{Book Review} The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee

 

This is the second novel in the Montague Siblings series. This novel focuses on Felicity Montague and her aspirations in becoming a doctor. The problem is, a lady becoming a doctor in England in those days was unheard of. Those positions were for men only and women were expected to be at home cooking, cleaning, having children, etc. Women weren't meant to be employed in a "man's" world. Felicity, however, is bound and determined to change all of that ... at least for her, if not for all women.

When the novel begins, Felicity is in Edinburgh, which is where she was headed after her tour with Monty and Percy in the first novel. Edinburgh has the most elite university for those wishing to study in the medical field. Felicity has written letter after letter requesting to be tutored, enrolled in the university, or taken on as an apprentice ... SOMETHING that'll get her on her path to be a doctor. While in Edinburgh, Felicity works at a bakery to earn a wage while writing her letters and waiting for acceptance. The owner of the bakery is smitten with Felicity and proposes marriage. The proposal both scares and infuriates Felicity at the same time. She leaves Edinburgh and heads to London where Monty and Percy live.

Felicity arriving in London starts a chain of events that takes Felicity on another, unexpected, grand adventure. Will she finally become accepted into a university to learn medicine or is she destined to live the life of a simpering housewife she so despises?

Here's what I liked about the novel: The adventures Felicity are involved in are entertaining and they keep the story moving. I also enjoyed the fact that it made me feel angry about the injustices of women in English society during that time ... which also made me think of the social injustices that women still go through today.

Here's what I didn't like about the novel: I thought the ending was lackluster. It just fell flat and didn't round out the novel like it could have.

The first book in the series, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, was exciting and sexy and thrilling. Since then the series has steadily declined. I really hate that, too, because I was so looking forward to an excellent series that I could add to my favorites list. Oh, well. C'est la vie.

{Book Review} The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

 

I put this on my TBR list when Margot with Epic Reads spouted her love of this novel in one of her videos (check out said video by clicking here - side note: she mentions that the book is narrated by Percy, but it's actually narrated by Monty). I'm not really sure what I was expecting but ... OH ... MY .... GOODNESS.

Monty is an absolute rake, but an adorable one, and he knows it. He's a bisexual nobleman in a time when being bisexual is VERY much frowned upon and could possibly get you hung. He has a younger sister, Felicity, a baby brother that he calls the Goblin, and a best friend, Percy. When he gets kicked out of Eton, his father beats him black and blue. The only way Monty knows how to deal with it is to continue doing what he's always done: drink, steal, and being promiscuous.

Felicity is sick and tired of being treated like a simpering female. She's interested in medicine and wants to go to university, not finishing school, but the times being what they are doesn't offer her much of a choice as far as career paths go.

Percy lives with his aunt and uncle. They love him but treat him differently when company's around. Why? Well, they're white English residents and Percy is a brown English resident. People of color are treated horridly in England during this time. They're not allowed in many hotels, they're not given very many jobs, and they're automatically distrusted because of the beautiful color of their skin. Add his epilepsy on top of that and the poor guy can't catch a break socially. This era of the English looks at epilepsy as demonic possession and enter those affected into insane asylums if exorcisms and other extreme measures don't work.

Enter one last hurrah for Monty, Percy, and Felicity under the guidance of Mr. Lockwood. The three are to go on a Tour before heading off in different directions: Monty to learn how to take over the estate, Felicity off to finishing school, and Percy off to learn a profession ... or so they all think.

Not long after the tour starts, the three go to a ball. They try to have a good time but Monty gets bored and starts his usual mess. Off he goes to the bedroom of some lady, which turns out to be in the apartments of the Duke of Bourbon ... someone that Monty does not really care for. So, while in the Duke's apartment, Monty looks around and finds something he wants to steal. Enter the Duke, exit Monty through an open window with the stolen artifact, and the chase begins.

Monty, Percy, and Felicity have an adventure beyond their wildest imaginations. Through it all, they learn more about themselves and each other. Felicity admits she wants to be a doctor ... and is actually offered an opportunity in a most unusual way. Monty realizes his drinking and promiscuity is something that he has GOT to get under control. Percy finally confesses what really awaits him at the end of the Tour and what it is he really wants.

This book was heartbreaking and exciting and sweet and a jolly good read. I've seen where there are two more books in this series so I'll be continuing them to see what else these three rapscallions have in store. I can't wait!

{Book Review} Lake People by Abi Maxwell

 

This was another Dollar General purchase. The cover is simple so that's not what drew me to this book. I kind of picked it up on a whim and decided to read its summary to see if I'd be interested in it. The summary, posted below, sounded intriguing and I genuinely anticipated a wonderful saga-esque story about Alice and where she came from.

From Goodreads:

"A haunting, luminous debut novel set in a small New Hampshire town: the story of the crisscrossing of lives, within and without family, and of one woman, given up for adoption as a baby, searching for the truth about her life.

As an infant, Alice Thorton was discovered in Kettleborough, New Hampshire, in a boathouse by the lake; adopted by a young, childless couple; raised with no knowledge of the women who came before her: Eleonora, who brought her family to Bear Island, the nearly uninhabitable scrap of land in Kettleborough’s lake; Signe, the maiden aunt who nearly drowned in the lake, ashamed of her heart; Sophie, the grandmother who turned a blind eye to her unwanted granddaughter. Alice grows up aching for an acceptance she can’t quite imagine, trying to find it first with an older man, then with one who can’t love her back, and finally in the love she feels for one she has never met. And all the while she feels a mysterious pull to the lake. As Alice edges ever closer to her past,Lake Peoplebeautifully evokes the interweaving of family history and individual fate, and the intangible connections we feel to the place where we were born."

I'm sorry to say, this book was a disappointment. It wasn't necessarily the story itself but the way it was written. I know each author has their own unique writing style and that's a great thing. You don't want to read different authors and have them all read the same - that'd be boring. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of Abi Maxwell's writing style.

All of the characters were ... destitute. That's the best word I can think of and I don't mean it financially. They were emotionally destitute. It's like all of them were mad, or depressed, or abusive, or willing to be somebody's emotional whipping post. There was very little hope or joy in this book. I do expect a certain level of problems or despair in a novel, especially when a character is trying to find herself and where she's from, but this was excessive.

While reading Lake People, there's one thought that kept running through my mind: "This is the weirdest book I've ever read." I'm sorry, Ms. Maxwell, but I'm giving your book 2 stars and that's only because, at the very end of the book, Alice found a bit of the happiness she was searching for. Thank goodness I only paid $1 for this book.

{Review} IN AN INSTANT by Suzanne Redfearn

 

I bought this book for my Kindle on a whim while I was sitting at work on my lunch break bored because I had forgotten my physical book that I was currently reading. The first thing that caught my attention was the cover. One, because I thought it gorgeous. Two, because I MISS THE SNOW (insert ugly crying here ... okay, not really). Once my eye was caught, I read the summary and became even more intrigued.

In an Instant is written from the perspective of a dead girl. Beautiful cover, grotesque plot? Nope, not in the least.

Finn is one of three daughters, and one of four children, to Jack and Ann. She has a best friend, Mo, and, when we meet Finn, she is currently at a bridal shop not being the most attentive maid of honor for her sister, Aubrey. Leaving the bridal shop, Aunt Karen (who really isn't an aunt, but Finn's mom's best friend) talks Finn into driving her mom's brand new car home from the shop. Ann, Finn's mom, is not keen on the idea because, HELLOOOO ... Brand. New. Car. 

Well, Aunt Karen succeeds in talking Finn into driving home. On the way, Finn gets into an accident ... nothing major, but there is damage to the front end. Ann, after checking on all parties involved, drives the rest of the way home. To say she's pissed is an understatement. Add that to the marital problems her and Jack are having and she's just a big ole ray of sunshine. So, what's a family to do?

FAMILY TRIP!!!

Jack decides that a trip to the ole family cabin a few hours away for a few days would be good for everyone. He, Ann, Finn, Aubrey, Chloe (the third sister/daughter), Vance (Chloe's boyfriend), Oz (the son), Bingo (the dog), Mo, Aunt Karen, Uncle Bob, and Natalie (Karen and Bob's daughter and an annoyance to Finn and Mo) all load up in one vehicle and head out to the cabin. At the cabin, everyone quickly unloads the van and gets ready to head to a local diner. Finn sits up front while Jack drives. Not to long after they leave, they come across a guy stuck on the side of the road. They offer to give him a ride to town since there's no cell service where he's stuck at. He accepts and climbs in the back with everyone else. Once they're on their way again, a buck runs out in front of them causing Jack to swerve, miss the deer, hit the old guardrail, and go over the side of the mountain. Thus, the death of Finn.

This may sound like the end of the story, but it's not. Finn is tied to the earthly realm while her family continues living the next few months or so without her. They struggle with their grief, with living, with finding purpose after the accident. Finn witnesses it all and is unable to help.

Will she ever leave earth and head towards her final destination? Will her family survive their heartbreak and learn to live again?

In an Instant is a quick read, even though there are over 90 chapters. Fortunately, they're not long and the premise of the story is interesting enough to keep you reading. It also made me wonder if people's spirits really do linger after death. It's interesting to think about.

Overall, I'd give this book 3 1/2 stars for its originality with a few plot issues (nothing major, just a couple things that made me question their validity).

{Review} NO BOOK BUT THE WORLD by Leah Hager Cohen

 

I found this book in a Dollar General. When you're holding the book in your hands, the cover looks as if you could tear away the rest of the painting and reveal the stark white cover with its black-printed words. It's so realistic I had to pick it up and read the summary. I was sold. I bought it.

That was about 2 years ago. I've finally read the book and, before I tell you my thoughts, let me give you a bit of background.

Fred and Ava were raised by two parents who were VERY unconventional. They, Fred and Ava, could be considered home-schooled although it seemed to be more of a moral and social experiment where their father is concerned. Fred and Ava were never disciplined. Instead, if they had tantrums or fits of anger, they were closely studied and asked questions about how they felt, why they did what they did, and so on. Being raised like that can make one feel as if they're more knowledgeable and socially/morally aware than others in mainstream society or it can make one feel like an outsider, an outcast, not as good as those in mainstream society. Either way, it's a very extreme environment to raise children. There's really no middle ground, no gray areas.

Fred was the youngest. He also had issues that wouldn't allow him to behave as others. It was never defined in the book, because that would go against their father's theories of raising children, but it sounded as if Fred had some form of autism. He would go off on his own and stay outside for a day or two. He eventually tried to live a "normal" life by getting jobs, finding places to live, etc. but he was never really accepted by most people because they didn't understand him.

Ava, being the eldest, always felt protective over Fred, even when she was tired of him. Of course, when she did feel tired of Fred she would then feel guilty for feeling tired of Fred. Once their parents died, Fred went off with a former member of their community and Ava followed her own path. She didn't stay in touch with him as much as she felt she should have but there was always an excuse as to why she couldn't. You know how it goes, right? We make time for what we want and when we don't want to do something, we'll allow the smallest excuse to keep us from doing what we should. That was grown-up Ava.

Enter the present. Fred is in jail for his alleged involvement in the death of a minor. Ava goes to the town where he's in jail to visit with his lawyer. Ava knows people don't understand Fred and how he is so she's trying to make him known to Bayard Charles, Fred's defense attorney.

As the story unfolds, we all learn more about Ava, Fred, Kitty, and their entire world they grew up in. We learn of the circumstances leading up to Fred's arrest. Did he have anything to do with the boy's death? Was it an accident? Was it natural causes?

Even without knowing the author's background, I could tell she is an extremely intelligent woman. The way she wrote her novel reveals that about herself. She made child-Ava sound more intelligent than I've ever known a child to think, reason, speak, and feel. The author used so many words I've never heard or read before that I almost opened a dictionary app on my phone just so I could understand what she was trying to say. I didn't open the dictionary app. I understood the gist of the portion of the story I was reading and that was good enough for me. Thinking about the story in retrospect, it was interesting and uniquely done. Ava, being the narrator, was the most fleshed-out character in the book. I would've liked to have known more about her parents, but that would've made the book longer than I would've wanted to read. I didn't hate the book but I didn't love it either. However, it did make me think. Overall, I'd give No Book but the World three stars.

{Review} UNDER THE WIDE AND STARRY SKY by Nancy Horan

 

First of all, this cover is gor-geous! The cover and the title are the reasons why I bought this book from a Dollar General and added it to my Goodreads TBR list way back in 2017. I have finally gotten around to reading it.

To start, this is a novel based on the life of Robert Luis Stevenson's wife, Fanny Van de Grift Osbourne, and her marriage to the famous author. When Fanny met Luis, she had just lost her youngest child. Being 10 years Luis' senior, Fanny didn't think of Luis as a viable suitor and was, therefore, attracted to Luis' cousin. Eventually, Luis wins Fanny over, she divorces her husband in San Francisco, Fanny and Luis get married, and end up traveling the world to find a place where Luis can live healthily.

Fanny was too combative and could hold a grudge like nobody's business. There were quite a few times I remember thinking, "Dear Lord, just let it go already!" Luis could be an ass with his brutal honesty and biting wit. They made a strange pair and couple. I didn't get a sense of love or infatuation from either of them.

The book was entertaining and an interesting read. Although it's a fictional account of their lives together, this novel is based on facts, real letters, journal entries, etc from both Fanny and Luis. I am glad to have read it once, even if it's just to get it off my TBR list, but I don't foresee my reading it again in the future. I really don't know who I'd want to recommend it to, either, so I guess I'll end this by saying that I'd rate this about 2.5 out of 5 stars.

{Review} THE INSTITUTE by Stephen King

 

Those that know me personally know that I am a H-U-G-E Stephen King fan. Not because what he writes is scary. What makes me such a fan is how he thinks and how he writes about how he thinks. For example, my all-time favorite book (of King's and in general) is It. People hear that and say, "Ohmygod. How can you read that? Clowns scare me!" Which automatically tells me, they're going based off of the movie and haven't actually read the book. To me, It is about more than just a clown (which isn't really a clown but a shape-shifter based on a child's worst fear). The book It is about a child's imagination and how powerful it can be (good side) and it also deals with a child's fear and how powerful THAT can be (bad side). Then, you bring a group of children together, all with different fears and imaginations, and show how strong their bond can become ... it's a magical, powerful thing. And THOSE elements are what is at the core of the book It. It's not scary at all, it's actually beautiful in it's own way ... and that's why I love King.

But, I'm digressing ...

I was excited when Stephen King came out with some new novels the past year or two. The only one I've gotten so far is The Institute, which is what I should be talking to you about today.

The Institute is a place where children with special powers are gathered. While there, the children are tested to see if their powers can be strengthened or even added to. Those with the strongest powers are taken to a separate area of the Institute and put to work ... or, uh, "work." The Institute is, of course, ran by a secret group of government employees who could care less about the kids.

Luke Ellis is a beyond-brilliant ten-year-old kid and one of the kids picked up and brought to the Institute. He's a different choice as a protagonist which makes this an interesting read. Who would expect a ten-year-old kid to take on a secret government agency? King, that's who.

I don't want to give too much away in case you haven't read this novel yet, but I will tell you that it held my attention. Certain passages made me think of other King works. For example:

 - In the section titled "Maureen and Avery," there's a fight scene in part 12 that makes me think of The Losers fighting Butch Bowers in It.

- Another passage in "Maureen and Avery" part 12 makes me think of the two girls in the hallway of the Overlook Hotel in The Shining ... "Luke looked around. Joe was gone. There were two little blond girls standing where he had been. They were holding hands and wearing identical expressions of dazed terror. Everything about them was identical ..."

- And, then again, in "Maureen and Avery" part 14: "They reminded Luke of twins in some old horror movie." The Shining anyone?

I guess when you've been as prolific a writer as King, you're allowed certain liberties. Regardless of the similarities to earlier works, The Institute is still a testament to King's writing style and way of thinking. While I may not love this novel as much as King's earlier, darker, works, I would still give this 3.5 stars because it's a solid piece of storytelling.

I'll leave you with one final quote from this book and you can interpret it however you need to:

"It came to him, with the force of a revelation, that you had to have been imprisoned to fully understand what freedom was."

{Review} MORE THAN ENOUGH: CLAIMING SPACE FOR WHO YOU ARE (NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY) by Elaine Welteroth

 

The first time I "met" Elaine was when I watched season 17 of Bravo's Project Runway (a guilty pleasure of mine ever since Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn were hosting). Anyway, as soon as she was introduced and I watched her for an episode or two I was enamored. You ever see someone and think, "I love their spirit, their vibe, just who they are in general?" That was me with Elaine. I didn't know her at all before Project Runway, had never heard her name, but I was intrigued by what I saw ... and then I found out she wrote a book. I had to get it.

Reading More than Enough was like listening to a friend speak her truth while telling you about her life's story. If all non-fiction read like this, I'd read a lot more non-fiction books. I felt so many emotions while reading this book: anger, pride, joy ... and cried tears through most of these. I loved that Elaine's book made me feel so many different emotions and I loved that she opened up to share about her experiences and her journey.

Elaine, girl, I know you don't know me, I know we'll likely never meet, and I also know you'll likely never ever read this review .... BUT ... just know, this white girl has your back. I am so proud of you for accomplishing what you have. Your story is just beginning and I cannot WAIT to see where you go from here. Thank you for being your truly authentic self. *hugs*

Food for Thought (quotes from the book):

"When you occupy space in systems that weren't built for you, your authenticity is your activism."

"In order to change the stories, you must change the storytellers."

{2015 TBR Pile Challenge Review} LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING by J. R. R. Tolkien

Lupe's Review:

Yes. This was exactly what I wanted it to be and more. I cannot even give a good enough review for how much I loved this. The magic, the wonder, the scenery, the songs and the adventure. I can't wait to continue with Frodo and Sam, Aragon, Legolas, Gimli and Boromir. This was just. Yes.

{Review} DUSK: THE HOLLOW TRILOGY, Book 1 by Brent Kruscke

ISBN #: 978-0692360224

Page Count: 370

Copyright: 2015

Publisher: The CineMen; 1st Edition

Book Description:

(Taken from Amazon)

In 1976 a string of grizzly murders plagues the small town of Pointe's Hollow. 16 year old Nicholas Wake is pulled into the investigation by a deadly event which nearly costs his life. Dusk, a mysterious gunman, begins to piece together the facts of the case with Nicholas's help. As the pieces fall into place, Nicholas's eyes are opened to the evil that has been brewing in Pointe's Hollow for more years than anyone can count.

This is the first installment of a much larger story entitled The Hollow Trilogy. In Book One, Brent Kruscke spins a wildly fun, yet dark tale with colorful characters and twisted circumstances. Follow Nicholas and Dusk as they fight for survival and unravel the mysteries of Pointe's Hollow.

Lupe's Review:

Ok in full disclosure, I actually KNOW the author. Like he is dating a lifelong family friend of mine. That being said, this was seriously worthy of all 5 stars I just gave on Goodreads.  From the very beginning, I had chills.

We start with Nicholas, a pretty average 16 year old who lives in a small town in Michigan. He has all the regular problems: homework, family and girls. Until one night in the woods when all that changes. Nicholas is on his way home from helping the town librarian when he sees something straight out of a horror flick. And then his adventure begins...

We meet Dusk, Nicholas's savior in the night. A troubled man with a dark and sad past, he is a vigilante but not of human injustices, but those things that go bump in the night.

Together, Nicholas and Dusk fight the battles that no one in Pointe's Hollow could even imagine. There is more to this world than meets the eye.

I was weary at first because horror novels sometimes seem to me to all be the same. It was one of the reasons I stopped reading a series recently. It just didn't capture me. This one, though?? I am so disappointed that I now have to hound Brent RELENTLESSLY to hurry up and get the second book done. Like, yesterday. He needed it done yesterday. This was fun, engaging, thrilling and scary all at once. It was magnificent. The pace was great, and it kept you guessing to the very end. I sincerely cannot wait until the next installment.


*A physical copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

{Review} GOOD FAITH by Liz Crowe

ISBN #: 978-0989306980

Page Count: 522

Copyright: November 14, 2013

Publisher: Tri Destiny Publishing

Description:

(Taken from back cover)

Strong personalities—volatile marriages—stressful careers—conflicting goals—difficult children.

Contemporary challenges facing close-knit families form the crucible that forges a new generation.

Brandis, Gabriel, Blair and Lillian emerge from the entanglement of their parents’ longstanding emotional connections, but one’s star will burn brighter – and hotter – than the others.

With a personality that consumes everyone and everything in its path, Brandis Gordon struggles to maintain control as he ricochets between wild success and miserable failure. His life proves how even the strongest relationships can be strangled by the ties that bind.

Brandis and Gabe Frietag are as close as any brothers, bound by both loyalty and fierce rivalry. The strength of their ultimate alliance is tested time and again by Brandis’ choices.

Companions from birth, Blair Frietag and Lillian Robinson share loner tendencies, but come to rely on each other through adolescence. As they mature, both are forced to confront their feelings for the men they knew as boys.

Somewhere between the tangle of good memories and bad, independence and addiction, optimism and despair, the intertwined destinies of the new generation finally collide, leaving some stronger, others broken, but none unscathed.

As a chronicle of three families navigating the minefields of teen years into the turbulence of young adulthood, Good Faith holds up a literary mirror to contemporary life with joys and temptations unflinchingly reflected. Its fresh, real-life voice portrays the sheer volatility of human nature, complete with the hopes, dreams, and unexpected setbacks of marriage, parenthood and "coming of age."

Charlene's Review:

The seventh in the Stewart Realty Saga (of which I was unaware of but am know itching to read) this is a story of three intertwined families facing the demons of the past, and the struggles of the present. This book focuses mainly on the storyline of Brandis, young and wild, and addicted. As his life unravels, each family feels the shockwave and lives are possibly changed forever.

A formidable read at 507 pages, it took me longer to finish because of interruptions beyond my control. However, I found it deeply emotional and it pulled me to finish. Covering about every dysfunction you can imagine, Ms. Crowe probes deep into the human psyche and relates to her readers in a frank, humbling way. I was totally invested in these families triumphs and disappointments from the very beginning.

Ms. Crowe borrowed a lot of the background details from the loves of her own life, such as brewing, soccer, and real estate, which makes the details even more believable. I found nothing that didn’t seem "real" within this story. My only caveat would be that there is extensive sexual interactions throughout the story. If this is an issue, I would highly suggest you avoid this book. Otherwise, I cannot express enough how captivating the characters are and watching them grow and survive was an honor.

5 out of 5 stars!!


*A physical copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

{Review} WALKING BETWEEN WORLDS; BOOK I: DEMONS & ANGELS by J. K. Norry

ASIN #: B00PF1S1Z0

File Size: 399 KB

Page Count: 267

Copyright: December 2, 2014

Publisher: Sudden Insight Publishing

Book Description:

(Taken from Amazon)

Meet the unsung heroes of the supernatural, those who walk between worlds to help humans battle their demons. This is the spellbinding tale of a special group of people whose lives were changed forever. Watch the ordinary collide with the extraordinary to test the mettle of their souls and the power of their love.

The first book in an exciting new series, Walking Between Worlds; Book I: Demons & Angels introduces us to a new way of looking at both the natural and the supernatural worlds. Join Paul Stone and Kris Reed as they walk between worlds in search of answers and themselves.

Mandy's Review:

One of my literary weaknesses are books depicting battles between angels and demons. The timeless battle of good versus evil is one of my favorite things to read. My own guilty pleasure, if you will. By agreeing to read and review Walking Between Worlds, I was excited to be adding to my collection. Too bad I was disappointed.

I've read the few reviews that are out there concerning this book. Those that have read it so far have seemed to enjoy it, especially the characters. I found the characters lacking. Granted, this is the first book of the series and a precursor to future events so there may be things developing in these characters that isn't evident in this book. The characters just seemed to be one-dimensional. I didn't relate to any of them. I wasn't interested in getting to know more about any of them. Apparently, all the main guys in this book have hot girlfriends who enjoy a little forcefulness in the sexual arena (i.e. hair pulling, biting). Not all females are the same and I got a little tired of the sex scenes in what is supposed to be a book about demons and angels.

Speaking of demons and angels ... there is definitely a different thought-process at work in this book. I commend the author for creating a series based on an age-old battle and giving it a philosophical twist. I'm sure there's an audience out there for this type of series, but it's not me. I feel as if the book took too long to get its point across and I became a little bored with it. What the author did make me realize, though, was that I'm a classical kind of girl.

Sorry, Mr. Norry, but I didn't care for your work.


*An ecopy of the novel was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

{Review} TEXTS FROM JANE EYRE (AND OTHER CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR FAVORITE LITERARY CHARACTERS) by Mallory Ortberg

ISBN #: 978-1627791830

Page Count: 240

Copyright: November 4, 2014

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.; First Edition

Book Summary:

(Taken from Goodreads)

Hilariously imagined text conversations—the passive aggressive, the clever, and the strange—from classic and modern literary figures, from Scarlett O’Hara to Jessica Wakefield.

Mallory Ortberg, the co-creator of the cult-favorite website The Toast, presents this whimsical collection of hysterical text conversations from your favorite literary characters. Everyone knows that if Scarlett O’Hara had an unlimited text-and-data plan, she’d constantly try to tempt Ashley away from Melanie with suggestive messages. If Mr. Rochester could text Jane Eyre, his ardent missives would obviously be in all-caps. And Daisy Buchanan would not only text while driving, she’d text you to pick her up after she totaled her car. Based on the popular web-feature, Texts from Jane Eyre is a witty, irreverent mashup that brings the characters from your favorite books into the twenty-first century.

Kathy's Review:

If our favorite literary characters, or authors, could text, what would they say? The author imagines these conversations throughout the history of literature, beginning with Greek mythology and ending with Katniss and Peeta in “The Hunger Games.” Extremely funny, and spot-on with keeping with the particular character’s quirks or infamous scenes from the books in which they live, Texts is smartly imagined.

Admittedly, I didn’t know a LOT of the literary references in the book. They were still funny, but I think some of the nuance went over my head. There were several jokes relating to Daisy Miller that I didn’t get because I had never heard of this character, but I could still tell that it was stuffy British lit from back in the day and that Daisy had some haters who thought she was a tramp.

The philosophical stuff was funny – basically, some of the crazy-yet-brilliant thoughts of some of the past writers were reimagined into texts and came off as you’d imagine.

Some of my favorites were Miss Havisham’s texts (Great Expectations) reminding all that she was jilted at the altar; Emily Dickinson texting from inside her bedroom to someone on the outside of the door; and Peter Pan as the ultimate druggie, texting Wendy and asking her to come party with him. Surprisingly, some of the more modern literary references were my least favorite. Babysitters Club came along after I was too old to be reading that stuff, so I skipped right over that one. Even Sweet Valley High, of which I was an ardent fan, wasn’t one of my favorites.

This will take you just about an hour to get through, and I’m sure that if you enjoy reading, you’ll be amused at this inventive way to retell their stories.


*A physical copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

{Review} A GHOSTLY UNDERTAKING by Tonya Kappes

ISBN #: 978-0062374646

Page Count: 304

Copyright: February 24, 2015

Publisher: Witness; Reissue Edition

Series: Ghostly Southern Mysteries (Book 1)

Book Description:

(Taken from Amazon)

A funeral, a ghost, a murder . . . It's all in a day's work for emma lee raines . . .

Bopped on the head from a falling plastic Santa, local undertaker Emma Lee Raines is told she's suffering from “funeral trauma.”   It's trauma all right, because the not-so-dearly departed keep talking to her. Take Ruthie Sue Payne—innkeeper, gossip queen, and arch-nemesis of Emma Lee's granny—she's adamant that she didn't just fall down those stairs. She was pushed.

Ruthie has no idea who wanted her pushing up daisies. All she knows is that she can't cross over until the matter is laid to eternal rest. In the land of the living, Emma Lee's high-school crush, Sheriff Jack Henry Ross, isn't ready to rule out foul play. Granny Raines, the widow of Ruthie's ex-husband and co-owner of the Sleepy Hollow Inn, is the prime suspect. Now Emma Lee is stuck playing detective or risk being haunted forever.

Mandy's Review:

I'm always up for a good mystery involving murder, ghosts, and surprises. Sometimes it's nice to just read a book for enjoyment instead of trying to figure out what the author's trying to convey.

Emma is in an unusual situation. Her sister, Charlotte, and she run one of the local funeral homes. It was previously managed by their parents, but their parents have decided to move away, travel, and leave the funeral home in the hands of their daughters. All goes well until Emma has her incident with the plastic Santa Claus.

It's this konk on the head that allows Emma to see the ghosts of the recently departed. Ruthie being the most recent, Emma thinks she's starting to have episodes of the "funeral trauma" again until Ruthie convinces Emma she was murdered. Emma, now intrigued, decides to help investigate Ruthie's death ... especially when the local law enforcement office, Jack, subpoenas Emma requesting she not bury Ruthie until the official investigation is over.

Sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong can get you into trouble, as it does with Emma. There's someone in town that's not happy with Emma playing junior detective. Will Emma be able to help Jack solve Ruthie's murder before someone close to Emma goes to jail?

There were parts of the story that moved just a bit too fast for me and I feel like some important elements may have been left out but overall I did enjoy this novel. I have a lot going on in my life right now and reading something just for the pure enjoyment of it was refreshing. It helped me to escape my head for a while, which is something I was sorely needing. If you're looking to escape and visit a new place for purely recreational purposes, then I would recommend beginning this series.


*A physical copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

{The 2015 Amazing Book Race Challenge Review} NOT MY FATHER'S SON by Alan Cumming

ISBN #: 978-0062225061
Page Count: 304
Copyright: October 7, 2014
Publisher: Dey Street Books

Lupe's Review:

I listened to this as an audiobook, narrated by Alan Cumming himself, and I have to say, it was so much better that way. Being able to hear the tiniest inflections in his voice, feel, really FEEL what he is saying, made this such an immersive story. You're able to chuckle with him when you hear his voice smiling and get teary eyed and cry for him when you hear him speak so solemnly about his childhood, and even much of his adulthood.

His foray into what happened to his grandfather, the trigger from his father that makes him so introspective on himself, parallel in a way that only a Hollywood story should. Unfortunately, this was no glamorous Hollywood life. Alan's childhood and adulthood were marred by his father, Alec, and just listening to his story was enough, at times, to just make my heart break. I have always liked him as an actor and musician. He is just so versatile and just, well, GOOD, that you never would have expected all the obstacles he had to face. His personal life alone (being bisexual and his HEAVY advocacy of LGBT rights) were nothing compared to his childhood personal life. He was able to overcome so much adversity from his father, so much angst. And to be able to tell it so truthfully, without hindrance and without hiding anything, I think is a true testament to his character.

Read this. If you don't ever read another memoir again, read this one. I promise you won't regret it.

{Review} SMALL MERCIES by Eddie Joyce

ISBN #: 978-0525427292

Page Count: 368

Copyright: March 10, 2015

Publisher: Viking

Description:

(Taken from book flap)

An ingeniously layered narrative, told over the course of one week, Eddie Joyce’s debut novel masterfully depicts an Italian-Irish American family on Staten Island and their complicated emotional history. Ten years after the loss of Bobby—the Amendola family’s youngest son—everyone is still struggling to recover from the firefighter’s unexpected death. Bobby’s mother, Gail; his widow, Tina; his older brothers Peter, the corporate lawyer, and Franky, the misfit; and his father, Michael, have all dealt with their grief in different ways. But as the family gathers together for Bobby Jr.’s birthday party, they must each find a way to accept a new man in Tina’s life while reconciling their feelings for their lost loved one.

In unflinching but lyrical prose, Joyce shows us one mother’s struggle to keep her family together and preserve the memory of her son. Following Gail as she moves from the corner offices of white-shoe Manhattan law firms to the blue-collar gin mills of the outer boroughs, Small Mercies reveals a different New York, one that exists in the hearts and minds of its inhabitants.

Presented through multiple points of view, Small Mercies explores the conflicts and deep attachments that exist within families. Heart-wrenching and profoundly relatable, Joyce’s debut is a love letter to Staten Island and a deeply affecting portrait of an American family.

Charlene's Review:

Small Mercies is a haunting story of a family in the aftermath of the loss of Bobby, their son/brother/spouse, on 9/11. Mr. Joyce paints a picture with his words: A picture of life before, and life after. 10 years later, Bobby’s widow announces to his mother, Gail, that she has met a new love, and Gail must find a way to tell the family, all of whom are still grieving.

With the focus on the family, instead of the terror attack, this is a new twist on a fateful day. Perhaps the most humbling of all. When the cameras faded and the stories died, the families were left to find a new normal. Small Mercies is a look at the reality of survivors of 9/11 and how they must learn to live as the casualties of an act that took America’s innocence. The guilt of the family "business" , the unspoken words, the wishful thinking, and the unspeakable grief of a mother are all demonstrated in a heart-wrenching novel full of real, raw emotion. The true beauty of this story is the flawed, hurting characters that cling desperately to each other, every bit as much as they suffer alone.

I have read many books on the subject of 9/11 and Small Mercies is one of the best, as it reflects not on the horror and destruction of that day, but the ability of the human spirit to rise from the ashes.

5 out of 5 stars!


*A hardcopy of this novel was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

{Review} SMILE NOW, CRY LATER by Paul MacDonald

ISBN #: 978-1507525449

Page Count: 248

Copyright: January 12, 2015

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Series: Chuck Restic Mystery

Book Description:

(Taken from Amazon)

Chuck Restic is a man without a purpose. A 20-year career working in the risk-averse world of Human Resources for a large corporation has left him comfortably numb... but so incredibly bored. There has to be more to life than trying not to get sued. Chuck finds an escape in an unlikely form when he begins moonlighting as a private detective. He's not your typical PI (he prefers a passive-aggressive approach over the old-fashioned fisticuffs kind) but he is amusingly effective at solving crimes. And at last he is able to apply that HR experience -- the same one that gives him so much consternation -- to a finer purpose.

This first book in the series has Chuck venturing out of the confines of his Los Angeles skyscraper in search of a missing colleague. The trail leads him from the shady underworld of Armenian mobsters to the billion-dollar land developments that serve as the lifeblood of the city. Murder lurks at every turn. The Chuck Restic Mystery Series is a fun romp that mashes traditional mystery with a scathing send-up of Corporate America, and delivers a fresh take on the classic Los Angeles detective novel.

Shelley's Review:

This book grabs and holds your attention from page one.  The author throws in number of subplots and twists that makes this  book appeal to a wide variety of people.  Something for everyone!  I really look forward to another installment of Chuck Restic Mysteries.  Kudos Mr. Macdonald!


*A physical copy of this novel was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

{Review} SAGA OF LYN: THE REAWAKENING by Aric Carter

ISBN #: 978-1941469002

Page Count: 238

Copyright: July 26, 2014

Publisher: Aric C. Carter

Series: Saga of Lyn

Book Description:

(Taken from back cover)

Tavernkeeper Tegain Hostler's life is one of well-oiled routine, revolving around his tavern and his beloved wife and daughter. When a mysterious stranger destroys his tavern and his family, Tegain joins forces with his friend Karl Dunmire, a trader with a military past, to seek justice. Karl sells Tegain a rusty old sword that has hidden powers, and their quest turns deadly as they begin to encounter demons from their world's past that now threaten its future.

Mandy's Review:

Before even reading the book, the reader is wondering who Lyn is and who/what is being reawakened. At the start of the book, an event happens that (slight spoiler alert) isn't addressed during this portion of the series.

Tegain is a portly man who has taken over the family business of managing the tavern, the Hooded Lantern. He has never had a need to leave his home and travel the country, so he's unaware of what lies in the surrounding country. That all changes one night when a stranger comes in and kills everyone inside the tavern before burning it to the ground. Tegain, the only survivor of the attack, is lying outside on the ground contemplating life without his wife and daughter when Karl shows up on the scene.

A former Captain Marshal of the Royal Waymen Dragoons, Karl is now a trader traveling around from town to town trying to sell his wares. Helping Tegain escape from a greedy councilman gets Karl thrown into jail, where Karl finds some unexpected allies. Knowing his past, the guards solicit Karl's help in fighting the monsters that seem to have reawakened from centuries past.

Tegain's escape puts him into even more danger from creatures he never knew existed. Thankfully, one of the items Karl sold to Tegain is a unique piece helping him in ways Tegain never expected.

Overall, I enjoyed this beginning to the Saga of Lyn series ... with some exceptions. The first being Vyckie's importance to the telling of this story. The story could've been told without her and, in turn, the two thieves. If her purpose was to re-start Tegain's heart and help him realize he could love again, well ... I think it was unnecessary. I won't say why because it'd spoil part of the story, but the reader will easily recognize why Vyckie's role wasn't needed. The other exception to my enjoyment of this book was the way Karl spoke. It was very distracting. I'd be in a flow, just reading along, and then Karl's part would show up and I'd have to stop and take time to read what he was saying. Want an example?

"Aye, this be true. Ye be not havin' the trainin' of the Dragoons. Ta be a Dragoon be not trainin' alone. A true Wayman be without fear. He be ridin' inta battle knowin' he be dead already. His actions be not tempered by fear of death. Ta be a Dragoon be but an attitude taken about yourself, not just trainin'," Karl voiced to Jeri and the entire company of men.

Maybe the above isn't distracting to you, but it was to me. Too much usage of the word 'be.' If you can work your way through that, the Saga of Lyn: The Reawakening is a pretty decent start to a promising series.


*A physical copy of this novel was provided by the publicist in exchange for an honest review.

{Review} BLACK DIAMONDS: THE DOWNFALL OF AN ARISTOCRATIC DYNASTY AND THE FIFTY YEARS THAT CHANGED ENGLAND by Catherine Bailey

ISBN #: 978-0143126843

Page Count: 544

Copyright: December 30, 2014

Publisher: Penguin Books

Book Description:

(Taken from back cover)

When the sixth Earl Fitzwilliam died in 1902, he was the richest man in Britain. His fortune came from coal-a lifeline to the thousands who worked in the family's coal mines. The earl also left behind four sons, and the family line seemed assured. But was it?

Set in the aristocratic splendor of the era popularized by Downton Abbey, Black Diamonds tells the story of the Fitzwilliam's spectacular decline: of fights over inheritance, rumors of lunacy. a tragic connection to the Kennedy's, violent deaths, illicit love, and a class war that literally ripped apart the local landscape.

The demise of the Fitzwilliams is chronicled in this riveting account of aristocratic decline and fall, set in the grandest house in England. With the novelistic flair on display in her New York Times bestseller The Secret Rooms, Bailey has written another irresistible narrative history.

Lupe's Review:

Being the huge history nut that I am (I majored in History in college and have always been fascinated particularly with English History) I was, at first, unsure if I would like a novel that seemed to not have all the pieces. You see, the Fitzwilliams destroyed pretty much everything. They were secretive and very protective of their privacy. It made writing this novel that much harder, I'm sure, for Ms. Bailey. But the vast amount of research that she does do is so worth reading. What I loved about this was that the author took the family, and put them in the larger scale of economic and political stresses of the world around them. We begin in the late 1800's and end up in the present, where even now, the owner of Wentworth House is reclusive and private, but not, as you would think, a Fitzwilliam. The downfall of this rich, coal mining family is told beautifully and tragically, stories of grandeur and folly, love and hate, and above all, power and prestige. Among all that, you have class power struggles, two World Wars (of which, men from the family fought on the front and the home was utilized for war purposes) and the fight for aristocracy's  prominence and relevance in a time of it's demise.

Beautifully written, we get to travel in time and through time with one of England's grandest families, from their rise to their unfortunate and very tragic downfall. It's hard not to feel sorry for them, trying to keep their place among England's finest, even when everything is against them (aristocrats, that is). While I felt for the Labour cause (because I always want the underdog to succeed, and in this case, it was sorely needed) the loss of this history hurts. But, alas, that is the pain for a history major. And why it is called "history" to begin with. It is something no longer there, but rich and vibrant. England (and Europe as a whole) has had one of the most vibrant histories ever recorded and there is still so much to learn. I was very pleased with this book and the writing. Ms. Bailey has another book, The Secret Rooms, which I would love to discover and devour, much like I've done here.


*A physical copy of this novel was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

{Review} FAILED MOMENTS by A. Robert Allen

ISBN #: 978-1505814675

Page Count: 244

Copyright: February 5, 2015

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Description:

(Taken from back cover)

What do a biracial plantation owner, an Irish street fighter, and a daydreaming stock trader have in common? A first name? Or, perhaps, the ability to make catastrophic mistakes?

History is chock-full of failed moments, but what if, to fix your own mistakes, you had to right the wrongs of two other men long dead?

Tackling race relations from a unique perspective, Failed Moments, is a thought-provoking adventure through four centuries that questions the measure of a man not by his decision to do no harm, but his willingness to act on what is right.

Charlene's Review:

Patrick’s story begins in a hotel lobby as he waits for a date. Unbeknownst to him, he is actually in a coma and his date is his deceased aunt. As she explains the complexities of their reunion, Patrick is guided back in time to his former lives, where we follow him as he faces societal and racial discriminations. Patrick learns he must right the wrongs of those before him in order to move on to his final reward.

Reminiscent of Dickens' Christmas Carol, Mr. Allen reminds the reader that every action and decision we make causes a ripple effect on the future. Dealing with issues such as racism, social class , and reincarnation, Failed Moments is a sad testament to the worst of mankind, but also to the ability of man to undo the damage by choice and action.

This was a slower read for me, as it unfolds in stages, and I occasionally had to look back to make connections, but it definitely leaves the reader to soulfully question their own connection to the past. Failed Moments is a highly detailed, historically complex novel worthy of recognition.


*A physical copy of the novel was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.