Review: Home Front by Kristin Hannah

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

In her bestselling novels Kristin Hannah has plumbed the depths of friendship, the loyalty of sisters, and the secrets mothers keep. Now, in her most emotionally powerful story yet, she explores the intimate landscape of a troubled marriage--with this provocative and timely portrait of a husband and wife, in love and at war.

All marriages have a breaking point. All families have wounds. All wars have a cost…

Like many couples, Michael and Jolene have to face the pressures of everyday life—children, careers, bills, chores—even as their twelve year marriage is falling apart. Then an unexpected deployment sends Jolene deep into harm’s way and leaves defense attorney Michael at home, unaccustomed to being a single parent to their two girls. As a mother, it agonizes Jolene to leave her family, but as a soldier she has always understood the true meaning of duty. In her letters home, she paints a rose-colored version of her life on the front lines, shielding her family from the truth. But war will change Jolene in ways that none of them could have foreseen. When tragedy strikes, Michael must face his darkest fear and fight a battle of his own--for everything that matters to his family.

At once a profoundly honest look at modern marriage and a dramatic exploration of the price of war on an ordinary American family, HOME FRONT is a story of love, loss, heroism, honor and ultimately, hope. 

My Review:
Hannah did a marvelous job of taking something we hear about every day and giving us an inside glimpse of a family scarred by war.  This novel was an example of how war changes everyone, and leaves an impression on soldiers' souls for a lifetime.  Jolene is the heroine of our story, and even though she beat the odds of her youth, she now has a new battle to face.

Since Jolene was raised by two alcoholic parents, she adapted the attitude early on of brushing off the bad circumstances, smiling, and moving on.  She wouldn't allow herself to grovel in self-pity.  This attitude can be fine and dandy in most circumstances, but in others it may appear that you are not offering support to others in need.  This behavior is what pushed her husband Michael away as he deals with his grief alone and practically giving up on their marriage.

Things change quickly for the family when Jolene is deployed to Iraq as a helicopter pilot.  As she prepares for war she tries to assure her girls that she will be fine and won't even see the front lines of battle.  But she is scared and doesn't know what to expect over there.  Her heart and mind are in more turmoil as she realizes her marriage is over as her unit deploys.

I think Hannah did a great job of letting us know what the war is like.  One thing I guess I didn't realize before reading this novel is that unlike previous wars, everywhere is the front line. There isn't a safe haven to retreat to and soldiers must always be on their guard.  We all hear how bad things are on the news, but sometimes the gravity of the situation is not realized.  That's how it was for me until I read this book.

While Jolene is gone, Michael steps up to the plate and finally becomes the father he should have been years ago.  He changes in her absence, and also comes to accept Jolene for the woman she is, the woman he fell in love with.  Upon her return, they are both wounded souls and now must fight for the person they fell in love with, although they have both changed and will never be the people they once were.

This was a very good book, and I think my only complaint is the overall sadness of the story.  I understand it is not a joyful theme by any means, but I was spotted crying several times while reading this one.  With themes of family, love, loss, war, and perseverance, I think many of you would enjoy this book.  The gals in my book club loved this book and it made for a great discussion.  I don't hesitate in recommending this novel for personal reading or as a book club selection.

My Rating:  4/5

Disclosure:  This book was provided to my book club from the publisher in agreement that we would read it as a group and provide honest feedback.

Audiobook Review: Summer Island by Kristin Hannah

Title:  Summer Island

Author:  Kristin Hannah

Narrator:  Joyce Bean

Unabridged Length:  Aprox. 10 hrs

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

Years ago, Nora Bridge walked out on her marriage and left her daughters behind. She has since become a famous radio talk-show host and newspaper columnist beloved for her moral advice. Her youngest daughter, Ruby, is a struggling comedienne who uses her famous mother as fuel for her bitter, cynical humor. When the tabloids unearth a scandalous secret from Nora's past, their estrangement suddenly becomes dramatic: Nora is injured in an accident and a glossy magazine offers Ruby a fortune to write a tell-all about her mother. Under false pretenses, Ruby returns home to take care of the woman she hasn't spoken to for almost a decade.

Nora insists they retreat to Summer Island in the San Juans, to the lovely old house on the water where Ruby grew up, a place filled with childhood memories of love and joy and belonging. There Ruby is also reunited with her first love and his brother. Once, the three of them had been best friends, inseparable. Until the summer that Nora had left and everyone's hearts had been broken. . . .

What began as an expose evolves, as Ruby writes, into an exploration of her family's past. Nora is not the woman Ruby has hated all these years. Witty, wise, and vulnerable, she is desperate to reconcile with her daughter. As the magazine deadline draws near and Ruby finishes what has begun to seem to her an act of brutal betrayal, she is forced to grow up and at last to look at her mother--and herself--through the eyes of a woman. And she must, finally, allow herself to love.

My Review:
I was in desperate need of an audiobook so I stopped at the library one evening on my way home and was urged to pick up Summer Island by Kristin Hannah.  A few of the ladies in my book club have read a bunch of Hannah's books, while I've only read a couple, so I thought I would try another.  I did find enjoyment from the audioversion, but I can't say I am going to go on a quest tomorrow to read more of her books.

A rift was created between Nora and Ruby the day Nora walked out on her family many years ago.  Ruby retreated to San Francisco in hopes of starting her career as a comedy writer.  That became pretty much hopeless once her reputation was established, whereas no-one would even contact her for small one-line acting jobs.

Nora is a successful radio talk-show host known for giving knowledgeable advice.  Things go awry for her career when photographs are revealed of her in compromising positions during the time she would have been married.  Her fans can't help but wonder who they are getting advice from if she was having an affair while she was married.

In an effort to steer clear of the media, Nora heads to the family cottage on Summer Island.  But after her accident she can't stay there alone, so she pleads with Ruby to join her on the island to offer her assistance when needed.  Surprisingly, Ruby agrees, which puts them on a path to understanding each other and the decisions they made that have left wounded hearts along the way.

Besides the family drama in this novel, there is also a love story weaved into the storyline.  This part was predictable to me and may be why I didn't like the book as much as others may have.  I can't say I was overly impressed with Bean's narration of the novel either.   With themes of love, forgiveness, family, and illness, this book does have a lot to offer.  Although I didn't love it, the audio was entertaining and I do recommend it for those that are looking for a lighter read or fans of Kristin Hannah.

My Rating:  3/5

Disclosure:  I borrowed this book from the public library for my own entertainment.

Giveaway and Book Club Thoughts: Night Road by Kristin Hannah

Here is a summary of Night Road from Kristin Hannah's website:

For eighteen years, Jude Farraday has put her children’s needs above her own, and it shows—her twins, Mia and Zach—are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill moves into their small, close knit community, no one is more welcoming than Jude. Lexi, a former foster child with a dark past, quickly becomes Mia’s best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable.

Jude does everything to keep her kids on track for college and out of harm’s way. It has always been easy-- until senior year of high school. Suddenly she is at a loss. Nothing feels safe anymore; every time her kids leave the house, she worries about them.

On a hot summer’s night her worst fears come true. One decision will change the course of their lives. In the blink of an eye, the Farraday family will be torn apart and Lexi will lose everything. In the years that follow, each must face the consequences of that single night and find a way to forget…or the courage to forgive.

Vivid, universal, and emotionally complex, Night Road raises profound questions about motherhood, identity, love, and forgiveness. It is a luminous, heartbreaking novel that captures both the exquisite pain of loss and the stunning power of hope. This is Kristin Hannah at her very best, telling an unforgettable story about the longing for family, the resilience of the human heart, and the courage it takes to forgive the people we love.


The Sweet Connections book club was lucky enough to win hardcover copies of this book for all of our members.  So this ended up being our January selection and we got together to discuss it on February 1st.

I read and reviewed this book about a year ago so I am not going to go into the details again.  If you missed my review and would like to read it you can do so here.

I enjoyed this novel, along with most of the members of our book club.  As a parent I can tell you that it is a difficult story to read and quite often I found myself disliking the main character.

A couple of the gals had the opinion that the book should have been more about Lexi's story than Jude's.  A few of us also thought the book had a young adult feel to it and thought we may have enjoyed it more if it didn't.  My main problem after reading this book again is that the ending seemed to wrap up too quickly and nicely.

Even though I read this book for the second time I still had the need for tissues.  Knowing the main points of the book and even the ending did not prevent me from enjoying this story for the second time.

Now for the giveaway:

I will be giving away one hardcover copy of this book.

To enter this contest you must be at least 18 and live in the U.S.

For one entry leave me a comment including your email address below.

For two additional entries, blog about this contest or add the link to your sidebar.

Please include your email so I will have a way to contact you if you win. Use a spam-thwarting format such as myemail.address AT gmail DOT com or myemail.address [at] gmail [dot] com.

You will have until February 25th to enter and I will draw for a winner on or after February 26th.

Good luck Everyone!

**This giveaway is closed.**

Review: Night Road by Kristin Hannah

Here is a summary of Night Road from Kristin Hannah's website:

For eighteen years, Jude Farraday has put her children’s needs above her own, and it shows—her twins, Mia and Zach—are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill moves into their small, close knit community, no one is more welcoming than Jude. Lexi, a former foster child with a dark past, quickly becomes Mia’s best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable.

Jude does everything to keep her kids on track for college and out of harm’s way. It has always been easy-- until senior year of high school. Suddenly she is at a loss. Nothing feels safe anymore; every time her kids leave the house, she worries about them.

On a hot summer’s night her worst fears come true. One decision will change the course of their lives. In the blink of an eye, the Farraday family will be torn apart and Lexi will lose everything. In the years that follow, each must face the consequences of that single night and find a way to forget…or the courage to forgive.

Vivid, universal, and emotionally complex, Night Road raises profound questions about motherhood, identity, love, and forgiveness. It is a luminous, heartbreaking novel that captures both the exquisite pain of loss and the stunning power of hope. This is Kristin Hannah at her very best, telling an unforgettable story about the longing for family, the resilience of the human heart, and the courage it takes to forgive the people we love.

My Review:
This is only the second Kristin Hannah book that I have read but a few of the ladies in my book club just rave about all of her books.  I really wasn't confident that I was going to enjoy this book as much as I did, as it seemed almost a bit too much like a Young Adult book to me in the beginning.  As we are brought into the lives of high school students and all of the drama that goes along with it, the story took a path for me that was more emotional than I would have expected.

Lexi is a young gal just entering her freshman year of high school, who hasn't been fortunate to live in a household with love overflowing.  Her mother was a victim to her addictions and eventually that would turn fatal.  Now an orphan, Lexi is nervous as she is introduced to an aunt in Washington that is going to take her in.  Lexi is overcome with joy as this woman reaches out to her and offers her a home and a family bond that she has never had the opportunity to experience.

Zach and Mia Farraday have had every opportunity available to them as they have advanced through their school years.  A loving family with a mother who always put their needs ahead of her own and offered them every comfort available.  Growing up as twins Zach and Mia always had a special bond, so even though Mia was never very popular around the kids in school, Zach always let her participate in activities with his friends.  Mia wasn't sure about how this would work out in high school though.

The first day of high school Mia and Lexi find an amazing friendship in each other that will help them through their high school years.  With the strength that they offer to one another they find themselves trying more things and becoming more independent with social activities.  Lexi is also accepted into the Farraday household like a member of the family.  She is grateful for the love that Jude Farraday offers to not only her children, but to herself as well.

One evening during their senior year of high school an accident takes place that will change all of their lives.  As a mother this was a very emotional story for me and I couldn't help but hurt for Jude Farraday as I watched her act out in ways that I knew would only cause harm to herself and everyone that she loved.  As Jude's world as she knows it is shattered, she finds herself on a journey that will take her on a painful path of hurt that will take years for her to find her way back home.

I did enjoy this novel even though it was an emotional rollercoaster ride for me as the tissue box was necessary for a couple of parts of the book.  With themes of relationships, maternal love, first loves, death, and forgiveness, this book will definitely tug at your heartstrings.  I think I will be reading this one with my book club in the next year and I believe it will make a great selection.

My Rating:  4/5

Disclosure:  I received this book from the publisher through the Library Thing early reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah

Here is a summary of Comfort and Joy from Kristin Hannah's website:

In this modern-day fairy tale, New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah gives us a very special gift: the heartwarming story of a woman at a crossroads, caught between two lives, who finds a second chance at happiness.

Joy Candellaro used to love Christmas more than any other time of the year. Now, as the holiday approaches, she finds herself at loose ends. Recently divorced and estranged from her sister, she can't summon the old enthusiasm for celebrating. So without telling anyone, she buys a ticket and boards a plane bound for the rural Northwest.

Yet Joy's best-laid plans go terribly awry. The plane crashes deep in the darkness of a forest. Miraculously, Joy and her fellow passengers walk away from the wreckage as the plane explodes. There, amid the towering trees, Joy makes a bold and desperate decision to leave her ordinary life behind and embark on an adventure…just for the holidays.

Daniel O'Shea has returned to the small town of Rain Valley, following the death of his ex-wife. Now he is a single father facing his son's first Christmas without a mother. Six-year-old Bobby isn't making it easy-the boy has closed himself off from the world, surrounding himself with imaginary friends.

When Joy and Bobby meet, they form an instant bond. Thrown together by fate, these wounded souls will be touched by the true spirit of Christmas and remember what it means to be a family.

Then a dramatic turn of events shows Joy the price of starting over. On a magical Christmas Eve she will come face-to-face with a startling truth. Now she must decide: In a time of impossible dreams and unexpected chances, can she find the faith to reach for the love she has found…and the new life only she believes in? 

My Review:
I know the Holiday season is over but you might want to keep this one in mind for next year!  The only Holiday themed book that I seem to read during the Christmas season is the one that is selected by my book club.  This genre has been hit or miss with our group so after reading one holiday book I am usually ready to move onto something that offers more intellectual stimulation.  So you can imagine how pleasantly surprised I was to find that I absolutely loved this book!

Life hasn't been very good for Joy considering that her sister is marrying her ex-husband.  When Joy decides that she just can't take any more she flees the world she knows before she can receive more bad news, by hopping on the next plane out of town.  Little does she know that this plane ride will impact her life even more.

When events take a life-threatening turn, Joy finds herself plunged into the lives of a young boy and his father that appear to be just as lost in this world as she is.  Could it be that she needs this father and son as much as they need her so they can all move on with their lives?

I really don't want to give any more of this book away as it was such a magical Christmas story that reached deep in my heart.  I can honestly tell you that it was thoroughly enjoyed by all of the ladies in my book club, and that doesn't happen often!  With themes of love, forgiveness, believing, and Christmas miracles, I highly recommend this Holiday themed book.

My Rating:  5/5

Disclosure:  I purchased this e-book from Amazon and read it as a book club selection for my own entertainment.