These Girls by Sarak Pekkanen

Washington Square Press

ISBN: 978-1451612547

Published April 10, 2012

Trade paperback, 336 pages

This is the first book I read from Sarah Pekkanen and it certainly won't be my last. These Girls is a celebration of friendships. It's about the bond of girlfriends, that nurturing spirit between them that penetrates deeply to heal and soothe. It made me appreciate the wonderful girlfriends in my own life.

Cate and Renee become roommates after they meet in New York City, working at Gloss, a high-end lifestyle magazine. Cate has just been promoted to features editor and wants to make a great first impression, while craving anonymity from a shameful past. Renee wants the beauty editor job that is up for grabs, but she struggles with her weight and takes a short cut to weight loss that puts her health at risk. Abby is a graduate student who works as a part-time nanny in Maryland. She runs away to her brother Trey in NYC, shocked by something she's done, and is taken in as the third roommate with Cate and Renee.

All three women are different, and yet I could relate to all of them, especially Cate. Renee had a wonderful sense of humour. I just loved her! She was kind and thoughtful, and I felt for her when she got snide remarks because of her weight. Abby was more complex, and I didn't know where her story led until the very end, and then I ached for her. The way the lives of these girls came together, intermingled and finally forged created a true-to life plot.

There are various relationships that Pekkanen explores without cluttering the story: between parents and their grown children, between siblings, between friends, and between men and women. She reveals the women's individual stories and secrets a little at a time and it kept me turning the pages quickly. I found myself enjoying all three of the girls' lives and quickly became immersed in them and was able to transition from one to the other.

If you like contemporary fiction with an emphasis on women's relationships, Pekkanen delivers a heartfelt rendition of three young women and their journeys to personal and professional happiness.

Note: This book is rated S = sexual scenes, and P = mild profanity for three f-words.

I will count this book toward the following challenges: A - Z Book Challenge

I had the pleasure of interviewing Sarah Pekkanen. Please help me welcome her to LCR!


Author Interview:

LCR: You have a remarkable way of weaving simple yet complex relationships in your novels. Where do you get inspiration for your stories?

 
SP: Thank you! I'm fascinated by relationships and all of my novels center around the important ones in a woman's life: my first book, The Opposite of Me, was about sisters; my second, Skipping a Beat, was about a marriage; and These Girls is about friendship. My ideas form slowly - I'm not one of those authors who gets zapped by a lightning bolt of inspiration and suddenly envisions the entire outline for a book. I tend to ruminate on an idea, add a bit to it, take a little out, let it stew a while longer.... my subconscious is actually my partner in inspiration, because it does a lot of work while I tend to mundane tasks like putting away laundry and walking the dog.

 
LCR: Now, I can't wait to read your other books! Where do you write your stories?

SP: Forget the idealistic vision of an author sitting in a little beach cottage, writing with only the sound of the waves for company. Though it sounds like a dreamy experience, I've got three kids and they're my priority, so I fit in writing around the margins of their lives. Sometimes it means piling up pages in my minivan while I sit at soccer practice; other times I've rewritten scenes in the back row of a movie theater while my kids watched the new Disney release. I've learned to write on the fly, out of necessity, and I'm actually glad because now I never waste time - if I'm traveling by train or bus, I've got my laptop and I'm working.

LCR: Yeah...I've written some of my scenes at the park and while supervising bathtime. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why? 

SP: Great question - it would be wonderful to be a flapper in the jazz age! Think of the music and dancing!

LCR: Your answer makes me think of the movie Midnight in Paris. What’s the latest book you’ve read and loved? 

SP: I just finished The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler, and thought it was beautiful. She examines the lives of quiet, quirky people and somehow makes them the most fascinating characters you've ever encountered. I'm in awe of her grace as a writer, and I love her humor. When I turned the last page of the book, I just sat there in stunned silence for a few minutes - it was that good.

LCR: I love books with those kind of endings. What is the most difficult thing you’ve encountered as an author? The best thing? 

SP: Blurbs are tricky. I don't like asking for them, and I feel awful when other authors ask me to blurb their novels and I'm unable to for various reasons. But luckily, there are so many best things about being an author! I love going into a bookstore, finding my novels on a shelf, and just staring at them. The thrill remains every bit as exciting as the first time I spotted my books in a store, and I hope it always will be. 

LCR: Thanks, Sarah!

For more on Sarah Pekkanen and her books, visit her website.

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to Sparkpoint Studio for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

This epic story begins in the early 1900s in the Italian Alps, where we first meet Enza and Ciro who are children. Enza is raised in a loving family while Ciro is left with his brother at a convent to be raised by nuns. Ciro and Enza meet as teenagers and form a bond when they share a deeply moving experience, but shortly after Ciro must leave the mountain against his will to set sail for America where he learns the trade of a shoemaker. Enza also travels to America and works hard to send money home to her family, eventually making a career as a seamstress. She and Ciro briefly meet again in America, but only come together years later after World War I.

Trigiani's skill as a writer is clearly shown as she deftly takes us from the fresh Italian Alps to bustling Little Italy in New York City at the turn of the century, to the glamorous Metropolitan Opera House and later to Minnesota. I enjoyed every setting and found the events flowed smoothly in this novel. Rich with details and believable characters, I was transported to a different era, to a time when my own great-grandfather sailed a ship that took him from Italy to Boston.

I smiled and I cried (no, I bawled toward the end of the story) as I was so invested in the lives of all the characters, from the loving nuns in the village of Schilpario, Italy to Caruso at the Opera House. I loved both Enza and Ciro's story. They were so well-developed and real to me. Ciro was wonderfully flawed, but Enza seemed so perfect. She could do anything it seemed, but I loved her anyway because she had strength of character and was loyal. Ciro had a great sense of humour and Trigiani beautifully transforms him from an innocent teen to a man who knew exactly what he wanted in life and went after it. Oh, and shall I mention all the food descriptions of homemade gnocchi, freshly-churned butter and cream, and chestnuts that made my mouth water?

For me this book brought back memories of chatting late into the night with my Nonna in Rome when I was a teenager myself. She would tell me about her childhood growing up in a noble family in Naples and how she left home as a young woman because she could not get along with her stepmother. The story of Enza and Ciro made me appreciate what my grandparents and parents went through to forge a life for us here in North America. Truly, any Italian descendant living in North America could relate to the story of The Shoemaker's Wife, based on the love story of Trigiani's own grandparents.

I consider this to be one of the best books I've read in 2012 and highly recommend it for all who love a good old-fashioned and moving saga. 

Have you read any of these books?

My daughter and I enjoyed reading this cute book together. My daughter said she could relate to Nathalie who she liked as a character. The girls were fifth graders like my daughter, and the scenes took place mainly at school. The author skilfully builds tension between the two friends, and even I could relate to the hurt that Nathalie felt when Blair manoeuvred unsuspecting Reagan to do things with her rather than Nathalie. Nathalie is a smart girl with good values and the story is told from her point of view.

My daughter thought the ending was great, and that this book shows what friends should do when they fight or have a misunderstanding. It's an easy and quick book to read. Girls who are more reluctant readers will appreciate the large font and the short chapters. This is a fun girly book.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.

I will count this book toward the following challenges: TBR Pile Reading Challenge

Journalist Gayle Tzemach Lemmon has unveiled a side to Afghanistan that is virtually undiscovered by most people. We all witnessed on TV or newspapers the fully covered burqa-clad women who were stripped of their rights by being confined to their homes, not allowed to get an education, not allowed to interact with men who were not family, and not allowed to be in public without a mahram, or male relative. Cut off from the world and in desperate need to provide for their families because they are widows or have their men fighting in the war, these women had to find a way to survive. This is the Afghanistan we heard of, but The Dressmaker of Khair Khana tells the story of triumph and not defeat.

Despite all of the difficult restrictions and the dangers of being beaten on the street if a Talib deemed a woman was immodest simply because too much wrist showed, Kamila managed to start a thriving tailoring business, without any prior experience, and helped other women in her community to support their families. Her story is admirable and remarkable. She forged ahead even when the risks were too high. She is an estimable example for all women, whether as an entrepreneur, sister, daughter, friend and woman of faith.

I did not want this book to end. It touched me deeply. It read like a novel, thanks to Lemmon's superb storytelling techniques after putting together her research gathered by visiting war-torn and dangerous Kabul many times. Her perseverance in interviewing the women, travelling long hours, and immersing herself in the culture both by learning the language and dressing like the women in Kabul, paid off in bringing us a story that showed what daily life was like for women during the Taliban years.

Lemmon has succeeded in shifting our view of women as victims in wartime to intelligent, dignified and beautiful beings who have fought a suppressive regime armed not with weapons but with wisdom, courage, and true guts. I highly recommend all to read this book. You will not easily forget it. Well-told, well-written and well worth the read.

Connect with her here:  Website | Facebook | Twitter

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Has anyone read books from this author?

Cain is a showman and he uses the media and Pike's skills to his advantage. Pike goes from being a regular forty-something guy, with no wife or girlfriend, to a media sensation overnight with several women vying for his attention. Pike enjoys the attention and luxurious life-style on the iceberg until a storm hits them and he uncovers things are not what they seem. But that's only the beginning of what turns out to be a conspiracy of massive and destructive proportions. Pike now has to figure out how to save himself and avoid major disaster.

I enjoyed reading Arctic Fire and found the plot to be original and Pike's character really likable. I was so impressed with the author's imagination and the scope of his vision and creativity when it came to the iceberg and how it was built and its functionality. This, along with the villain's wild secret plan, and Pike's quick wit made the story provocative and exciting without gore and freakish psychopathy. The reader is kept guessing and never quite certain what the real problem is with the iceberg and how the whole venture will end. I liked that.

The beginning caught my attention, linking the night the Titanic sank with the present-day story. We are then  introduced to Pike, showing off his piloting skills with his F-56 Sabre plane. There is a lot of action in this novel, but some of it is bogged down with scenes that could have been cut short or eliminated, like the ones with the women that were kind of soap-operatic or when we are introduced to all the detailed mechanics of the iceberg and a slew of other characters that could have taken less space. I would have liked for K.D.'s character to have been better developed.

Mallory, Cain's executive assistant, was an interesting character. I was trying to figure her out throughout the novel. There was a scene where Pike saves her, and I just wondered why the author included that scene, since I was waiting for a time when that would have something to do with the plot, but it didn't. Also, better editing was needed as I found lots of typos and punctuation errors.

But apart from all this, I really did like this novel. The real suspense for me began during the last third of the book. There were twists and turns, and I began turning the pages faster to see how Pike would get out of one dangerous situation after another. The ending was really good and satisfying, and it left me speculating if a sequel would follow. I would certainly read the next book if there was one. I found this to be an ambitious novel with a great original plot that stirred one's imagination and questioned the possibilities regarding our water resource and its future.

As I read the book, I realized a few things. The most important one is that breathing is extremely important in handling stress. I knew this already, but Dr. Maciuika speaks extensively of using good breathing techniques to calm the mind and body. She emphasizes it's one of the most powerful tools we have. The next tool the author stresses we use is Being Breaks, that is taking time throughout the day to take a break and practice deep breathing in a relaxed manner, and becoming aware of our breathing while removing the bad energy from our running overactive minds.

If I learn to use these two tools I know I will be less stressed. It seems so simple, but it can be hard because the more one takes time to break the cycle of “doing” that keeps us too busy to feel our emotions, the more our emotions will surface and we will have to deal with them. Once we've mastered this (no easy task!) then we are in control of our minds and can feel less stressed, more energized and peaceful.

I think Dr. Maciuika is definitely on the right track about how we can change our old habits of dealing with stress by giving us useful tools: engaging our breath, taking Being Breaks, changing the direction of our thoughts, and EFT—Emotional Freedom Techniques. (For more info on EFT, see my review of EFT for the Highly Sensitive Temperament by Rue Hass) These are all tools that give us internal control without the use of drugs. Breaking old habits that may mask difficult emotions, though, is not easy and may require professional assistance. However, I do believe that becoming aware of the strong mind/body connection and respecting this connection by going back to the basics, like breathing properly, is a first step that can lead to healing.

This book is easy and quick to read with short paragraphs with spaces in between each paragraph. I would have preferred more case studies or examples, because I like learning through illustrations. They drive the point home better than several paragraphs that seemed repetitive. I also think that the text needed some editing. For example, the last sentence of chapter 8 was incomplete (p.94). The book cover is perfect, though, with the flower alluding to the idea that changing is a process like the birth of a new flower.

If you want to learn more about energy psychology and stress reduction techniques that are empowering, you will enjoy this book that presents the information in a simple step-by-step format.

Also 10% of all proceeds from the sales of Conscious Calm support the international humanitarian work of Embracing the World, a group of not-for-profit charities supporting communities with food, shelter, education, healthcare, and livelihood in over 30 countries.

In the weeks to come, as Libby and her father wait for the trial that will determine who the house truly belongs to, she visits her house to retrieve some of her things and gets to know the Dobrescu family. She develops a relationship with and keeps visiting the family, despite her father's repeated warnings not to have anything to do with the people who kicked them out of their own house.

This was an interesting premise and I did enjoy reading the story. There were a lot of things going on and I enjoyed the multi-level plot and well-developed characters. But there were also a few things that didn't make sense to me. First and foremost, how could the American court allow an immigrant family to break into an American citizen's home and stay there, while the owners (respectable people) had to find another place to live (in this case, Libby and her father stayed with her brother and his family)? Wouldn't it have made more sense for the courts to remove the interfering family (who broke the law by breaking and entering) until the court hearing could determine whose house it really was? Is it okay then for anyone to walk into any house and claim it's theirs and be allowed to live there until proven otherwise? Seriously!

Okay, now that I got that off my chest, let's move on. I liked Libby because she was kind, courageous and certainly not attached to material possessions because it didn't seem to bother her that strangers took over her house, were sleeping in her bed, wearing her clothes, etc. Having said that, I think she was also naive and fell for Michael's strapping shoulders and tall physique before she knew too much about him. However, although she was pretty, Libby had no suitors. As a child she failed to learn how to read (I'm assuming dyslexia) much to the chagrin of her professor father. She was ashamed because of this and I think sold herself short. She also had no friends her age she could confide in. She was a loner and I could see why she was instantly attracted to the buoyant Dobrescu clan.

But she was also a gifted artist, producing many stunning paintings. She also sketched the designs of all of her father's inventions. She understood the mechanics of it. Wow! She also knew a lot about botany which she shared with Michael who cultivated perfume. This aspect of the story fascinated me, and because it was important to the story, kept my interest in it high.

The court proceedings were interesting and revealed further information about Michael and his family. Lady Mirela's story was sad and the way she comes to find happiness in the end was heartwarming. Michael was a perplexing character for me throughout the book. There were times when he annoyed and frustrated me and other times when I liked him and the way he was devoted to his family above all else. He was different, that's for sure.

The novel comes to a satisfying conclusion, and I was happy for the part that Lady Mirela plays in it. The romance was okay, and the author's humour was an additional bonus that helped this part along. I also liked how Libby handled her father, even though he mistreated her at times. I certainly gleaned positive messages throughout the novel which, for me, were gems (messages about the qualities of humility, patience, fairness, forgiveness) that redeemed the novel from its rocky unrealistic start.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read. 

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

These questions and more were the impetus that started the author on her life-long quest. Through her own experience as a federal government investigator and her travels to Europe to trace her parents' footsteps and to track the birthplaces of her relatives, Sutton puts together her parents' story. It is a heartbreaking story but also one of determination and courage. She tells it so well, not just because of her meticulous research, but also her storytelling techniques to the point that her parents came alive to me through her words. Sutton skillfully builds her memoir revealing her past piece by piece. She has created a beautiful book for her family.

I didn't know what to expect when I was given the opportunity to review this book, and I am pleased to have truly enjoyed reading it. I learned what the Slavic people went through during the Nazi invasion, what displaced persons had to endure, and what they had to go through to start over in America. As a second-generation Italian, I have an inkling of growing up different in North America, and I could easily sympathize with Sutton's first years in America. I have tremendous respect for those who suffered during the War and started over in another country.

There were a few scenes that had me in tears. One was what a mother in forced labor had to endure after her baby was born, and the second was the reunion between Sutton's mother and her long-lost brother. But I also smiled at the scenes where Sutton meets relatives she never even knew she had.

If you like memoirs and WWII stories, you will enjoy Sutton's account. Her honest and mixed feelings about her discoveries, her love of family, and her captivating writer's voice will make this a memorable read.

Note: This book is rated V = violence. There are factual descriptions of horrible things that took place during the War.

I will count this book toward the following challenges: TBR Pile Reading Challenge, A - Z Book Challenge

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to the author for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

The book is written in essay format, with a titled essay on one page and a cartoon sketch on the opposite page. The text and the sketches are funny and honest. McLaughlin briefly describes his treks in chronological order of the places he visited throughout Asia, the people he's encountered, the wildlife he's explored and finally how he met and married his current wife, Suriani.

I was amazed at McLaughlin's courage to climb the jungle's treacherous hills, swim in a crocodile and snake infested river to pan for diamonds, track orangutans, snorkel with jellyfish, visit dangerous Burma, hunt for frogs and critters in the jungle at night, and put up with leeches and swarms of mosquitoes. I admired his will to do all these things because he wanted to experience them (maybe not the leeches and mosquitoes!) and learn more about a culture he loved.

This book was easy and fun to read. McLaughlin writes with self-deprecating humour. The cartoon sketches drawn by Waterfront Niki, a Malaysian artist, are great and truly depict what McLaughlin conveys in his writing. If you are thinking about travelling to Asia, or like to read more about the Asian culture, I think you will enjoy reading about McLaughlin's adventures.  

The synopsis of this book sounded so good and I was eager to read it. It started out fine but before long I realized I didn't care much for the characters, the story evolved too slowly and I was tired of all the profanity and crass language. Halfway through the book I no longer wanted to read anymore of it. The story no longer held any interest for me. I found the characters lacked maturity and common sense. Nell was too disrespectful toward her mom (for no reason it seemed), and I didn't like where the story was going.

However, you might want to read the other reviews and judge for yourself if this is a book that might interest you.

Note: This book is rated P=Profanity. There are lots of f-words and religious expletives in this book.

For more reviews of this book, please visit the TLC Book Tour page.

About the author:
Allison Winn Scotch is the bestselling author of Time of My Life. A former freelance magazine writer, she has written for Glamour, Parents, and Men’s Health. She lives in New York City with her husband and their two children. To learn more about Allison Winn Scotch, please visit www.allisonwinn.com.

Hidden Voices: The Orphan Musicians of Venice by Pat Lowery Collins (bought on sale at Chapters)

Little Bee by Chris Cleave (bought on sale)

We don't want to tell you too much about this book. It is a truly special story and we don't want to spoil it. Nevertheless, you need to know something, so we will just say this: It is extremely funny, but the African beach scene is horrific. The story starts there, but the book doesn't. And it's what happens afterward that is most important. Once you have read it, you'll want to tell everyone about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens either. The magic is in how it unfolds.

Have any of you read these books?

This is the perfect book for reluctant boy readers. It has large type and is illustrated on each page spread. And it's about a boy who pretends to be a superhero! My 8 year-old has a vivid imagination, and I could see that he could relate to Eugene. My son said that he thought the book had a slow start and it really got interesting when Eugene went to school, made a new friend, and saved the day from the bully girl.

This is the first book in the Captain Awesome series. There are 6 books that are being released between now and October. My son already told me he wants to read the next one. If you have a boy who is reluctant to read or who is going to French school and needs to improve his English skills, this may be the series for him.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.


Heidi Heckelbeck Has a Secret by Wanda Coven
Little Simon
ISBN: 978-1442435650
Published March 6, 2012
Paperback, 128 pages
Ages: 5-7

Synopsis:
Heidi Heckelbeck seems like any other eight-year-old, but she has a secret: She’s a witch in disguise. Careful to keep her powers hidden (but excited to use them all the same), Heidi’s learning to live like any other kid—who just happens to be witch.

Heidi and her brother Henry have always been homeschooled—until now. But Heidi is not happy about attending Brewster Elementary, especially not when meanie Melanie Maplethorpe turns Heidi’s first day of school into a nightmare by announcing that Heidi is smelly and ruining her art project. Heidi feels horrible and never wants to go back to school—but while sulking in her room at home, she remembers her special medallion and Book of Spells. With a little bit of carefully concealed magic, Heidi might be able to give Melanie a taste of her own medicine…

Our thoughts:

Like Captain Awesome, this is a new series that focuses on easy-to-read chapter books with large type and illustrations on every page spread, but this time, for girls. Since it came with the Captain Awesome book, my son decided to read it too and he liked it, except for the secret.

Heidi is also eight years old and she also has to put up with Melanie, a mean girl at school, on the first day. But Heidi has a secret and she is planning on using it to get back at the mean girl. The story ends revealing Heidi's secret: that she is a witch. The reader now must wait until Book 2 to find out exactly what spell Heidi is going to cast on Melanie. If my daughter had read this book, I know she would hate this kind of ending, where the plot is not resolved at the end of the book. My son, on the other hand, just shrugged, and said that it ended that way so Book 2 could be written!

There are 5 books that are being released between now and  September. The illustrations are super cute and reluctant girl readers will be able to relate to Heidi's school dilemmas. My kids, however, never liked witches so they would probably not continue reading this series.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.

I will count this book toward the following challenges: A - Z Book Challenge

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to Dawn Ryan from Simon and Schuster for sending us these books for review. We were not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review these products.

Every Saturday, Booking Mama hosts a feature called Kid Konnection—a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, visit Booking Mama.

Enchantments by Kathryn Harrison
ISBN 978-1-4000-6347-5
Random House
Published March 6, 2012
Hardcover, 336 pages

Enchantments is essentially the retelling of the tragic Romanov story – what led up to the execution of Nicolas, the last Tsar of Russia, his wife, Alexandra, their four daughters and only son and heir, Alexei or Alyosha as he is know in this tale. The difference in this story is that it is told through the eyes of Rasputin’s 18-year-old daughter, Masha.

The book begins in 1917 with the death of the infamous Grigory Rasputin, advisor, confidant, mystic, healer, holy man, friend of the Tsarina, Alexandra. Rasputin is the only one who is able to heal Alexei who is a hemophiliac. The condition of Alexei is a carefully guarded secret because should people learn that the Crown Prince could bleed to death from falling down the stairs or a bump on the nose the knowledge would hurry the collapse of the Romanov dynasty. In the hope that Rasputin’s daughter, Masha, has inherited her father’s healing powers, the Tsarina has Masha and her sister move in with the family in their St. Petersburg palace.

Unbeknown to the Romanovs, anger, hate, frustration and desperation are building in the Russian people who are desperate for food. The Tsar is a simple man more interested in his wife and family than governing the country, but it appears as though he is uncaring and the Bolsheviks use this to foment a revolution. Two months later the Tsar is forced to abdicate his throne and the family is placed under house arrest. Masha and Alyosha become very close friends, entertain one another with stories and eventually fall in love despite the difference in their ages. Alyosha is thirteen and Masha is eighteen.

The author describes the slowly gathering terror and dread on the part of the Romanovs as first their pets are killed by revolutionaries and then servants turn against them and treat them with disrespect. The Tsar holds out hope that “someone” will rescue them, but Alyosha believes that they will be killed. He doesn’t want to be the last one alive to witness it. True to his fears, the Bolsheviks murder the entire family and he is the last to be killed.

This historical fiction will appeal to readers who are interested in the early history of the Russian revolution, as well as the Romanov story. However, I didn't particularly like it and cannot recommend it. I have read extensively on the Romanovs and was disappointed in the author's unusual slant to it by imagining a love affair between the Crown Prince and the daughter of Rasputin.

Note: This books is rated V = violence and S = explicit sexual scenes between underaged persons.
For more reviews, please visit the TLC Book Tour page.

About the author:
Kathryn Harrison is the author of the memoirs The Kiss and The Mother Knot. She has also written the novels Envy, The Seal Wife, The Binding Chair, Poison, Exposure, and Thicker Than Water; a travel memoir, The Road to Santiago; a biography, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux; and a collection of essays, Seeking Rapture. She lives in New York with her husband, the novelist Colin Harrison, and their children.

Learn more about Kathryn and her work at her website, kathrynharrison.com.

Reviewed by Sandra

This book is so far from being a dry account of how to take care of your money. It's written by Mary Hunt, a warm, engaging person who is also a wife and mother who had once been financially ignorant and in so much debt. Mary shares her story of financial disaster. That alone made me realize this author knows what she's talking about. But is her advice good? That was my next question. As I continued reading I realized that Hunt's advice was the best. Why? Because it was based on Bible principles. Now it's not like she's quoting scriptures or getting preachy, but I know my Bible well enough that I knew what she was talking about. Hunt is a Christian and her faith in God is evident.

Now before you begin rolling your eyeballs, let me clarify that Hunt's financial advice is solid. I've read most of them in many other financial books BUT none of them convinced me to follow them until I read this book. Why? Because Hunt gave me the motivation to do so. She knew how to appeal to me using my lingo. Her financial advice makes perfect sense especially in our day when the commercial industry is telling us to do just the opposite—spend now, pay later, don't deprive yourself, put it on credit.

I learned a lot of things reading this book and it came at the right time in our life. My husband and I are looking at our spending habits and looking for ways to save, to spend only within our means, to see exactly where our hard-earned money is going really. Applying the 7 money rules in this book is not easy but doing it will bring peace of mind and financial freedom. We've already put a plan in action. Even just working on one or two rules for now will make a big difference.

It's obvious Hunt wants everyone to understand more about the financial world because she goes out of her way to simplify her explanations, sometimes using illustrations, so that you will find yourself nodding and saying, "Oh, I get it!" If you are having trouble with your finances, want to improve them, want the right motivation to make financial changes or just learn more about how to take care of your money, then I strongly suggest you pick up this book. It's easy to read, under 200 pages and will make you see how you handle your money in a different light in view of our economy and our changing world.

I have been waiting so long to read the River of Time Series, that it was pure bliss when I found just the right time in my schedule to savor it. And savor it, I did! It's a novel that blends two of my favorite genres—time travel and YA historical fiction.

The Betarrini sisters, Gabi (Gabriella) and Lia (Evangelia) are in Tuscany, Italy with their mother, an archeologist. While trekking with her through the medieval ruins, they decide to explore a little on their own. The girls end up in an ancient tomb where they place their hands on a handprint on the wall and travel back to 14^th century Italy. Gabi finds herself right in the middle of a battle between enemy knights. We don't know what happened to Lia until much later on in the book. The second book deals more with Lia's story.

Gabi is rescued by the handsome knight Marcello and taken to his castle, where she explains that she has lost her sister and mother while journeying and must find them as soon as possible. They accept her story and make plans to help Gabi to find her family. As Gabi adjusts to medieval life, she uses her 21^st century knowledge to her advantage. She helps Fortino, Marcello's elder brother who has a respiratory illness, and she insists on accompanying the knights (riding astride like a man, gasp!) as they search and make enquiries for her mother and sister. Her bold personality as she battles alongside the men using a sword makes her stand out. Gabi and Marcello are attracted to one another, but he is betrothed to Lady Rossi. This is a good political match because it will unite Marcello's family with that of the powerful Rossi clan from Siena.

I really enjoyed this book. It was adventurous, fun and action-filled. It was also far-fetched with Gabi being able to do a lot—speak almost flawless Italian, wield a heavy sword, be at liberty to do as she pleased—but hey, in a time travel book it works. However, I would have liked to see more reactions to living in the past and have Gabi learn from being there rather than knowing how to do it all. I found Gabi's inner dialogue funny as it reminded me she was a 21^st century girl stuck in the 14th century. Sometimes, she did things that had me shaking my head. She was stubborn and insistent on having it her way. This same determination, however, served her purpose as she searched for her sister and a way to get back home.

Both Marcello and his closest man Luca were brave and swoon-worthy knights, of course. Luca was the light-hearted one while Marcello more brooding. I particularly liked Fortino, the sick brother, who was wise and never complained of his ailment. There are many battle scenes with killing and I wish this had been tamer seeing this is a YA book.

The minute I ended this one I was reaching out for the second book in the trilogy. I'm looking forward to reuniting with the Betarrini sisters to see how their adventures continue. This book is the perfect book to escape—it's exciting, gutsy and venturesome.  

The Milestone Tapes by Ashley Mackler-Paternostro (Pump Up Your Book Promotions)

Jenna Chamberland never wanted anything more than to be a wife and mother. That is, until she realized that her life was ending after a three-year battle against breast cancer. Now, all she really wants is more time. With 4,320 hours left to live, Jenna worries for her loved ones and what she knows awaits them on the other side: Gabe will have to make the slip from husband to widower, left alone to raise their seven-year-old daughter; Mia will be forced to cope with life without her mother. In a moment of reflection, Jenna decides to record a set of audiocassettes — The Milestone Tapes – leaving her voice behind as a legacy for her daughter. Nine years later, Mia is a precocious sixteen-year-old and her life is changing all around, all she wants is her mother. Through the tapes, Jenna’s voice returns to teach Mia the magic of life, her words showing her daughter how to spread her wings and embrace the coming challenges with humor, grace and hope. THE MILESTONE TAPES is the journey of love between a parent and child, and of the bonds that hold them when life no longer can.