The Crown, by Nancy Bilyeau

Despite the fact that she comes from nobility, Joanna has chosen a religious life.  But under the rule of Henry VIII, Catholic nuns border are under suspicion as rebels.  When Joanna leaves the priory to support a family member, she is captured and imprisoned in the Tower, and learns that her father is being tortured.  The only way he will be released is if Joanna returns to the priory and finds an important religious relic.  Will she succeed?

This was one of those books that required a lot of set-up.  It took time to establish the setting and the scene, as it were.  For me, that made the initial parts of the book a little slow.  And that was purposeful and necessary.  We needed to appreciate the slow, peaceful way of life that the Dominican priory is used to, even in such unsettled times.  I am really glad I stuck with the book, however, because it made for a much richer story in the long run.

The story blends an incredible point in English history with a thrilling mystery.  It is quite clear that the book is well researched, rivaling the best of the historical fiction focusing on the Tudor family.  I liked that the Tudors serve as a backdrop, giving us a better picture of while life was life for everyone else during Henry VIII's reign.  The characters were richly developed, and once you got about 100 pages in, the story really picked up.  Momentum continued to gather until the book rocketed to a shocking pinnacle.

Given the subject matter, there is a strong emphasis on Catholicism in the book.  Those who either are Catholic or are well versed in Church history will appreciate some of those finer elements of the book.  Those strongly opposed to Catholic beliefs, conversely, may struggle with the book.  I personally found it to be a well written, engaging piece of historical fiction.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the tour of the sequel book here.

  

A Haunting in the Haight, by Sarah Mathews

Belle has never been able to turn down a good ghost story or haunted location, so when a haunted home in San Francisco is put up for sale, she and her family move in.  Almost immediately strange things begin happening, not all of which can be attributed to ghosts.  Belle is being tortured by her husband's ex-wife, Raffaella.  Sometimes the scariest hauntings are done by the living.

Like Belle, I too cannot turn down a good ghost story.  I started reading books about hauntings, fictional and purported fact, when I was about 8 years old, and have forever remained fascinated.  You do not come across many fresh takes on the ghost story anymore, what with all the paranormal investigation shows and what not.  So I was quite pleased with the spin this book had on paranormal activities.  The book certainly had the feel of an Amityville horror type story, with the house being such a tragic location, but the reasons behind the hauntings provided a twist worthy of M. Night Shymalan.  I particularly loved the way facts about real haunted San Francisco locations, like the Winchester House (inspiration for Stephen King's "Rose Red" t.v. movie).

I probably was most drawn to the paranormal characters, both living and dead.  To me, they were the heart of the story.  The action centered on them, and they were the ones in control of the story, most notably Raffaella.  However, I did have a soft spot for the alcoholic dog, George, who added a bit of levity to the story.

All in all, this is a good, solidly written ghost story, that offers something fresh to the genre.  A real find indeed.

I received a review copy courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Left for Garbage, by Sarah Mathews

When two year old Deeley Brown goes missing, instead of contacting authorities, her mother, Denise, stays silent.  After 31 days, it comes to light that Deeley is missing, and Denise spins a story so fantastical, it is amazing that anyone ever believed it, yet her parents support her fully.  When it becomes clear that this is no longer a missing person investigation, but instead a murder case, Denise is arrested, while her parents continue to proclaim her innocence.  Will a jury see through Denise's ever changing web of lies?

Very clearly, this book is inspired by the Casey Anthony case, which kept the nation enthralled for months.  The storyline and the characters very closely resemble their real life counterparts.  I only loosely followed the Casey Anthony trial, so much of what was portrayed in this book was new information, which sent me on a hunt online for details on the real life case.  I was stunned, to say the least, by all the ridiculous accusations and actions that occurred.  In the context of the book, it seems to farcical, which leads me to wonder, why did no one realize what a circus this was in real life.

When art imitates life, it sometimes forces us to see our blind spots, and I think that is exactly what this book does.  It forces us to take a hard look, not only at the Anthony case, but at the media portrayal of this tragedy, and ask what in tarnation is wrong with the American justice system.  So many of the details in the book which seem ridiculous, like Denise's party girl attitude when her child was "missing", the ever changing versions of events, and the asinine accusations of government and Al Qaeda involvement, are completely real things that occurred in the Anthony trial.  It makes for good fiction, but the fact that this was all so real is just bizarre.

The book is written in a tongue in cheek manner, which makes it darkly comical, but there are also very sad undertones.  It is heartbreaking that there is no justice for this child.  I was riveted by this book, but it also sparked a series of bad dreams for me.  Fans of crime fiction and real crime books alike will both enjoy the book, since it is a brilliant melding of the two genres.

I received a review copy courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Big Brother, by Lionel Shriver

Pandora loves cooking, to the point where she once had her own catering business.  Lately, however, her husband has become health obsessed, and he turns up his nose at her cooking.  When Pandora invites her brother, Edison, to visit, she is confronted with the fact that he has gained a tremendous amount of weight.  Pandora is forced to evaluate her relationship to her husband, her brother, and most importantly her relationship to food, and determine if she is willing to make some truly difficult choices.

Reading the number of books that I do, it is really rare that a book completely knocks my socks off, to the point where, once I complete it, I must immediately discuss it with someone else in order to not be haunted.  Yet that is exactly what this book did to me; and even after discussing it, and recommending it to some specific people, I find it still haunting me, hours after I have finished it.

As someone who had struggled with weight and food issues, this book hit so close to home for me, and I was really able to relate, separately and in very different ways, to the three characters of Pandora, Edison, and Pandora's husband Fletcher.  In many ways, I think the characters form sort of a bell curve model for the way humans relate to food.  Fletcher and Edison serve as the outliers in each direction, while Pandora struggles to maintain her position in the middle.  And that is a very poignant metaphor for what happens emotionally in this highly triagulated relationship as well.

I found the writing in this book very brave.  Many people do not want to talk about obesity in literature, yet here all positions are thoroughly and at times painfully covered.  And I appreciated seeing the ugly truth behind the situation.  It made all the characters more likable (even when doing or saying ugly things to each other), because it made them seem real.

This book was really appealing to me, as someone who has weight issues, and I think others who have struggled will really connect to the book as well.  Because of the mix of male and female characters, I think it will appeal to readers of all genders, particularly fans of contemporary fiction.  It will take a long time for me to shake off this book, and, truth be told, I am not sure I even want to.  It was just that good.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

  

Flight Behavior, by Barbara Kingsolver

At 17, Dellarobia found herself pregnant and married.  Over the ten years since, she has settled for her life in a small Appalachian town in Tennessee.  While her husband is a good man, her life with him is dull and ordinary.  When an odd event takes place in the wooded land where Dellarobia and her in-laws reside, it changes the way she looks at life, and helps her to consider a world beyond the boundaries of her small town.

This book has so much potential here, but it just sort of missed the mark for me.  Do not get me wrong, there are things I very much liked about the book.  The writing, the very words the author uses, are vivid and gorgeous.  I could see very specific mental images of the characters, and some of the scenes that played out, but the storyline, for me, was not entirely cohesive.  This amazing natural phenomenon occurs, and suddenly people show up to evaluate it from a scientific perspective.  And no one seems to question this or put up much of a struggle.  Dellarobia is suddenly a student of science, spouting a mixture of fact, homespun wisdom, and cornfed fables.  It feels...false.  It felt false that the town would not question these outsiders more.  It felt false that these scholars would take in a self proclaimed redneck as a researcher.  I would not have been surprised had the book ended with it all being a dream, that is how false it felt (it doesn't by the way).

I really felt like Dellarobia was a well developed character.  I felt like I was fully able to understand her, and her motivations; but I never really felt all that connected to her.  And at times, things she would do and say felt slightly out of character for her.  It forced me to keep her at arm's length.  There is clear theme of attempting to rectify the gap between science and faith, and there is also strong emphasis on child loss.  The feeling of the book is very green, and pro-conservation, so nature lovers and the ecologically conscious will like that aspect of the book.  It is a decent example of contemporary literature, it just fell a little short for me personally.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

  

Doctor Who: Fear of the Dark, by Trevor Baxendale

The fifth incarnation of the Doctor, along with his companions Nyssa and Tegan, finds himself on a moon to the planet Akoshemon, which has a notoriously bad history.  While helping what they first think is a crew of archeologists (but who are really pirates), it becomes clear to the Doctor that something evil is lurking, trying to break free.  The situation escalates to a point beyond darkness.

I have been reading scary books since childhood.  Upon reaching the age of 9 or so, my favorite genre became horror, both in movies and in literature.  Rarely do I ever have nightmares from reading scary stories.  But this book gave me nightmares.  The darkness and evil in this book is so terrifying, and I believe symbolic of the evil that is possible in all people.  I think the writing in the book is terrific.  I was torn between wanting to put the book down because it frightened me, and staying up all night to read because it fascinated me.

I really liked the way the Doctor was written, I felt it stayed very true to the feeling of the series.  However, this story does seem so much more violent that what is typical of Doctor Who, and it made me a little sad.  Sure, there are times when there is a high body count, but the nature of the deaths in this book is particularly insidious, and it make me uncomfortable.  The supporting cast of characters is a little weak as well, though in the end I was glad I did not get too attached to most of them.  For me, the standouts are Stoker and Bunny Cheung, which are sort of like warring factions of the nature of man.  There is strong emphasis on the them-us, dark-light motif in this story, but you will be surprised who all ends up on which sides of the equation.

All in all, a solid story that will appeal to most Doctor Who Fans.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour of the entire Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Series here.

  

A Far Piece to Canaan, by Sam Halpern

When Samuel and his family moved onto the Kentucky farm, they did not quite know what to expect from the Appalachian people.  Samuel never expected to meet, Fred, the best friend he would ever encounter, and he certainly never imagined that the boys would become embroiled in a local mystery.  As an adult, Samuel returns to Kentucky to visit the old land, and to make peace with what happened all those years ago.

Sometimes, a book is so unexpectedly wonderful, you need extra time to process.  Such is certainly the case with this book.  A story filled with mystery, memories, and the reckless abandon of youth, this novel felt like I was listening to a tale spun by someone's grandfather.  The main character of Samuel is rich and complex.  We meet him as an adult, and then again as a child.  Seeing him at both stages of his life, and hearing both stories unfold simultaneously, allows us to get a very clear sense of not only who he is, but also how those years on the Kentucky farm shaped his life.

There is an emphasis on religious faith in the book, with Samuel's family being a bit unusual due to being Jewish.  The other boys are Christian, and at one point, Samuel attends a tent revival, but in all reality, the land is its own form of religion, and the boys adhere to it faithfully.  The land is where they work, where they play, and where the biggest mysteries of their young lives unfold.  The story is layered, and dense, not in a way that makes it difficult, but in a way that pulls you deeper and deeper in.  This is storytelling at its best.

The only thing that cause me to struggled even the slightest with the writing is the fact that the characters often speak in the patois of Appalachian Kentucky.  It was awkward to read words misspelled and misinterpreted, even though it was a realistic picture of that particular dialect.  I found myself having to re-read dialogue more than a few times.

Fans of contemporary literature will like the book.  But I would also recommend fans of memoirs to try it as well, since it has the feeling of a memoir despite the fact that it is fiction.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

 

All The Summer Girls, by Meg Donohue

Three best friends, Kate, Dani, and Vanessa, have left their carefree youth behind, but not forgotten.  Especially not the traumatic death of Kate's twin brother, Colin, the year before they all graduated from college.  Now, eight years later, all three women find their lives in a bit of turmoil.  Will a return to their summer haunt, and the scene of Colin's death, help them resolve their long standing issues?

This is one of those books that is probably going to appeal widely to mainstream readers.  It seems like it will be a huge hit for summer reading lists, and I bet many women will pore over it at the beach.  But I really really disliked it.  To me, it was a book about privileged, shallow women, with first world problems.  I could find nothing likable or redeemable about a single one of the three main characters.  They just seemed spoiled and selfish to me.  Basically, this book is what happens when the girls from Pretty Little Liars grow up, get married, and have careers.  And in young adult books, I can tolerate that shallowness, but not so much in contemporary adult literature.  Yet, as I said, many many readers adore this kind of book, so I understand I am in the minority here.

The heart of the story is not bad, and the writing is not bad for the most part.  There just was nothing remarkable about the book for me.  Chick lit is not my favorite genre to begin with, and when the book is pretty much standard fare, adding nothing new to the genre, my attention wanders.  Luckily the book is short, but even so, I felt like I was slogging through wet sand just to get to the end.  

Fans of chick lit will devour this book with glee.  But if you are looking for substance, you will probably find this wanting.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

  

Freud's Mistress, by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman

As an unmarried woman of a certain age, Minna needed to earn a living as a ladies' companion or some similar occupation, but when she is relieved of her post, she has no choice but to go live with her sister, Martha, and her brother in law, Sigmund.  As in, Sigmund Freud.  As Herr Doctor Freud is in the midst of his life's work, he begins a passionate affair with his sister in law.  Is Martha aware of this affair?  If Minna must choose between her sister and her lover, who will she choose?

I have to admit, I was completely swept up in this book.  While Freudian theories are no longer in vogue, I have always found them fascinating, and wondered how much of Freud's personal life factored into his work.  I was fascinated by the descriptions of various medical treatments, both for physical ailments and mental health issues, used during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  It really makes you appreciate how far medical science has come, but also how much we were aware of, even so long ago.  I had to giggle at the scenes about cocaine use, particularly how Freud called it harmless and impossible to become addicted.  

I really loved the writing in this book.  As with all historical fiction, a lot of liberty was taken with the storyline, I am sure, but I was really enraptured with Minna and Sigmund's characters.  Freud was really written exactly as I would have imagined he would be, and even though he was infuriating, I was really drawn to him.  But I was really enamorate of Minna as a character.  I love that she really pushes back against Victorian female stereotypes.  She refuses to marry out of necessity.  She drinks.  She is an intellectual.  I would bet anything that she would have been a feminist, despite the fact that she falls prey to Freud's spell.

The book does a great job of weaving both fact and fiction into the overall tapestry of the story.  It will appeal to fans of historical fiction, but also to students of psychology, to learn a bit more about Freud from a human perspective, even if it is fictional.

I received a review copy courtesy of the Amazon Vine program in exchange for my honest review.

Reality Ends Here, by Alison Gaylin

Estella has fame that she never asked for, all because she is the older sister of quintuplets who have their own reality show.  Estella has a different father, however, a father who tragically died many years ago.  So, when Estella receives a Christmas gift from her real father, her parents accuse her of planting it herself as a way to act out.  They send her to a support group, and Estella realizes that nothing about her life is reality.

Despite the fact that this is a book geared to young adults, I was completely transfixed by this story.  The writing is clearly geared to YA readers, with a lot of pop culture references (Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, etc.) but the actual story is pretty sophisticated, which is what makes the book so engaging.  I really liked the premise of a young girl forced to grow up on a reality tv show, it makes for a realistic storyline, since reality tv is so prevalent.  I thought the characters were actually well developed, especially Estella.

The plot has a lot of layers, and I certainly did not expect all the twists and turns that occurred.  I thought I knew where the story was going, and was surprised to find myself led in a completely different place in the end.  There is a lot of suspense and mystery in the story, without it being heavy handed.  Young adult readers who are fans of suspense books will enjoy this, but I believe many adult readers, like me, will enjoy it as well.

I received a review copy courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A Half Forgotten Song, by Katherine Webb

Zach has spent his life becoming an expert in the life and work of artist Charles Aubrey.  He goes to the Dorset coastal village where Aubrey spent three summers with his mistress and children.  There, Zach finds that one of the women who would pose for Aubrey, Mitzy, is still alive and can shed some light on the mystery of Charles Aubrey's life.

It is really rare that a book can completely change my initial reaction, but this one certainly did.  When I first began reading this novel, I found it incredibly dull.  The first hundred pages really seem to plod on.  It takes quite a long time to set up the backstory and explain the story world.  But once that happens, and the story can start in earnest, the book gets so much better.  I thought I was going to hate the book, based on those first 100 pages, but in the end I really liked it.

I think the author painted some really rich characters, particularly in Mitzy.  We are never entirely sure how accurate Mitzy's version of events is, even when the story is fully revealed.  I liked the way the past and present unfold simultaneously, I feel like it gave us a much richer view of the story and the characters.  They story itself is quite unique, and I certainly did not predict the many twists and turns.

My biggest complaint was those first 100 pages, setting up the story.  It was just too much.  By eliminating a couple of aspects (like Zach's ex-wife and daughter), the fat could have been trimmed a little, giving the reader a more engaging story.  I could see some readers giving up within those first 100 pages.  Fans of romance and of mystery will appreciate this book, since both genres are artfully intertwined.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

  

Fairchild's Lady, by Roseanna M. White

Isaac Fairchild has traveled to France to find a countess and her daughter, and assist them in escaping to England.  When he finds the pair, the countess is not eager to leave, since her daughter is in line to wed the
 duc.  When it becomes clear that the duc is not the loving man he appeared to be, however, the mother and daughter decide to flee, with the help of Fairchild.

What a nice little novella this is!  From the first pages, I was completely entranced with the character of Julienne.  So many women in royal courts have so little say over their lives, particularly pre- French Revolution, that I was happy to see a woman make decisions for herself regarding matters of the heart.  I have no illusions that many women in those days were able to marry for love, nor were many interested in marrying for love.  However, it is always nice to read a story where real love does conquer all.

For a story that is novella length, it certainly is packed with intrigue, romance, and action.  You have the mystery of who Julianne really is, as well as who Isaac really is.  How fitting that the story opens at a masquerade, since so many of the characters wear their own figurative masks throughout the story.

This book makes me eager to see what else is in store for the Culper Ring series.  Fans of historical romance are sure to love this story.

This book is from my own library, which I have chosen to review; all opinions are entirely honest and original.

Sight Reading, by Daphne Kalotay

Hazel is out running errands, when she unexpectedly runs into Remy, the woman who stole her husband Nicholas many years ago.  After all these years, the wound no longer stings; Remy and Hazel have come to terms with each other, mostly due to their parts in raising Hazel and Nicholas' daughter.  Both women reflect on their past, the decisions that led them to the present, and the meaning of their lives as they are now.

I really wanted to love this book.  As a lover of music, the idea of a romance, even a love triangle, wrapped up in the magical world of music was intriguing.  But, once again, I have come to realize why I dislike stories that involve love triangles: they are predictable.  Do not get me wrong, the writing in the book is very good.  I liked the way the drama was juxtaposed with musical aspects.  As someone who has studied music, it made a great deal of sense to me.  

I really liked Hazel as a character, and felt that most aspects of her story were unjust.  This, in turn, made me dislike Remy, and most especially Nicholas.  I felt as if this was just another story of a man trying to justify his inability to keep his penis in check.  And I really, really hate that particular literary plot device.  I felt there was very little about either Remy or Nicholas that was redeemable, and am not surprised as the choices they make later on in their relationship.

All in all, this is not a bad book.  To me, it was simply a little too vanilla.  Nothing remarkable or extraordinary.  If this book were an actual piece of music, it would be a cover song.  Fans of the love triangle will like the book, as will readers with musical knowledge.  For people completely unschooled in music, this book may not be a good fit, due to musical vocabulary and allusions.

I received a review copy of this book courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

  

Doctor Who: Last of the Gaderene, by Mark Gatiss

We join the third incarnation of The Doctor, who is working in conjunction with Jo and the Bridadeer from UNIT.  A small town is home to an aerodrome, which has been decommissioned by the Ministry of Defense, and is now being overtaken by an organization called Legion International.  The activities of the group are top secret, but people in town start to disappear, and act very strangely.  It quickly becomes apparent that something sinister is afoot, and the only one who may be able to stop it is The Doctor.

Being such a new fan to the Whoniverse, I have to admit that going into this book, I was completely unfamiliar with the Third Doctor.  I am only familiar with incarnations 9 and beyond.  So, I was worried that I might not be able to enjoy this book completely.  Turns out that fear was completely unfounded, because this book is brilliant.  The writing really conveyed what is at the heart of the series, and I actually saw the story unfold in my mind as if it were an actual episode.  It is writing like this that reminds me that it is immaterial which actor is playing The Doctor.  Because no matter what, it is still The Doctor.

I liked that the story was set on Earth, in a small town setting that was really relatable.  The setting enabled me to jump right in to the story, and start caring about some of the secondary characters from the get go.  The people in town were like people in my own town, so engagement in the story was, for me, immediate.  I also likes the turn of events regarding who Legion International really was, and who was pulling all the strings.  All in all the writing was just so completely solid, I have absolutely nothing but praise for the book.

Die hard fans of Doctor Who will most likely enjoy the book.  But even newer fans, like me, or people not really familiar with the series but still appreciative of science fiction/fantasy will be able to read the book and relate to it.  

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour of the entire Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Series here.

 

The Fast Metabolism Diet, by Haylie Pomroy

We have all known people who were rail thin and able to eat whatever they wanted without gaining a pound.  These people are blessed with a fast metabolism.  Wouldn't it be great if there was an easy way for everyone to speed up their metabolism to that level?  According to this book, there is.  By following a three phase diet each week for 4 weeks, you can repair your metabolism, and coax your body into becoming an efficient fuel burning machine.

I am always kind of skeptical when someone says there is a sure fire, easy way to lose weight, and this book is no exception.  In many ways, the information presented in the book does make a lot of sense, and is similar to other diet plans on the market, eliminating gluten, corn, processed sugar, things like that.  As someone who is gluten intolerant, I have become much more open minded about the idea that certain foods we would think would be good for us simply are not.  So, in that aspect, the information in the book makes a modicum of sense.

However, the concept that calories do not matter at all, and the concept of substantially larger portions for people who need to lose much more weight seem to contradict everything I have ever learned from any doctor or nutritionist.  Personally, I do not think I would be able to follow this plan.  There is a lot of frequent change in the types of foods you can and cannot eat, and I can imagine it would lead to higher grocery bills and a lot of wasted food, even if you do freeze a lot of your leftovers.  It seems really complicated to me, and I am not sure losing 20 pounds in 28 days is even a healthy goal in the first place.

If you are looking for a dietary plan, go talk to a doctor, a health coach, and a nutritionist to make an informed decision.  Do not just follow what is fashionable on a television show or in  a self help book.

I received a review copy courtesy of SheSpeaks in exchange for my honest review.

Our Love Could Light the World, by Anne Leigh Parrish

The Dugans are a family that always seems to be down on luck.  Working mother, disabled father, five young children, and a dog make up the family, moving frequently, but never moving forward.  Eventually the family becomes fractured, and the children grow up, but no matter what, their own unique version of love will forever hold them together.

I quite enjoyed this collection of short stories following the Dugan family over the years.  Because the stories all contained (basically) the same characters, we got the character development of a novel in short story chunks, where the story could focus on smaller, more specific themes.  I really enjoyed the structure of the book, because it seemed to present the best of both literary forms.  I especially liked watching the characters grow and change throughout the stories, even when those changes were not necessarily for the better.

The characters comprising the Dugan family are so relatable.  We all know kids like the Dugans.  Heck, at one point or another, many of us were kids like the Dugans.  So, the characters in the book come across as real, relatable, and painfully honest.  To me, that was very endearing.  I really cared about these characters; I wanted them to succeed 

Most of the stories deal with dark, heavy subject matter; divorce, alcoholism, emotional neglect, abuse.  Yet throughout the book, I often saw a glimmer of hope, and an odd kind of humor.  The book was a quick, easy read, mostly because it was so engaging.  Fans of short story collections will appreciate the book, but I think it will also appeal to fans of novel length contemporary literature as well.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.