June 2012 - Library of Clean Reads

Thursday, June 28, 2012

The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott (audio review)

This week is Audio Book Week hosted by Jen over at Devourer of Books. I have been following her discussions and also those with Sheila at Book Journey about all aspects of audio books and it has gotten me really excited about listening to audio. I had tried twice in the past and gave up, but when I saw the audio version of The Dressmaker at the library I decided to try it. It has changed my view of audio books! Here is my very first review of an audio book.

The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott
Narrator: Susan Duerden
Random House Audio
February 2012
Length: 11 hours 1 minute

I don't know that this book would have the same effect on me if I had read it rather than listened to it. I loved the story, which was about Tess Collins, an aspiring seamstress who is hired as a maid by famous designer Lady Duff Gordon. She travels on the Titanic and they both survive on different lifeboats. But stories are revealed of how Lady Duff Gordon may have saved herself at the expense of others. Tess is torn between loyalty to her employer and Jim Bonnie, the sailor who was on the same lifeboat as Lady Duff and who knows what really happened that fateful night. The trial case that follows the sinking was suspenseful and it was insightful as to why most survivors were reluctant to talk about that night. Survivor's guilt is one of the strong themes in this novel. But it's also about starting over, following your dreams, becoming an independent woman, and standing up for what one believes.

Initially, I had to adjust to listening to a story rather than reading it. So I found myself focusing more so as not to miss a word. It was hard at the beginning but gradually got easier. Duerden does an amazing job of changing voices for all the characters until I could easily recognize them and conjure a picture in my mind of what they were like based on their description, voice and actions. Initially, I disliked Tess's voice. It seemed too young, almost childish, but it got better as her character was built. Also, the narrator ended every sentence with a rising inflection that I found annoying, but that gradually got better, either because I got caught up in the story or because I became much more fascinated by the facility and skill with which the narrator switched tone, pitch and inflection with each character.

Lady Duff Gordon was a formidable character and her voice suited her so well, better than anything I could have come up with in my mind if I were reading the book. She sounded so much like the middle-aged haughty aristocratic lady. I also loved Jim Bonnie's voice, his accent, and the emotion the narrator succeeded in giving it. Wow! She succeeded in making me fall in love with a sailor! He chose to do the right thing even at the expense of his reputation and livelihood. He was morally good and handsome to boot.

I've read negative reviews about this book regarding inaccuracies, such as the fact that Tess was a farm girl, yet did not speak like one and adapted too easily with the upper class. I have to agree with this and some other things that came too easily to the main character. But I was able to suspend disbelief because I loved the premise of this book. It's fiction after all. The author and narrator were able to transport me to the turn of the century among the upper class on a majestic ship and in America where women were protesting for change, especially the right to vote. Tess grew as a character. Pinky Wade, the reporter, was another character I liked because she represented the independent woman voting for change.

So for me, the audio book of The Dressmaker has opened up a new love for books. It has made me want to start listening to audio books on a regular basis. If you are hesitating about audio books or did not like your previous experience, perhaps this historical fiction revolving around the Titanic, with a sprinkling of romance propelled by strong female characters will change your mind. It did for me.

Note: This audio is rated P = profanity. There are a few religious expletives.

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: I borrowed this audio from the library. I was not told how to rate or review this product.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Your Daughter Needs a Hero by Maria C. Furlough

Your Daughter Needs a Hero: Helping Her Handle Insecurity and Poor Body Image by Maria C. Furlough
Tate Publishing and Enterprises
ISBN: 978-1613467947
Published March 13, 2012
Trade paperback, 192 pages

Your Daughter Needs a Hero is an eye-opening book for Christian parents. It helps parents to understand and deal with their teenaged girl's insecurities and poor body image. Furlough's own past experience and her work as a Youth Minister comes through as she implores parents about the importance of understanding their daughter's world. She quotes Bible scriptures throughout the book and also stresses how a relationship with God will help in parenting daughters through the turbulent teen years.

Being a practising Christian, I could appreciate the heavy Christian message in this book. I was very familiar with all the Bible quotes and their application in parenting. We worship together as a family and my children are raised to apply Bible principles in their lives. Regardless, I was happy to read the point of view of a young woman who makes it clear that the way teens view and understand sex is very different from the way a teen growing up in the 80s would view it. I know that it's important to be vigilant and supportive toward my growing and changing daughter, but this book reminded me even more how fad diets, the media and pornography influence my daughter. As parents we have to be prepared for everything.

I especially liked the chapters on Mom's and Dad's Contributing Behaviors as well as From the Mouths of Your Daughters. Furlough's writing style is easy to read, honest and forthright. Sometimes I found it hard to read about what teens are feeling about themselves or how they use their bodies for attention because they crave to be loved. It gave me more incentive to be understanding toward my daughter.

Truly the work of parents is not easy, but we can make such a difference in the lives of our daughters in helping them understand that they are beautiful and loved by God. Furlough stresses this. She also speaks openly about her and her family's spiritual journey and the changes this brought in their lives. Sometimes, I would have preferred more case studies and less preaching though. Overall, Christian parents will appreciate this thought-provoking and timely advice on how to be your daughter's hero.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.

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

Reviewed by Laura

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

Monday, June 25, 2012

Flame of Resistance by Tracy Groot

Flame of Resistance by Tracy Groot
Tyndale House Publishers
ISBN: 978-1414359472
Published May 18, 2012
Trade paperback, 416 pages

Flame of Resistance is one of those books that starts out like a train ride—you know it's going to be a powerful read as it picks up speed through twists and turns to a thrilling ending. It's an intense read from beginning to end, taking place during WWII, in Normandy, France in the momentous and dangerous months just before D-Day.

France had been occupied by Nazi Germany for four long years, suffering from fear, mistreatment and food shortages that weigh on the people. Brigitte Durand turns her home into a Germans-only brothel to survive, while anonymously sneaking food to the French Resistance who hide and aid Allied pilots who have been shot down. Brigitte doesn't hesitate when asked to become a spy for the Resistance. She assists the American pilot Tom Jaeger, who poses as a German so that Brigitte can relay to him any information she acquires from the German soldiers who come to her brothel. But even close friends can betray, and Brigitte finds herself in a dangerous mission to rescue the man she loves, risking everything for her friends and country.

I've read several books taking place during WWII, but this one focuses on France and gives an inside look at what it was like to be a Resistant agent, risking your life to help others and to fight for your freedom through undercover operations. It was an exciting read, but heartbreaking and terribly sad how they were tortured when discovered. Although Brigitte was a prostitute, one cannot help but admire her inner strength to survive and to anonymously aid the French Resistance. She suffers the harsh disapproval from her own countrymen for her profession, but she dreams of a freed France and does not hesitate when asked to take part in a dangerous mission. I appreciated the author's discretion regarding the scenes that take place at the brothel.

The cast of characters in this novel are memorable, from Michel, one of the great but unassuming leaders of the Resistance sought after by the Germans to Braun, the German engineer who realizes the Nazis are destroying German lives as much as that of the so-called enemy. The author created people that I cared about, that I suffered with, that I rejoiced with. As the story moves to its climax, I was left breathless, wondering how it would all end. The strategy was brilliant and it made me think about how many people during this atrocious time in history had to device plans to escape, survive and fight for justice and freedom.

I found this book powerful, emotional and intelligent. It made me appreciate the resilience of the human spirit, the strength of friendship, and the value of loyalty. This is a gripping story, well-written with a tight plot, strong characters, and a memorable setting. Highly recommended!

Note: This book is rated V = violence. There are scenes of torture and description of torture in this novel.
I will count this book toward the following challenges: A - Z Book Challenge

Reviewed by Laura

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

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Mailbox Monday and It's Monday! What Are You Reading? for June 25

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia who now blogs at Mailbox Monday. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Marie at Burton Book Review will be hosting for the month of June. You can also view the touring blog list here for the upcoming months.

And Laughter Fell from the Sky by Jyotsna Sreenivasan

Still living at home despite a good career and financial independence, beautiful and sophisticated Rasika has always been the dutiful daughter. With her twenty-sixth birthday fast approaching, she agrees to an arranged marriage, all while trying to hide from her family her occasional dalliances with other men.

Abhay is everything an Indian-American son shouldn't be. Having spent his postcollege years living in a commune, he now hops from one dead-end job to another, brooding over what he really wants to do with his life.

Old family friends, Rasika and Abhay seem to have nothing in common, yet when the two reconnect by chance, sparks immediately fly. Abhay loves Rasika, but he knows her family would never approve. Rasika reluctantly accepts she has feelings for Abhay, but can she turn her back on the family rules she has always tried so hard to live by? The search to find answers takes Abhay and Rasika out of their native Ohio to Oregon and India, where they find that what they have together might just be something worth fighting for.

Glamorous Illusions by Lisa T. Bergren (for review from Netgalley)

When Cora Kensington learns she is the illegitimate daughter of a copper king, her life changes forever. Even as she explores Europe with her new family, she discovers that the most valuable journey is within. The first book in the Grand Tour series takes you from the farms of Montana through England and France on an adventure of forgiveness, spiritual awakening, and self-discovery.

The Tale of Time Warp Tuesday: The Second of the Zephram Tales by Leslie A. Susskind (for review)

In the second of The Zephram Tales (after The Month of Zephram Mondays), Tom, Lizzie, Ned and Nell, the Royal Quadruplets and non-magical Heroes of the magical Kingdom of Zephram, have settled back into their same old boring routines after the excitement of saving Zephram and the rest of the world from evil Prince Persius. Then they suddenly realize just why everything is so incredibly boring: it's because everyone's repeating the same day, over and over again! Tom, Lizzie, Ned and Nell are the only ones who know what's happening, and it looks like they're the only ones who can do anything about it. But why has it happened? How are four non-magical children going to start the magical world turning again? And what will they find out about themselves in the process?

This meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

Read and Reviewed:
Sleuth or Dare: Partners in Crime by Kim Harrington (My daughter and I loved this first book in a new mystery series.)
Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff (Fascinating read! Has made it to my list of best titles of 2012.)
Flame of Resistance by Tracy Groot (Wow! This was an unforgettable read. Look for my review tomorrow.)

Currently Reading:

And Laughter Fell from the Sky by Jyotsna Sreenivasan
Confectionately Yours: Save the Cupcake by Lisa Papademetriou (reading this with my daughter)
Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway as part of the read-a-long at Diary of an Eccentric

Still Listening to:
The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott (I'm liking this more and more!)

I hope you all have a great week in reading!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff (TLC Book Tour)

Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff
Harper Perennial
ISBN: 978-0061988356
Published April 24, 2012
Paperback, 432 pages

As I turned the last page, I felt a certain sadness, ending what I felt was an amazing journey into the past with a group of survivors in the once unknown world of a lost civilization deep in the wild jungles of New Guinea. This book fascinated and enthralled me. It made me cry, laugh, cringe, and wonder. Without a doubt this is one of the best books I've read in 2012! I read parts of it in the car as my hubby drove and would recount what I was reading to him. Throughout the following days he kept asking, “So what's happening with the survivors now?”

Zuckoff has managed the feat of putting together the true story of how, in May of 1945, three people (two men and one woman all serving in the US Army) survived and were rescued from a plane crash in the middle of an impenetrable jungle in what was then uncharted territory populated by treacherous mountains that opened up to a never-before-seen valley scattered with the villages of cannibal tribesmen. Zuckoff is a master writer, capturing and recounting the day-to-day unfolding of the tragedy that turned into an adventure so that as a reader I felt I was living it with them.

Using the diary entries of Corporal Margaret Hastings (one of the survivors), the eyewitness accounts of the leader of the paratroopers that was sent in to rescue them and even the people of the tribes who remembered the day the white people fell from the sky, we are swept away into the world of WWII, Army outposts in foreign and dangerous but exotic lands, and the harrowing experience of three survivors with life-threatening burns and wounds who meet for the first time in history a lost people.

Although non-fiction, the narrative is suspenseful, riveting and touching. Zuckoff does not use sensationalism, and we get an honest portrayal as seen through the eyes of the survivors, rescuers and tribespeople. Zuckoff also gives background information of the various men and women, making this very much a story about ordinary, yet extraordinary men and women.

Zuckoff's research is impeccable with over 40 end pages of notes on sources and methods. The book also includes letters and emails from the families of those directly involved with this story who read this book and felt compelled to write to the author. By the end of the book, I felt I knew the cast of people who had been a part of this amazing and almost unbelievable story. This one is a keeper on my bookshelf and one that I will re-read again. Highly recommended to all who love stories of survival and the wonders of lost civilizations.

Note: This book is rated P = profanity, for a few religious expletives.

About the author:
Mitchell Zuckoff is a professor of journalism at Boston University and a former special projects reporter for the Boston Globe, where he was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for investigative reporting. His honors include the 2000 Distinguished Writing Award from the American Society of Newspaper Editors and the Christopher Award for his book Chosing Naia: A Family’s Journey, which was a Boston Globebestseller. His magazine work has appeared in The New Yorker, Fortune, and other national and regional publications.

Learn more about the book and this author by visiting www.mitchellzuckoff.com.

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to the publisher 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.

Winner of The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D.

Congratulations to our winner!

(# 17 Tiffany Drew - former winner) UPDATE: Tiffany just told me she won this book on another blog, so the new winner is:

#10 Hira Hasnain - new winner of the book The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D. by Nichole Bernier

The winner was chosen using Random.org and has been emailed. The winner has 48 hours to claim the prize. Library of Clean Reads would like to thank Crown Publishers and TLC Book Tours for offering this book to give away. Thanks also to all the participants and followers!

Laura

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Sleuth or Dare #1: Partners in Crime by Kim Harrington

Sleuth or Dare #1: Partners in Crime by Kim Harrington
Scholastic Inc
ISBN: 978-0545389648
Published May 2012
Paperback, 192 pages
Ages 8-12

Kim Harrington's new mystery series Sleuth or Dare for tweens promises to be a hit as her debut starts off suspenseful and smart. Darcy and Norah are best friends and different as night and day. Darcy is bold, has a penchant for getting into trouble and is a computer wiz. Norah is smart, loves astronomy and likes helping others. They work perfectly together starting a detective agency for a school project and are surprised when a real missing-person case lands on their lap.

The story is told by Norah in first-person POV. Harrington does a wonderful job of immersing us into the seventh grader world and she captures tweens just right! My daughter and I loved reading this book together, although my daughter finished it before me because she couldn't put it down. I liked the fact that although parents are in the background, they are still involved in the story without taking anything away from the tween characters.

I could see my daughter related to Norah. We loved her voice. She is smart but has insecurities. She has a crush on a boy, but it doesn't take over her whole life. Darcy is a no nonsense kind of gal, and we liked the fact that she stands up for what she believes. Harrington has built her characters well with a plausible plot that is well paced and builds to a suspenseful climax and satisfying conclusion. There are funny moments throughout that made this a fun read too. The supporting characters are great, and I can see how the author has prepared us to follow this whole cast into the second book.

My daughter has already asked me to get the next book in this series titled Sleuth or Dare #2: Sleepover Stakeout. I'm looking forward to reading it just as much as she is.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.
I will count this book toward the following challenges: Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge
For more on this series, please visit: www.kimharringtonbooks.com

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to Nikole Kristikos from Scholastic for sending us this book for review. We were not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Mailbox Monday and It's Monday! What Are You Reading? for Monday June 18

The Ruins of Lace by Iris Anthony (for review)

An enthralling novel centered around the mad French passion for forbidden Flemish bobbin lace in the 1600s, from a writer whose work has been called "unexpected, haunting and powerful" by her readers. For those who want something they don't have, Flemish lace can buy almost anything — or anyone.

But for Lisette, lace begins her downfall, and the only way to atone for her sins is to outwit the noble who now demands an impossible length. To fail means certain destruction, both for her and her beloved.

For Katharina, lace is her salvation. If she cannot make this stunning tempest of threads, a dreaded fate awaits...if only her sight wasn't beginning to fail her...

Lace may be the deliverance for which they pray...or it may bring the ruin and imprisonment they all fear.

Evertaster by Adam Glendon Sidwell (for review)

When eleven-year-old Guster Johnsonville rejects his mother's casserole for the umpteenth time, she takes him into the city of New Orleans to find him something to eat. There, in a dark, abandoned corner of the city they meet a dying pastry maker. In his last breath he entrusts them with a secret: an ancient recipe that makes the most delicious taste the world will ever know — a taste that will change the fate of humanity forever.

Forced to flee by a cult of murderous chefs, the Johnsonvilles embark on a perilous journey to ancient ruins, faraway jungles and forgotten caves. Along the way they discover the truth: Guster is an Evertaster — a kid so picky that nothing but the legendary taste itself will save him from starvation. With the sinister chefs hot on Guster’s heels and the chefs’ reign of terror spreading, Guster and his family must find the legendary taste before it’s too late.

This meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

Read and Reviewed:
Dreamspell by Tamara Leigh (LOVED this time-travel book! If you need to escape...)
Poopendous! by Artie Bennett (an original and witty book for kids)

Currently reading:

Flame of Resistance by Tracy Groot (so far an intense read taking place in Nazi-occupied France)
Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway as part of the read-a-long at Diary of an Eccentric

Your Daughter Needs a Hero by Maria C. Furlough (review for June 27)

Listening to:
The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott (I'm liking this more and more!)

I hope you all have a great week in reading!

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Kid Konnection: Poopendous! by Artie Bennett

Poopendous! by Artie Bennett
Blue Apple Books
ISBN: 978-1609051907
Published March 27, 2012
Hardcover, 36 pages
Ages: 4 and up

When the author asked if we wanted to review his second book, my son was thrilled. He loved Bennett's first publication The Butt Book (read our review here). Following Bennet's penchant for writing about what no one wants to talk about, Poopendous is right up the ally for my son who often jokes about this topic with his buddies. Best of all, Bennett personalized the book by signing it with a personal message to my son that garnered an ear-to-ear brilliant smile from my kid.

Bennett's use of rhyming text, dialogue and educational tidbits about--you guessed it--poop, mixed with his sense of humour and colorful, funny illustrations from Mike Moran blend to make this an amusing and enlightening read. Bennett captures the curiosity and boldness that children display when they want to know about a topic. He clearly states that ... “now you have the inside scoop on every type and use of poop... Why should such wondrous stuff offend us?” Indeed!

Children will learn that in some parts of the world, dung is used to fertilize soil, to make a fire for cooking, to seal native shacks and more. My son thought this was a cool book because of these fascinating facts. He also thought it funny and he liked the illustrations. He liked learning about poop especially after having seen fossilized dinosaur poop at the museum last year, but he did think some uses of it in some countries was “ew!” gross.

This book is ideal for the curious kid (or adult) 4 years and older. It grabs your attention from beginning to end with witty text and eye-catching illustrations. I had fun reading it with my son and it will claim a spot in our library as a memorable read even years after my kids have grown.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read (even though the topic may not be! Ha!)

Reviewed by Laura and son

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

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.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Dreamspell by Tamara Leigh

Dreamspell by Tamara Leigh
Self-published e-book
ASIN: B007MDF8OG
Published March 18, 2012
Kindle edition, 298 pages

If you love time travel, historical fiction and a clean romantic escape, this is the book for you! It's a combination that's not easy to find, but Tamara Leigh, an accomplished mainstream author has pulled it off. The minute I saw the book cover and read the synopsis I just had to read it. However, this book is currently only available as a Kindle e-book, so in my eagerness to read it no matter what, I downloaded the Kindle app on my android phone and read the book on it. It was so worth it! And it opened up my appetite for reading e-books.

Dr. Kennedy Plain is a sleep disorders specialist who is dying from an inoperable brain tumor. Her chemo treatments have left her weak, emancipated and without her once luxuriant hair. She discovers through her research on sleep deprivation that she can time travel through her dreams, and ends up in the 14^th century medieval England, where she becomes embroiled in a plot to save two boys from their seemingly murderous uncle. This uncle is Lord Fulke Wynland, the man she first encounters and eventually falls in love with, changing the course of his and her history.

There is no doubt about it, I am Tamara Leigh's newest fan. Her writing, plot and character development, and the ability to weave a believable storyline with a fantastic ending won me over. This is a romantic tale but without the bodice-ripping super perfect swooning heroine and debonaire hero who irritate me in romantic novels. When I read a romantic story I want my characters to be people I can relate to, flawed and suffering, vulnerable and brave, smart but prone to make mistakes. That's what I found in this book. There were times when I found Kennedy to be a little too clueless for an educated woman, but the dialogue, witty comebacks and funny moments made up for it.

At times, this was an emotional read because every time Kennedy is pulled back to the present, she is closer to dying. The scene when she is lying in her mother's arms is so touching it made me cry. I raced to finish this book, and when I turned the last page of the epilogue, I thought that this was one of the best self-published books I have read. If you're looking for a great summer read, for a world to escape into, look no further. Dreamspell will take you away.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.
I will count this book toward the following challenges: Time Travel Reading Challenge

Read an excerpt on Tamara Leigh's website!

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.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Mailbox Monday and It's Monday! What Are You Reading? for June 11

Your Daughter Needs a Hero: Helping Her Handle Insecurity and Poor Body Image by Maria C. Furlough (for review)

What drives teenage girls? What tempts them? What tugs on their heart strings? More importantly, what can parents do to make a difference in their lives? Author Maria Furlough battled self-image and self-esteem issues as a teenager, and in Your Daughter Needs You; Helping Her Handle Insecurity and Poor Body Image, using a mix of personal stories and years of experience counseling teenage girls in her youth ministry, she shows parents what their teenage daughters are going through and how to best help them.

Furlough explains how fad diets, the media, and pornography influence a teen girl's body image, and she guides parents on how to counteract the constant pressures and influences that effect teen girls every day. This book will show parents how to effectively build their daughter's self-esteem and self-image. If you have a teenage daughter, Your Daughter Needs a Hero; Helping Her Handle Insecurity and Poor Body Image is a must read!

Wild Ink: Success Secrets to Writing and Publishing in the Young Adult Market by Victoria Hanley (for review)

What do you need to know to break in to the flourishing young adult (YA) market? With humor and a solid grounding in reality, author Victoria Hanley helps readers understand the ins and outs of the YA genre, how to stay inspired, and how to avoid common mistakes writers make in trying to reach teens. This book includes unique writing exercises to help readers find their own authentic teen voice and dozens of interviews with YA authors, blogging experts, editors, and agents to give inspiration and guidance for getting published. Chapters include writing exercises and self-editing techniques tailored to YA, along with encouraging words on dealing with self-doubt, rejection, and lack of time.

The Vow by Kim and Krickitt Carpenter and Dana Wilkerson (e-book received free for purchasing a Kobo!)

Life as Kim and Krickitt Carpenter knew it was shattered beyond recognition on November 24, 1993. Two months after their marriage, a devastating car wreck left Krickitt with a massive head injury and in a coma for weeks. When she finally awoke, she had no idea who Kim was. With no recollection of their relationship and while Krickitt experienced personality changes common to those who suffer head injuries, Kim realized the woman he had married essentially died in the accident.

And yet, against all odds, but through the common faith in Christ that sustained them, Kim and Krickitt fell in love all over again. Even though Kim stood by Krickitt through the darkest times a husband can ever imagine, he insists, “I’m no hero. I made a vow.”

Now available in trade paper with a new chapter and photo insert, The Vow is the true story that inspired the major motion picture of the same name starring Rachel McAdams (The Notebook), Channing Tatum (Dear John), Sam Neill (Jurassic Park), and Academy Award winner Jessica Lange.

This is the first time I participate in this meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. I'm hoping it will keep me more focused on what I'm reading since I get so sidetracked while visiting other blogs!

Read and Reviewed:
The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D. by Nichole Bernier (Great family drama review and giveaway)
BEA Buzz Books from Publishers Lunch (Excerpts of 2012 Fall titles!)

Currently reading:

Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway as part of the read-a-long at Diary of an Eccentric

Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff (for review June 21)

Your Daughter Needs a Hero by Maria C. Furlough (review for June 27)

Listening to:
The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott (This is the third time I try an audio book and the only one I've stuck with so far!)

Other book-related posts:
Guest Post by author of The Scorpio Series, Monique Domovitch (she's offering a giveaway of her books and Amazon gift card)

Have you read any of these books?

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Guest post by Monique Domovitch, author of The Scorpio Series

Today we have Monique Domovitch as a guest blogger. She is having an exciting 99cent promotion for her books, Scorpio Rising and The Sting of the Scorpio and is also doing a mega giveaway on her blog. Go check it out to win gift certificates to Amazon and free books!
http://MoniqueDomovitch.com

Deciding to become a writer was a natural extension of falling in love

by Monique Domovitch

People often ask me what attracted me to the life of a writer, and I have to say it was a natural extension of falling in love…with books, which I have been for as long as I can remember.

I remember my mother taking me to the public library when I was as young as four years old. That was when she introduced me to Madeline, the little schoolgirl. As a teenager, I discovered Nancy Drew and Cherry Ames, and then Harlequin books. And then I really fell in love for the first time. I was in England where my friends introduced me to a book by Wilbur Smith. I think I hadn't read ten pages of his book--can't remember the title anymore--when I knew this was it. I could spend the rest of my life in bed with this writer's books.

Over the next few years, Wilbur Smith’s books made me discover Africa, where I met animals I'd never heard of, and villains the likes of which I hope to never meet. I was swept into his stories of love and passion and greed; stories from which I never wanted to walk away. I devoured book after book of his, until, of course, the inevitable happened. I caught up with every last one of his books and was facing a long void until his next book hit the stands. And I, fickle reader that I am, had an affair with a few other authors, and then it happened again. I read Dominic Dunne. And wham. I was in love again.

With Dominic Dunne’s books, I spent time with the truly rich and the truly manipulative. How can anyone forget books like The Two Mrs. Grenvilles, or An Inconvenient Woman, or A Season in Purgatory? Once I discovered them, I was hooked. Forgive me Dominic, for I betrayed you too when I discovered my next big love, Nelson De Mille.

De Mille is a master of sharp, snappy talk, and he makes all those words come out of the mouth of a sexy good cop with a bad attitude--John Corey. Now here's the funny part. I don't really know what John Corey looks like, except that he has scars on his chest from some bullet wounds. I also know that John Corey is almost as fickle when it comes to love as I am when it comes to favorite authors. He seems to fall in love with a different woman in almost every one of his adventures. That is, until he met and married Kate. But who knows, so far she's only been around for a couple of novels. For all I know she'll be dropped off, maybe even killed in the next book, and then sexy John will be available again and I can go on dreaming.

Now here's something you might not know about me. I'm married, and—get this—my husband doesn't mind my little dalliances with all these authors...as long as I don't meet them in person that is. And why am I blabbing about all these loves of mine? Because, every time I start a new project, I hope with all my heart, that I infuse my novel with enough passion and ambition and greed that when you, dear reader, read my work, you will fall—perhaps just a little bit—in love with my characters. And I promise to love you right back, even knowing that I will never be able to write fast enough to keep your from someday leaving me for some other writer.

C’est la vie!

Monique Domovitch lives with her physician husband and their three dogs. They divide their time between their homes in Canada and La Jolla. Find her at http://MoniqueDomovitch.com

About her books:

Scorpio Rising (The Scorpio Series, #1)

Set in New York and Paris amid the glamorous and competitive worlds of art and real estate, Scorpio Rising takes the reader from the late 1940s to the 1960s through the tumultuous lives of its heroes.

There is Alex Ivanov, the son of a Russian immigrant and part-time prostitute. He yearns to escape his sordid life and achieve fame and fortune. His dreams of becoming a world-class builder are met with countless obstacles, yet he perseveres in the hope of someday receiving the recognition he craves.

Half a world away, Brigitte Dartois is an abused teenager who runs into the arms of a benefactor with an agenda all his own. When she finds out that her boss has an ulterior motive, she flees again, determined to earn her living through her art. This career brings her fame, but also the unwanted attention of her early abuser.

Monique Domovitch’s debut novel, Scorpio Rising, is a compelling tale filled with finely etched characters and a superb understanding of the power of ambition. Scorpio Rising promises to resonate with all who once had a dream.

The Sting of the Scorpio (The Scorpio Series, #2)

In Scorpio Rising, Monique Domovitch presented a compelling tale filled with colorful characters and the manipulation of power, ambition, and greed. Now she gives us its spellbinding sequel, The Sting of the Scorpio, where Alexander Ivanov returns to New York with his new bride, Brigitte.

The real estate industry is ripe with opportunity. Blessed with irresistible charm, ambition, and the single-minded obsession to succeed, Alex plots and manipulates his way to almost mystical success. Everything he touches turns to gold, but it’s never enough. When a hostile takeover bid leaves him struggling to save his beloved company, he suspects those closest to him of plotting his downfall.

Brigitte, the beautiful redhead who abandoned her country and her career to become his wife, feels alone. In return, Alex has betrayed her time and again, each indiscretion cutting deeper into her soul.

Brigitte’s son, David yearns to be an artist, but Alex’s plans leave no room for such frivolous goals. He grooms a reluctant David to become the heir apparent until a devastating tragedy attracts the attention of another young man.

The Sting of the Scorpio is a rich tale of a man at the mercy of his own greed and a woman bound by her need for love.

Note: I have not read these books and cannot state if they are clean reads. I have been told there is some sexual content but not overly explicit.

Thank you, Monique, for sharing your thoughts on writing!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

BEA Buzz Books: Excerpts From Over 30 Top Fall 2012 Titles

BEA Buzz Books: Excerpts From Over 30 Top Fall 2012 Titles
Publishers Lunch
ISBN: 978-0985491017
Published May 18, 2012
E-book format, 625 pages on Kobo

This is BEA in an e-book. Okay, so it doesn't replace the whole excitement of actually being present at BEA, but hey, for those of us who cannot make it, at least we get to see what some of the buzz is all about. In the introduction, Micheal Cader states, "It's the first time we know of that general readers have had access to so many great books well ahead of actual publication, with click-throughs to pre-order when the stores allow."

In this book you will find a list of 33 books with their cover, synopsis, excerpt, author bio, marketing campaign and info on how to get a copy. The books are divided into 4 categories, Literary, Hot "Buzz" Debuts, Non-Fiction and YA. I scrolled through the list and came up with titles I want to read. Here are some that caught my eye:

The Ruins of Lace by Iris Anthony

Who I Kissed by Janet Gurtler (Canadian author)

In Sunlight and in Shadow by Mark Helprin

John Saturnall's Feast by Lawrence Norfolk

Every Day by David Levithan

Origin by Jessica Khoury

Looking through BEA Buzz Books really got me excited about what's coming out this Fall. A lot of great reading ahead!

Note: This book is rated C = clean read as a reference book only. I cannot vouch that all the book excerpts in this book are clean reads.

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Monday, June 4, 2012

The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D. by Nichole Bernier (Review and Giveaway)

The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D. by Nichole Bernier
Crown Trade Publishers
ISBN: 978-0307887801
Published June 5, 2012
Hardcover, 320 pages

This novel is a family drama that deals with the topics of losing a friend in death, marriage, the challenges of motherhood and pursuing one's career vs staying at home. It is ambitious for a debut novel, but Bernier handles this deftly with writing that is introspective, thought-provoking, and beautiful. It's a character-driven story with slow-moving action and flashback scenes.

Kate Spencer is given a trunk filled with the diaries and journals that her late friend, Elizabeth, left for her as stated in her will. Kate takes them with her on Great Rock Island where she spends the summer with her husband Chris and their two young children. The diaries cover the life of Elizabeth from her sad childhood to present day, and Kate discovers things she never knew about her friend. The diaries help Kate re-evaluate her own life and make decisions about things she's been procrastinating.

Bernier's writing quickly drew me in. Initially, the heavy topics slowed down my reading as I dived in, and I found I could read only a few chapters at a time. Then about half-way through I was invested in the characters and finished fairly quickly. There were times when I was frustrated with Kate for not giving Chris a chance as a supporting partner. The story takes place shortly after the 911 terrorist attacks and because they live in Washington D.C. Kate feels unsafe. She's afraid to show Chris her vulnerability, her neediness and her fear for her family and for him when he travels. Reading the diaries made Kate realize she needed to take that risk to expose her true feelings so they could keep growing as a couple and cement their trust for one another while living at a time when trust was difficult.

It seems this was the direction she was going at the end of the book, but it was tentative and not fully explored, leaving the reader with the idea that it could go both ways. I wasn't sure Kate would change and grow as a character, but I'm glad she did, especially after I invested so much time with her personal thoughts. I respected her decision regarding her career as a pastry chef. I was able to relate to both her and Elizabeth's feeling about motherhood, and the changes this brings upon women who love their career.

The novel also explores relationships and I thought Bernier's male characters were so well portrayed in their different viewpoints of situations. I liked Chris and his patience in trying to understand his wife. Max's advice as a friend and former colleague was spot on and I enjoyed his dialogue. At times I wish there had been a little more action between these characters and less contemplative narrative, but that's just me. I also loved the scenes with the children.

Readers who love family drama will enjoy reading this novel and perhaps rethink their own relationships and the effects of keeping secrets that should be shared. A bittersweet and thought-provoking read.

Note: This book is rated P = profanity for 3 f-word, and a few religious expletives.

To read more reviews, visit the TLC Book Tour page.

About the author:

Nichole Bernier is a writer for magazines including Elle, Self, Health, Men’s Journal and Boston Magazine, and a 14-year contributing editor with Conde Nast Traveler, where she was previously on staff as the golf and ski editor and a columnist. She is a founder of the literary website Beyond The Margins.com, and lives outside of Boston with her husband and five children.

Connect with Nichole:
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Beyond the Margins

And now for the giveaway!

CONTEST NOW CLOSED

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Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to Crown Publishers 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.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Mailbox Monday for June 4

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia who now blogs at Mailbox Monday. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Alternative Read will be hosting for the month of June. You can also view the touring blog list here for the upcoming months.

Overseas by Beatriz Williams (for review)

When twenty-something Wall Street analyst Kate Wilson attracts the notice of the legendary Julian Laurence at a business meeting, no one’s more surprised than she is. Julian’s relentless energy and his extraordinary intellect electrify her, but she’s baffled by his sudden interest. Why would this handsome British billionaire—Manhattan’s most eligible bachelor—pursue a pretty but bookish young banker who hasn’t had a boyfriend since college?

The answer is beyond imagining . . . at least at first. Kate and Julian’s story may have begun not in the moneyed world of twenty-first-century Manhattan but in France during World War I, when a mysterious American woman emerged from the shadows of the Western Front to save the life of Captain Julian Laurence Ashford, a celebrated war poet and infantry officer.

Now, in modern-day New York, Kate and Julian must protect themselves from the secrets of the past, and trust in a true love that transcends time and space.

Season of Storms by Susanna Kearsley (bought used)

In the early 1900s, in the elegant, isolated villa Il Piacere, the playwright Galeazzo D'Ascanio lived for Celia Sands. She was his muse and his mistress and the inspiration for his most stunning and original play. But the night before she was to take the stage in the leading role, Celia disappeared. Now, decades later, in a theatre on the grounds of Il Piacere, Alessandro D'Ascanio is preparing to stage the first performance of his grandfather's masterpiece. A promising young actress - who shares Celia Sands' name, but not her blood - has agreed to star. She is instantly drawn to the mysteries surrounding the play - and to her compelling, compassionate employer. And even though she knows she should let the past go, in the dark - in her dreams - it comes back.

Gimme a Call by Sarah Mlynowski (bought at author event)

Devi's life isn't turning out at all like she wanted. She wasted the past three years going out with Bryan—cute, adorable, break-your-heart Bryan. Devi let her friendships fade, blew off studying, didn't join any clubs . . . and now that Bryan has broken up with her, she has nothing left.

Not even her stupid cell phone—she dropped it in the mall fountain. Now it only calls one number . . . hers. At age fourteen, three years ago! Once Devi gets over the shock—and convinces her younger self that she isn't some wacko—she realizes that she's been given an awesome gift. She can tell herself all the right things to do . . . because she's already done all the wrong ones! Who better to take advice from than your future self? Except . . .what if getting what you think you want changes everything?

Has anyone read any of these books?

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Torn Apart: The Internment Diary of Mary Kobayashi by Susan Aihoshi

Dear Canada: Torn Apart: The Internment Diary of Mary Kobayashi by Susan Aihoshi
Scholastic Canada
ISBN: 978-0439946605
Published Feb 1, 2012
Hardcover, 216 pages

The Dear Canada series are written in diary format and are a great way for youngsters to get to know Canadian history through the eyes of a 12 year-old girl. My daughter and I have read several of these books together. This one chronicles the events experienced by a Japanese Canadian family during the tumultuous WWII years, especially after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941. It's hard to believe that 70 years ago, Canada placed their own citizens in internment camps because their country of origin was at war with Canada's allies.

Mary is a typical Canadian girl who attends Girl Guides, plays tennis and belongs to a grass-hockey team. She has a large family who are of the Catholic faith, with the exception of her grandfather who is Buddhist. Sometimes it was hard to keep track of all the characters--family and friends--she mentions in her diary. The tension begins as the news of war abroad spreads, and people become suspicious of the Japanese people. After fighting prejudice against them since they immigrated in the late 1800s, the Japanese community "was plunged into enormous turmoil. Families were torn apart, education was disrupted, businesses were shut down and thriving neighborhoods were uprooted and destroyed." (p.183)

My daughter who is sensitive chose not to finish this book after reading almost half with me because she knew where the story was heading after Mary's grandfather was sent away to a camp. She knows about the Jews and Jehovah's Witnesses who were sent to camps in Germany, and we talked extensively about why these things have happened and what is still happening in some countries today. The book ends on a hopeful note, and I enjoyed reading the rest of it. It's not graphic, but I did ache for Mary who lost her home, was displaced and had her family scattered, without knowing if they were alive and well.

The story is well written as have been all the ones we read in this series. Mary is a great character and I liked her instantly. She writes about school, her family, her friends but also about her fears, her hopes and her frustrations. The theme of loyal friendships and healthy family pride shines through in this book. I also liked the Japanese words and expressions throughout the book (with glossary in the back) that sometimes added subtle humour to the story.

I think this book should be a part of all Canadian school libraries. It would appeal to middle-graders who like diary-format books and stories from the past.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.

I will count this book toward the following challenges: YA Historical Fiction Challenge

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to Nikole Kritikos from Scholastic Canada for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.