Review: The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent

Here is a summary of The Heretic's Daughter from the Hachette website:

Martha Carrier was one of the first women to be accused, tried and hanged as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts. Like her mother, young Sarah Carrier is bright and willful, openly challenging the small, brutal world in which they live. Often at odds with one another, mother and daughter are forced to stand together against the escalating hysteria of the trials and the superstitious tyranny that led to the torture and imprisonment of more than 200 people accused of witchcraft. This is the story of Martha's courageous defiance and ultimate death, as told by the daughter who survived.

Kathleen Kent is a tenth generation descendent of Martha Carrier. She paints a haunting portrait, not just of Puritan New England, but also of one family's deep and abiding love in the face of fear and persecution.

My Review:
This was a fascinating book that gave us a glimpse at what life was like for those persecuted during the times of the Salem Witch Trials.  This book is actually Sarah's story, who was a young girl that was thrown in prison along with her mother for practicing witchcraft.

Events spin out of control as the town slowly turns against the Carrier family.  The Carrier's were just another hardworking family that were just able to make ends meet.  After surviving the smallpox epidemic with minimal casualties one would think that life would get back to normal for the family.  But when the family took in a young girl, Mercy, to help with the farm chores, little did they know how this one girl would impact their future.

After Mercy has a falling out with the Carrier's she is sent to another farm to work.  Mercy obviously is harboring ill feelings over what took place and decides to make implications towards Martha Carrier every chance she could get.  It still amazes me to think that one girls claim of witchcraft could cause the incarceration and eventually the death of an innocent woman.

As they imprisoned these women, one after another from erroneous claims, they eventually would arrest the children for practicing witchcraft also.  Most of the children were released after admitting to the practicing of witchcraft, as long as they were able to survive their time in prison.  The conditions in the Salem jail were as inhumane as I could possibly imagine.  Everyone was housed together from babies to old men and women, there really was no segregation or privacy allowed, except for separating the individuals that were sure to be hung.

Eventually Sarah was incarcerated with all of her family, given the exception of her father.  Unfortunately she did not get the opportunity to be with her mother during this time since she was on the other side of the hall.  When she was able to inch close to the hall she could catch a glimpse of her mother who would always offer survival tips and words of encouragement.  This part of the story was just horrifying for me and some may find it difficult to read.

This was a very engaging story that taught me a lot about the events that took place during the Salem Witch Trials.  I really did not have much knowledge about this part of our history before reading this book.  Since my entire book club also enjoyed this book I do not hesitate in recommending this book for your group.  There are some great discussion questions and more information from the author available at the Hachette website here.  With themes of love, honor, pride and family this book will keep you turning the pages.

My Rating:  4/5

Disclosure:  This book is from my personal collection and I read it for my own entertainment.  I actually received this book from Alyce from At Home With Books as a gift from the Book Blogger Holiday Swap from a couple of years ago...so thanks Alyce!

Audiobook Review: The Island by Elin Hilderbrand

Here is a summary of The Island from the Hachette website:

Birdie Cousins has planned a getaway with her daughter Chess on rustic, charming Tuckernuck Island off the coast of Nantucket, a chance to bond before Chess's upcoming marriage. Birdie's been through a difficult divorce herself, so she knows the big commitment that marriage entails. She's only recently dared to tiptoe back into the waters of romance.

When Chess abruptly breaks off the wedding and her fiancé shockingly dies in a rock climbing accident, it leaves Chess feeling guilty and deeply depressed. Birdie circles the wagons, convincing her younger daughter Tate, and her own sister India to join them on Tuckernuck for the month of July. Secrets and intrigue soon make their way to the surface, as Elin Hilderbrand once again weaves a masterful story of summer suspense.

My Review:
I really enjoyed this audiobook that brought me into the lives of these women that found themselves needing to rely on each other as they were dealing with their own personal problems within their lives.  When they decide to go spend a month on the island of Tuckernuck at the family's summer home that barely has running water and no electricity, they really have no idea how much stronger their family bond will become.

Birdie is the divorced mother of both Chess and Tate, who really has never wanted for anything in her lifetime.  She has led a very fortunate life married to Grant Cousins, a successful lawyer, but found herself unhappy in the relationship as she was emotionally abandoned.  While Grant put all of his time into his career, his family life deteriorated before he knew it and his marriage ended in divorce.

Birdie tried to move on with her life as she is starting a relationship with a gentleman as this novel begins.  Even though Birdie is trying to take control of her own life she also wants to try to take care of her daughters in a way that she didn't in the past.  As Chess's upcoming marriage falls apart Birdie decides this is a good time to head to Tuckernuck for a little vacation.  Birdie is surprised when Chess accepts her invitation to go on vacation with her, but is even more surprised when her other daughter Tate calls her asking if she can go too!  Birdie is ecstatic with the possibilities of this girls vacation that lies ahead, but is also a little nervous about it so decides to ask her sister India to join them.  Wow, are we in for a ride!

Their little vacation on Tuckernuck grows into a month long hiatus for these ladies and as we are there with them, day in and day out, we get to learn their secrets, hopes, and fears.  We learn the reason for Chess's broken engagement and why Tate has never had a true romance within her life.  Although Birdie and India are older they learn about each other in a new way. As they discover things about each other they also learn new things about themselves that help them appreciate life in a whole new way.

This was a wonderful audiobook that gave me such a vivid picture of what Tuckernuck must look like.  Denise Hicks did a great job narrating by giving a believable voice and attitude to each of the characters.   I found that I didn't want their vacation to end because I didn't want to leave Tuckernuck either!  With themes of love, family bonds, and carefree living this book is great for both a book club discussion and to bring along on vacation.  I highly recommend this book.

My Rating:  4/5

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

You can check out more great book reviews at Cym Lowell's Book Review Party Wednesday!

Review: How to be an American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway

Here is a summary of How to be an American Housewife from the Penguin website:

A lively and surprising novel about a Japanese woman with a closely guarded secret, the American daughter who strives to live up to her mother's standards, and the rejuvenating power of forgiveness.

How to Be an American Housewife is a novel about mothers and daughters, and the pull of tradition. It tells the story of Shoko, a Japanese woman who married an American GI, and her grown daughter, Sue, a divorced mother whose life as an American housewife hasn't been what she'd expected. When illness prevents Shoko from traveling to Japan, she asks Sue to go in her place. The trip reveals family secrets that change their lives in dramatic and unforeseen ways. Offering an entertaining glimpse into American and Japanese family lives and their potent aspirations, this is a warm and engaging novel full of unexpected insight.

My Review:
Well it isn't a secret that I love books that give a glimpse into another culture and since this book had a way of blending the Japanese and American culture together, I think I loved it that much more.  We are introduced to Shoko in the beginning of the book, who is a Japanese woman that lived her adult life in the United States.  Now Shoko is elderly and has a bad heart but we learn about her life journey from Japan to America through her memories and her daughter Sue's adventure.

One of Shoko's first childhood memories that she recalls is being shot at by an American fighter plane while walking home from school with her brother and sister.  I can't imagine what it would have been like to run for the woods for protection from the fighter planes.  As Shoko grows up and finishes high school, the war comes to an end but there are Americans everywhere because of the military bases that are spread all over Japan.  Knowing that Japan would not offer much for Shoko as a woman, her father suggests that she becomes friendly with these American G.I.'s so she can marry one and head over to the United States for a life full of abundance and happiness.  How was Shoko to know that marrying a GI would cause a rift between her and her brother Taro for her entire adult life?

As an old woman, after Shoko realizes that her sister has just passed away she decides that it is time to confront her brother Taro by making ammends.  With her heart failing it is obvious she cannot make a trip to Japan to confront Taro, so she enlists her daughter Sue to take the journey for her.  When Sue travels to Japan and meets her Japanese family members for the first time, she finds herself revelling in everything about the country.  She not only finds a deeper appreciation for her heritage, but also for the life that her mother has led.  Although this trip was a favor for her mother to mend her family relationships, Sue stumbles upon a new path for her life.

I really enjoyed this novel as it plunged into the mother/daughter relationships that are not comprised of the average people.  It also contained historical elements that were new to me, such as the bombing of Nakasaki, which is one of the final acts of WWII in Japan.  With themes of ancestry, family bonds, love, and forgiveness this book would make a great book club selection and I am definitely planning on suggesting this one to the ladies in my group.

My Rating:  4/5

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

Review: The Auschwitz Violin by Maria Angels Anglada

Here is a summary of The Auschwitz Violin from the Goodreads website:

At the concentration camp of Auschwitz, the conditions are infrahuman and abuses, punishments and deaths are common occurences among prisoners such as Daniel, a jewish lute maker from Crakow, who manages to survive the living hell working as a carpenter. Until one day the camp commander, a classical music lover, discovers the prisoner's skills and decides to put him to the test: he will have to make a violin that sounds to perfection. Daniel starts work straight away without the slightest idea of what his punishment will be if he doesn't succeed.

My Review:
This short novel takes us into the life of a Jewish prisoner of a concentration camp over just a short period of time.  We are introduced to Daniel, whose profession was building violins before becoming imprisoned.

Although Daniel is a carpenter at the work camp, he somehow ends up being at the right place at the right time when a violin needs repairs at a dinner the officials are attending.  At this party Daniel meets Bronislaw who happens to be a very talented violin player.  How could Bronislaw know that later Daniel's life would be in his hands?

When the commander of the work camp discovers that Daniel is a talented violin maker he gives Daniel the task of creating a superior violin.  Throughout this novel as there is killing, mutilation, and starvation within the camp, Daniel finds a way to survive by immersing all of his energy and passion into the creation of this violin.  Every step of the way Daniel worries that one wrong move will be the end of his existence.

I enjoyed this story but I must admit that I was confused at times, and I wonder if this could possibly have something to do with how it was translated.  This story was obviously about how Daniel survived while he was at the work camp, although it began and ended with Bronislaw, the violin player.  This book also contained some documents at the beginning of a few chapters that were very eye opening and sad.  With just over a hundred pages this book was well worth the read with themes of survival, passion, music, and of course the Holocaust.

My Rating:  4/5

Disclosure:  This book was provided to me from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.

Review: The Quilter's Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini

Here is a summary of The Quilter's Apprentice from Jennifer Chiaverini's website:

From debut novelist Jennifer Chiaverini comes THE QUILTER'S APPRENTICE, a delightful, timeless story of loyalty and friendship.

After moving with her husband, Matt, to the small college town of Waterford, Pennsylvania, Sarah McClure struggles to find a fulfilling job. In the meantime, she agrees to help seventy-five-year-old Sylvia Compson prepare her family estate, Elm Creek Manor, for sale. As part of her compensation, Sarah is taught how to quilt by this cantankerous elderly woman, who is a master of the craft.

During their lessons, Mrs. Compson reveals how her family was torn apart by tragedy, jealousy, and betrayal, and her stories force Sarah to face uncomfortable truths about her own alienation from her widowed mother. As their friendship deepens, Mrs. Compson confides in Sarah the truth about why she wants to sell Elm Creek Manor. In turn, Sarah seeks a way to bring life and joy back to the estate so Mrs. Compson can keep her home-and Sarah can keep her cherished friend. The Quilter's Apprentice teaches deep lessons about family, friendship, and sisterhood, and about creating a life as you would a quilt: with time, love, and patience, piecing the miscellaneous and mismatched scraps into a beautiful whole. 

My Review: 
Through the world of quilting, Chiaverini introduces us to some characters that have seemed to lost their way in life.  This is the first segment in quite a large series and before opening the novel I was skeptical as to how one could go on with so many books about quilting.  After reading the first book it was quite understandable.

Early in the book we are given a glimpse into Sarah's unsatisfying life.  She has been a very good accountant but is not getting enough fulfillment from her job.  Her husband has been unemployed for quite some time, so when he finds a job in another city, they decide that Sarah should give up the only security they have known with her accounting position so her husband can become the breadwinner once again.

After moving to the new town, Sarah joins her husband when he goes to evaluate a landscaping job he has to do at Elm Creek Manor, and when she meets the owner, Mrs. Compson, they seem to get off on the wrong foot.  I really did not anticipate a friendship between these two women would blossom the way it did.

Sarah has been lonely since the move to Waterford, but once she decides to take up the hobby of quilting, she is introduced to ladies from all different walks of life.  Through her quilting circles she learns why Mrs. Compson is so lonely and bitter, but decides to reach out to her in a different way.  As Sarah and Mrs. Compson spend time together they find that they really have a lot in common and not only learn about each other but also discover their own hopes and dreams.  This allows them to make changes in their lives that help them to be happier and more productive in their daily walk. 

With themes of quilting, friendship, forgiveness, and starting over, this story really has a lot to offer.  Not being a quilter myself, I thought the book included a bit too much quilting information for my taste and was also a bit predictable.  Although this book wasn't one of my favorites, I know the ladies in my book group really enjoyed it.

My Rating:  3/5

Disclosure:  This was my own book that I read as a book club selection.

Check out more book reviews over at Cym Lowell's Book Review Party Wednesday!

Review: The Cost of Dreams by Gary Stelzer

Here is a summary of The Cost of Dreams for Gary Stelzer's website:

This is a tale about the extraordinary fate and survival of a young woman fleeing the cataclysm of civil war in Central America, and about the strangers who risk everything to rescue and mend her.

Kate Bowman, in her mid-forties, travels to Central America with her brother’s favorite son, a tall handsome 22-year-old engineering graduate from the University of Illinois.  Bowman, a wildlife biologist from the upper Midwest, teaches literacy classes in the midst of a three-week long medical aid mission sponsored by healthcare teams from Chicago and California.  The moment Andrew Gustafson sets foot in the village of Talapa, a young Mayan teen named Flora Enriquez follows his every move, enthralled by him.  The small dark eyed girl demonstrates for Kate Bowman that she already reads, taught by a priest two years prior, even inheriting the deceased clergyman’s books. 

Andrew quickly discovers his own project, planning and preparing for the installation of a hydroelectric turbine on the village stream to deliver electricity to the remote community in the land of volcanoes.  He declines to travel home with his aunt and the rest of the aid party, insisting on remaining in the dangerous and beautiful jungle highlands.  Sick at heart, Kate boards a plane to return to her home on northern Lake Michigan, terrified for her nephew left behind in a country convulsing in a murderous civil war.

Then the midnight call comes from the aid director in Chicago ten days after her return.   Andrew has gone missing, never to be seen again.  And Kate falls under the blaming cloud of her extended family forever.

Then, some years later, a wretchedly wounded Flora Enriquez unexpectedly reenters Kate’s life, the younger woman having fled the land of volcanoes that erupted in civil conflagration.  The young Mayan, desirous of healing for her horrifying injuries and desperate to restore what remains of her family, reignites a fire in Kate to determine the fate her long lost nephew.

The harrowing journey for the two women on the healing and search mission, and employing a wounded Viet Nam veteran to help them, utterly consumes them.

My Review:
This is a story that takes us along the life journey of a woman named Flora who happened to flee from her country at an early age.  When many of her family members are murdered in her village in Mexico, a group from her tribe, including her brothers, decide to embark on the journey to the United States.  Knowing that they will be entering the country illegally, they hire a guide to help them with the trip.  They have know idea what lies ahead for them and as events take a turn for the worst, they become separated and it will be many years before Flora sees her brothers again.

Flora is able to make a life for herself when she arrives in California.  Fortunately a young family finds her and decides to hire her as a servant to help with the housework and raise their child.  She knows she wants more out of life so she stipulates to her employers that if they expect her to stay on at their home working for meager wages they will have to help pay for her to attend college.  They agree to her wishes and before you know it Flora is graduating with a teaching degree.

When Flora meets Monte, I don't think she really loved him but he seemed to be able to offer her the security that she had never experienced within her lifetime.  They eventually marry and move to a small town in Texas and find themselves raising a family while Flora also gets herself a good teaching job at the local school.  Little does she know that Monte has a brother that follows a lifestyle that tempts the wrong side of the law who will put her life on a path that she never would have expected.

Kate Bowman is a woman who has done some missionary work throughout her life, and many years before she had an experience in Mexico, the very same village where Flora grew up, that left her shaken to the core.  When Flora appears wounded and broken in her small town in Wisconsin, she is amazed that this girl has been put into her life once again.  As she is needed to help save Flora, she finds that she needs Flora just as much to help explain what happened those many years ago so she can finally find some peace in her own life.

This was an interesting novel that kept me turning the pages because I needed to find out how everything was going to turn out.  I do think that some of the characters could have been developed a bit more, especially Kate Bowman.  Even though I enjoyed the story I found that some things were lacking within the novel for me to fully enjoy it.  I have heard many stories of the horrendous journey that many people find themselves on as they try to enter our country illegally and this book brought that to life for me.  With themes of forgiveness, compassion, and survival it made for a very engaging read. 

My Rating:  3/5

Disclosure:  This book was provided to me by Robin of Carol Fass Publicity and Public Relations, Inc. in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

Here is a summary of Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time from the Penguin website:

The inspiring account of one man's campaign to build schools in the most dangerous, remote, and anti-American reaches of Asia.

In 1993 Greg Mortenson was the exhausted survivor of a failed attempt to ascend K2, an American climbing bum wandering emaciated and lost through Pakistan’s Karakoram Himalaya. After he was taken in and nursed back to health by the people of an impoverished Pakistani village, Mortenson promised to return one day and build them a school. From that rash, earnest promise grew one of the most incredible humanitarian campaigns of our time—Greg Mortenson’s one-man mission to counteract extremism by building schools, especially for girls, throughout the breeding ground of the Taliban.

Award-winning journalist David Oliver Relin has collaborated on this spellbinding account of Mortenson’s incredible accomplishments in a region where Americans are often feared and hated. In pursuit of his goal, Mortenson has survived kidnapping, fatwas issued by enraged mullahs, repeated death threats, and wrenching separations from his wife and children. But his success speaks for itself. At last count, his Central Asia Institute had built fifty-five schools. Three Cups of Tea is at once an unforgettable adventure and the inspiring true story of how one man really is changing the world—one school at a time.

My Review:
For being a person that does not read much non-fiction because I just don't usually enjoy it, I will tell you that this book gripped my heart and I'm sure it has earned a place in my memory as one of the most important books that I have ever read.   I know there are many missionaries and organizations out there trying to help people in war-tattered and underdeveloped countries, but Mortenson's personal mission seemed to me to be the most unselfish and heartfelt account that I have heard in quite a long time.

It was purely accidental when Mortenson luckily stumbled into the Korphe village in Pakistan.  Exhausted from physical exertion, the people in this village nursed Mortenson back to health.  When he finally awakens from his slumber and starts to spend some time getting to know the villagers he learns that the children come last as far as governmental spending goes.   His heart breaks from the knowledge that the children in this village will never have the opportunity of an education that is so easily given in America.  This starts the beginning of his mission as he promises the Korphe leader, and his new friend, Haji Ali, that he will return to this village to build a school.

Mortenson didn't come from a family blessed with unlimited amounts of money and he worked very hard as a nurse to earn his way.  He returned to the United States so he could work as much as possible to save money for the Korphe school.  He lived in such a frugal manner that he even slept in his car some evenings.  He found himself feeling guilty if he were to spend any of his money on himself rather than saving it for the school.  Even after saving every penny that he is able to earn, he accepts the fact that it will just take too long for him to earn enough money to buy the materials for the school, so he starts to solicit funds from outside organizations.  From his efforts he is able to share his vision with a few individuals that also see the importance of his cause so he is able to return to Pakistan sooner than he had originally expected.

The roadblocks that Mortenson endured along the way could have easily swayed the average person.  I can only imagine how he felt when he returned to Korphe with the ability to build the school, only to learn that before they build the school they have to erect a bridge!  I could feel his frustrations when he learned of this, knowing that his project was going to be postponed for probably a year.  But he seemed to collect his emotions and resolve the matter by figuring out what they needed to do to build a bridge.

We learn a lot about the Balti culture and traditions from Mortenson's experience. Just conducting normal business was so different from the quick customer service that we receive here in the United States.  Haji Ali taught him that it is just as important to build relationships as trying to accomplish daily tasks.  Here is what Haji Ali shared with Mortenson about respecting their ways by sharing three cups of tea from page 150:
"The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger.  The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest.  The third time you share a cup of tea you become family, and for our family, we are prepared to do anything, even die," he said, laying his hand warmly on Mortenson's own. 

Once Mortenson was able to embrace this slow paced way of life, his efforts in the area thrived.  Village leaders seeked out Mortenson hoping that he would want to build a school in their villages.  Mortenson made it quite clear to the Pakistanis that he wasn't looking to change their way of life, but only provide the children with a balanced education.  Here is an excerpt from page 209 that explains why Mortenson thought it so important to educate the girls:
"Once you educate the boys, they tend to leave the villages and go search for work in the cities," Mortenson explains.  "But the girls stay home, become leaders in the community, and pass on what they've learned.  If you really want to change a culture, to empower women, improve basic hygiene and health care, and fight high rates of infant mortality, the answer is to educate girls."

Mortenson was building a school in Pakistan when the attack on the Twin Towers took place on 9/11.  I can only imagine the danger he was in by being an American citizen in that land, but he had built strong relationships with people that were willing to put their lives on the line to protect him if necessary.  Mortenson made a trip to Capitol Hill shortly after 9/11 to share the work that he has been doing and what he had learned about terrorism.  Here is an excerpt from page 292 about what he shared with a congressman:
"I've learned that terror doesn't happen because some group of people somewhere like Pakistan or Afghanistan simply decide to hate us.  It happens because children aren't being offered a bright enough future that they have a reason to choose life over death."

I think I could probably go on about this book all day long, as it really touched my heart in a way that I can't explain.  Mortenson's work continues as he heads the Central Asia Institute that helps to build schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  This story brought tears to my eyes as I think of how Morteson put his life on the line to help these children.  If you are interested in learning more about the work that Greg Mortenson has done, please check out the Three Cups of Tea website.

I read this book with my book club and we all were very inspired by it and I would definitely suggest this book for other book groups.  We have been trying to think of a way that we might be able to help Mortenson with his mission so I will be sure to post an update once we make a final decision on that.  I will end this review by saying this is the first non-fiction book that I have absolutely loved and I also want to thank Mr. Mortenson for his continuing and selfless work that he does for these children!

My Rating: 5/5

I just had to include this picture of Greg Mortenson reading to the children, because he always has the biggest smile on his face when he is around kids.

Audiobook Review: The Next Thing On My List by Jill Smolinski

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

Meet June Parker.  She works for L.A. Rideshare, adores her rent-stabilized apartment in Santa Monica, and struggles with losing a few pesky pounds. 

But June’s life is about to change.

After a dark turn of events involving Weight Watchers, a chili recipe and a car accident in which her passenger, Marissa, dies, June finds herself in possession of a list, “20 Things to Do By My 25th Birthday.”  Even though they barely knew each other, June is compelled by both guilt and a desire to set things right to finish the list for Marissa.

The tasks before her range from inspiring (Run a 5K), to daring (Go braless), to near-impossible (Change someone’s life), and as June races to achieve each goal before the deadline, she learns more about her own life than she ever bargained for.

My Review:
I must admit that I have never sat down and actually written a life list.  Sure, I have goals that I want to achieve within my lifetime, but there really is something about putting those goals on paper that can be a bit condemning.  After listening to this audiobook, I think a life list is something that we all need to do.  From reading the summary of this book, I was expecting a book with a melancholy tone about it.  And although the narrator did have that touch of sadness in her voice throughout the book, I found it very enjoyable and even laughed a couple of times.

As stated in the summary above, the book starts out with June going to a Weight Watchers meeting.  After offering to give Marissa a ride home, whom she just met, they are involved in a terrible accident with June as the only survivor.  June doesn't know how to deal with her guilt until she finds a list of achievements that Marissa was working on.  For some reason, June decides that she must complete these tasks for Marissa.  A couple of items have been checked off, but she certainly has a long way to go.

It seemed to me that as June was completing the tasks on Marissa's list, that new opportunities were made available to her. She finds herself meeting new people, building closer relationships with her own family members, and somehow connecting with Marissa's family.  Although Marissa's family is still grieving the loss of a sister and daughter, they feel that June trying to complete Marissa's list is somehow a tribute to her memory.

Some of the items on the list were quite comical and made me laugh, while others were pretty serious commitments.  One of the tasks was 'To change someone's life.'  As June was driving one day she happened to notice a billboard for the Big Brother, Big Sister program and it said on the billboard "Change Someone's Life Today."  So she took this as a definite sign and headed directly to the office to get involved in the program right away.  June had grand thoughts of helping a young, disadvantaged little girl find her way in life.  Things did not quite work out as June had expected when she was paired up with a fourteen year old teenage girl named Didi.  By helping Didi and her family, June was able to reconnect with her own brother and rebuild the relationship that had become stagnant many years before.

It was so much fun getting caught up with June as she was trying to complete this list.  I found myself even getting nervous at times when the idea that she wouldn't be able to complete a task came across my mind.  This story had so many elements to it including how to move on with your life after a tragedy, which involves forgiving yourself and others.  We can accomplish almost anything in this lifetime if we set our minds to it.  I enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it.

My Rating: 4/5

Audiobook Review: BoneMan's Daughters by Ted Dekker

Here is a summary of BoneMan's Daughters by Ted Dekker from his website:

They call him BoneMan, a serial killer who’s abducted six young women. He’s the perfect father looking for the perfect daughter, and when his victims fail to meet his lofty expectations, he kills them by breaking their bones and leaving them to die.Intelligence officer Ryan Evans, on the other hand, has lost all hope of ever being the perfect father. His daughter and wife have written him out of their lives.

Everything changes when BoneMan takes Ryan’s estranged daughter, Bethany, as his seventh victim. Ryan goes after BoneMan on his own.

But the FBI sees the case differently. New evidence points to Ryan being BoneMan. Now the hunter is the hunted and in the end only one father will stand.

My Review:
Now this is probably the most intense audiobook I have listened to yet. The main reason that I listened to this one, was to fullfill one of the slots in the What's in a Name Challenge. I've read a few reviews of this book, but considering that I don't usually read suspense thrillers I guess I just wrote it off in my mind. I'm thankful that my mind went back to this title when I was trying to think of a book with a 'body part' in the title.

Ryan Evans is a career naval intelligence officer who found himself pursuing his career and at the same time abandoning his family in the process. He's given his best years to his country, leaving his wife and daughter on their own trying to build a somewhat normal life without him. During a mission in Iraq he has a life changing experience that has him re-evaluating the decisions that he has made about his family, and finds that he regrets every one of them. He wants his family back and decides that he will return home to fight for their love.

When Ryan returns home he finds that his wife and daughter are not quite so eager to welcome him back into their lives with open arms. During his long absence his wife actually found comfort in the arms of another man, and his daughter Bethany just learned to live her life on her own, which she found very lonely at times.

BoneMan is the psycho murderer in this novel that enjoys preying on young girls. One might think that he had a sexual interest in these girls, but that was the furthest thing from his mind. His quest was to find a girl that was perfect enough to be his daughter. After abducting a girl and finding that she didn't measure up to his standards, that is when he would proceed to break their bones, which would result in their death.

Boneman was very meticulous when it came to his looks and even his victims. He would be sure to break each bone with just the right amount of pressure that would ensure the bone would not break through the skin. He wanted his victims to look unscathed. As far as his own upkeep went, he religiously used his Noxzema skin cream every day.

The novel really sped up when BoneMan abducted Bethany thinking that she would be his perfect daughter. With the family conflict surrounding Ryan Evans, the authorities started to suspect him as the BoneMan. When there wasn't any evidence to prove that Ryan wasn't BoneMan, he knew that he was going to be Bethany's only chance at being rescued from that psychopath. Ryan vowed that he would do whatever he needed in order to save his daughter so he could be with her again.

This novel really will get your blood pumping. When I listened to this in my car I remember there being times I was gripping my steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned white! Then there were a few times that really were just, shall I say 'icky', when I would just wave my hands in the air and yell. Oh, what people must think of me when they see me driving sometimes! The gentleman that narrated this book also did a great job, as he made the creepy parts of this novel creepier yet! I definitely recommend this one if you are a fan of the thriller/suspense genre. And if you don't usually read this genre, but are looking for something different, you may enjoy this as much as I did.

My Rating: 5/5

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

You can check out more great reviews at Cym Lowell's Book Review Party Wednesday.

New Author Challenge 2009...Completed!

This year I joined the New Author Challenge that was hosted by Literary Escapism.  This was the first reading challenge that I joined after becoming a book blogger and I signed up to read 25 books by new authors.  Here is a list of the new authors that I read this year, and if you click on the title you should be able to read my review, unless it is one of the more recent books that I haven't posted a review for yet.

1. Eva Etzioni-Halevy-The Triumph of Deborah--Completed 2/7/2009
2. John Boyne-The Boy in the Striped Pajamas--Completed 2/10/2009
3. Sandra Dallas-Tallgrass--Completed 2/28/2009
4. Mark Grisham and David Donaldson-Bedlam South--Completed 3/10/2009
5. Natasha Mostert-Keeper of Light and Dust--Completed 4/20/2009
6. Ken Follett-Code to Zero--Completed 4/22/2009
7. Anita Diamant-The Red Tent--Completed 5/1/2009
8. C.W. Gortner-The Last Queen--Completed 5/10/2009
9. Tatiana de Rosnay-Sarah's Key--Completed 5/17/2009
10. Kaye Gibbons-Charms for the Easy Life--Completed 5/26/2009
11. Leif Enger-So Brave, Young, and Handsome--Completed 6/8/2009
12.David H. Jones-Two Brothers-One North, One South--Completed 6/16/2009
13.Nadine Dajani-Cutting Loose--Completed 6/25/2009
14.Carolyn Parkhurst-Lost and Found--Completed 7/8/2009
15.Cathy Holton-Beach Trip--Completed 7/10/2009
16.Stephenie Meyer-Twilight--Completed 7/20/2009
17.L. Diane Wolfe-The Circle of Friends III:James--Completed 8/2/2009
18.Teri Coyne-The Last Bridge--Completed 8/17/2009
19.Cathy Marie Buchanan-The Day the Falls Stood Still--Completed 8/30/2009
20.J.W. Nicklaus-The Light, The Dark and Ember Between--Completed 9/12/2009
21.Ted Dekker-BoneMan's Daughters--Completed 9/15/2009
22.Shobhan Bantwal-The Sari Shop Widow--Completed 9/21/2009
23.Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin-Three Cups of Tea--Completed 10/3/2009
24.Jill Smolinski-The Next Thing on My List--Completed 10/4/2009
25.Jess Walter-The Financial Lives of the Poets--Completed 10/7/2009

Here are the books that were my absolute favorites from this list, so they received my highest rating of 5/5.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
The Last Queen
Lost and Found-Audiobook
Beach Trip
The Day the Falls Stood Still
The Light, The Dark and Ember Between
Three Cups of Tea

So how about you?  Did you find some new authors this year?  Now that I've completed this challenge for 2009 I guess I can go ahead and sign up for next year!

Blog Tour and Review: The Financial Lives of the Poets by Jess Walter

I would like to give a huge Thank You to Trish from TLC Book Tours for inviting me to be a part of this tour!  This was a great story that really swept you away in this downward spiral of one man's life.

Here is a summary of The Financial Lives of the Poets from the Harper Collins website:

In the winning and utterly original novels Citizen Vince and The Zero, Jess Walter ("a ridiculously talented writer"—New York Times) painted an America all his own: a land of real, flawed, and deeply human characters coping with the anxieties of their times. Now, in his warmest, funniest, and best novel yet, Walter offers a story as real as our own lives: a tale of overstretched accounts, misbegotten schemes, and domestic dreams deferred.

A few years ago, small-time finance journalist Matthew Prior quit his day job to gamble everything on a quixotic notion: a Web site devoted to financial journalism in the form of blank verse. When his big idea—and his wife's eBay resale business— ends with a whimper (and a garage full of unwanted figurines), they borrow and borrow, whistling past the graveyard of their uncertain dreams. One morning Matt wakes up to find himself jobless, hobbled with debt, spying on his wife's online flirtation, and six days away from losing his home. Is this really how things were supposed to end up for me, he wonders: staying up all night worried, driving to 7-Eleven in the middle of the night to get milk for his boys, and falling in with two local degenerates after they offer him a hit of high-grade marijuana? 

Or, he thinks, could this be the solution to all my problems?
 
Following Matt in his weeklong quest to save his marriage, his sanity, and his dreams, The Financial Lives of the Poets is a hysterical, heartfelt novel about how we can reach the edge of ruin—and how we can begin to make our way back. 

My Review:
I want to start my review by saying that to be totally honest with you, when I started this book I didn't think that I would enjoy it at all.  But I found that once I reached the second chapter that I couldn't put this book down!  This novel is very timely considering the state of our economy right now, and I could realistically see how easily a story like this could happen to anyone.  In a sense this book reminded me of The House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III, in that circumstances were just spinning out of control because of one bad decision.

Drug use usually does turn me off, but in this book it seemed so fitting and realistic to me.  Who's to say that if the average American is in similar circumstances to Matt's, unemployed, in debt up to his eyeballs and a week from losing his house, that if the opportunity arose he or she wouldn't smoke a little marijuana?  Nothing else seemed to work for Matt up to this point, so what did he have to lose?  So when Matt meets a couple of guys late one evening at the 7-11, they welcome him back to a way of life that he left behind in his college days.

Matt knows that his home life is falling to pieces.  As he tries to take care of his father that is suffering from dementia, still send his children to a private school while being unemployed, and try to monitor his wife Lisa's online flirtatious behavior with her old boyfriend Chuck, he just doesn't know how much more he can deal with!  After another late night outing at the 7-11 Matt thinks that he may have a temporary solution to his financial problems, but what looks like a quick fix to his dilemma may turn his problems into the worst nightmare he could possibly imagine.

If you read the summary above, you can see that Matt's failed business had to do with crafting poetry from financial journalism.  He obviously wanted to try to keep the poetry alive in his life, so snippets of verse were inserted in various parts of this novel.  Some of the poems were very thoughtful, raw, and honest, while others were just downright hilarious!  Here is a snippet of one of his poems from page 41 when Matt is contemplating when exactly moms started wearing thongs:
And that is the issue I will run on
when I eventually run:
Getting our moms out of thongs
and back into hammocks
with leg holes
the way God
intended.  

This book is such a good reminder that we really do need to appreciate the things that we do have.  It will make you think that maybe what you have now is really all you need, so why do we always want more?  By wanting and getting more we are actually setting ourselves up for failure if a crisis should occur, as it had for Matt.  Here is an excerpt from page 98 where Matt admits where he went wrong:
And my disappointment is not that my own home has lost half its value.  What disappoints me is me-that I fell for their propaganda when I knew better, that I actually allowed myself to believe that a person could own a piece of the world when the truth is that anything you try to own ends up owning you.


There are so many twists and turns for Matt as we follow him through his life during this time, but they are well worth it.  When Matt compares life in general to the game "Jenga", meaning that it could all fall apart at any time, it made me stop and think how true that is for so many Americans right now.  This book is well worth reading and may help you to re-assess your own lifestyle.  I highly recommend it, but also I feel that I need to disclose that there is a fair amount of drug use and profanity that I know many readers do not appreciate.  To find out more about Jess Walter and view his other books please check out his website.

My Rating: 4/5

**Excerpts are taken from an Uncorrected Proof copy so they may be different in the final print version.
This book was provided to me to review as part of the TLC Book Tour.  You can view all of the stops for this tour at the TLC Book Tour website here.

Blog Tour and Review: The Sari Shop Widow by Shobhan Bantwal

I am so excited to be able to participate in the Blog Tour for The Sari Shop Widow by Shobhan Bantwal. The following is a summary from the Kensington Publishing website:

Pungent curry…sweet fried onions…incense…colorful beads…lush fabrics. Shobhan Bantwal’s compelling new novel is set on the streets of Edison, New Jersey’s Little India, where a young businesswoman rediscovers the magic of love and family…

Since becoming a widow at age twenty-seven, Anjali Kapadia has devoted herself to transforming her parents' sari shop into a chic boutique, brimming with exquisite jewelry and clothing. Now, ten years later, it stands out like a proud maharani amid Edison’s bustling Little India. But when Anjali learns the shop is on the brink of bankruptcy, she feels her world unraveling…

To the rescue comes Anjali’s wealthy, dictatorial Uncle Jeevan and his business partner, Rishi Shah—a mysterious Londoner, complete with British accent, cool gray eyes, and skin so fair it makes it hard to believe he’s Indian. Rishi’s cool, foreign demeanor triggers distrust in Anjali and her mother. But for Anjali, he also stirs something else, a powerful attraction she hasn’t felt in a decade. And the feeling is mutual…

Love disappointed Anjali once before and she’s vowed to live without it—though Rishi is slowly melting her resolve and, as the shop regains its footing, gaining her trust. But when a secret from Rishi’s past is revealed, Anjali must turn to her family and her strong cultural upbringing to guide her in finding the truth…

My Review:
As this book opens, Anjali is helping her parents run the Silk and Sapphires boutique in a community known as Little India in New Jersey.  After her beloved husband passed away ten years before, she has invested all that she had into the little boutique, so she definitely has a vested interest in the success of the business.  Anjali found that she had quite a knack for design so she ran that aspect of the business while her father took care of the administrative side.

Anjali has noticed that business has been a bit slow lately, so she really wasn't too surprised when her father informed her that the boutique is in serious financial trouble and they stand to lose everything.  Not knowing where to turn, her father decides to seek advice from his older brother Jeevan.  Jeevan has been known to always have a good head for business and if anyone was going to help them get out of this jam he knew Jeevan would be the one to accomplish the task.

Since uncle Jeevan lives in India, he has only been to the United States to visit his family a few times, but the impression from those few visits as being the rich, tyrant uncle was embedded into everyone's minds.  When Anjali and her parents are informed that Jeevan will be helping them with their dilemma, and he will be staying with them until the task is completed, everyone is on pins and needles awaiting the arrival of this demanding man.  When he does show up at their doorstop everyone is quite shocked when they find that not only will he be staying with them for the duration of the project, but he has also brought along his business partner Rishi as a consultant.

As Rishi and Anjali are working so closely to get the store on the right track they can't help but notice the spark that has been created between them.  Anjali knows that she hasn't felt anything like this since she lost her husband but is worried about the outcome of their relationship if it should develop.  She thinks that after his consultation project is over he will be on his way and out of her life, so she finds it very difficult to let her guard down around Rishi and allow her to share her true feelings.

While Rishi and Anjali are appearing to be building a relationship, Jeevan uses this time to try to mend his own relationships with his family.  As the story develops we find that Jeevan came to the United States with his own secrets and we learn more about what made him the businessman that he has become.  It is not until Jeevan confides honestly in his family that they can finally come to terms with his demanding ways and accept him wholly into their lives.  

I believe that this book may fall into the romance genre, but to me it was really much more than that.  This book really gives you a good taste of the Indian culture. It helped me to visualize the beauty of the elegant silk fabrics and smell the aroma of the ethnic foods.  I loved how this novel shared the importance of family bonds, stressing that when one is in trouble you strive together as a unit to work it out.  You can find more books that are laced with Indian culture at Shobhan Bantwal's website. I want to give a special thank you to both Jamie and Dorothy from Pump Up Your Book Promotion for allowing me to participate in this virtual tour. Please be sure to check back tomorrow for a special guest post from Shobhan Bantwal.

My Rating: 4/5

Review: The Light, The Dark and Ember Between

Here is a summary of The Light, the Dark, and Ember Between by J.W. Nicklaus from Amazon:

This book is a collection of uplifting images that delve into the reflections of the human condition. These stories will cause you to think, laugh, and even cry at the beauty of emotional memories. You will smile at the thought of love lost and found again in "Paper Doll." You will think about your life's choices in "10:18." You will cry tears of joy while reading about the hidden gift in "Winter Rose." This is a must-have collection of thought-provoking reflections perfect for your bedside or the beach.

My Review:

It is not very often that I pick up a book of short stories, but I am glad I took the opportunity over this last summer to let these stories into my heart. This book is a compilation of short fictional stories that have a way of tapping your emotions from within your soul. As I started reading a couple of these stories, I was asking myself, "Where in the world could this possibly be leading?" But then by the end of the story I would find my hand covering my heart as the story took a turn that was so beautiful and unexpected.

I am not going to go into the details of each individual story, as they are each beautiful in their own way. I think that if you are looking for a book to bring along with you on a trip, or even if you think you may be stranded in waiting rooms for a long period of time, this book would be the perfect accompaniment. Please stop by the webpage of J.W. Nicklaus to find out more information about the author and this book. You can also wish him a Happy Birthday since his birthday is this month!

My Rating: 5/5

Review: The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan

Here is a summary of The Day the Falls Stood Still from Cathy Marie Buchanan's website:

1915. The dawn of the hydroelectric power era in Niagara Falls. Seventeen-year-old Bess Heath has led a sheltered existence as the youngest daughter of the director of the Niagara Power Company. After graduation day at her boarding school, she is impatient to return to her picturesque family home near Niagara Falls. But when she arrives, nothing is as she left it. Her father has lost his job at the power company, her mother is reduced to taking in sewing from the society ladies she once entertained, and Isabel, her vivacious older sister, is a shadow of her former self. She has shut herself in her bedroom, barely eating—and harbouring a secret.

The night of her return Bess meets Tom Cole by chance on a trolley platform. She finds herself inexplicably drawn to him—against her family’s strong objections. He is not from their world. Rough-hewn and fearless, he lives off what the river provides and has an uncanny ability to predict the whims of the falls. His daring river rescues render him a local hero and cast him as a threat to the power companies that seek to harness the power of the falls for themselves. As their lives become more fully entwined, Bess is forced to make a painful choice between what she wants and what is best for her family and her future.

My Review:

This is one book that I can say I wanted to read because of it's cover attraction. There is just something about this cover that reached into my heart and mind saying "Read this one Jo-Jo!" Well I am certainly glad that I did because this story was so beautifully told and full of historical information that I really didn't have any knowledge of before I opened it's pages. This novel also gives the reader a good visual of how the hydroelectric power plants affected the flow of the river and Niagara Falls.

This story is told through the viewpoint of Bess, a seventeen year old girl who has had the opportunity to live a privileged life thus far. She has been attending the Loretto Academy, where her beautiful and older sister, Isabel, previously graduated from. Before Bess is able to complete her education, the Heath family is suddenly trodden with a financial hardship. Bess is pulled out of school and taken home and will never know her pampered lifestyle again. Her mother is a dressmaker and takes Bess under wings, teaching her the in's and out's of what it takes to be a successful seamstress. Together, these two women are able to keep the family afloat from their dressmaking enterprise.

Along the way, Bess runs into a riverman named Tom Cole. Tom is very famous throughout the area and comes from a strong heritage of rivermen. He seems to have a sixth sense about the river and how it flows. One might even say that it seemed that Tom may have the river water running through his veins. Through his eyes, we are given such a vivid picture of the magestic falls and the river that they seem to gain almost a magical quality.

Bess found herself falling in love with Tom Cole, against her parents wishes. This novel takes place during the Great Depression, so since the family had already lost all financial security that they had known, they had hoped that their daughter would marry a young man that brought them back into good social graces. With Tom being a riverman, he did not fit the bill.

I really don't want to give too much of this book away, but I loved being with Bess and Tom as their relationship grew. Tom found himself taking a job that went against everything he believed in for the people he loved, and although Bess enjoyed the financial security, she did not enjoy the changes that she saw in Tom.

In the beginning of this book a tragedy takes place that has Bess questioning her belief in God. She struggles with this throughout the story and I found this to be a very touching and important human element of the novel. Here is an excerpt that I wanted to share from page 215 of the Advanced Reading Copy:
We all matter so very little, not at all after a generation or two. And it is the same for all mankind; not even the greatest of men amount to anything that will survive the forward march of time. It is in these moments of despair I most miss the idea of God, the idea that life has meaning, the idea that we are something more than the products of the random variations and natural selection Charles Darwin put forth.

This was such a beautifully told story that I loved from beginning to end. I think during the time that we live in now, it's also important as we are looking for alternative means of energy, to be aware of how these alternative methods affect our landscape. I also find it interesting that Buchanan based her character of Tom Cole after William "Red" Hill's life. A couple of Red Hill's heroic acts of bravery are retold in this story as Tom Cole. I just loved this story and definitely recommend it!

My Rating: 5/5

Here are a few other informative reviews of this book:
The Burton Review
Peeking Between the Pages
The Reading Journey
Savvy Verse and Wit
Book Chatter and other stuff
Booking Mama

Review: The Last Bridge by Teri Coyne

Here is a summary of The Last Bridge from the Random House, Inc. website:

For ten years, Alexandra “Cat” Rucker has been on the run from her past. With an endless supply of bourbon and a series of meaningless jobs, Cat is struggling to forget her Ohio hometown and the rural farmhouse she once called home. But a sudden call from an old neighbor forces Cat to return to the home and family she never intended to see again. It seems that Cat’s mother is dead.

What Cat finds at the old farmhouse is disturbing and confusing: a suicide note, written on lilac stationery and neatly sealed in a ziplock bag, that reads: Cat, He isn’t who you think he is. Mom xxxooo

One note, ten words–one for every year she has been gone–completely turns Cat’s world upside down. Seeking to unravel the mystery of her mother’s death, Cat must confront her past to discover who “he” might be: her tyrannical, abusive father, now in a coma after suffering a stroke? Her brother, Jared, named after her mother’s true love (who is also her father’s best friend)? The town coroner, Andrew Reilly, who seems to have known Cat’s mother long before she landed on a slab in his morgue? Or Addison Watkins, Cat’s first and only love?

The closer Cat gets to the truth, the harder it is for her to repress the memory and the impact of the events that sent her away so many years ago.

Taut, gripping, and edgy, The Last Bridge is an intense novel of family secrets, darkest impulses, and deep-seated love. Teri Coyne has created a stunning tapestry of pain and passion where past and present are seamlessly interwoven to tell a story that sears and warms in equal measure.

My Review:

This was a very powerful book that really dealt with what the negative effects of abuse can be when the victim just keeps trying to run away from the reality of what happened. Although this was a difficult story to read at times, I found that I couldn't put this book down. I devoured the pages in just a couple of sittings, which is a very rare occurrence for me. I was mesmerized from the first line of the book that began like this on page 3:
Two days after my father had a massive stroke my mother shot herself in the head.

So the story begins with Cat returning to the family home after her mother's death. Cat hates to be in her hometown, let alone the family home where she was the recipient of extensive physical abusive from her father, that the only way she can manage to stay there is by drinking herself into oblivion. She would drink until all emotional feelings were dead to her.

This is one of those stories that the author decides to give us snippets of Cat's life by changing the timeline from past to present throughout the book. This method of writing definitely enhanced this story. I won't go into the details of the abuse but it did escalate violently throughout the novel. When Cat did try to tell an authoritive figure what was happening to her, she just received a worse punishment when she got home.

Although her father was abusive to her mother, Cat seemed to be the recipient of most of his violent outbursts. I guess because everyone in her life seemed to ignore what happened to her as a child, she thought it would be ok to just not deal with it herself. This is how Cat let alcoholism take over her entire life. This was very realistic to me as I watched Cat deal with her raw emotions in this way.

When Cat is reunited with her brother and sister she thinks that they have it all together. Little does she know that they are both dealing with their own demons, some from current events, and some from the guilt of not helping Cat all those years ago when they had the chance. I loved how this story ends because it wasn't picture perfect. Cat finds that it is a daily struggle to keep her alcoholism under control, but she has found a reason to try to make it work.

This is probably one of my favorite books that I have read this summer and I want to give a special Thank You to Kaitlin from Random House for providing me with this review copy. I know that some of you are very sensitive when it comes to reading about child abuse, so this may not be the right book for you. As difficult as the journey of this book was, I thought it was very well written. This is Teri Coyne's first novel and I find it fascinating that she is also a stand up comedian! You can check out her website here.

My Rating: 4/5

You can view another insightful review of The Last Bridge over at Books and Cooks.

Blog Tour and Review: The Circle of Friends Book III...James by L. Diane Wolfe

Here is a summary of The Circle of Friends Book III...James from L. Diane Wolfe's website:

The future appears bright for James Sheppard. Emerging from a troubled childhood, he is blessed with talent and a good work ethic. Excelling in his classes and at the campus newspaper, James’s goal of editor appears within his grasp.

However, years of abuse and loneliness have dampened his spirit. By the time Maria enters his world, James is nearing the breaking point. Her innocent love slowly fills the void in his life, boosting his confidence and giving him hope.

When a crisis abruptly forces him into adulthood, James is saddled with more responsibility than expected. Struggling to cope with the situation, the past returns to haunt him. Will James find peace before the mistakes of his father destroy him completely?

My Review:

As I have just started to read young adult fiction I really don't have a lot to compare this book to, but I can tell you that I really enjoyed it. Personally, this book hit a bit close to home for me as I married my husband when we were quite young, and just last month we celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary!

James has always been a quality young man with good work ethics and strong morals. He persevered and defeated the odds by not continuing the path of emotional and physical abuse that he had endured as a child. James finally breaks away from that home life when he leaves for college to start working on his own future.

When James meets Maria his whole world changes as he finds himself falling deeply in love with her. Before you know it, one mistake changes the paths of both of their lives forever. Visions of carefree college days are no longer within grasp as they find themselves struggling to do what is right for themselves and each other.

During these difficult times, James is also trying to come to terms with the unstable relationship he has always had with his father. James finally realizes that he cannot lead a healthy life himself until he accepts what happened between the two of them as he was growing up, and actually forgives him. Once he can get past that obstacle, James gets a glimpse as to what provoked his father's abusive behavior all those years ago. I really enjoyed this part of the book, because although abuse is never acceptable, it is always helpful to realize what makes people act the way they do.

James and Maria's relationship weathered many storms through this book. Maria's parents greatly disliked James, but she stood up to them to show her support of the decisions that they made. Relationships do not come easy, they are hard work! It also was an excellent example that when you make mistakes there are consequences that you must live up to. This book showed that when times are tough, you can make things work out by supporting and loving each other. I want to give a special Thank You to L. Diane Wolfe for providing me with this review copy that I thoroughly enjoyed.

This book brought one of my favorite quotes to mind by Lewis B. Smedes: 'To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.'

My Rating: 4/5

If this book interests you, be sure to stop back in the next day or so for a chance to win a copy for yourself!

Be sure to check out the rest of her tour stops as you may have another chance to win this book:

Aug 11 Tour Kick-Off, Guest Post, & Giveaway J. Kaye's Book Blog
Aug 13 Review and Interview at TexasRed Books
Aug 14 Interview & Giveaway at Genevieve's Blog
Aug 15-31 Book giveaway at Jo-Jo Loves to Read
Aug 17 Guest post at Frenetic Reader
Aug 18-19-20 Interview & review at Always Something to Read
Aug 19 Book giveaway and guest post at Pudgy Penguin Perusals
Aug 21 Guest post & review at The Story Siren
Aug 24 Review & interview at Ultimate Book Hound
Aug 25 Guest post at Find Your Next Book Here
Aug 26 Guest post & review at Belle of the Books
Aug 27 Interview at Kathy Erskine’s Blog

You can see a couple other reviews at:
Missy’s Book Nook
Debbie’s World of Books

Review: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Here is a summary of Twilight from the Hachette Book Groupwebsite:

Bella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear. Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.

My Review:

So my first thought is, what could I possibly say about Twilight that hasn't been written by every possible book reviewer out there? I am not going to share a very detailed review with you, as most of you in blogland have already read this book. I am glad that I have finally read this book, so now I know what all of the hoopla is about.

Although this is a story about vampires, I think the general theme of the novel is a forbidden romance. Edward knows that as a vampire he can never have a normal relationship with Bella, knowing that every moment that they are together he is putting her life at risk. Once Edward finally realizes that he loves Bella with all of his vampire heart, he learns to control his natural instincts of wanting to drink the blood that flows through her veins.

After Edward introduces Bella to the rest of his family, they decide to show her some of their recreational activities by taking her to watch them play a baseball game. This turns out to be a game like no other that Bella has ever seen, but unfortunately it also puts her in grave danger. When the "bad" vampires catch the scent that Bella gives off, Edward and his family must do everything within their power to protect her.

As the novel ends Edward is still struggling with the fact that he can never be with Bella the way two partners that are in love usually are. It doesn't help as she continually tempts him by begging him to turn her into a vampire so they can love each other for as long as possible.

Although I did enjoy this story, I think I can honestly say that I didn't love it. Will I read the other books in the series? Probably, but they won't be added to the top of my TBR pile. Stephenie Meyer does weave a good story and you can find out more about the entire Twilight series at her website. I haven't read much young adult fiction so please keep in mind that my rating takes into account that this is from a young adult reading genre.

My Rating: 3/5

Review: Beach Trip by Cathy Holton

Here is a summary of Beach Trip from Cathy Holton's website:

A reunion between four friends becomes a cathartic journey into the past in Cathy Holton’s luminous new novel. Mel, Sara, Annie, and Lola have traveled distinct and diverse paths since the early 1980s and their years together at a small Southern liberal arts college. Mel, a mystery writer living in New York, contends with the aftermath of two failed marriages and a stalled writing career. Sara, an Atlanta attorney, struggles with guilt over her son’s illness and her own slowly unraveling marriage. Annie, a successful Nashville businesswoman married to her childhood sweetheart, can’t seem to leave the regrets of her youth behind her. And Lola, sweet-tempered and absent-minded, whiles away her hours and her husband’s money, on little pills that keep her happy.

Now the friends, all in their forties, converge on Lola’s idyllic North Carolina beach house in an attempt to relive the carefree days of their college years. But as the week wears on, and each woman’s hidden story is gradually revealed, they find they must inevitably confront their shared past; a failed love affair, a discarded suitor, a betrayal, and a secret that threatens to change their bond, and their lives, forever.

My Review:

I just love the premise of this story! Four women that were best friends in college decide to enjoy a week long beach vacation together. Wouldn't that just be great to do with some of your closest girlfriends? These women are all in their forties now and even though they have tried to stay in touch for the most part, life seems to have taken them all on different paths. This book alternates very well between the past and the present. You will see little snippets along the way as to why some of these ladies have turned into reserved, nervous, distant, and distrustful people.

Since they graduated from college they haven't really gotten together, so Lola decides that it is time and invites them all to stay at her beach house on a little island just off the North Carolina coast for a week. After college Lola married Briggs Fuhrman and really hasn't pursued any personal interests of her own, so she puts all of her love and energy into raising her son Henry. She finds herself not wanting or needing anything at all, but also trying to keep a very demanding and possessive husband at bay.

Sara and Mel were best friends since they were young girls as they grew up in the same town together. Sara's family had a rough time of it, where as Mel had lived a very privileged life and really didn't have to work hard for anything. Their relationship is put to the ultimate test when they both fall for the same young man in college. Mel realizes that she doesn't ever want to focus on a relationship, so she flees her one love and her best friends to move to New York after college graduation to start a new and exciting life as a writer. The following is an excerpt from page 129 that I enjoyed that describes how Mel was pondering the loneliness that Lola must have been feeling:

It occurred suddenly to Mel that Lola was lonely. And Mel knew a thing or two about loneliness, although with her it was a condition she had chosen. Her career as a writer made a solitary life necessary but it was a choice she'd never really regretted. Well, most of the time, anyway. But with Lola the loneliness was forced, and that was different. Briggs had his money, Mel had her writing, Sara and Annie had their own families, but all Lola had ever had was Henry. And now Henry had found someone else.

Annie is an interesting character as she is probably considered the mirror of perfection to all of her friends. She was always known for her schedules running like clockwork and her meticulous house cleaning skills. When Annie went to college, she left her high school sweetheart at home, but eventually marries him after her graduation. Annie's secret life from her college days is revealed throughout the novel, and she finds herself needing to pour out her feelings to her friends to come to terms with the mistakes that she made.

When the trip started these ladies were very reserved and seemed to be hiding their deepest fears from each other. But by their final evening together they were able to share their secrets and offer the love and support to one another that has been missing for way too long. This was such a great novel that delved into the themes of friendship, love and forgiveness. I think it will make a great beach read as it will probably make you laugh and cry. You may want to call up that friend that you haven't talk to in the last five years just to catch up. This book will make you realize that good friends are worth the heartache and they don't come a dime a dozen.

I want to give a special thank you to Caitlin from Ballentine Books for providing me with this review copy. In the genre of women's fiction I definitely recommend this novel and give it a high rating.

My Rating: 5/5

Audiobook Review: Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst

Here is a summary of Lost and Found from Carolyn Parkhurst's website:

What do a suburban mom and her troubled daughter, two recently divorced brothers, a pair of former child stars, born-again Christian newlyweds, and a couple of young millionaires have in common? They have all been selected to compete on Lost and Found, a daring new reality TV show. In teams of two, they will scour the globe - from Egypt to Japan, from Sweden to England - to battle for a million-dollar prize. They must decipher encrypted clues, recover mysterious artifacts, and outwit their opponents to stay in play.

What starts as a lark turns deadly serious as the number of players is whittled down, temptations beckon, and the bonds between partners strain and unravel. Before long the question is not only who will capture the final prize, but at what cost.

My Review:

I do believe that if you enjoy reality television shows that you will probably like this novel. The only reality shows that I really watch are Survivor and The Apprentice, but I loved this book. Even though this novel is centered around a reality show, that the winner happens to win a million dollars, it is more about the secrets and inner fears that are revealed by the characters that are playing the game. You find yourself getting to know these contestants quite well, as the alternating chapters are written in first person of the different contestants.

The book opens with Laura and Cassie, a mother and daughter team straining to keep their relationship intact. Laura is awakened in the middle of the night by her daughter Cassie to inform her that she has just given birth to a little girl. Cassie is still in high school, so you can only imagine how confused Laura was to learn that her daughter who lives in her own home was not only pregnant but just gave birth to a baby! So when Laura realized that the reality show Lost and Found was looking for contestants she thought it would be a great opportunity for the two of them to build their relationship as they see the world.

Justin and Abby were another interesting team that participated in the game. Justin and Abby are a married couple that happened to meet at a church that helps to rehabilitate homosexuals and help them live a straight life. When they met, Justin and Abby were both homosexuals but they figured they could get married and live a normal life with the help and support of each other and their church. Quite often, Abby would share her feelings with Justin when she would feel that her homosexual tendencies were about to get the best of her. Little did she know that her strong and supportive husband was struggling with his own faith and beliefs.

Carl and Jeff are a team of brothers that are competing for the grand prize. They are both recently divorced but Carl also has some pretty serious issues that are weighing him down. Later in the game the teams get switched around a little bit and you really see a different side of Carl that is quite appealing. As he shares some of his personal problems with a new team mate a new relationship is blooming.

And then we have Juliette and Dallas, who were a couple of former child-stars looking for a way to try to get in the spotlight again. It is just amazing the lengths that some people will go to just to get a little media coverage. There are many other contestants in the beginning of the novel, but as more tasks are completed, more teams are voted off.

It seems that Lost and Found is very comparable to The Amazing Race reality show, although I haven't watched this one myself. The teams are given clues and they find themselves spanning the globe with a Network credit card to get to the next location to find the answer. Through this journey, some of the contestants lives unravel and spin out of control, while others find peace and enjoyment out of the whole charade.

Like I said earlier, if you enjoy reality shows you will probably enjoy this one. The story kept my attention and I didn't find my mind wandering. Even though the chapters changed depending upon which character was narrating, it was quite easy to follow along. I just loved this one as an audiobook!

My Rating: 5/5