Last Post of 2015 - December 30, 2015

Wreck and Order by Hannah Tenant-Moore
3 stars



Elsie lives a completely unfettered, unattached life.  She doesn't hold a real job, her romantic relationships are sketchy at best and her father funds her misplaced exploits in Sri Lanka.  She believes that she is smarter, better read and more feeling than anyone else.  She denigrates anyone who she believes strives for happiness by tamping down on their emotions and her narcissism exceeds understanding.  So, in review, Elsie is probably the most annoying narrator that I have ever encountered.  She is truly someone that I would not put up with in real life, however, I perversely (sort of) enjoyed reading her perspective.  Not to say this book completely worked for me but at times there were some extremely insightful and inspired writing.  There were whole sentences that really resonated and I felt the potential of good writing if only the main character wasn't so incredibly infuriating.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  


The Grownup by Gillian Flynn
4 stars



This story is pretty short, 62 small pages, but manages to still contain the creepy, spooky, oddly funny storytelling that is pure Gillian Flynn.  The main character grew up working one con after another and currently works for a fortune-teller who's not completely legitimate.  She agrees to go to the home of a wealthy woman to dispel any evil spirits and encounters a possibly haunted mansion and one really disturbing teenager.  I enjoyed this but it left me wishing there were more stories like this in a collection instead of a tiny hardback that seems to be smaller than any novella I've encountered.  Overall, its definitely worth reading but I would recommend finding a digital copy to read.  I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review. 

Holiday Reading - December 23, 2015

Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini
4 stars



I saved this book to read during the holiday weeks and I am so glad that I did.  I am not sure I would have liked its neat and sappy story line conclusions as much during any other time of the year, but as a Christmas read it is very good.  Half of the book follows Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in the years leading up to and during the Civil War.  His life took a very tragic turn and as he deals with the consequences and the very real possibility of his son leaving to fight in the war, he struggles with the inspiration to create new poetry.  The other part of the book follows a group of people in present day Boston, all connected through a children's church choir.   All are trying to solve major life issues in time for the holidays.  This book does wrap up a little too neatly but its emphasis on faith, helping others and overcoming life's hardships is a great way to celebrate the season.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Dark Forces - December 18, 2015

The Dark Days Club (Lady Helen #1) by Alison Goodman
Pub. Date - January 26, 2015
4 stars



Lady Helen is the sister of an Earl in the early nineteenth century.  Enjoying her first season and finding a husband should be her only worries... until she meets an intriguing outcast nobleman and learns about a secret society who has been waiting for her to turn eighteen and come into some extraordinary powers.  Her powers will be used to fight a demon force that is getting stronger but she must decide if it is worth the danger. Lady Helen is witty, brave and caring.  She does not just accept what she has become but questions every step of the way.  She is extremely loyal and her friendship with her maid Darby adds a fantastic element to this book.  The strictures of her society are realistically portrayed.  Her relationship with her mentor, Lord Carlston is fraught with tension both romantic and dangerous.  I really enjoyed this book and while I did think it dragged a little too long in parts, it is extremely well written and sets up what I hope to be an exciting and different new series.  I received this from Penguin's First to Read program for an honest review. 

Random Reading Wrap-Up - December 16, 2015

The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende
4.5 stars



Irina Bazili is a mysterious young Moldavian woman who begins to work at the Lark House, a home for the elderly, and gains the friendship of Alma Belasco.  Alma left her family behind in Poland as a young girl when she was sent away to live with her Aunt and Uncle in San Francisco in order to escape the Nazi invasion.  The young Alma makes two immediate friends, her cousin Nathaniel and Ichimei, the son of the Japanese gardener.  There is so much to this book besides the romance, which I honestly found secondary to the story.  The realities of World War II, Japanese Internment Camps, the roles of race, class and sex, treatment of the elderly and enduring friendships are just some of the topics explored.  As usual, Allende's writing is beautiful and there was a bit of the magical realism that sometimes appears in her novels.  I always enjoy her novels and this book is not an exception.  I received a digital galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 


Lights Out: A Cyberattack, a Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath by Ted Koppel
4 stars



To be honest, I almost set this one down after the first few chapters which are full of mind-numbing details on electricity and regulation, however, once Koppel delves into the actual aftermath of a cyberattack it gets much, much more interesting.  The idea that a prolonged loss of electricity could in fact disrupt society to such a degree is horrifying and Koppel does a good job introducing us to the officials who are appallingly unprepared and the individual "preppers" who are shockingly well prepared.  This book is well researched and full of interesting interviews.  I highly recommend this to everyone because it provides so much to think about in terms of disaster preparation.  I received a digital galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Fairy Tales - December 14, 2015

The Radiant Road by Katherine Catmull
Pub. Date - January 19, 2016
2.5  stars



I had high hopes for this fairy tale about a fifteen year old girl returning to Ireland to live in a house dug into the ground.  She has strange powers that link her to the fairy lands and has to learn to use those powers to fight a dangerous force with the help of a boy she feels as if she has known forever.  I liked the idea a bit more than the book itself.  It is written in very flowery language that is sometimes very beautiful but also often gets in the way of the story itself.  I loved the Irish setting and Clare's relationship with her father but I really had a hard time getting into the story and found myself setting it down often without a real urge to pick it up again.  I think that some people will really love this book and I definitely understand but it is maybe not the right book for me.  I received an ARC of this book from Penguin's First to Read Program in exchange for an honest review. 

The Mind Still Processes - December 8, 2015

The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood
2.5 stars



I have to be honest that I am mostly still processing this strange book.  As a big fan of Margaret Atwood, I had a hard time rating it below 3 stars because I still enjoyed the writing and the strangeness of it all.  I will say, though, that this is my least favorite of her books.  It follows a wholly unlikable married couple who sign on for the Positron project after unemployment and a crumbling society forces them into more dangerous situations.  The project involves spending one month in prison and one month in the very structured community.  My trouble with this books stems from the unbelievability of the premise and I never really bought into the environment that she wrote about.  The two characters are horrid and I don't believe they are every really redeemed.  Atwood's normal insights into society were not quite up to par and there were some really ludicrous and random elements to the story.  I am still trying to figure out if there was some important message that I just missed while reading.  Overall, I remain a devoted Atwood reader but this one is definitely not one of my favorites.  I received this from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. 

Friday Reads (on a Thursday) - December 4, 2015

Why We Write About Ourselves edited by Meredith Marana
4 stars




I recently read Mary Karr’s Art of Memoir and loved her insightful advice and anecdotes. This covers similar topics but includes information from twenty different authors. It was interesting, if a little repetitive, and I definitely have a load of books to add to my TBR after reading. I read it straight through in one sitting but I would recommend dipping into it between books or to get ideas for further reading. I am not planning on writing a memoir but I would suggest reading Karr’s book in addition to this one if you plan on doing so. Overall, I enjoyed it and liked all of the author’s included.  I received an ARC of this book from Penguin's First to Read Program in exchange for an honest review. 


Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson
4.5 stars



Leah has the amazing ability to sense gold during a time in the mid nineteenth century when gold is all anyone can dream about.  The ability that has supported her family also puts it in danger, and Leah soon finds herself an orphan after the brutal murder of her parents.  Leaving the tragedy behind, she chooses to head west in order to use her magic to find gold, and she must dress and act like a boy.  As she travels to Independence in search of her dear friend, Jefferson, and a new life she is faced with all of the dangers and kindnesses of the road.  Once in Independence, it is on to the Oregon trail and a new kind of adventure.  This is an absolute gem of a book.  Leah is strong willed, intelligent and tough.  She acknowledges mistakes and forces herself to learn from them.  This is also a fascinating look at a rough period in America's history as issues of slavery, Native American treatment, woman's rights, and primitive conditions are all addressed.  I was a big fan of Rae Carson's Fire and Thorns trilogy but could see why it wouldn't be for everyone.  This book should attract a wide audience and I look forward to future books in the series.  I received a digital review copy of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. 

Reading Wrap-Up - December 1, 2015

Dispatches from Pluto: Lost and Found in the Mississippi Delta by Richard Grant
4.5 stars



The English author and his girlfriend, tired of cooped up life in New York City, decide to buy an old mansion in the Mississippi Delta with grand plans to live off the land and write about it.  This book chronicles their experiences with Southern hospitality, strange news stories and the ways in which racism imbeds relationships.   I found this book gripping and found it especially interesting written from an Englishman's point of view.  There was lots of hunting, lots of drinking and plenty of good tales.  I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 



The Gap of Time by Jeannette Winterson
4 stars



I wasn't aware an exact present day retelling of Shakespeare's plays was something I wanted until I read this book.  The book begins with a synopsis of Shakepeare's A Winter's Tale which is very handy.  The book follows a cast of characters that mirrors the play, down to similar sounding names.  Leo is an extremely wealthy businessman, in love with his wife but desperately paranoid that she is having an affair with his best friend, Xeno, and that her soon to be born daughter is not his own.  What follows is a tale of madness, betrayal, tragedy, and ultimately redemption.  Like all Shakespeare, this is full of twists and turns and angst.  I feel as though there was a bit of a struggle to turn a play format into a novel because it felt fragmented and jilted at times.  Overall, I feel as though I have a better understanding of a play that I only vaguely remember and I look forward to more of these modern retellings.  I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Radio Stars - November 30, 2015

Out On The Wire: The Storytelling Secrets of the New Masters of Radio
4 stars

 

As a committed listener to several podcasts, I really appreciate this form of communication and feel like the possibilities are endless.  This book details, in graphic format, how a radio show is developed from the point it becomes a possibility to the moment it airs.  It started as a shorter comic following Ira Glass and NPR's This American Life and then Jessica Abel expanded it to include other popular narrative radio programs.  I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes aspect and the interviewees were surprisingly candid about the process.   It is an extremely text heavy graphic book, which I found overwhelming at times.  There was also several bespectacled men that I had a hard time distinguishing from one another.  For the most part, though, the author does a commendable job of keeping the programs and people distinguished from each other.  This isn't an area that I have dedicated involvement so I am surprised at how interesting the intricate details ended up being in this graphic narrative and I really enjoyed reading about the steps involved in broadcasting one of these programs.  I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review. 

Romance Reads - November 24, 2015

Sweetest Scoundrel by Elizabeth Hoyt
4 stars



Eve is a Duke's illegitimate sister and has been placed in charge of his investment in Hartes Folly, a theatre and pleasure garden owned by Asa Makepeace.  Eve has a horrible past and abhors men and their touch.  Asa is bold and brash and lives for the success that he plans for his theatre.  This is a really good historical romance.  I loved both the characters and I think Asa especially is very well developed.  The tension between the two characters is intense but believable and without any annoying obstacles.  Every episode between the two is completely tinged with humor and there were some incredibly good scenes.   I have read a couple of other books in this series and definitely think Elizabeth Hoyt is a dependable author in the genre.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Friday Reads - November 20, 2015

Hunters in the Dark by Lawrence Osborne
3.5 stars




A high school English teacher in his late twenties is disillusioned with his quiet life in England.  He treats himself to a trip to east Asia and ends up in Cambodia where he immediately wins two thousand dollars in a casino.  This sets off an adventure of changed identity and chance encounters with people in desperate need of money.  The atmosphere of Cambodia is deftly portrayed.  The relationships and interactions are interesting.  I did, however, find the mystery element sort of vague and unnecessary and would have preferred it have been left out completely.  It was definitely overshadowed by the main story of a man trying to invent a totally new life for himself.  I received an eGalley of this book from the Penguin First to Read program in exchange for an honest review.


A Sinful Deception by Isabella Bradford
3.5 stars



Serena spent many of her younger years living in India with her charismatic father.  After a tragic illness kills her father and sister, she moves back to London to live with her grandfather and an aunt.  Her relatives are anxious for her to make a match but she holds onto a secret that causes her to not want a marriage at all.  She meets Geoffrey, second son of a duke, at a ball and she is immediately drawn to him.  I really liked the interesting backdrop to this historical romance and Serena's exotic background gave her an added dimension.  I didn't quiet feel enough chemistry between the two characters and I think that I was less invested in the story because of this.  I did enjoy the writing enough to read more of this author's work.  I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Weekend Wrap-Up - November 17, 2015

My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem
4 stars



Gloria Steinem, an icon and organizer of the feminist cause, writes about her life traveling the country and the people and situation she has come into contact.  I found this book to start off slowly, detailing her early life traveling the country with her vagabond father.  Feeling more like a memoir, I had trouble connecting the young Gloria Steinem with the woman she becomes and I am not sure this was the strongest beginning.  However, as the book turns into more of an essay format and less memoir, it gains power.  I especially thought the chapters on politics and Native Americans were inspiring and completely fascinating.  I found Steinem to be honest and felt her opinions came through overwhelming experience and much thought.  I recommend this book to anyone but especially to young women who may not realize the importance of issues that women like Steinem have fought for.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

A Date with Data - November 13, 2015

Dataclysm: Love, Sex, Race and Identity by Christian Rudder
4 stars



Christian Rudder is a cofounder of OKCupid and knows something about using data for matchmaking.  Because the website asks so many questions of its users, he has access to a treasure trove of unique datasets.  As someone with a degree in Sociology, I found this book fascinating.  The information that Rudder gleans from this data (as well as data from other social networking sites) can be used to garner all sorts of information on how society sees race, relationships and beauty among other things.  There is a chapter on internet bullying that is terrifying and makes me glad that I decided to forego Twitter for the most part.  I can definitely see why so much access to our online lives might make some people extremely nervous but I also appreciate how it makes data sets more identical to our national make-up which studies done with real life people cannot usually accomplish.  I did find some repetitiveness that slowed down my reading at times but overall this was a well-written accessible look at what online datasets can accomplish.  I received this from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review. 

Looking Back - November 10, 2015

Hemingway in Love: His Own Story by A.E. Hotchner
4.5 stars



I clearly remember my reading of The Sun Also Rises.  As a twenty year old exchange student in Europe, I was just about to head out on a weeklong jaunt to Spain.  As I sat in the beautiful spring weather, preparing for my trip, I picked up the book and was instantly entranced by Hemingway's description of the place in which I would soon be heading.  This was a long time ago, but the memory is still so fresh that I am terrified that any re-read of the book will permanently erase the feeling that I had in that moment.  That is why I related to this book so much.  Hotchner was a good friend of Hemingway's and by the time he sat down with him to record what eventually became this book, the author was broken in spirit and body after two consecutive plane crashed.  Hemingway waxes poetically about his time in Paris with his first wife, when he was young and hungry and interacting with so many glamorous and fascinating people.  I am not sure this book is so much about the enduring love of a woman but of an older man idealizing a time in his life when the small things were still exciting.  I enjoyed this short memoir and found Hemingway's reminisces fascinating and I thought Hotchner inserted himself just enough in the narrative flow.  It is an glimpse into the final years of Hemingway's life and what may have been going through his mind at that time.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Weekend Wrap-Up - November 3, 2015

Bradstreet Gate by Robin Kirman
3.5 stars




Three college friends are coming upon the ten year anniversary of the murder of a classmate.  As they grapple with there current life troubles, they are pulled into remembering their college years which were centered on a charismatic and rigid young professor.  I made the mistake of reading reviews of this book before beginning it and while I understand some of the disappointment from other reviewers,  I actually found this book really entertaining.  Each character had an intriguing backstory and perspective and I found the Harvard setting an interesting backdrop.  The mystery itself was a central part of the plot but then the book just ended without any sort of satisfactory conclusion which was mystifying.  However, I found the book well written and entertaining enough to keep reading.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


Heartsong Cottage (An Eternity Springs Novel) by Emily March
Pub. Date - November 3, 2015
3.5 stars



Shannon is relatively new to Eternity Springs but has a steady set of good friends and multiple jobs that keep her busy.  She also has a big secret that she keeps to herself.  Daniel Garrett is a former detective who suffered a heartbreaking tragedy.  He is in Eternity Springs for a wedding and is immediately drawn to Shannon.  As the two uncover the others secrets they begin to heal and let each other not their lives.  I'm not quite sure this is really "my kind of book.". I thought it was well written and I liked the characters but it is pretty slow overall.  There are also A LOT of characters and if this seems like a book you would enjoy, I recommend starting at the first book and reading them in order because I felt like there were just a ton of names that I didn't know.   I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Your Week Ends With Two Fantastic Books - October 30, 2015

The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marta
5 stars




This collection of interlinked stories reads like a novel, which is good for people wary of short-story collections (like myself).  Set in Russia and Chechnya, these stories cover several generations of Russians trying to survive in the Soviet and post-Soviet era.  The first story follows a Soviet censor who uses his artistry skills to eliminate accused communist detractors from portraits.  His work is brought up often in other stories and becomes a backdrop to the bleakness and absurdity of Russian life.  These are not happy stories but Marra inserts enough sarcasm, irony and profound statements about human nature to guard against the depressing lives of the characters.  This book definitely ranks as one of the best things I have read this year and I am happy to have received a review copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 



The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr
5 stars



I have only recently been introduced to Mary Karr's memoirs.  I rapidly read through The Liar's Club and Cherry, mesmerized by her writing style and powerful insights into her own story.  Needing to take a break from Karr's life but not wanting to stop reading her wonderful writing, I picked up this instructional book on memoir writing.  Having no desire to write memoir (or anything besides short book reviews, honestly), this was an odd choice but I still found so much here to appreciate.  She does talk about the method of writing memoir but also about books she learned from and currently teaches.  It covers, finding a voice, staying true to a memory, revision, consulting relatives and also the writers who fabricate their story.  As a dedicated reader, there were so many things that I found fascinating and inspiring about this book.  As usual, Karr's writing is beautiful and so easy to ingest.  I would recommend this to anyone who loves to write or read.  I received an electronic ARC of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. 

Romance Round-Up - October 27, 2015

It's been a stressful week and the only think I felt like reading was a happy, consistent romance novel... and I read A LOT of them.  Here is my massive reading round-up. 



Bella and the Beast by Olivia Drake
Pub. Date - November 3, 2015
4 stars



Bella is twenty nine years old and resigned to life as a spinster.  With her archeologist father's recent death, she is solely responsible for her younger twin siblings.  Her English cottage is a world away from her Middle Eastern upbringing and she has trouble fitting in enough to find employment.  She is also at a loss to complete her father's deathbed wish to find the second half of a treasure map.  One day a mysterious woman visits her house with a pair of fancy shoes and information regarding the Duke of Aylwin, whose father used to be a colleague of her father.  She ends up in the Duke's home as an employee while she tries to find the second half of the map.  The Duke of Aylwin is prickly and arrogant and believes he is responsible for his father's murder.  As the two try to figure out the mystery of what happened in Egypt, they also face a growing attraction.  I liked that the two characters are mature and intelligent.  They have a natural chemistry and their relationship evolves at a nice pace.  This is the continuation of the Cinderella Sisterhood series but it isn't necessary to have read the prior books.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 



One Wild Winter's Eve by Anne Barton
Pub. Date - October 27 2015
4 stars



Lady Rose Sherburne is a shy woman who has always done as her family decreed.  With her father deceased and her mother gone after a horrific scandal, she begins to search for her mother in hopes of overcoming the traumatic episodes of her past.  She becomes a companion to a grumpy older woman and goes with her to Bath to stay at the home of her mother's former friend.  There, she runs into Charles Holland.  Charles is the former stable master of her family's estate and now serves as steward to her mother's friend.  In the past they had an innocent but powerful connection and neither has forgotten the other.  These two characters are immensely likable and their relationship is sweetly passionate.  Their differing stations in life cause powerful obstacles but they never seem truly insurmountable which is why the story works so well.  This is the continuation of a series and while you don't necessarily need to read them all, it would have been nice to know the interesting side characters a bit more.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 



The Highlander's Accidental Marriage by Callie Hutton
Pub. Date - November 30, 2015
3.5 stars



I recently read the previous book in this series, The Highlander's Choice, and really enjoyed it so was looking forward to reading this one.  I'm not sure I liked it quite as much but it is still an enjoyable read.  Sarah is the sister of a Duke and determined to stay unmarried until she can publish her books and enjoy the fame of being an author.  She is traveling to Scotland in order to visit her pregnant sister.  After a horrific carriage accident, she is forced to accept the assistance of Professor Braeden McKinnon and ends up begging him to escort her to her sister.  Unfamiliar with Scottish custom, she accidentally weds him when she announces they are married in front of a crowded inn.  Both of these characters were so interesting and their chemistry was both charming and intense.  I thought the plot was fantastic but there was some unnecessary drama created to keep the two apart that I found really annoying and almost ruined what was a really great book.  Besides that, I do recommend the books that I have read in this series, especially for those that enjoy Scottish romances.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 



Say You'll Love Me by Ally Broadfield
3 stars



Lady Abigail is starting to have second thoughts about her fiancé when she catches him in the hallway with a maid, but when that maid turns up dead she definitely needs to know if he is responsible.  She enlists the help of her best friend's brother, the Marquees of Loncroft, Edmund Townsend, who is more comfortable doing complex calculations than assisting debutantes.  I liked these two characters and enjoyed the plot immensely.  I just wish that the two had interacted more or at least demonstrated more chemistry because the romance, when it finally happened, did not feel as gratifying.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 



Duchess Decadence by Wendy LaCapra
3 stars



I was really looking forward to this book after I read the second book in the Furies series, Lady Scandal so my anticipation may have caused me to judge this somewhat more harshly.  I liked the characters and the backstory but the repetitiveness (the word "sentimental" is written constantly) and the over-the-top drama from the Duke's perspective took way some of my enjoyment.  Overall, though, it wasn't bad, just not as good as I was hoping after the conclusion of the previous book.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 



Rolling in the Deep by Rebecca Rogers Maher
Pub. Date - November 10, 2015
3 stars



This is an extremely sweet story with well-written characters with complicated back-stories.  Too complicated for a novella length, in my opinion.  While novella length romances are like candy, when a story is this good it just can't be told in under 200 pages.  To much was left out and it moved too quickly which is a shame because I really liked the premise.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Working Girl - October 20, 2015

White Collar Girl by Renée Rosen
Pub. Date - November 3, 2015
4.5 stars




As the novel begins, Jordan Walsh is about to start her career as a newspaper reporter.  It is the 1950's and her unconventional family is falling apart after the suspicious death of her superstar journalist brother.  While she toils away in the society section, she pursues bigger stories, interesting men and establishes mysterious contacts.  Jordan starts out naïve and full of an ambition she is not sure how to recognize but as the novel progresses Jordan grows and evolves into a character truly worth championing.   The time period of 1950's Chicago was full of crime, the mob and Daley's political machine.  It was a time when women were not huge players in the work force, especially in journalism.  And it was a time when journalism was changing as television started to change the landscape of reporting.  I really enjoyed this book and it caused me to delve into (google) all the news issues discussed in its pages.  I received this book from Penguin's First to Read program in exchange for and honest review. 

Friday Romance Reads - October 16, 2015

The Duke and Miss Christmas by Amelia Grey
4 stars



This novella follows the first two books in the Heirs Club of Scoundrels Series, both of which I have read.  I don't really remember Crispin, the Duke of Hurst, from the first books but I definitely remember Miss Gwen Prim and love the idea of following up on that group of sisters.  This is a good short addition to the series.  I believe this could have been a full length novel if the backstories were expanded and the relationship building (which went way too fast in my opinion) prolonged.  Crispin had mad some especially damnable mistakes in his youth and it provided Gwen with good reasons to question his intentions.  The story is cute and fast and even if it could have been a novel, was a good addition to the series.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

How to Write a Celebrity Memoir - October 16, 2015

Why Not Me?  by Mindy Kaling
4.5 stars



As a longtime fan of the Office, I have followed Mindy Kaling's career with interest.  I thought her first book was hit or miss but with some definitely funny essays.  I think this book is so much better and I like how she fully admits that she is a full-fledge successful star whose life experiences may be unrelateable.  There are some funny anecdotes in here and also some interesting insights into her extremely busy life.  She even inserts made-up communications between her and another teacher in her pretend life as a Latin teacher that was so funny it makes me wish she would write an entire novel just in this format.  Overall, I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to whatever future projects Mindy Kaling completes.  I received this book through the Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review. 

Weekend Wrap-Up - October 13, 2015

The Last September by Nina de Fremont
3.5 stars




Brett fell in love with Charlie after a one night stand in college.  Brett's best friend, Eli, is Charlie's brother and warns Brett against any sort of attachment to his flighty brother.  As Charlie disappears from Brett's life, Eli begins to exhibit symptoms of a serious mental illness and is also taken away to numerous stays in mental hospitals.   Years later, Brett has been reunited with Charlie and is married to him and living in his family's Cape Cod beach house when Charlie is brutally murdered.  This happens in the very beginning of the book and the rest tells the story of how they all got to that point.  This is not so much a mystery as a character study of different relationships.  Charlie is the charismatic slacker whose only redeemable relationship seems to be with his brother.  I liked this book...a lot, but it was truly hard to like the character of Brett.  I think unlikable characters have to be done in such a manner to at least make reading about them interesting but Brett is a very weak main character and while I did at times understand her behavior, she was very hard to relate to.  Besides my problems with the main character, I think this is a beautifully written book and an interesting look into the stress of dealing with a Schizophrenic family member.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 



Soundless by Rachelle Mead
Pub. Date - November 10, 2015
3 stars



Fei lives in an isolated village at the top of a mountain where there are really only three occupations and everyone has lost their hearing.  When villagers also start to lose their sight and the line operators at the bottom of the mountain start sending less food, Fei and her childhood sweetheart, Li Wei, decide to journey to the bottom of the mountain to find out why.  Fei also is starting to regain her hearing and has to adjust to life with sound while all of this is going on.  I liked the idea of this book and the characters but it was way too short to be a serious fantasy novel.  There was almost no world building beside what was known about the village itself and the fantasy elements were quickly added with no real explanation.  Also, for such a short novel it was surprisingly dull at times.  Overall, I mostly enjoyed reading this but ended up wanting more.  I received this from Penguin's First to Read program in exchange for an honest review. 



An Unexpected Wish by Eileen Richards
Pub. Date - October 27, 2015
2.5 stars



Anne Townsend lives alone with her two sisters and has worked hard for the better part of her life to take care of them.  All of her hopes rest on her beautiful younger sister marrying into a wealthy family.  To help her cause she climbs to the top of some old stairs to cast a wish with the fairies.  Almost immediately she meets Nathaniel who has no wish to marry and definitely no wish to marry a woman with so much baggage.  I liked both of these main characters and they had great chemistry together but there were just too many inconceivable elements in this book.  Anne has an extraordinary amount of low self esteem, especially for someone who is being constantly courted by a gorgeous man.  She also has a comical belief in fairies that gets exceedingly old as the story progresses.  Overall, I did enjoy some aspects of this book and ended up finishing it, but wished that some parts had been written differently.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Weekend Wrap-Up - October 6, 2015

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray
5 stars



This series is just perfection.  It follows a group of young adults with different psychic powers in 1920's era New York City.  Know as Diviners, some can consciously walk through dreams, some can see past events from objects, amongst other powers.  The characters are distinct and very well written.  I thought this book moved faster than the first and all of the elements are starting to come together epically.  The books are superbly written with snappy dialogue and lots of macabre elements perfect for the Halloween season.  I'm really impressed so far with this series and cannot wait for the next book.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


The Irresistible Rogue by Valerie Bowman
Pub. Date - November 3, 2015
4 stars



Daphne is THIS close to receiving the marriage proposal from the proper noble that she has been courting for months.  With the upcoming ball prepared, there is only one thing standing in her way... her husband.  Married to Captain Rafferty Cavendish in preparation for a spy mission for the crown, she had always planned on an annulment, if only her handsome husband would agree.  Now she is preparing for another mission and reevaluating what she wants for a husband and from her life.  As a character, Daphne is equal parts brave and vulnerable.  This is the second book from this series that I have read and in both cases I have found the women feisty and interesting while the men have been a bit bland.  I would have liked to read more from Rafferty's point of view as it might have made for a more evolved characters.  Overall, I have liked both the books I have read in this series and this one set up the character of Daphne's cousin Delilah perfectly so I hope that she gets her own book soon.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 


Lord Fenton's Folly by
Pub. Date - October 6, 2015
4 stars



Lord Fenton and Alice knew each other as kids when Alice harbored somewhat a crush on Lord Fenton.  Fenton is an extremely interesting character.  A self-described dandy, he relishes wearing outlandish outfits and embarrassing his stern father.  He chooses to marry Alice based on his mother's approval and his own indifference to marriage.  Once Alice realizes that Lord Fenton is not marrying her for affection, what follows is an interesting look into the beginning of an unhappy marriage. This is actually one of the more realistic takes on "marriages of convenience" in any historical romance that I have read. They are constantly at odds and really have to learn how to accept each other.  I will say that this is "clean" romance, which I usually don't go for, but really works in this book and I think that anyone would enjoy it.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.   

Author at His Pinnacle - October 2, 2015

Although Of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself:  A Road Trip With David Foster Wallace
By David Lipsky
4.5 stars


So what exactly is this book?  Basically, it is the entire transcript of the time that the author David Lipsky spent interviewing author David Foster Wallace as he wrapped up his publicity tour for Infinite Jest, along with an introduction and afterward.  Lipsky was writing a piece for Rolling Stone Magazine as Infinite Jest was becoming both a cult and popular success.  Lipsky set out to determine how the author was dealing with the sudden fame, which is at that point in time was frankly a little unprecedented in the world of literary fiction.  This book was published in 2010, after David Foster Wallace's death by suicide and is being reintroduced because of the recent movie, The End of the Tour, starring Jason Segal.

Now that the background has been laid, I will say that this book does a tremendous job at portraying a truly fascinating yet completely open man at an amazing point in his life.  Wallace comes across as insightful, intelligent yet also completely normal and Midwestern.  A picture of my copy of this book would show how many pages I have flagged and how many quotes I have underlined.  He had so many statements on the process of writing and the act of reading that I really found profound.  This book also portrayed a picture of Wallace that goes beyond the myth, gossip and publicity of his short life.  I found this book particularly heartbreaking because he really had a different picture for his life than the one that unfolded.  I have not read Infinite Jest and in all honesty, I most likely won't but I am a fan of his nonfiction essay collections and a lot of what I like about his essay writing comes through in his interview answers.  I will say that David Lipsky's interview questions did get repetitive and I think Wallace's annoyance at attempts to dredge out his substance abuse history and feelings about fame was justifiable.  This book is hard to review and may not be for everyone but I became completely immersed in this reading experience and would recommend it to fans of David Foster Wallace's work and for anyone wanting an inside look at an author's thought process.  I receive this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review. 

Friday Reads - October 2, 2015

Lost in Geeklandia  by E.J. Russell
Pub. Date - Sept. 28, 2015
3.5 stars



Charlie is a data geek who is working a temp job waiting for her big break at her dream agency while managing the dating service which she created using online data of her clients.  Daniel is her childhood friend, a tech journalist, who has returned to town after a disastrous story that left him a heartbroken pariah in the tech world.  Through a weird bet with her boss, Charlie has thirty days in which to make Daniel fall in love with her and prove that her dating database actually works.  I really liked the characters in this book and their chemistry made the borderline ridiculous plotline more palatable.  I found that fact that Daniel humiliated Charlie in high school an interesting backstory and wished that was explored a bit more.  Overall, this was a cute romance with nerdy interactions and likable characters...a purely enjoyable read.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Tuesday Reviews - September 29, 2015

Harriet Wolf's Seventh Book of Wonders by Julianna Baggett
4.5 stars



It took me about fifty pages to warm up to this book and its characters but once I did I fell in love with their story and the relationships between them.  Harriet Wolf had a heartbreaking childhood that later propelled her to write a series of much beloved and praised books.  After her death there was clamor for a much wanted seventh volume that no one appears to know for sure really exists.  This novel follows four different perspectives; Harriet, her daughter Eleanor and her granddaughters Tilton and Ruthie.  Each character offers a completely unique perspective to the story and while Harriet's seventh book plays out, you find yourself routing for the complex love between these mothers and daughters.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 


First Season/Bride to Be by Jane Ashford
Pub. Date - October 6, 2015
2 stars/4.5 stars



This is a hard book to rank because it is a bind up of two very distinct novels.  The first of which I did not care for and the second of which I thoroughly enjoyed.  First Season stars with an intriguing story line.  Anabel is the young widowed mother of three precocious children.  She entered into an arranged marriage very young and was denied the chance at her own season or the chance to make some of her own life decisions.  Her mother decides to bring her to London to offer her a first season.  Anabel is immediately noticed by a notorious rake who pursues a woman for the first time in his life.  Around this time, family friend Christopher Hanford appears in town after some time abroad.  His steady presence relaxes Anabel but also introduces new feelings.  The story is good but Anabel might be one of the most infuriating heroines that I have come across in the historical romance genre.  She is so naïve and foolish that it is really hard to root for her and her constant confusion and lack of backbone makes her unlikable.  I almost put the entire volume down... but I am glad that I didn't because the second book was much, much better. 

In Bride to Be, notorious London dandy Richard has just returned from being shipwrecked in South America for a year.  His whole personality has changed and he dreads going back into the society that he once ruled.  On his way back he is attacked by two men and would have drowned were it not for Emily boldly rescuing him and dragging him to safety.  Emily lives with her two very bohemian, social outcast parents and longs for a more stable existence.  She is sent to spend the season with her aunt, a duchess, and attempt to impersonate a demure society lady.  Her attempts come to naught when she is forced into contact once again with handsome Richard and realizes that his life might be in very much danger.  As they work together to discover who is behind the attacks, they realize they might just be meant for each other.  This is pretty much a perfect romance read for me, with complex yet likable characters, interesting backstory and just enough danger.  I especially liked Richard's story and his unlikely transformation and would have liked even more insight to his former existence as the town wit.  I'm not sure why these two books were bound together but I would suggest reading the second even if you are not a fan of the first as it is the much better of the two.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Friday Romance Reads - September 25, 2015

The Predictions by Bianca Zander
3.5 stars



Poppy grew up in the seventies living in a commune in rural New Zealand.  Her unusual upbringing provided many bizarre opportunities including a divination ceremony that gave predictions to each of the seven children.  As they reach adulthood Poppy and her boyfriend Lukas leave the commune to try their luck in London.  As Poppy deals with Lukas's tumultuous music career, her prediction never strays far from her mind.  This is a well written book and I like the way it explores how parenting philosophies, especially the extremely strange ones, have long lasting effects.  I liked Poppy and Lukas and how they dealt with their childhood traumas but I found myself a little stressed out by their relationship and mistakes.  I also didn't get Poppy's obsession with her prediction.  I did enjoy reading this book though, and after a fast read, it ended well.  I received this book from a LibraryThing giveaway in exchange for an honest review. 


Good Earl Gone Bad by Manda Collins
Pub. Date - October 6, 2015
4 stars



This is the second in the Lords of Anarchy series and I have to say I enjoyed this one a little more than the first.  Hermione is fearless and opinionated and as the first female racer in the Lord of Anarchy club, she has her work cut out for her.  Jasper, Earl of Mainwaring, likes to show off his intelligence at the gaming tables and is not sure what to make of Hermione.  What follows is a sometimes convoluted plot about horse thieves, murder, gambling and falling in love when least expected.  I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next in the series.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 



His Work of Art by Shannon Schroeder
Pub. Date - October 27, 2015
3 stars

Adam and Reese know each other from interactions in a comic book store.  When Reese approaches Adam to help her with a comic book project, they get to know each other and fight a growing attraction.  This is a short book but I thought the relationship between the two seemed complete.  A lot of the drama stemmed from the fact that they are an interracial couple and I think it is a good issue to explore.  I do think that the cover is HORRIFIC and I hope that it is changed before publication because it does not depict the realities of this couple at all.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Massive Weekend Wrap-Up - September 22, 2015

Freedom's Child by Max Miller
4 stars



This is a gritty book with gritty, often unlikable characters and violent scenarios.  Freedom Oliver lives in Oregon under the Witness Protection Program.  She drinks to forget the children that she has left behind.  When news reaches her that the man she put in prison is now out and the daughter she gave up has disappeared, she starts a cross-country journey to Kentucky.  Freedom is a crass character... so crass that she almost becomes a caricaturization instead of a realistic character.  That is beside the point because this is a book about redemption and about overcoming the past and pushing forward.  I still liked Freedom and liked how tough she had to become.  The story is intriguing and moves quickly.  The bad guys are really bad and the good guys aren't perfect which makes this an entertaining book to read.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.




You Don't Have to Like Me by Alida Nugent
Pub. Date - October 20, 2015
3.5 stars



While I enjoyed this book of feminist writing, I am still trying to figure out its purpose.  I agreed with most everything the author stated, yet it wasn't exactly new information and even though it was humorous at points, it wasn't quite laugh-out-loud funny enough to be categorized as humor writing.   I am almost a decade older than the author so it could just be that while this is all old hat to me, it is fresher with a younger audience.  That said, this is written well and clearly with conviction and a lot of common sense.  I think in the right hands, this could be an important book to certain readers.  I received this from Penguin's First to Read program in exchange for an honest review. 




The Distance From Me to You by Marina Gerstner
Pub. Date - October 20, 2015
4.5 stars



So I started this book late last night with the intention of getting a small start on it and then ended up finishing it in under a day.  McKenna is all prepared to spend the next several month of her life hiking the Appalachian Trail when her best friend bales and she is confronted with the possibility of hiking it alone.  She does so, without telling her parents, and is forced to discover her own bravery and strength.  Serendipitously, I just finished rereading Bill Bryson's A Walk In the Woods so I was definitely in the mood to revisit the infamous trail.  I honestly think the fictional McKenna was much more prepared with the right gear, knowledge and fitness to complete this trip.  She is smart and organized with a good head.  There is a love story here and some powerful life lessons about making mistakes and learning not to follow blindly when you know it is wrong. This is definitely Young Adult literature and the characters are in their late teens but it is one of the better in the genre that I have read lately.  I received this from Penguin's First to Read Program in exchange for an honest review. 




Every Word by Ellie Marney
4.5 stars



I enjoy this series in the same way that I devour episodes of "Veronica Mars."... with an appreciation for smart and quirky teenage characters and a healthy suspension of belief.  I really enjoy this series and I liked that Rachel grew a lot more in this book.  The characters are really well developed in these books and very smart, even when they get themselves in ridiculous situations.  I'm not sure that I will say much more about this book since it is the second in a series but I did enjoy this one even more than the first and I am dying to get my hands on the third.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 




If You Dare by Jessica Lemmon
3 stars




Lily and Marcus have worked together for a while and even though Marcus has harbored a crush for the entire duration, Lily has been burned before and knows to keep work relationship professional.  Until one night Marcus dares Lily to stay for one night in a notoriously haunted house and the ridiculous situation forces them to confront their growing attraction.  This contemporary romance is pure light fluff.  It started out as a novella and was recently expanded which might be why it had a lot of repetitive statements.  Regardless, it was fun to read and I liked the characters and their relationship.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Thursday Reviews - September 17, 2015

The Highlander's Choice by Callie Hutton
4 stars



Sybil has very definite ideas about Scottish men and Liam (and his family) definitely has set ideas about English women but when they are thrown together at a wedding their ideas evolve along with their mutual attraction.  I absolutely loved the two main characters in this book.  Sybil is very smart and strong while Liam is kind and funny.  The obstacles that the two have to overcome are realistic and their chemistry together is completely believable.  I liked the author's writing style and will definitely be following up on the other's in this series.  I received an electronic galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.