{Review} THE THURSDAY NIGHT CLUB: A TALE OF CHRISTMAS SPIRIT by Steven Manchester

ASIN #: B00OPAFGV4

File Size: 961 KB

Page Count: 152

Copyright: November 18, 2014

Publisher: The Story Plant

Book Summary:

(Taken from Amazon)

Five college friends, three men and two women, have been getting together every Thursday night to share humble meals and an abundance of laughter. But when tragedy takes one of them, leaving the others to question the fairness of life, the Thursday Night Club decides to embark on a contest in the memory of the generous spirit of their fallen brother. The objective of the contest is simple: whoever performs the kindest deed by Christmas night wins the pot – four quarters. And there are only two conditions: the benevolent deed must be anonymous, and it cannot cost a single penny to pull off.

As the four friends undertake the contest, the healing begins and they become inspired beyond their expectations. There might be a winner in this competition, but it is very clear there will be no losers.

A story of Christmas spirit that will strike a chord in your heart any time of year, The Thursday Night Club will make you look at the holiday season in new ways.

Mandy's Review:

First of all, I love this cover. It makes me happy just looking at it and it automatically puts me in a festive mood. Okay, so I'm a sucker for snowy days/nights, but I do find it beautiful.

As you can tell by the page count, this is more of a novella. Just a quick little story about five friends to get your inner do-gooder up and running. I wanted to forewarn you of how quick it is because, as it is with all novellas, you get a sense of the characters and who they are but you don't get to know them well enough to call them friends. They're more like acquaintances you meet for the first time. You know just enough about them to want to see them again.

My only criticism would be about Kevin's girlfriend. I understand she was put into the story to help open Kevin's eyes about the type of girls he goes for, but I think she was a bit unnecessary to the plot. If she was removed completely, the nuances of the story would remain exactly the same.

Overall, The Thursday Night Club really will fill you with the Christmas spirit and have you pondering what you can do to help your fellow man. I would recommend it to those who enjoy this time of year.


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

{2014 TBR Pile Challenge Review} THE SONG IS YOU by Arthur Phillips

ISBN #: 978-1400066469

Page Count: 272

Copyright: April 7, 2009

Publisher: Random House; First Edition

Book Summary:

(Taken from Amazon)

Julian Donahue is in love with his iPod.

Each song that shuffles through “that greatest of all human inventions” triggers a memory. There are songs for the girls from when he was single; there’s the one for the day he met his wife-to-be, and another for the day his son was born. But when his family falls apart, even music loses its hold on him, and he has nothing.

Until one snowy night in Brooklyn, when his life’s soundtrack–and life itself–starts to play again. He stumbles into a bar and sees Cait O’Dwyer, a flame-haired Irish rock singer, performing with her band, and a strange and unlikely love affair is ignited.

Over the next few months, Julian and Cait’s passion for music and each other is played out, though they never meet. In cryptic emails, text messages, cell-phone videos, and lyrics posted on Cait’s website, they find something in their bizarre friendship that they cannot find anywhere else. Cait’s star is on the rise, and Julian gently guides her along her path to fame–but always from a distance–and she responds to the one voice who understands her, more than a fan but still less than a lover.

As their feelings grow more feverish, keeping a safe distance becomes impossible. What follows is a love story and a uniquely heartbreaking dark comedy about obsession and loss.

Kathy's Review:

(Reprinted with her permission from her personal blog, Grown Up Book Reports)

Another TBR Pile Challenge book. This one has been on my TBR pile since 2010, when it received literary acclaim. I had very high hopes for this one, as it centers around a music producer who falls for a girl in a band. I was hoping for some hip, Nick Hornby-like writing. I think what I got was if Nick Hornby and David Foster Wallace had a baby. And I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this, but I am not a DFW fan.

I have a 50-page rule when it comes to books. I give it until page 50. If I’m not into it by then, I move on. I have too many other books waiting for their turn.

I struggled to get to page 50 with this one, I really did. I wanted to like it, and I just had a hard time with it. Part of it is the writing style. There was at least one word on each page that I had to look up. And I’m by no means a dummy when it comes to language! So this is not for the average reader.

And then, around page 45, I started to like it. I got used to the way Phillips writes, and I charged on. I kind of fell in and out of love with this book, and almost gave up on it several times. Finally, though, I persevered through the end of the book. My conclusions: I’m not sure whether I am to view Julian’s actions as creepy or romantic, although Cait seems to be ok with everything he does, even herself engaging in some creepy/stalkerish/romantic behavior back at him. I’m not sure how the death of Julian’s son several years ago is supposed to factor in, but it does, somehow. And I am hugely disappointed at the many twists of fate that keep Julian and Cait apart. I know that’s what makes the book work, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.

All in all, I think this book is a little bit intellectually bogged down to be digestible by the mainstream reader. If you are into indie music and dig chicks in bands, maybe you want to give this one a try. But otherwise, I’m sorry to say, skip this one. This Song is Not For You.

{Review} ETERNAL SERVICE (The Colony, Book 1) by Regina Morris

ASIN #: B00B7KGXH6

File Size: 605 KB

Page Count: 439

Copyright: January 25, 2014

Publisher: Silkhaven Publishing, LLC; 6th Edition

Book Summary:

(Taken from Amazon)

Vampires exist among us. They can be our neighbor, best friend, our child's teacher ...

They alter their aged appearance based upon the amount of blood they consume. They move to a new area, drink a lot of blood, and appear young. Slowly they limit their intake of blood and age, right in front of our unsuspecting eyes. After decades, they fake their death, move, and do it over and over again.

Most live quiet lives in an effort to blend in.

Some however want power and control.

The Colony is an elite group of vampires sworn to protect the President of the United States from these rogue vampires.

When Raymond Metcalf, vampire coven master of the Colony, teams up with a federal operative of the human female persuasion-who has no idea that vampires even exist-will his mission or his heart be compromised first?

Career military woman, Alex Brennan, is being offered the promotion of a lifetime and with it a romance that she has desperately been seeking. Does she dare accept the position as Director of the Colony, an elite group of deadly creatures of the night and risk a dangerous romance with a man who isn't even human?

Together, can they save the President?

Mandy's Review:

Raymond is a widowed vampire who had a baby with a human woman back in the 1800s. The birthing of the baby is what killed his wife. Since her death, Raymond hasn't found another woman that he's willing to open his heart up to and trust. His guilt over his wife's death doesn't help. When he meets Alex, though, the thoughts of trust and guilt are put more into perspective and he's considering opening his heart up to her.

Alex is ex-military so she knows how to be tough when needed, which she has to be being in a predominately male profession. She's not so tough that she doesn't need therapy. Alex had a night a few year before where she was attacked and almost raped. She has been going to therapy ever since to learn how to put the past behind her and trust men again. When she meets Raymond, her pheromones take over and her issues with trust are quickly going by the wayside.

Can Raymond successfully let go of his past to have a future with another human female? Can Alex let go of her past and trust another tall, mysterious man? Can the two work out their differences and bridge the gap between human and vampire?

As you can see, I believe this novel has a strong premise and could make for a strong series. I was a little concerned that the romance aspect would take on the Harlequin "no fail" pattern. Thank God it didn't. I do get tired of the Harlequin romances.

The supporting characters in Eternal Service are cohesive within the story. I did have an issue with Brandon's role ... and this may be a slight spoiler ... Brandon had been compelled so many times that he was no longer able to be compelled. Yet, during the dinner, it seemed as if he had been compelled by an evil vampire. The slight contradiction bothered me because, the majority of the time this happened to a human, the Colony decided to transfer the human to another department or area in order to be rid of them. They didn't do that with Brandon ... and I understand why after reading the ending, I just wish there weren't so many instances in the novel where it was written that Brandon was becoming an issue and something would have to be done about him. It led me to believe that Brandon was on the verge of becoming transferred so often that he would no longer be playing a role in the story.

Something else I need to mention: The novel seemed to take a really long time to get to the climax of the story. Then, the ending seemed a bit rushed. It was a little disconcerting. Almost as if the author was ready to be done with it and found the quickest way possible to end everything. Maybe remove all but one or two of the times we read that it had been so long since Raymond had been with another woman. Or all the times it was mentioned that Brandon was going to be an issue. Those by themselves would've shortened the trip to the climax ... oh, and the scene with the mosquitoes. I understand the need for it. I just think it could've been done differently.

Despite my criticisms above, I do think this series is starting off with enough originality that those tired of Harlequin romances should give this a try. It's not orgasmic, but it is satisfying.


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

{Review & US/Canadian Giveaway} RETURN TO OAKPINE by Ron Carlson

ISBN #: 978-0143125594

Page Count: 272

Copyright: October 28, 2014

Publisher: Penguin Books; Reprint Edition

Book Summary:

(Taken from Amazon)

Ron Carlson has always been a critics’ favorite, but Return to Oakpine shows the acclaimed writer at his finest. In this tender and nostalgic portrait of western American life, Carlson tells the story of four middle-aged friends who once played in a band while growing up together in small-town Wyoming. One of them, Jimmy Brand, left for New York City and became an admired novelist. Thirty years later in 1999, he’s returned to die. Craig Ralston and Frank Gunderson never left Oakpine; Mason Kirby, a Denver lawyer, is back on family business. Jimmy’s arrival sends the other men’s dreams and expectations, realized and deferred, whirling to the surface. And now that they are reunited, getting the band back together might be the most essential thing they ever do.

Mandy's Review:

This is definitely a serious novel. The topics covered inside are weighty and substantial. For example, Jimmy's come back to town dying of AIDS, Larry's graduating high school and feels the weight of adulthood in his actions and decisions, and Marci has been married so long that a work-related flirtation is now on the verge of becoming something more. While these examples give a good representation of what you'll encounter while reading Return to Oakpine, they're not all that's written in these pages.

Jimmy's return home is sad, but it's made even more so by the fact that his father cannot stand to look at him or his novels. Edgar, Jimmy's dad, is nursing a 30-year hurt that he has yet to get over. Will Jimmy being home help Edgar face that hurt? Can they reunite and move past this obstacle in their relationship before Jimmy's impending death?

Marci works at a museum in town. She's married to the local hardware owner and finds herself a little restless. She allows her boss certain liberties at the office, teasing him and keeping him hanging. Eventually, he tells her he wants more and asks her to go away with him on a business trip assuring her they'd have separate hotel rooms. Marci's torn between the duties and familiarities of her marriage and the new exciting feelings with her boss. She even thinks herself falling in love. Will she tear apart her marriage to try something new?

If I can say anything about this novel it's that the context speaks to each one of us. I can understand Marci's position whereas you may relate to Jimmy, Craig, Mason, Frank, Kathleen, Sonny, or any of the other characters in Oakpine. This novel is real and it cuts through to the heart of the matter speaking about things people try to keep hidden and overlook. The only thing I had somewhat of an issue with is the way the characters spoke sometimes, but I'm thinking that's more of a regional dialect than anything to do with the author's writing. I understood and appreciated the severity of this novel. If you enjoy more serious literary works, then you need to pick this one up.


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

Giveaway:

For this giveaway, Penguin Books is graciously giving away paperback copies of all three of Ron Carlson's novels. This giveaway will be open until 11/12. The winner needs to be a US or Canadian resident and will be randomly chosen on 11/13. The winner will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address (no PO Boxes, please). If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.

Good luck!

{Review} BEYOND THE PRECIPICE by Eva Blaskovic

ASIN #: B00C3NZAU2

File Size: 638 KB

Page Count: 406

Copyright: April 25, 2013

Publisher: Ashby-BP Publishing

Book Summary:

(Taken from Amazon)

A YOUNG MAN WITH A DARK SECRET MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN HIS FAMILY AND THE GIRL HE LOVES.

For six years Bret Killeen is trapped by the wishes of his dead father, blackmailed by his brother, and rejected by his uncle. Meanwhile, he watches his mother descend into the depths of poverty.

As Bret wrestles with guilt over the death of his father, he is helped by Nicole, a young cello player with big dreams. She stirs the embers of his longing both for music and for her - and ignites a fire he can't extinguish.

But can he brave his past in order to seize his future?

The award-worthy debut novel by Eva A. Blaskovic is a riveting blend of suspense, dark humor, and compelling inter-personal drama. Once you engage this roller coaster read you won't be able to stop.

Mandy's Review:

Did you read the summary above? If not, please do so now because what I'm going to say below may not make sense if you didn't read it. Also, this review may be full of spoilers but I'll try my best not to reveal too much.

There's a lot I feel like I want to say about this book, but it's mostly negative. To balance some of that, let me start with some positives ...

I like Kern and Dana Willoughby, for the most part. I think they're a little too lenient and indulging with their children sometimes but, overall, they're nice people and I wanted to get to know them better.

I think the cover's pretty. I like the picture of the cello. It blends well with the coloring on the cover.

Now, onward to what I didn't care for.

Bret got on my nerves. For the first half of the book the author teases the reader with some big secret that he's hiding and that his brother Drake is lording over him, using it to manipulate Bret to do whatever he wants him to do. With his musical genius, I'm expecting to read that he has some type of magical ability to pick up any instrument and begin playing. Nope. His big secret? His huge, heart-rending, panic-inducing secret that he just couldn't bring himself to tell anyone because they may not look at him the same? He felt guilty over the death of his father. He felt responsible. My thoughts when I realized this was his secret: "Oh my God! Are you f*cking kidding me?!" I cannot begin to tell you how disappointed I was by this. Who doesn't feel guilty about someone's death? Who doesn't feel like they could have done more, been more helpful? Total let down.

Then there's Scott, Bret's oldest friend and roommate. Scott acts like a bitch when he finds out about Bret's "secret." He gets all pissy because Bret didn't tell him first; he found out about Bret's secret through Bret's uncle opening his big mouth at a celebratory dinner. I thought it was ridiculously portrayed. What's the big deal?

Finally, people, we have a new character introduced into the novel. Not at 25% and not at 60%. Oh, no, dear readers. The author introduced the new, totally unnecessary character at 95% of the way through the novel! And it was all to show Emil's competitive nature getting him into trouble and Bret rescuing him. Granted, this was probably to show that Bret could redeem something within himself since he was unable to save his father, but this should have totally been done some other way. NEVER introduce a new character at 95% completion of the novel!

Reading Beyond the Precipice was like walking through sludge. After every chapter, I kept taking breaks to look at my phone, get on social media, have a conversation with someone ... anything to wake my mind back up and get it going again. I'm not sure why Amazon thinks this novel is award-worthy and why there are people giving this novel 5 stars, but I would not recommend picking this up. Ever.


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