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: A parent in Brampton, Ontario, objected to language used in the novel, including the word “nigger.”

Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary: A parent complained when a child came across the term “oral sex.” Officials at the Menifee, California, Union School District formed a committee to consider a permanent ban of the dictionary.

Girl Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen: The New Rochelle, New York, Board of Education replaced all copies of this memoir after school officials tore pages from the book deemed “inappropriate” due to sexual content and strong language.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (Samuel L. Clemens): This book was retained by the Manchester, Connecticut, School District following a requirement that the teachers attend seminars on how to deal with issues of race before teaching the book in their classrooms.

The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy: Parents in Kanawha County, West Virginia, complained about the book’s scenes of violence, sexual assault, child rage, suicide and more.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck: A complaint was filed in Greencastle-Antrim, Pennsylvania, because of “racial slurs” and profanity throughout the novel.

Other books on the list I’ve read include several novels by Stephen King, Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes, Separate Peace by John Knowles (one of my favorite books of all time), The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and more.

What can you do to help? You can get involved with groups that are committed to preserving the right to read, such as the Freedom to Read Foundation (www.ftrf.org) and The National Coalition Against Censorship (www.ncac.org).

You can also get involved on a local level. One way I do that is I am a member of the local library board and I take that position very seriously. However, you don’t need to go to participate in ways that require a huge commitment of time and emotion. Volunteer for an hour or two each week at your neighborhood library. Attend and participate in public hearings where you can express your support the right to read. Join Friends of the Libraries and parent-teacher organizations to become an advocate for community education groups. Write letters to public officials and the local newspaper(s).

And … participate in Banned Books Week!

To help draw attention to the issue of censoring books, 259 blogs are participating in a Banned Books Week hop. I’ve visited some of the blogs and have found some great giveaways. The hop is being hosted by Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. Stop by her blog and see the list.

I realize this post is rather long, but this is a very important issue to me. As a journalist, freelance writer and avid reader, it saddens me whenever I hear of another book being added to the list. I hope you’ll take the time to read more about this topic.

2011-09-23T07:56:00.000-07:00

1. When I walk around my neighborhood I see the leaves beginning to change colors for fall.

2. Meatloaf is my favorite thing to cook.

3. Life is what you make it.

4. My hubby makes me feel all warm and fuzzy

5. Zucchini is my favorite Autumn vegetable.

6. Raisin bread is better when it is toasted and covered with peanut butter.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching a little TV, tomorrow my plans include catching up on a few things and Sunday, I want to read, read, read!

The Mistress’s Revenge

2011-09-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

By Tamar Cohen

From the back of the book:

When her five-year affair with the sexy television personality Clive Gooding brutally ends on a dime—his dime—Sally Islip is devastated. But with Sally, Clive has made one fundamental mistake: he has chosen someone who has less to lose than he has, and Sally will have her revenge—no matter what the cost to the people around them.

The cat-and-mouse tale that follows is told through the journals Sally’s therapist has told her to keep. Sally, who mental state is gradually unraveling, stalks Clive online and off, keeping his on an agonizing knife-edge of fear of exposure. In return, he mobilizes his underworld contacts against her.

Just my opinion:

This book could have been subtitled “Follow Me to the Depths of Hell.” Sally, the main character, is so absolutely torn apart when Clive, the man she has had an affair with for five years, breaks up with her. She literally loses her mind … she stops eating, she stops relating to her children and best friend, she even stops working. And she begins stalking Clive via the Internet and communicating with his family.

Indeed, suddenly, everything in her heart and mind revolves around Clive and his family. She goes to great lengths to ingratiate herself into their lives, becoming friends with not only his wife but his daughter, who she really doesn’t care for, as well.

It’s an enormously intense read that will keep you on the edge of your seat and up all night waiting to see what will happen next.

Contest Craze Mini Challenge: Scariest Word

2011-09-20T15:00:00.000-07:00

This mini challenge is being hosted by Benji at The Non Reluctant Reader. Stop by and visit her blog if you get the chance ... it's lots of fun!

For this challenge, I had to look in the 13th chapter of the current book I'm reading and find the scariest word. Then, I looked through Google Images to find an appropriate picture to match that word. I know the picture I picked isn't scary, but I really like it!

Grey Pine by T. Lloyd Winetsky

My word: Ghostly

My Image:

Contest Craze Mini Challenge: Lucky Number 7

2011-09-18T10:29:00.000-07:00

Jessi at The Elliot Review and Cindy at Princess Bookie's Contest Craze are hosting a Lucky Number 7 mini challenge from now until September 25. The idea is to pick up a book you are reading, turn to the seventh page and find the seventh word. Then look that word up on Google Images and find a picture that you like (or can tolerate, anyway). For more information and complete rules, check out The Elliot Review or Princess Bookie.

Grey Pine by T. Lloyd Winetsky

7th Word on 7th Page

Ponderosa

Picture

This young lady must really enjoy the fresh scent of pine, baby!

If you get the chance, stop by Jessi and Cindy's blogs and take part in the fun Sunday challenge! Then, comment on my post so I can see what sort of fun ideas you came up with!

My Foolish Heart

2011-09-17T09:52:00.000-07:00

By Susan May Warren

From the back of the book:

Unknown to her tiny town of Deep Haven, Isadora Presley spends her nights as Miss Foolish Heart, the star host of a syndicated talk radio show. Millions tune in to hear her advice on dating and falling in love, unaware that she’s never really done either. … Caleb Knight served a tour of duty in Iraq and paid a steep price. The last thing he wants is pity, so he hides his disability and moved to Deep Haven to land his dream job as the high school football coach. When his beautiful neighbor catches his eye, in a moment of desperation, he seeks advice from My Foolish Heart, … Before he knows it, Caleb finds himself drawn to the host—and more confused than ever. Is his perfect love the woman on the radio … or the one next door?

Just my opinion:

My goodness! What a fun and wonderful story! I really enjoyed so much about this book … from the setting to the characters to the storyline itself. I found myself rooting for these two people who were so handicapped emotionally because of their “disabilities” (she is agoraphobic and he is missing part of his leg) that they locked themselves into their own worlds.

It will take something or someone special to break down the walls they have built to protect their feelings. As the story progresses, it becomes obvious they will need to help each other, as well as themselves, in order to find happiness and love. But to do that, they also have to learn to trust.

I had such a great time reading this book that I hated for it to end. Susan May Warren is a wonderful writer and has a knack for putting the reader right in the pages. In fact, I have another book by her (Heiress) that I’m looking forward to starting soon. I can’t wait!

Some favorite passages from the book:

Outside the second-story window of her home studio, the night crackled open with a white flash of light and revealed the scrawny arms of her Japanese plum, cowering under a late summer gale.

She could almost trick herself into believing she knew what she was doing. Trick herself into believing that she lived a different life, one beyond the four walls and garden of her home.

"It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up” (Vince Lombardi).

Love isn’t a football game, you know.

There’s nothing more irresistible to a woman than a man who’s in love with her.

We see our own limits much more than others do.

Perhaps that what love was—foolish. After all, God loved most foolishly. He came into the dark world to rescue people who might never love Him back.

Dancing in the Shadows of Love

2011-09-15T08:17:00.000-07:00

By Judy Croome

From the back of the book:

After a decade in prison for a murder she did not commit, Lulu begins a new life at the Court of St Jerome in the Old Sea City. An albino, abandoned as a young child at a Holding Camp for unwanted children, she has always been ostracized, for her difference to others makes her an easy victim of prejudice. … Against a backdrop of never-ending war, the women of the court fight their personal demons: hatred, ambition and greed. As Lulu shares their victories and their losses, she learns to trust again, perhaps even to love.

Just my opinion:

This book is nothing but fascinating. Told in the voices of the main women characters, it takes the reader to a world many are not privy to. It’s a place where prejudice abounds and a person is avoided just because he or she is different than others.

Full of brutal honesty, the story is not an easy one to read. It makes readers face their own fears and bigotries, while at the same time, coming to terms with the opinions of those who refuse to honestly look inside themselves for the truth.

On the other hand, it’s also a story of hope and coming to terms with what could be perceived as one’s own differences from the norm of mainstream society.

Ivan! A Pound Dog’s View on Life, Love, and Leashes

2011-09-12T07:58:00.000-07:00

By Tim McHugh

From the back of the book:

With wry wit, deep insight, and vivid anecdotes, Tim McHugh gives voice to the family pet and delves into the place where the canine and human hearts become one. In his own voice, Ivan, a mixed-breed dog-philosopher with an extreme underbite and various other deformities, chronicles his life story with keen observations about his adopted family and the people he loves, covering the life events that touch us all.

Just my opinion:

This book was completely different from what I expected. Written in the first person by the main character – Ivan – it is a story I think most people will enjoy.

Ivan was born to a stray. Shortly after his birth, the father attacked the litter … taking Ivan first. As he brutally ravaged him, the mother dog became enraged and saved Ivan’s life. The dogs were later found and transferred to the pound where Ivan was adopted by a very loving family of humans.

The story tells how he was able to fit in and become a very important part of the family group. It’s entertaining, yet not cheesy – something I often find in books about animals who talk and interact almost like their human counterparts.

I very much enjoyed this story and I think you will, too.

Some favorite passages from the book:

Never underestimate the power of a mother.

Tolstoy insisted that everything a person says and believes must agree with human reason lest we be led astray.

I learned that you can win the fight, but victory often has a bitter price.

If people wait around to ask for permission to try things they’ve never done, nobody would ever do anything worthwhile.

Fasting may encourage long-term enlightenment, but I’d trade enlightenment for a good meal any day.

Every rational creature knows that there is a delicate balance of life that is meant to be honored and maintained by those with the ability to reason, but most often this is not the case.

I wish others could know how good a dog’s life could feel.

We are born to love whether we know it or not, and the level of our happiness is found in our service to others.

Being smart doesn’t mean you’ll be happy, but being good at least gives you a chance.