Challenge:Post Reviews:June
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Night Road by Kristin Hannah
Where do I begin to say how much I loved this book? With the powerful writing that swept me into the story immediately? Or maybe with the fiercely real characters, whom I identified with even though I have never been in their situation? Characters who I cried for, who stayed in my head after I closed the book, who sparked conversations with numerous friends on many different subjects. What would you do if you were Jude? How do teach teenagers about drinking and driving? Why did Lexi give up her freedom for a mistake?
Night Road by Kristin Hannah is a gripping story about a family that deals with a terrible tragedy. Mother Jude Farraday is a “helicopter mom” always in the lives of her twins, Mia and Zach. A slightly overbearing mother, she is always there to make sure her children are on the right track. But things start to slip away during their senior year of high school. Mia’s best friend, former foster child Lexi, is in love with Mia’s twin brother. And Zach is in love with Lexi. The threesome is always together, the best of friends, until one night of wrong decisions rips the friendship, and the Farradays perfect family, apart.
I know this story will be unforgettable to me. I also know when I read a phenomenal story, because I have the characters in my head even when I am not reading. I can’t tell you how many times I imagined scenes between Lexi and Jude, where I became so worked up in the drama of their lives that I had to remind myself I was reading a book. I have read a few reviews that complain about Jude’s character being selfish and a horrible bitch after the accident, and it’s the truth. But people aren’t supposed to be cheerful and reasonable after death. I thought Hannah showcased just what can happen to people after such a tragedy. Did I hate Jude’s character? Yes. But that’s the reality of life. The only downfall I saw to the story was that it ended too soon for me. I wanted to get more of an ending between Lexi and Zach. But I think Night Road is completely worthy of a five star rating, and will definitely get a place on my Favorites List.
[Rating: 5]
Primping and the Opposite Sex
I read an article in a women’s magazine last week that got me thinking. The article was about how women shouldn’t get too comfortable with their boyfriends or husbands. This means not being seen without your makeup on, not letting him see you putting on a face mask, or not letting him watch while you tweeze your eyebrows. You also shouldn’t wear sweatpants, women should try to be sexy when around their men. I’m sorry, am I back in the 1950’s? This article was in a popular women’s mag, and I was pretty disappointed with it. I live with my boyfriend, and there are days that I simply don’t want to put makeup on. If I’m not going anywhere and will just be lounging around the house, who says I need to have a full face on? And at night I often use cleansers or a face mask, and I don’t feel like I need to confine myself to the bathroom when I have these on. If I want to go into the bedroom to pick out my clothes for the next day, I will. I don’t care if the BF sees me. Do I think he thinks I am just naturally beautiful all the time? Um, no. He knows I wear makeup, and he knows I use products to keep my skin from breaking out. This is not a shock to him, nor should it be to any guys. And why the hell can’t I wear sweatpants? He wears sweats or basketball shorts every night, but I have romp around in lingerie every day? I don’t think so. Not only that, but the BF has plucked my eyebrows before, and I have returned the favor. We tried out the Biore pore strips- on our three year anniversary no less- to see if they worked. I don’t feel like I should have to hide parts of my life from my boyfriend just because it shows off another side of me, a side that might not always be pretty or sexy. But that shouldn’t matter. What should matter is that I know he loves me, when I wear fake eyelashes on and when I don’t.
What do you ladies think? Are you afraid to let your man see you without mascara? I think it would be exhausting to try to look and act perfect all the time around the one I love. Isn’t love supposed to be about acceptance and letting you be who you really are? With all this said, I’m not trying to say that I’m completely disgusting around my boyfriend either. I shut the bathroom door when I pee. But I don’t think that not ever being able to primp while he is looking is possible. Especially once we moved in together. I should be able to feel comfortable in my own house, regardless that my roommate happens to be my lover as well. Are you afraid to let your boyfriend or husband see part of your beauty routine? Do you wear silky PJ’s every night? I would love to her any opinions on this subject!
Girl in a Spin by Clodagh Murphy
Girl in a Spin, the second novel from Irish author Clodagh Murphy is out the park good. This story has romance and betrayal, politics and scandal, and a delightful heroine who will not give up on love. I know some chick lit fans are wondering about the “politics” word I used, which isn’t so common for chick lit novels. Jenny Hannigan, the good-hearted and optimistic main character, falls for Richard Allam, a recently separated politician. Jenny thinks she has found true love with Richard. He is the complete package- charming, successful, wealthy- but Jenny also believes Richard has a kind heart and loves her back. When Richard’s publicist Dev Tennant gets involved for Richard’s upcoming election, his job is to “spin” Jenny into someone the public can support- the perfect politician wife. But while Jenny has a slightly wild past, Dev’s job turns out to be harder than he imagined- but he still can’t stop himself for beginning to fall for his boss’s girlfriend. While Jenny finds herself attracted to Dev, she remains loyal to Richard- until Richard’s real motives for leaving his wife are brought to light.
I think the main reason that I loved Girl in a Spin so much is because of Jenny’s character. She actually reminded me a lot of myself, which was fun to notice, but also because she is so darn loveable. I loved her optimism. Even though she came from a tough background and supported herself most of her life, she never gave up on thinking she could get a happy ending. Even though a lot of the book covered political topics- campaigns, speeches, appearances- I was never confused or bogged down by the political references. And the hilarity in many of the scenes! Jenny has quite an unconventional background, complete with a few stalkers that make for some laugh out loud lines, and Murphy does a spot-on job at mixing humor and more serious topics. I thought the politics and the scandal that goes along with Richard and his divorce is (unfortunately) quite a common occurrence nowadays, and that really kept me invested in the story. I liked how readers are able to get into different characters minds- from Jenny all the way to Richard’s estranged wife, Julie. I was hooked until the very last page, and Girl in a Spin will definitely be making it on my Favorites List!
[Rating: 5]
Guest Post by Deborah Cloyed
Living Life and Writing Fiction The number one question I get about the book is how much it is based on real life people and…
Wherever Grace is Needed by Elizabeth Bass
Wherever Grace is Needed by Elizabeth Bass isn’t a chick lit novel, but this story definitely won me over and deserves a five star review. The story centers around two very different families, neighbors living in Austin, Texas. Grace Oliver leaves behind her house, boyfriend, and business in Portland for a few weeks to help her father recuperate from a car accident. Grace loved her life in Texas, her father and her older half-brothers, but moved to Portland with her mother after the divorce. Feeling unsettled with her life, she jumps at the chance to go back to Austin. But while there, doctors discover that Lou, Grace’s father and usually a sharp as a tack retired college professor, is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. The family is devastated by the news, and the diagnosis opens up a lot more questions on caring for Lou, his house, and his possessions.
The family next door to the Oliver’s are suffering from their own tragedy. Ray West and his three young children are trying to cope with the loss of a mother and young daughter. While Ray moves around like a zombie, not sure how to get past grieving for his dead wife, his children suffer from being left on there own. Especially Jordan, who feels guilty for the accident that left her mother and twin sister dead. Grace realizes that the family needs help, and the children need their father back. She becomes a support system for the children, and eventually Ray as well, and tries to help the healing process after such a loss.
I thought Wherever Grace is Needed was an incredibly touching story. Even though most of the book is filled with sad topics, I thought it was more uplifting and inspirational than making me want to cry throughout. Grace’s character is one who wants to help everyone, but at the same time she is trying to bury her own problems beneath the surface. That made her very real while reading the story, and all the supporting characters were phenomenal. Even though there were quite a few, Grace’s family, the West family, the other neighbors in Austin, etc., I never felt overwhelmed by all the lives I was keeping track of, which can happen with large casts. The writing flowed smoothly along, pushing me deeper into their lives instead of making me pull away in frustration. There are great lessons about family, loss, friendships, and love, and I wish I could find more words to praise this beautiful story. Five stars from me and advice to put this on your to-read list.
[Rating: 5]
Future Tour: Phone Kitten by Marika Christian
Shy, slightly overweight Emily would die if she had to talk dirty face-to-face—especially to her hot cop boy friend. She sure didn’t set out to do phone sex—she wanted to be a writer. But when her BFF framed her for plagiarism, she got in a tiny financial hole and saw this ad for “phone actresses”… Hey, it’s not nearly as bad as it sounds. No pantyhose or pantsuits, no regular hours, you’re your own boss, and lots of people to talk to. Guys, that is. But here’s the odd thing—lots of them want to talk about more than Emily’s imagined attributes; they start to think of her as the best friend they’ll never have to meet. Next thing you know, one of her customers gets killed and Emily knows a lot more about it than she should. But she can’t tell the nearest cop, who’s also her own true love, because then he’ll find out about her secret life. What’s a phone kitten to do? Solve the murder herself, of course—because wouldn’t it be a great story for the newspaper that wrongly fired her? It’s her ticket back to her real life—if it doesn’t get her killed.
PHONE KITTEN is your ticket to hours of giggles—so long as you’re not looking for raunch. Because this is so not it. Somehow, first-time author Christian manages to handle a potentially smokin’ subject with such sly wit, authentic detail, and clever writing that you’ll wonder why this subject was ever considered taboo.
In My Mailbox: Week of May 30
In My Mailbox: Week of May 30
Title: The Kitchen Shrink
Author: Dee DeTarsio
Received: From Dee DeTarsio
Synopsis: When did Lisby Shaw’s life turn into a country music song? Probably when her best friend signed her up for the debut of the new reality TV show, The Kitchen Shrink, for the ultimate life and home makeover! Unable to squirm out of this “it will be fun” opportunity, Lisby tries to juggle her upstairs-behind-the-scenes-life with her downstairs-in-front-of-the-camera persona, where everything she says and does can and will be used against her.
Hopefully, the show doesn’t find out about her fling with that hunky carpenter. Or that she and her friend smoked hootch she found in her daughter’s room. Lisby cannot believe what a freak show her life has become. At least no one knows about her crush on Sam, Sam, the Cameraman…
Lisby tries to find her way as the TV cameras capture her every move, zooming in on drama with her kids, her ex, her mom and her best friend. Stay tuned for Lisby’s extreme close-up as she becomes a jilted laughingstock on national TV. All is lost…or is it?
Title: The First Day of the Rest of My Life
Author: Cathy Lamb
Received: From Kensington Books
Synopsis: Madeline O’Shea tells people what to do with their lives. A renowned life coach, she inspires thousands of women through her thriving practice – exuding enviable confidence along with her stylish suits and sleek hair. But her confidence, just like her fashionable demeanour, is all a front. For decades, Madeline has lived in fear of her traumatic past becoming public. Now a reporter is reinvestigating the notorious crime that put Madeline’s mother behind bars, threatening to destroy her elaborate facade. Only Madeline’s sister, Annie, and their frail grandparents know about her childhood – but lately Madeline has reason to wonder if her grandparents also have a history they’ve been keeping from her. As the demons of the past swirl around her, a tough, handsome judge with a gentle heart is urging Madeline to have faith in him – and in herself. And as she allows her resistance to thaw, the pain she expects pales in comparison to the surprises headed straight to her door. With one bold, unprecedented move, Madeline O’Shea may just wake up out of the sadness and guilt that have kept her sleepwalking through life for so long – and discover that the worst thing that can happen is sometimes the very thing we desperately need.
Title: Trace of Fever
Author: Lori Foster
Received: From Tricia Carr @ Media Muscle
Synopsis: Undercover mercenary Trace Rivers loves the adrenaline rush of a well-planned mission. First he’ll earn the trust of corrupt businessman Murray Coburn, then gather the proof he needs to shut down the man’s dirty smuggling operation. It’s a perfect scheme—until Coburn’s long-lost daughter saunters in with her own deadly plan for revenge.
With a smile like an angel and fire in her eyes, Priscilla Patterson isn’t who she seems to be. But neither is the gorgeous bodyguard who ignites all her senses. Joining forces to plot Coburn’s downfall, Priss and Trace must fight the undeniable heat between them. For one wrong move, one lingering embrace, will expose them to the wrath of a merciless opponent….
The UnTied Kingdom by Kate Johnson
Eve Carpenter has a tarnished reputation in the public eye, a mother that ran off with all her money, debts to the tax man the she could never pay, and is working a dead end job. She didn’t think things could get much worse- until she falls through a hole that leads her into a parallel universe- where England is definitely not the England she knows. Practically no landline telephones- forget cell phones. No one knows what a computer is. Princess Diana is still alive. Eve doesn’t know what happened to her, but she needs to figure out a story, and quick. People think Eve is a spy, and they aren’t afraid to get rid of her- by killing her. She finds out that there is a civil war taking place, and she has luckily fallen in with the good guys- including Major Harker. Harker is dealing with his own set of baggage- including a divorce- and doesn’t take to Eve right away. But when a mission involving a mysterious technological gadget- a computer- is called for, Eve must go along for the ride. From there, Harker and Eve develop an awkward type of romance, since these two people are from very different worlds. But is Eve destined to stay in her new world? Or go back to her real life and leave Harker forever?
The UnTied Kingdom by Kate Johnson is a very unique and complex story. The synopsis was hard to decipher, and even harder to write one of my own for the above paragraph. If it confuses you, I say still go for it. I’m glad I did. I was first confused when reading the story, because I thought Eve actually went back in time. She was comparing the hospital and all the scenes to a war zone, so I figured she had stumbled back in the past, but that is not correct. This is where the title comes into play- it is the “untied kingdom” instead of the United Kingdom, nice play on words there. Though the year is still the same as the one Eve came from, she landed in a world that was without the British Empire, only had one World War, and more events that left England in a very different state that what we know now. It was thrilling to think about what the world would be like if certain events in the past never happened, or if the outcomes were different. Johnson clearly has a wild imagination, and to be able to capture such an interesting take on what the world could have been takes talent. Besides the plot being highly engaging and quite thrilling, the characters are also gems in their own ways. Besides Eve and Harker, readers will meet more soldiers in depth when the group goes on their mission, and each will shine. I had a lot of fun reading this novel, but I will warn you to read carefully. If you skip over a paragraph, you could become confused. There is a lot going on, a lot of characters, and an intricate plot. I would have given this book five stars, but the ending was a little disappointing. I won’t give any spoilers, but I just didn’t feel the ending was very believable- it seemed just a bit too easy for the situation that was happening. I know the whole book has a time traveler/unbelievable feel to it, but to wrap everything up so neatly and quickly was a little bit of a downfall for me. Other than that, great book and a definite recommendation.
[Rating: 4]
