Mid-Life Experience - August 29, 2014

Currently Reading:

• The Right Wife by Beverly Barton (received through NetGalley)
• Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch (received through the publisher)
• Black Vodka: Ten Stories by Deborah Levy (received through NetGalley)

Recent Reviews:

Life Drawing by Robin Black (received through NetGalley)

5 stars
 

This is an astoundingly good book.  One that makes me fall in love with reading all over again.  Augusta (Gus) and Owen are a middle aged couple who move into a country farmhouse in order to start their relationship anew after a few tumultuous years.  Their isolation ends when Allison moves next door and the fragile and claustrophobic relationships begin to unravel in surprising ways.  I really enjoyed the graceful language of the novel and the insight into these character’s lives.  It is definitely one of the best books that I have read so far this year.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

 

The Art of Arranging Flowers by Lynne Branard (received through NetGalley)

4 stars
 

I did not quite expect to like this book as much as I did.  It follows Ruby, small-town florist, as she deals with a sad childhood and the recent death of her beloved sister.  She is a compelling and believable character and she demonstrates so much love for her community while walling off her own heart.  This book is mostly about her friendships and how with their help she begins to let people into her life.  At times, it skips over seemingly big events but I actually really liked how that was done as it focused on the day to day events that make life fulfilling.  I am not sure if I would have picked up this book if I hadn’t received it from NetGalley so I am very glad of this reading opportunity.   

Escaping - August 27, 2014

Currently Reading:

• The Art of Arranging Flowers by Lynne Branard (received through NetGalley)
• The Right Wife by Beverly Barton (received through NetGalley)
• Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch (received through the publisher)
• All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot (received through Goodreads Firstreads Giveaway)

Recent Reviews:

Secrets of the Lighthouse by Santa Montefiore (received through NetGalley)

4 stars

 

A gothic romance set on the coast of Ireland, the novel follows former socialite Ellen as she escapes her restricting London life to live with her rustic Irish family.  Once there, she meets a cast of interesting characters, most of which are family that she doesn’t know she had.  She also meets, and almost instantly falls in love with, the mysterious Conor whose scandalous past has made him an outsider in the isolated little town.  His deceased wife also features prominently in this book as an unhappy ghost that learns how to manipulate the events of the living.  The descriptions of the coast, the village, the ruined buildings and the numerous family members are stunning and I felt as if I was plopped into the middle of this beautiful community each time I opened the book.  Ellen’s embrace of this new life felt authentic and I enjoyed her transformation as she discovers the family she never knew existed.  I was not a fan of the sudden and intense romance that forced Ellen into acting nowhere near the 33 year old that she is supposed to be.  Otherwise, this is a beautiful book that I read for the cast of characters and the gorgeous descriptions but maybe not the romance.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

 

J.D. Salinger: The Escape Artist by Thomas Beller (received through NetGalley)

4 stars

 

I found this to be a strange biography and while I liked it very much, I am having a hard time with the words to describe it.  There has been a lot of Salinger news in the years since his death as the existence of his further works has come to light.  This book is about Salinger but is also about the author and his voyage to understand Salinger’s life.  The book is under 200 pages so it is definitely not the most comprehensive biography written but it does provide a broad overview of Salinger’s work and his secretive life.  In some ways it included an assortment of random information and I felt there were a lot of digressions but overall it was entertaining and I would recommend it to fans of Salinger’s work.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

 

Reviews - August 25, 2014

Currently Reading:

• Secrets of the Lighthouse by Santa Montefiore (received through NetGalley)
• J.D. Salinger: The Escape Artist by Thomas Beller (received through NetGalley)
• Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch (received through the publisher)
• All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot (received through Goodreads Firstreads Giveaway)

Recent Reviews:

The Last Word by A.L. Michael (received through NetGalley)

4 stars

 

While in her mid-twenties, Tabby has hit a slump in both her professional and romantic life.  Starting out as a journalist, she had a promising career and a dashing boyfriend but both vanished in a distressing turn of events.  Now she writes humorous articles to adoring fans on her blog and twitter, lives in her pajamas and drinks a little bit too much wine.  Until one day she receives a mysterious email inviting her to interview for a real position at an online newspaper.  Enter Harry, a smooth, charming and arrogant editor that pushes all of her buttons, both good and bad.  I read this hilarious book in one day and it just put me in a great mood.  The dialogue is snappy and witty and Tabby is realistic and very funny.  Harry also carried the right amount of conceit and vulnerability to make him a perfect foil for Tabby’s occasional craziness.  My only complaint is that Tabby almost turned unlikable towards the end with her low self-esteem and impetuousness however, in the end she does learn her lesson and the story raps up nicely.  This is a great book to lift your spirits and I enjoyed the funny and imperfect heroine.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Presidents and Polygamists - August 22, 2014

Currently Reading:

• Secrets of the Lighthouse by Santa Montefiore (received through NetGalley)
• J.D. Salinger: The Escape Artist by Thomas Beller (received through NetGalley)
• The Last Word by A.L. Michael (received through NetGalley)
• Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch (received through the publisher)
• All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot (received through Goodreads Firstreads Giveaway)

Recent Reviews:

I Love You More by Jennifer Murphy (received through NetGalley)

4 stars
 

Picasso Lane, eleven year old girl and eavesdropper extraordinaire, knows everything that is going on around her and right now that means knowing more than she should.  Her mother has just discovered that her husband has two other families and has been spinning a web of elaborate lies.  His murder, which occurs early, causes further examination into this sociopathic man, his three wives and a daughter who seems to know more than she lets on.   The novel is told through multiple perspectives, including Picasso, the detective assigned to the case and, most interestingly, the three wives as one omnipresent being.  Picasso is an original and interesting character and her voice was definitely my favorite.  Well-written with a few good twists thrown in, I enjoyed this novel and will look for further books by this author.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

James Madison by Lynne Cheney (received through NetGalley)

3 stars
 

This is the first biography of James Madison that I have read so I have no way of knowing if Lynne Cheney has added anything new to the field.  She did do a tremendous amount of research and her knowledge of politics in early America is demonstrated in this book.  I may be alone in this, but I really had a hard time getting through this at times.  It felt very dry in a way that I can’t quite put my finger on, but there were times that I really had to talk myself into finishing.  Overall though, I did learn a lot about James Madison’s role in the formation of government and his relationship with other luminaries of the time so ultimately I am glad that I stuck with this presidential biography.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

 

 

 

Alternative Boleyn History - August 20, 2014

Currently Reading:

• James Madison by Lynne Cheney (received through NetGalley
• Michaelangelo: A Life in Six Masterpieces by Miles J. Unger (received through NetGalley)
• Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch (received through the publisher)
• I Love You More by Jennifer Murphy (received through NetGalley)
• All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot (received through Goodreads Firstreads Giveaway)

Recent Reviews:

The Boleyn Reckoning by Laura Anderson (received through NetGalley)
4.5 stars

 

This book is the third of a trilogy based on an alternative history of Tudor England.  It asks the question: What if Anne Boleyn had delivered a healthy boy instead of the miscarriage that lead to her execution?  It follows four childhood friends; King William, Princess Elizabeth and their childhood friends Dominic and Minuette as they deal with royal expectations, court intrigue and true love.   As a big reader of historical fiction about the Tudor era, I was not sure I would like an alternative history spin on the topic but I have to say that I enjoyed this trilogy immensely.  The first two were good but the third is stunning and I may have to take a couple of days to recover before I begin another book.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Reviews - August 18, 2014

Currently Reading:

• James Madison by Lynne Cheney (received through NetGalley
• The Boleyn Deceit by Laura Anderson
• Michaelangelo: A Life in Six Masterpieces by Miles J. Unger (received through NetGalley)
• Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch (received through the publisher)
• Glass Beach by Jill Marie Landis (received through NetGalley)

 

Recent Reviews:

Those Who Wish Me Dead by Michael Koryta (received through NetGalley)

4 stars

 

Ethan and Allison Serbin live in the mountains of Montana and run a wilderness survival program.  An encounter with one of their previous clients leads them to taking on a fourteen year old witness hiding from brutal murderers.  Containing many good twists and surprises, this book also has a lot of heart wrenching scenes because of the desperate lengths gone to in order to save the boy.  As in Koryta’s prior book So Cold the River, there are also forces of nature also at work as a massive forest fire provides a menacing backdrop and the interesting tidbits about fighting wildfires and survival techniques are an added bonus to the book.  The two murderers that chase after the witness are incredibly creepy and strange but seemed almost too other-worldly to be completely believable.  Otherwise, this was everything a thriller should be and I found it thoroughly absorbing.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

 

Reviews - August 16, 2014

Currently Reading:

• James Madison by Lynne Cheney (received through NetGalley
• The Boleyn Deceit by Laura Anderson
• Those Who Wish Me Dead by Michael Koryta (received through NetGalley)
• Michaelangelo: A Life in Six Masterpieces by Miles J. Unger (received through NetGalley)
• Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch (received through the publisher)

Recent Reviews:

The Angry Years: The Rise and Fall of the Angry Young Men by Colin Wilson (received through NetGalley)

4 stars

I started this book without knowing too much about any of the writers covered.  The “angry young men” were a group of young writers given the moniker by journalists during the 1950’s because they supposedly railed against the class system in Britain.  The author, Colin Wilson, was one of the “angry men” and his first book really launched the movement.  He knew all of the writers that he covers and this book and has interesting and entertaining tidbits about their lives.  He provides enough information about their books that it is not necessary to have read them in order to read this book.  Wilson was at times harsh concerning the works and lives of his contemporaries but I was thoroughly entertained throughout the entire book.  I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

 

Catch Your Breath by Shannyn Schroeder (received through NetGalley)

3 stars



Jimmy and Moira grew up across the street from each other and while Moira has always had a crush on Jimmy, he has always viewed her as his best friend’s little sister.  Now adults, Jimmy is an undercover detective and encounters Moira as she covers social events for a newspaper.  They connect on a new level and their attraction for each other is immediate.  I liked this book but for some reason I had a hard time connecting to the characters.  This is a nice, light read for a summer night but maybe not my favorite contemporary romance of the year.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Reviews - August 13, 2014

At some point I went through a requesting frenzy on NetGalley, which is why I am currently trying to catch up.  Believe me, it is in no way punishing as these are some really excellent books.

Currently Reading:

• James Madison by Lynne Cheney (received through NetGalley
• The Boleyn Deceit by Laura Anderson
• Those Who Wish Me Dead by Michael Koryta (received through NetGalley)
• The Quick by Lauren Owen (received through NetGalley)
• Michaelangelo: A Life in Six Masterpieces by Miles J. Unger (received through NetGalley)
• The Angry Years: The Rise and Fall of the Angry Young Men by Colin Wilson (received through NetGalley)
• Catch Your Breath by Shannyn Schroeder (received through NetGalley)
• Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch (received through the publisher)

Recent Reviews:

Dark Aemilia by Sally O’Reilly (received through NetGalley)

3.5 stars

 

This novel imagines the life of Aemilia Bassano (later Lanyer), based on the real woman, who was one of the first women poets published during Elizabethan times.   Growing up she was educated beyond the standards of a typical woman of her time and became a favorite of Queen Elizabeth because she could converse in Latin.  Her beauty and learning landed her as mistress of Lord Hunsdon and the lover of William Shakespeare.  An accidental pregnancy forces her into marriage and her circumstances change drastically as she studies in witchcraft and magic.  Where the novel excels brilliantly is reimagining London during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century.  The grit, filth and overcrowded streets can be easily conjured while reading this book.  Not much is known about Aemilia, but it has been suspected that she was Shakespeare’s “dark lady”.  The love story between Aemilia and Shakespeare is central to this story and I enjoyed its inevitable drama. 

I wasn’t a huge fan of the supernatural element of the book and I think that Aemilia’s life was interesting enough without it.  There are witches, necromancy, demons and depictions of other such things that are difficult to slog through and I found myself skimming these sections.  Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of London and of the struggles of life at this point in history but the book was incredibly slow at times making it difficult to finish.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

 

The Game and the Governess by Kate Noble (received through NetGalley)
3 stars

 

After reading the synapsis, I was extremely excited about this book and while I did enjoy reading it, the story did not quite live up to my high expectations.  Ned, Earl of Ashby, is known to his friends as “lucky Ned” for his ability to always come out on top.  John Turner is his best friend and secretary and decides to teach Ned a lesson by proposing a bet.  The two men decide to switch places on their trip to the country and Ned has to make a woman fall in love with him using just his natural charm and not his title.  He is put in the path of Phoebe Baker, a governess who has a personal vendetta against the Earl.   I was looking forward to a good redemption/love story and this just ended up being okay.  The first half of the book was very slow which forced everything to be quickly resolved in the second half.   I liked the characters of Ned and Phoebe and while I enjoyed their story, I was sort of hoping for more.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

 

Jane Austen Down South - August 8, 2014

Currently Reading:

• James Madison by Lynne Cheney (received through NetGalley
• Dark Aemilia by Sally O’Reilly (received through NetGalley)
• The Boleyn Deceit by Laura Anderson

Recent Reviews:

Emma, Mr. Knightley and Chili-Slaw Dogs by Mary Jane Hathaway (received through NetGalley)

3 stars

Based on Jane Austen’s Emma, this novel follows close friends, Brooks and Caroline, as they deal with ailing parents, careers and their deepening feelings for each other.  I thought this book was charming and entertaining with likable characters.  At times it felt like it moved very slowly but it may be because I am so familiar with Emma that I knew what was coming next.  I liked when they all dressed in Regency clothes to have a Jane Austen party but that along with the Civil War re-enactments was a bit much and I am not quite sure the book needed all of that playacting.  Overall, it was an enjoyable and light read.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Reviews - August 7, 2014

Currently Reading:

• James Madison by Lynne Cheney (received through NetGalley
• Dark Aemilia by Sally O’Reilly (received through NetGalley)
• The Boleyn Deceit by Laura Anderson
• Emma, Mr. Knightley and Chili-Slaw Dogs by Mary Jane Hathaway (received through NetGalley)

Recent Reviews:

HRC: State Secrets and the Rebirth of Hillary Clinton by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes (received through Blogging for Books)
4 stars

 

There are several books about Hillary Clinton that have been advertised recently (including her latest memoir) but this is a good wrap-up of her most recent role as Secretary of State.   The authors are obviously well-connected and provided a lot of inside information (although with many unnamed sources).  Clinton is a compelling subject and her personality shines through here as she deals with working for a former campaign rival and managing expectations as the most visible face for foreign policy.  While the book did highlight some of her shortcomings, I thought it was mostly a favorable account of her last seven years of work.  I found this book extremely interesting but definitely political and I am sure it will not be for everyone.   I received this book through the Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review.   

Recent Review - August 5, 2014

So, I am currently reading three very big books at the same time and I am not getting anywhere.  It is also the first week of school for the kids and I am too busy to concentrate on anything too complicated.  In order to keep up with my reading, I’ve decided to read some of the lighter stuff for a while, just until I get back into my reading routine. 

Currently Reading:

• James Madison by Lynne Cheney (received through NetGalley
• HRC: State Secrets and the Rebirth of Hillary Clinton by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes (received through Blogging for Books)
• Dark Aemilia by Sally O’Reilly (received through NetGalley)
• The Boleyn Deceit by Laura Anderson
• Emma, Mr. Knightley and Chili-Slaw Dogs by Mary Jane Hathaway (received through NetGalley)

Recent Reviews:

What it Takes by Kathryn Ascher (received through NetGalley)

4 stars

 

I wasn’t sure of this book at first but ended up really enjoying the story and characters.  It concerns two Hollywood actors working on a movie together and their relationship as it develops.  Kelsey is a relatively new actress with an interesting backstory and a desire to stay out of the limelight and away from her charming co-star.  Patrick is a movie star and tabloid fodder for his romantic exploits.  He is charming, famous and handsome and has enjoyed the perks that come his way.  The relationship between the two characters progresses at a realistic pace and they are a good match for each other.   I found the ending a bit abrupt and would love to know more about how some of the issues were resolved, but as this is the first in a series it may be brought up in later books.   Overall, this was a solid contemporary romance and I am interested to read the other books in the series.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Love in Paris - August 1, 2014

Currently Reading:         

• James Madison by Lynne Cheney (received through NetGalley
• HRC: State Secrets and the Rebirth of Hillary Clinton by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes (received through Blogging for Books)
• Dark Aemilia by Sally O’Reilly (received through NetGalley)
• The Boleyn Deceit by Laura Anderson

Recent Reviews:

Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich
3 stars

I have been reading these books for many years now and while it is fairly commonly acknowledged that there is a basic plot formula involved, I just can’t abandon the series when I have invested so much time.   I did wait for the book on the Library reserve list this time rather than pay full price.  This was your basic Stephanie Plum book…torn between two attractive men, destroyed cars, naked fugitives, trouble-making grandma, etc…  There were some laugh out loud moments though and it doesn’t require much time to read.  I still enjoy these books but I think that it is really time to add something new to the series. 

 

One Evening in Paris by Nicolas Barreau (received through NetGalley)

4 stars

Alain owns a small, old-fashioned movie theater in Paris and his passion for the cinema is matched by his passion for a good love story.  A woman, always wearing a red coat, is a regular patron and when he finally asks her to dinner it sets off a sequence of random coincidences that add a bit of suspense to the novel.  What I loved best about this novel were the beautiful descriptions of Paris.  I have only visited the city once, for a very short period, but I felt as if I remembered every minute while reading this book.  Alain is a romantic with a great passion for what he does which definitely made up for some of his more over-the-top moments.  Overall, this book was a nice surprise and I am grateful to have received it from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.