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Tuesday, September 27, 2016
TTT: My Picks for Fall
2:50 PM
It's been a rough few days around my house and I think Top Ten Tuesday is just what the doctor ordered! The seasonal topics always generate my favorite lists. I'm excited to share the Books on My Fall TBR List and I'm excited to see your selections. If you want to join in (you do—it's fun!), simply click on over to The Broke and the Bookish, check out the rules of the game, create your own TTT post, then click around the book blogosphere to discover fabulous new blogs and get great reading recommendations.
Here's what I'm looking forward to reading this Fall. The Top Ten Book on My Fall TBR List are:
1. The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware—I'm almost done with this psychological thriller, which is messing with my head in the best possible way. Like In a Dark, Dark Wood, Ware's debut, this one features a woman in an isolated locale who's trying to figure out what really happened one fateful night. It's twistier and altogether more intriguing than Ware's first novel.
2. Danger Close by Amber Smith—I just received this one in the mail from the good folks over at Atria Books. It's a memoir by a combat helicopter pilot who just happens to hail from my teensy tiny hometown. I can't wait to read all about her adventures.
3. Blackbird Fly by Erin Entrada Kelly—I always like immigrant stories and because I lived in the Philippines for a year, the premise of this one really speaks to me.
4. Murder is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens—This middle grade novel about two friends who form a detective agency to investigate the death of a teacher at their boarding school sounds fun. I wonder how it will compare to The Scandalous Sisterhood of Pickwillow Place by Julie Berry?
5. Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead—I've never read anything by this award-winning author and her newest, a YA novel about friendship, sounds like an excellent place to start.
6. The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz—I've been wanting to read this middle grade historical about a Pennsylvania farm girl who takes a job in Baltimore in order to make a better life for herself for a while now.
7. Factory Girl by Josanne LaValley—This YA novel has a similar premise to that of #6. A 16-year-old girl from northern China who's forced to leave her home to work in a far-away factory learns how to survive—and thrive—in a foreign situation.
8. Beautiful Affliction by Lene Fogelberg—The author of this memoir sent me this book about her journey to find answers about a mysterious medical condition from which she was suffering. When she discovers what is happening, she's faced with an even bigger question: How much time does she have left? Sounds intriguing, no?
9. The Last September by Nina de Gramont—This murder mystery and family drama set on Cape Cod sounds compelling.
10. The First Time She Drowned by Kerry Kletter—An 18-year-old woman struggles to decide if she really wants a relationship with her mother, who forced her into a mental institution several years earlier. Sounds interesting.
So, there you have it ... ten books I'm looking forward to reading sometime soon. What's on your list? Have you read any of the books on mine? What did you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment on this post and I will happily return the favor.
Happy TTT!
*Book images from Barnes & Noble
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Pride and Prejudice An Enduring Charmer
10:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Whenever anyone asked me if I'd read Pride and Prejudice, I'd always reply, "Yes, yes, of course!" Not because I was purposely trying to make myself sound more literary, but because I truly thought I had read Jane Austen's popular work. Imagine my surprise, then, when I realized during a recent "re-read" of the classic novel that I was actually experiencing it for the first time. My only excuse is that I did turn 40 not so very long ago and my memory just ain't what it used to be ...
For anyone who hasn't read P&P yet, or who wants to sound like they have without actually expending the time to do so, here's a brief plot summary:
The Bennets have been "blessed" with five charming daughters. As the family is not wealthy, it's imperative that the girls marry well. Their conniving, manipulative mother has made it the "business of her life" (11) to see them all paired off to rich, influential men. When Mrs. Bennet learns that nearby Netherfield Park has been let—and to an eligible bachelor of large fortune, no less—she determines to snag the unsuspecting Mr. Bingley for her eldest daughter. In the process of wooing him, the family is introduced to Fitzwilliam Darcy, "the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world" (17). Although he and the amiable Bingley are best friends, the two are nothing alike. Much to the dismay of her mother, 22-year-old Elizabeth is drawn to the dark, broody stranger. As events spiral on, true natures are revealed and Lizzy finds that there is much more to the unpleasant Mr. Darcy than meets the eye ...
So much has been written about P&P that I'm not even going to attempt to wax eloquent about its many charms. Suffice it to say, Austen tells a delightful story full of warmth, wit, and wisdom. Its magic lies not in plot, but in its lively characters. Their interactions with each other teach great truths about human nature—and how little it's changed over the last 200 years. The flirtation, flattery, and finagling feel as modern as an iPhone 7. The novel's ability to transcend time is a large part of what makes it so appealing. The plethora of spin-offs that are still being created every year prove that today's readers respond just as heartily to the story as they always have.
Pride and Prejudice is not my favorite book in the whole world (that would be To Kill a Mockingbird); I'm not even sure it's my favorite Austen (I *think* I read Emma back in the day ...). Still, I enjoyed it. I read the Insight Edition from Bethany House, which is pictured above, and I'm not sure if this version's many footnotes added to the reading experience or distracted from it. If I were to read the novel again for the first time, I think I would choose an un-enhanced edition. The extra information in my book was fun, though.
Have you read Pride and Prejudice? Are you a die-hard Darcy girl? What's your favorite thing about the novel? What's the best spin-off you've read/seen? What do you think makes the story so enduring?
(Readalikes: Does anything else compare? Ideas?)
Grade:
If this were a movie (and it is!), it would be rated:
for mild thematic elements
To the FTC, with love: This copy of Pride and Prejudice is from my personal library.
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Carr's Signature Warmth Shines Through in First of New Series
8:44 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Stress is an everyday part of Maggie Sullivan's high-pressure life as a Denver neurosurgeon. It's so ingrained in her the 36-year-old almost doesn't notice that she's heading straight for a nervous breakdown. Dreading the results of a malpractice lawsuit against her, grieving a recent miscarriage, and trying to find her way after the break-up of a long-term relationship, Maggie's reached the end of her rope. There's only one place that can heal her broken spirit: Sullivan's Crossing.
A family campground near the intersection of the Colorado and Continental Divide Trails, Sullivan's Crossing has been in Maggie's family for generations. Now run by her estranged father, the place offers everything she needs—peace, quiet, distraction—even if it comes with a side of cantankerous old man. When Sully suffers a debilitating heart attack, Maggie finds herself sucked into caring for her father, his booming business, and a horde of needy tourists. It's a different kind of stress than she's used to, but it may be just what the doctor ordered for both Maggie and Sully.
Maggie can't turn down help right now, but she's still suspicious of Cal Jones, a handsome vagabond who's staying at the campground. She suspects he's not who he appears to be. She's right. As the two work together to keep the campground running, they discover surprising commonalities between them—and a passion with the potential to turn into more than just a fleeting campground romance. Can a summer fling heal two broken people? At Sullivan's Crossing, anything is possible ...
I'm not big on the genre as a whole, but I am a sucker for a good Robyn Carr romance. Carr is a warm, generous woman and those personality traits come through in a big way in everything she writes. I love her series set in snug little towns filled with good people who cherish their friends, family, and community. Fiery romances blossom continually in these locales—of course—echoing the cozy glow that emanates from the roads and rills of places like Virgin River, Grace Valley, and Thunder Point.
Like its fellows, Sullivan's Crossing is a place of beauty and belonging. The campground has its own personality, though, which makes it a fun setting. Its residents are warm and down-to-earth, characters who are both compelling and likable. Although the romance between Maggie and Cal is inevitable, I like that Carr gives it time to build into something that feels real. Sullivan's Crossing may not have the same place in my heart that Grace Valley and Virgin River do, but I enjoyed What We Find. It's the first book in a new series—I'm excited to see where it goes!
(Readalikes: Other books by Robyn Carr. She's too prolific for me to list all her novels, but you can learn about them on her very informative website.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a few F-bombs, plus milder expletives), sexual content, violence, and references to the consumption of illegal drugs
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of What We Find from the generous folks at Mira Books via those at Little Bird Publicity. Thank you!
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Jacobson's Love Letter to Louisiana Will Hit Y'all Right in the Feels (With a Giveaway!)
4:52 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Once upon a time, my husband and I took a very last-minute flight from Phoenix to New Orleans. Since neither of us had ever been to Louisiana, we planned to do a little sight-seeing when we arrived. Didn't happen. As soon as we landed, we got a call from the paralegal who worked for our adoption lawyer, telling us we could pick up our new baby a day earlier than planned. Needless to say, we high-tailed it to Baton Rouge. We flew out of tourist mode straight into the parents-of-a-newborn frenzy. By the time we flew out of the state, we'd seen little of Louisiana except for hospital and hotel rooms. Although I was ecstatic about our new baby girl, I was a little disappointed that we hadn't gotten to experience any of her birth area's colorful culture.
Reading about a place can never match experiencing a place, but after sinking into Southern Charmed by Melanie Jacobson, I feel like I've spent a week being romanced by my daughter's hometown, with all its many enchantments. Although there is plenty to love about Jacobson's newest, it's the setting that makes it stand out. A native of Baton Rouge, the author has penned a passionate and persuasive love letter to the city of her birth. And it's lovely.
The story revolves around Lila Mae Guidry, a 24-year-old high school teacher who loves her life in Baton Rouge. Although eligible LDS men of a certain age are a rare species in the city, she's prepared to remain single forever if that's what it takes to avoid yanking up her deep, deep Louisiana roots. What Lila's not prepared for is the return of Max Archer, the boy who humiliated her at her first Stake dance. At 26, her teenage tormentor is smart, successful, and full of the good graces he lacked as a kid. Not everything about him has changed, though—Max still thinks Baton Rouge is a redneck, backwater town where he would never consider settling on any kind of permanent basis. Lila can forgive him for most things, but not for that. Trouble is, she's falling for him. Hard. When push comes to shove, can she abandon the city she adores for the man she loves? Or will her Louisiana-love be the thing that tears the couple apart forever?
Although Southern Charmed is a light, breezy romance like this author's previous novels, it has more depth than the others. Take Lila, for instance—she's a typical Jacobson heroine, but the fact that she cares so much about both her underprivileged students and her mother's grief makes her infinitely more likable than her successors. Her story is fuller than theirs as well, giving it more substance. Add in the vibrant, Technicolor setting and I think it's safe to say that Jacobson has upped her game in a most satisfying way. Like its predecessors, Southern Charmed sparkles with warmth, romance, and the witty banter that Mel does so well. The ending is predictable, even cheesy, and yet I found myself sniffling and applauding at the same time. All the feels, I'm telling you, all the feels. I've always liked Melanie Jacobson, but Southern Charmed is her best yet. I adored it, y'all.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Until Summer Ends by Elana Johnson; also of other novels by Melanie Jacobson, including The List; Twitterpated; Second Chances; Not My Type; Smart Move; Always Will; and Painting Kisses)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for very mild sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Southern Charmed from the generous folks at Covenant in exchange for participating in the book's blog tour. Thank you!
--
Want more opinions on Southern Charmed? Follow the blog tour:
*Sept. 12th: http://mybookaday.
*Sept. 13th: http://
*Sept. 14th: http://melsshelves.
*Sept. 15th: http://
*Sept. 16th:http://booksaresanity.
Enter to win your own copy of Southern Charmed as well as a $25 Amazon gift card:
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