Mailbox Monday-April 30

Mailbox Monday is a great meme that has us list the books that we receive.  Different bloggers now have the opportunity to host this meme for a month at a time.  This month you can see what everyone received over at Cindy's Love of Books.

Here is what I received last week:

 Come Home by Lisa Scottoline (audiobook)

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

I am very proud of myself for refraining from requesting too many review copies.  But I honestly tell you that I was so thrilled to have just these couple of books in the mail last week!  How about you?  Did you have anything fun arrive in your mailbox?

Review: Cross Currents by John Shors

Here is a summary of the book from the author's website:

Thailand’s pristine and remote Ko Phi Phi island attracts tourists from around the world, offering a haven to people from all walks of life. Yet even paradise has its perils. Struggling to make ends meet, resort owners Lek and Sarai are happy to give an American named Patch room and board in exchange for his help. But trouble looms when Patch’s brother, Ryan, arrives, accompanied by his beautiful girlfriend, Brooke. Lek learns that Patch is running from the law, and his mere presence puts Lek’s family at risk. Meanwhile, Brooke begins to doubt her love for Ryan, while her feelings for Patch blossom. The two brothers, once inseparable, clash over a choice that could alter their lives.

In a glorious landscape of sea and sky, where nature’s bounty seems endless, these two families are caught in the cross currents of conflict and change – and swept up in an approaching cataclysm that will require all their strength of heart and soul to survive.

My Review:
Let me start off by saying that I loved the writing in this novel!  Shors portrayed the beauty of Thailand so wonderfully that I would love to take my next vacation there.  We have the opportunity to be given this story through several different viewpoints, which helps the story unfold in a way that makes you want to stay up late into the night reading.

Lek and Sarai are happy Thailand residents that own a small resort right on the beach.  They love the life they have with their children in the small tourist community, but struggle daily to cover the costs of daily needs.  Could the upkeep of the resort and the basic financial needs be more than they expected?  Throughout the novel they consider uprooting their family to move to the city to give them more financial options.

Patch is a carefree man who seems to live one day at a time.  After getting into trouble in Bangkok, he fleas to the remote Island of Ko Phi Phi, hoping to hide from the authorities.   He turns out to be an answered prayer when he arrives at the Rainbow Resort, being able to help Lek and Sarai with maintenance issues they couldn't otherwise afford.  Not only does this family let him into their resort, but they also open their home and hearts to him and treat him like a member of the family.  Patch knows this can only last so long as he is hiding from the law.

Things start to change for Patch when his brother, Ryan, shows up to help him sort out his legal dilemma.  Ryan brought his girlfriend Brooke along with him, hoping they will have a chance to strengthen their relationship while they are in paradise.  He's not sure if they can strengthen a romance that never sparked in the first place.

I loved this novel that not only had me wrapped up in the lives and emotions of the characters, but had me holding my breath several times as I felt that something was about to shatter their lives as they knew it.  I'm not going to give any more of this novel away, but this book will sweep you away with it's themes of love, forgiveness, familial obligations, and survival.  I think it would also make a great book club selection and don't hesitate in recommending it.

My Rating:  4/5

Disclosure:  This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Wondrous Words Wednesday-April 25

Bermudaonion asks you to share new words that you have learned during your reading adventures in the last week. Feel free to join in the fun!

Lately I've been learning some new words as I've been reading The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne:

Prate:  to talk excessively and pointlessly; babble.

Here is how prate was used on page 1:
But, as thoughts are frozen and utterance benumbed, unless the speaker stand in some true relation with his audience, it may be pardonable to imagine that a friend, a kind and apprehensive, though not the closest friend, is listening to our talk; and then, a native reserve being thawed by this genial consciousness, we may prate of the circumstances that lie around us, and even of ourself but still keep the inmost Me behind its veil.

Emolument:   profit, salary, or fees from office or employment.

Here is how emolument was used on page 3:
The besom of reform hath swept him out of office, and a worthier successor wears his dignity and pockets his emoluments. 

Alacrity:  cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness

Here is how alacrity was used on page 6: 
Whenever such a mischance occurred--when a waggon-load of valuable merchandise had been smuggled ashore, at noonday, perhaps, and directly beneath their unsuspicious noses--nothing could exceed the vigilance and alacrity with which they proceeded to lock, and double-lock, and secure with tape and sealing-wax, all the avenues of the delinquent vessel. 

Gourmandism:  a person who is fond of good eating, often indiscriminatingly and to excess.

Here is how gourmandism was used on page 7:
His gourmandism was a highly agreeable trait; and to hear him talk of roast meat was as appetizing as a pickle or an oyster.

I'm telling you, I could go on and on with new words that I've come across while reading this book, but I think I've given you enough.  This should be enough to give you a taste of the writing.  It has been a tough book to read and I think a few of the ladies in my book group have given up on it.  

Teaser Tuesday-April 24

Check out Teaser Tuesdays from Should Be Reading. TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

This week my teaser is from The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne:
My eyes fastened themselves upon the old scarlet letter, and would not be turned aside.  Certainly there was some deep meaning in it most worthy of interpretation, and which, as it were, streamed forth from the mystic symbol, subtly communicating itself to my sensibilities, but evading the analysis of my mind.

pg. 13

Mailbox Monday-April 23

Mailbox Monday is a great meme that has us list the books that we receive.  Different bloggers now have the opportunity to host this meme for a month at a time.  This month you can see what everyone received over at Cindy's Love of Books.


Here is what was in my mailbox:

American Dervish by Ayad Akhtar (audiobook)

For World Book Night:

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

I can't tell you how excited I am to have been selected as a book giver in my area!  And to be giving out one of my most favorite books of all time...how amazing!  Seriously, if you are an American citizen and have not read this wonderful novel yet, I can only ask you, "What are you waiting for?"  Every American should read this book!  Hopefully I have a chance to post about my World Book Night experience later in the week.

So was there anything fun in your mailbox this week?

Audiobook Review: Come a Little Closer by Dorothy Garlock

Title:  Come a Little Closer

Author:  Dorothy Garlock

Narrator:  Susan Boyce

Unabridged Length:  aprox. 10 hrs


Here is a summary of the book from the AudioGO website:

It’s 1946, after the end of WWII, and Christina Tucker decides to take a nursing job in the small town of Longstock, Wisconsin and to pursue the life she had wanted before the war’s outbreak. Dr. Samuel Barlow was born and raised in Longview and has been serving as the town’s physician for almost thirty years. He’s a stubborn sort, but has a good heart. Unbeknownst to his new nurse, Dr. Barlow is hiding demons from his time in World War I, as are his nephews—both of whom are eagerly vying for Christina’s affections. Dr. Barlow is well-regarded by the people of Longview, except for one man: Morris Doyle. Morris believes that his younger brother Jimmy died as a result of Barlow’s shoddy care and he is determined to punish the doctor for what he’s done—even if it means hurting those the doctor loves most, including Christina Tucker.

My Review:
This was my first experience with Garlock and although I did find some enjoyment through this novel, it fell short for me somewhere along the way.  We follow Christina as she starts a new life in a small Wisconsin town.

Since Christina grew up in a rural Minnesota town, life in Longstock, Wisconsin is not too much of a shock to her.  She sees many similarities that range from the area business, the townspeople, and even the people that have been affected by the war.  The last thing that Christina expects is to fall in love while she is helping a war veteran conquer his fears.

Holden Tucker is the man that served in the war who Christina helps to face his demons.  When Christina is not spending time with Holden she usually can be found with his brother Tyler.  While she develops a protective affection towards Holden, a deeper emotion is sparked with Tyler.  This, of course, will create an unsavory love triangle.

Many events are brought to Christina's attention within this novel.  An obsessed woman sets Christina as a target, while a town drunk is finally ready to fulfill his act of revenge.  One of the most endearing storylines involved the doctor that had a morphine addiction.  Christina helped him deal with his addiction as she helped Holden confront his fears.

This book caught my eye because I liked the cover and noticed it was a post WWII novel.  I enjoy books from this time period, but this one didn't hit home for me.  I did enjoy most of the story, but I have to warn you that there is a sex scene towards the end that made me feel that I was listening to an erotic novel.  I did not enjoy that part at all.  While I didn't find much enjoyment from this book, I do think that those of you that enjoy romance novels would want to give this one a try.

My Rating:  2/5

Disclosure:  This audiobook was provided to me by Audiobook Jukebox in exchange for an honest review.

Teaser Tuesday-April 10

Check out Teaser Tuesdays from Should Be Reading. TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

This week my teaser is from Cross Currents by John Shors:
"One day, when I'm gone, and when a tall tree stands before you, remember how I climbed up this one.  If I climb this one, you can do anything."

Pg. 241

I will hopefully have my review done by next week, so please come back and check it out.