100 Years of Lenni and by Margot Review

 100 Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

This book was absolutely beautiful and poignant and heartbreaking and lovely.

Lenni is a young woman with a fatal diagnosis. Margot is an old woman with a fatal diagnosis. Together their ages equal 100 years. Living in the hospital, Lenni and Margot meet and form a sweet friendship.

Lenni can’t really relate to any kids her age anymore. However, she feels a connection with someone who understands what it means to know the end is just around the next bend. Margot has lived a long life and has so many stories to tell. Lenni will not live a long life and happily  listens to all that Margot is willing to share.

Together Lenni and Margot create something impactful during their time together in art class. They create something that will live beyond their lives — a legacy.

I really, really recommend this wonderful book. 

Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind Review

 Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind

By Molly McGee

There is something special about this book — the language and feeling… it’s charming even as the story itself is frightening and depressing. I don’t mean that negatively.

This book focuses on Jonathan Abernathy, a young man who is facing the endless battle of capitalism. Student debt, inherited debt, lame job options… it’s all so believable and suffocating.

Have you ever played “Scum”? If you’re on the bottom, you have to give up your best cards and it feels impossible to move up. If you’re on the top, then you have many advantages to keep you on top. That is the world of capitalism and this book so perfectly depicts the hopeless struggle that so many people face in capitalist societies.

I really hope that Molly McGee writes more — I am anxious to read whatever she does next.

I got a free copy of this book through NetGalley that I might write an honest review.

Book Review: See How They Run

See How They Run by Ally Carter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars (more like 3 and a half)

I really liked this and am really excited for the next to come out. There were a few phrases that became very cliche throughout this book and the first, however they didn't detract from the story or the characters. This book (and the preceding one) probably contain my least favorite protagonist, however I didn't dislike her. I just didn't like her as much as the protagonists in Heist Society and Gallagher Girls.

A clean read with lots of action and intrigue and a little romance. When will they kiss already?!? ;)

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A great giveaway!

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Book Review: The Stepsister's Tale

The Stepsister's Tale by Tracy Barrett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this as an early-read on Netgalley.

I was impressed by this book.  It was a lovely, light, clean fairytale that reimagined "Cinderella".  Even though there were a lot of changes to the story it was more believable, more real, more heartwarming than the original fairytale/ Disney movie, etc.

I want a copy of this book for my own.  I love a good fairytale and am always looking for well-written ones.  It can be harder to find them than one would think.  This was well-written, not cheesy, sweet, sentimental, and believable.

Definitely worth a read.

Book Review: What Alice Forgot

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow. I mean.... wow. This book is a book that maybe every married lady (and man!) should read. Especially in a marriage that is struggling. Just.... wow. Deep and moving and tragic and full of hope...

A story of a marriage that is basically over when the wife has an accident that causes severe memory loss (i.e. the last ten years of her life) which puts her in a position to see her marriage and (soon to be ex) husband in the light of a newly-married and very much in love wife instead of the hard, jaded, angry, hurt, and bitter wife, sister, and mother she has become.

Alice finds a way to find the middle ground where forgiveness, love, understanding, and lightness exist and it is magnificent in its way.

What if in our lives we were granted to opportunity to see ourselves now through younger, more optimistic eyes... what if we were able to forget the hurts and frustrations towards others that we let get in the way of a fulfilling relationship? What if we could see our spouses as they are without the years of little nit-picky things that irritate us and be reminded about why we fell in love in the first place? BUT THEN!!! To be able to remember and come to a place where we could forgive because we have been reminded of how important our love is?
Liane Moriarty presents these ideas and a lovely story that includes the best-possible outcome forging the blindness of early love with the depth of shared-experience and forgiveness.

Worth a read. But... watch out for some swears.

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Book Review: The Wednesday Wars

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Some books catch you within the first few lines and hold onto you until the book is finished. This is one of those. I have struggled lately to be interested in a book and keep reading after the first few pages... I've just lost interest. Then I picked up this book and immediately felt invested and happy to be reading it. I fell in love.

The voice of this book is so strong and well done. The characters are real and believable and complex. The plot is a mish-mash (but with constant and continuing elements that keep it cohesive), but in a way that fits. After all, it is the story of a teenage boy's life in seventh grade.

I just... I'm so impressed. The main character, Holling Hoodhood (silly name, yes?)is such a well-rounded character who is silly and serious and juvenile and mature and just everything you think a teenage boy really is. He grows and learns to stand up for himself, he learns to forgive, he learns empathy and adventure and compassion.... just. Tsk. SOOOO GOOD.

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Book Review: Wrapped

Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Inventive addition to the typical paranormal - Egyptian paranormalcy in a Regency setting. I enjoyed the book, really I did, though what I have to say next might make it seem otherwise. The intrigue was a little dry for a long time and the author failed to capture a spirit of nervousness and danger (that one would expect to go along with her plot) with her writing. It was an adventure-filled book with the genteel feel of a much tamer story. That disappointed me, the feel of the book being all wrong. I wanted to feel anxious and to be on the edge of my seat to find out how these characters could possibly survive.....! But. I never did. However, I did like it and am definitely anxious to read the next.

As for the cover... Personally I like the following best.  How about you?



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Book review: Crescendo

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A little dirty. Not my thing, but not enough to make me feel like I had to put the book down. A few bits I had to skim...

A well-written story, for the most part, but not written well enough that it was particularly memorable, either. I don't know. I liked it. It wasn't anything special or spectacular, really, but I liked it. The author has some neat, fresh ideas (scars that when you touch them show you someone's past... I thought that was particularly inventive) and a fast moving plot that keeps you reading.

A lot of the romance stuff in the book and she made the love interest seem like a REALLY BIG MEANIE HEAD. Then all of a sudden after everything he does to the main girl she just... forgives him. Meanwhile she's also been throwing herself at him and acting crazy and obsessed and then throwing herself at other guys too. That whole middle part of the love story and the book... really ridiculously immature and somewhat irritating. Could have done without it. There were other ways he could have pulled away while not being such a poop and making us hate him. It makes her feelings and obsession towards him unbelievable and made me, as a reader, think she was acting like a doormat. It also made it very unbelievable when they were all-of-a-sudden back together.

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Book Review: The Grand Tour

The Grand Tour by Patricia C. Wrede
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I had a hard time staying interested in this book. I really struggled with the writing of the author that was Cecelia's voice. In both books,actually, we were supposed to believe she loved James, but she barely said two words in any sort of loving sentiment. I felt that was extremely disappointing as it took a lot of the reader's ability to believe the character as a narrator away.

The intrigue was interesting, but not particularly spectacular. The plot was well-arranged and ended without loose ends, which was satisfying, anyway.

Not a terrific book, but not terrible. If you read and enjoyed the first you would most likely enjoy this book.

I wouldn't know which audience to suggest this book to. It is written somewhat simply that would imply it is for a middle-school audience, but some of the words and some of the hints at romantic encounters between a husband and wife put it a little older than that. The cover also seems more juvenile.... I don't know. Maybe a mature middle schooler.

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Book Review: Frannie in Pieces

Frannie in Pieces by Delia Ephron
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked the question posed: what rules, your head or your heart? And the conclusion that it's your heart. Life is an illusion because what we see is always filtered through what we feel. We see what we feel -- not always facts.
When fifteen year old daddy's-girl Frannie's dad dies and leaves everything to her she has the sad task of going through his house. Her dad is an artist and his medium is wood. He created a puzzle from a picture of a coastal Italian town. When Frannie starts putting it together she gets sucked in more than once. As she gets closer to putting the puzzle together she finds out a little more about her dad. It isn't until she finds him in the puzzle, though that she can piece everything together and realize that even though her parents are divorced, they loved each other and it seems to give her peace in dealing with her dad's death and in her relationship with her mom.
Meanwhile she's working as an arts and crafts counselor at a kids' summer camp and she meets a cute boy who is soooo not her type -- until he just might be.
This book has a cute voice with real characters. It's a quick read with deep thoughts. Overall really enjoyed the book.

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Book Review: Red Harvest

Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not as good as Maltese (or at least, I didn't think so), but as always I am blown away by Dashiell Hammet's talent in writing a novel.  He's just.... amazing.  Truly.  His descriptions create a vivid picture and never, ever feel cliche.  His dialogue and use of slang fitting the setting (time period and crime etc.) is believable and authentic.  The story is always intricate and gripping.

If you like crime novels, or just really, really amazingly well-written books then pick up something by Dashiell Hammet.


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Two Free Amazon E- book downloads!

Heads up, readers!  Free e-book downloads.  The links are here:


Fall For You - Jane Austen Academy

and

A Little Bit Cupid

Blog Tour: Book review: "Rook" by Monica MacDonald

Rook by Monica MacDonald

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Welcome readers.... one and all!!! Glad to have you here as part of the blog tour

for Monica Mac Donald and her book, "Rook".

A blurb about Rook by Monica MacDonald

Could you be the monster to save who you love?

Two women, separated by generations, must leave what they know to start a new life. Seventeen-year-old Kate's senior year is ruined when she's moved from the only home she's ever known. After an isolating month alone in her apartment, school starts, but neither her classmates nor her teacher are who they seem. Kali, a single mother living in the nineteenth century wilds of Montana, is stalked by a malicious past. She fights to keep her daughter safe while her freedom is threatened by her less than benevolent benefactor. Both find love, and with it hope, but that is quickly ripped away as one woman must learn the lessons of the other -- before it's too late to save either.

Find the book: Goodreads | Amazon

I am grateful to Candace for setting up this blog tour and letting me be a part of it.


So.  Here it is.... my review.

Wow.  Can I just say that I loved the twist?  I can't even tell you the thing I loved most because it is closely tied to the plot, but let me just say: this is no ordinary paranormal book.  No vampires or werewolves here.  I am not hating on those types of books, I'm just always impressed by authors who go beyond that.  Seek out fresh, new paranormal characters.  That is what I loved most about this.

I really cared about the good characters by the end.  They aren't perfect or bold or powerful, but they make you feel for them and they try hard and they are good 'til the end.  I appreciate that in a book.  It makes it easier to get lost in the world the author has created if there are characters that you can care about... invest in.

This book also drew me in.  I couldn't let go of what was happening and when life intervened and forced me to close my computer I kept looking for a few moments to sit down and read some more.

Finally... this book was almost entirely clean.  I mean, how often does that happen anymore?  There were a few bits and pieces that flirted with being dirty, but not many.  I am always so grateful and relieved by that.  I really am.  Plus, good news for the author... I can read your whole book without skipping a bunch.  :)

All right, readers... I'll officially say this was not a waste of my time.  Try it... you might find you quite like it.  Take care!

Oh and p.s. if you wanna try to win a $50 Amazon gift card as part of this blog tour go here: GIVEAWAY!!!!

About the Author Monica MacDonald:

Monica is a married graduate student with three boys. Utah is home right now, but the need to wander has extended beyond the fantasy world of writing and into real life. She's lived all around the US and even into the Middle East. The world is really a small place, only made bigger through imagination.

Find the author: Website/Blog | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads 

Oh and hey, if you liked my review and want to read more, follow my blog.  I'm always adding new book reviews and by following me you'll be able to keep up!  I know I can always use more book suggestions.  Thanks so much for stopping by and thanks again, Candace.

Book Review: The Mark of Athena

The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ick. Well, that's not really fair, I guess. The story kept me reading and sucked me in like all the other stories about Percy and his friends. However a lot (A LOT) of the dialog was inauthentic and whenever Rick Riordan tried to appeal to teen readers with his writing it was awkward, weird, and just difficult to read. The "romantic" scenes felt particularly forced.

However. I am DYING to read the next book and still really love and am interested in all of these characters. The action, pacing, and intrigue were as good as ever. Three stars because of the awkward dialogue being balanced out by a lot of great things.

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Blog Tour: A Holiday Miracle

 

Welcome bloggers and blog readers!  I am excited to once again participate in a blog tour for Cedar Fort.  This time was particularly fun because I am definitely thinking a lot about Christmas and feeling ready for the Christmas season to get started.

This is June McCrary Jacobs.  Isn't she cute?  I just wanna hug her.

This is June's book.  Love the cover.  LOVE.  So Christmas-y and romantic and absolutely pretty.

This book was an ultra quick read (which is perfect when you want to read a little romance and feel a little boost of Christmas spirit, but you don't have time because, you know... life).  The story moved quickly and didn't leave time for the reader to be bored.

This book was clean -- squeaky, blessedly clean.  Love it!!!  I have read some "clean" romances that aren't exactly clean, but this one definitely was.  I am always so grateful for that.  I hate having to constantly be on my guard when it comes to the content of books.  I hate having to skip paragraphs or pages.  I definitely didn't have to be on my guard with this book.

This book told a lovely story... a story about a little girl and her family going through something difficult and traumatic and their community that comes together to make a difference.  What a heart-warming and sweet way to remind us of the good we can do when we step outside ourselves and love our neighbor.

Thank you, June and thank you Cedar Fort for letting me be a part of this blog tour.  I am grateful to be reminded ahead of time that I should love and serve more, especially at Christmas.

Happy day and [early] happy Christmas!!!

Blog Tour: Carla Kelly's Christmas Collection

Carla Kelly's Christmas Collection by Carla Kelly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Welcome Carla Kelly fans... new, old, and soon-to-be... I am glad to be participating in this blog tour. A big thanks to Cedar Fort for giving me the opportunity to read this book and be a part of this.

I am now in a Christmas-y mood.  What fun!  I usually put my tree up the day after Halloween... I know that'll bug some people... but I love it! So, no hating. ;)

So, this book is comprised of four short stories.  The first three were, to me, the most Christmas-y.

The first story is about a father looking for the right husband for his bookish daughter.  He has someone in mind, but so does his son. And so does his other daughter.  The man he has picked is scholarly and scatterbrained and just a bit... oblivious. He sticks his foot in his mouth a lot. A lot, a lot.  The pick by her brother is everything a woman might seem to wish for: handsome, important, wealthy, worldly... and a little bit pompous.  The final candidate is not so much spoken about other than that he is lame.  Misunderstandings, confusion, and all around chaos ensues.  It was fun and a little silly with a sweet romance mixed in.

The second story is about a small town with a crummy choir.  Mrs. Chard (The Dowager Lady Wythe) is determined to change that.  It is also about Peter Chard, a single father with two children, Will and Emma.  Somehow Peter gets roped into recruiting new singers for the choir.  Along the way he meets a beautiful, if slightly common, woman.  She is pregnant and a widow... living with her late husband's family and quite unwelcome.  Yet another lovely love story that made me want to snuggle up and drink cocoa.

The third story is about a sea captain who loses his first mate  in a battle with the French. He is battle weary and hardened by all he has seen.  His ship is broken and will require some repairs.  After holing up at Portsmouth he is surprised to meet the niece and nephew of his late first mate... they've come to him with nowhere else to go.  Since he is dead our lovely sea captain takes them under his wing for Christmas -- returning to his estranged mother and brother.  A lovely story that talks about how events can change us for better or for worse and how the worst events can still make us strong and good people.  It also broaches the topic of attitude in adversity.  I quite appreciated the deeper moral here.  The love story was also sweet and the protagonists were flawed, but likeable.

The final story is about a girl, Sarah Comstock, fleeing French-occupied Spain.  She meets up with an old friend of her brother's (her brother was shot and killed while trying to copy some old letters concerning Columbus).  The friend she meets up with ends up just kind of... disappearing, which was a little strange.  This friend left her in the care of Colonel Sotomayor.  After some trouble from the French, Sarah and the colonel find themselves separated from the other soldiers and being hunted for some as yet unknown reason by the French.
Because this is set in Spain they talk about the way the Spanish celebrate Christmas.  It feels well-researched and authentic.  It doesn't entirely feel Christmas-y, but that is a small thing.


Overall, I really, really enjoyed this collection of Christmas stories.  I want to purchase the paperback just so that when I feel like being in a Christmas-y mood I'll have a good, cozy book to snuggle up with and get lost in for a moment.

I don't feel as though I wasted my time at all and, like I said, I feel like buying this book -- an indication of my approval.

Here it is, October 8th... Christmas will be here before you know it.  If you are like me and can't hardly wait, then get this book now and read it!  If you like waiting until after Thanksgiving, then make sure you get this book and have it ready... the day after Thanksgiving will arrive and this book will definitely put you in a very holiday mood.  It is a lovely, festive read that will touch your heart and make you smile.

Thanks for stopping by and... Happy (early) Christmas!


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Book Review: How the Hangman Lost His Heart

How the Hangman Lost His Heart by K.M. Grant
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I have struggled with rating this book. I don't really feel it deserves a 2, but I didn't like it enough to give it a three. So for the writing, cleverness, and ability of the author to be morbid without being utterly gruesome... I give it a 3.  But for the fact that I will never read it again and don't really care that I ever read it, and don't really think I'd suggest it to anyone... I give it a 2.

Overall, it was fine.  The characters were complex enough to be interesting, but simple enough to keep the book light.  The content matter was very grown-up, but the writing suggested a younger audience.  This book was placed in the YA section of my library, and I suppose it fits.  Adult (ish) content... child (ish) writing so it ends up being somewhere in between.  I think that if the author had pushed herself she could have written an impressive adult fiction (not the dirty kind) novel or even a truly stunning YA novel.  Alas the book just rests easy in the safe and simple category.

There were some ridiculous (and I mean that in a good way) parts, and some clever parts, and even one or two laugh out loud parts.  I don't think I'd rate it a waste of time, but it might be.  This one will definitely depend on the reader. (Most do, I know, but some books really are quite horrid and others are worth giving a chance for almost everybody.)

Book Review: A Proper Pursuit

A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was impressed. I think I would rate this a 3.5, honestly. I thought it looked cute when I saw it at my friend's house and am glad I asked to borrow it.

Not a waste of time.

The main girl reminded me a lot of Catherine Morland in, Northanger Abbey with her wild and overactive imagination and silliness. She was lovely and cute and funny and fanciful and just a little ridiculous.

And Silas was lovely, too.

The book had a lot of silliness and fluffy-ness, but the main character, Violet spent the book having her eyes opened to the silliness and fluffy-ness of her world.  She had to spend a lot of time deciding what was worthwhile and where her place was in the world.  Set in a time when the world is on the cusp of change,  Violet has to find a place somewhere between the excitement of the new world and the safety and goodness of certain traditional values.

I was also really impressed with the obvious level of research that went into this book.  The knowledge the author has about the World Fair that year, what the exhibits were, etc.  She does a wonderful job bringing Chicago in 1839 to life.



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Book Review: Prank Wars

Prank Wars by Stephanie Fowers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So I found the characters in Stephanie Fowers's previous books... obnoxious after a while (sorry to sound harsh... they just... grated the nerves) and so it kind of ruined the books for me. But this book???? Not so much. Fun, crazy action with a surprising twist halfway (ish) through with characters that are likeable and not nearly so whiny and harsh. She is bitter like the other two main character girls in "Meet Your Match" and the other one "Rules of Engagement", but there's less of her preaching than the other two and so it doesn't get old.

Not a waste of time. Clean. And I love Lord Byron's character. Love.

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