Tag Archives: book recommendation

2015 Book #114 – Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams

Posted in Book reviews, Historical fiction by

510xRpLXrWLTitle: Along the Infinite Sea
Author: Beatriz Williams
Date finished: 11/10/15
Genre: Historical fiction
Publisher: G.P. Putnam Son’s
Publication Date: November 3, 2015
Pages in book: 461
Stand alone or series: Can be read as a stand alone but there are other novels starring characters in this book (Tiny Pretty Things = Pepper’s sister Tiny and The Secret Life of Violet Grant tells Vivian’s story somewhat I think)
Where I got the book from: NetGalley NOTE: I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.

Blurb from the cover:

Each of the three Schuyler sisters has her own world-class problems, but in the autumn of 1966, Pepper Schuyler’s problems are in a class of their own. When Pepper fixes up a beautiful and rare vintage Mercedes and sells it at auction, she thinks she’s finally found a way to take care of herself and the baby she carries, the result of an affair with a married, legendary politician.
But the car’s new owner turns out to have secrets of her own, and as the glamorous and mysterious Annabelle Dommerich takes pregnant Pepper under her wing, the startling provenance of this car comes to light: a Nazi husband, a Jewish lover, a flight from Europe, and a love so profound it transcends decades. As the many threads of Annabelle’s life from World War II stretch out to entangle Pepper in 1960s America, and the father of her unborn baby tracks her down to a remote town in coastal Georgia, the two women must come together to face down the shadows of their complicated pasts.
Indomitable heroines, a dazzling world of secrets, champagne at the Paris Ritz, and a sweeping love story for the ages, in New York Times bestselling author Beatriz William’s final book about the Schuyler sisters.

My rating: 4.5 stars out of a scale of 5

My review: I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. First of all, I just have to say Wow. This book really gets your heart pumping and just keeps you right on the edge of your seat. This book tells the story of Pepper Schuyler, who is pregnant and trying to hide out so the baby’s father won’t find her. Which sounds bad but is actually pretty reasonable considering the father is is being, lets call it forcefully persuasive, for her to get rid of the baby. But Pepper wants to keep the baby, she just doesn’t want any involvement from the father, she wants the baby all for herself. Pepper’s story becomes involved with Annabelle Dommerich’s story when Annabelle pays Pepper an exorbitant amount of money for a refurbished classic car that it appears used to belong to her. Annabelle fled Germany in that car in 1938 and it brings a wealth of memories rushing back to her. The book alternates between the late 1930’s and 1966, between Annabelle’s story in Europe and Pepper (and Annabelle’s) story in the present day.
Pepper comes to stay with Annabelle after they meet. Annabelle feels a connection to Pepper even though they don’t know that much about each other because Annabelle was once pregnant and unwed too. And she can tell that Pepper is hiding out so she decides to help. But then all of a sudden Annabelle disappears and then her son Florian shows up looking for her. So Pepper tags along while Florian goes to look for his mother. Back in the late 1930’s we hear about Annabelle’s life in Paris and then in Germany during the rise of Hitler’s power. We hear of the horrible things that are beginning to happen as a result of Nazi power and we see Annabelle’s fear for her son and her son’s father.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. I feel like I should have seen the ending coming but I had no idea and to be honest I am not 100% sure how I feel about the ending. I don’t want to say too much about it because I think it is a great twist of fate in the book and I don’t want to ruin it for anyone reading this book in the future but a part of me was so mad about the ending and another part of me thinks I liked it better that way. In a way I think the ending actually fit better with the story line even if it wasn’t necessarily my first choice. And all through the book I was thinking about what a heart-breaking and beautiful love story it was and it ended in a heart-breaking-ly beautiful way so I can’t decide how I feel exactly. Other than that though the story line once you get into it is riveting and I didn’t want to put the book down. The last 50 pages I think too I was on the edge of my seat with my heart pounding screaming “RUN” over and over again in my head so get ready for some good action with this book.

The bottom line: I really liked this book a lot a lot. It was thrilling and heart-wrenching and just great. Would definitely recommend and I can’t wait to read this author’s other books!!!

Link to author website

Click on the cover to go to the book’s Amazon page

SPOTLIGHT TOUR – The Best Laid Wedding Plans by Lynnette Austin WITH Giveaway!!

Posted in Blog tour, For the love of books by

Best Laid Wedding Plans graphic

The Best Laid Wedding Plans by Lynnette Austin was released today and to celebrate I am participating in a Spotlight Tour for the book! If you haven’t already seen it, you can find my review of the book here. See below for more information about the book, an excerpt, and a fun character profile of one of the character’s you’ll find in the book. Also included below is a giveaway where you can win a copy of the book!

Summary 

SOME DREAMS ARE WORTH WHATEVER IT TAKES

Jenni Beth Beaumont left her broken heart behind when she took her dream job in Savannah. But after her brother’s death, Jenni Beth returns home to help mend her parents’ hearts as well as restore their beautiful but crumbling antebellum mansion. New dreams take shape as Jenni Beth sets to work replacing floors and fixing pipes to convert the family homestead into the perfect wedding destination. However, some folks in their small Southern town are determined to see her fail.

Cole Bryson was once the love of Jenni Beth’s life, but the charming architectural salvager has plans of his own for the Beaumont family home. As the two butt heads, old turmoil is brought to the surface and Cole and Jenni Beth will have to work through some painful memories and tough realities before they can set their pasts aside and have a second chance at their own happily ever after.

Excerpt

Her experienced gaze scrutinized the scene, took in both the setting and the people, alert for any problems. The arbor, with its draping of wisteria, had turned out beautifully and smelled like heaven itself. The bride’s family, the groom’s family—both wore expressions of happiness mixed with a touch of relief.

Jenni Beth’s eyes drifted to the flower girl. Daniella was antsy, her little fingers busily plucking the lace from the basket that held rose petals. And what in the world was Ricky, the ring bearer, doing to his shoelaces? Her eyes narrowed. Had he tied them together? Oh, boy.

As the sun set, the minister announced the newly joined Mr. and Mrs. Talbot, and Jenni Beth clapped with the rest of the guests while checking to make sure the walkway remained clear. The music began on cue, and the happy couple started down the aisle, hands laced, smiles bright.

When the ring bearer tripped, the best man scooped him onto one shoulder, diverting a minor catastrophe. She’d have to remember to thank him for the quick thinking.

If the reception went as smoothly, she could congratulate herself on a job well done.

While the bride and groom funneled their guests through the receiving line, Jenni Beth bolted to a separate section of the garden to make sure the cake, the bubbly, and the band were in place. She did a last-minute check on table settings, place cards, candles—the list was never ending.

The music started, the bridal party wended their way to the area, and the celebration began.

As the evening wore on, Jenni Beth relaxed.

A familiar voice whispered in her ear. “Dance with me.”

Cole Bryson. She hadn’t seen his name on the guest list.

Shivers raced down her spine, and her heart stuttered. It had been too long, not long enough. “No.”

She wouldn’t turn around, wouldn’t meet those mesmerizing eyes.

His hands settled on her bare arms, and she nearly jumped. As the work-roughened hands moved over her skin, her stomach started a little dance of its own.

“I’m working, Cole.”

“Nothin’ needs doin’ right now. Come on, sugar.”

Knowing she shouldn’t, she turned to face him. Mistake. She always had found him irresistible, and that hadn’t changed. He’d perfected that slow Southern drawl, had the sound of a true gentleman. But the twinkle in his eyes gave him away. Revealed the bad boy tucked not far below the surface.

Right now, dressed in a dark suit and tie, the man looked like every woman’s dream. He appeared smooth and debonair, but beneath lay the wild.

He took her hand, and, God forgive her, she followed him, weak-kneed onto the portable dance floor, telling herself she didn’t want to, that she only did it to keep peace. Knowing she lied.

A full moon shone overhead and candlelight flickered. When he drew her into his arms and pulled her close, she sighed. One hand held hers, the other settled south of her waist.

“You smell good, Jenni Beth. You always do.”

His voice, low and husky, sent goosebumps racing up and down her arms. Despite herself, she rested her head against his chest, seduced by the strong, steady beat of his heart, the illusion he could make everything and anything all right.

Misty Bottoms Character Profiles

Here is some extra information on one of the characters from the book:

Full Name: Thomas Eugene Crenshaw

Nickname: Tommy

Occupation: Own and operate Tommy’s Texaco

Physical description: Five-feet-ten and muscular with a mass of wiry, copper-colored hair and green eyes. He generally wears coveralls and a baseball cap.

Age: 40

Describe yourself in 100 words or less: 

I grew up here in Misty Bottoms and played linebacker the year we took the district championship. That was a big moment, let me tell you! I’d just turned twenty-one when I married Erlene, the prettiest little gal in the Low Country. My dad and his dad before him, both named Thomas by the way, ran the Texaco station here in town. My friend Beck and I are kind of alike in that way. We both inherited our futures, occupation-wise anyway. Sooner or later everybody in town wanders into my place. I’m a lot like a bartender in that they all talk to me, share their stories with me. But I can keep a secret. 

What is your favorite thing about living in Misty Bottoms? Where in Misty Bottoms can you most often be found? 

I’m rather fond of the laid-back way of life here in Misty Bottoms. Of course the fact that we’ve got the Savannah River right in our backyard’s no hardship, either. I spend the best part of my time at the gas station, but that’s not so bad. I enjoy talking to my customers. They’re all my friends. 

When not working, how do you spend your time? 

I love to fish. Erlene and I pack a lunch and a jug of iced tea and head down to the river. We have a little boat, nothing fancy, but it runs real good. I fish and Erlene reads her romance novels. 

If money was no object and you had 3 weeks of vacation, what would you do with your time? 

I’d head to Ft. Lauderdale to the Barrett-Jackson Auction and buy myself a sweet little ‘Vette like the ’65 Jenni Beth Beaumont drives, with a side trip to the Keys for some deep-sea fishin’. 

Describe your dream wedding: 

I don’t need to dream about it. I already lived it. When Erlene came down the aisle in that white lace gown, my heart about burst out of my chest. She carried pink roses and her family Bible. We kept it simple. For the reception, our mamas and our aunts made all the food, and Ms. Kitty did our cake. Best day of my life!

Lynnette Austin photoAuthor Bio 

The luxury of staying home when the weather turns nasty, of working in PJs and bare feet, and the fact that daydreaming is not only permissible but encouraged, are a few of the reasons middle school teacher Lynnette Austin gave up the classroom to write full-time. Lynnette grew up in Pennsylvania’s Alleghany Mountains, moved to Upstate New York, then to the Rockies in Wyoming. Presently she and her husband divide their time between Southwest Florida’s beaches and Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. A finalist in RWA’s Golden Heart Contest, PASIC’s Book of Your Heart Contest, and Georgia Romance Writers’ Maggie Contest, she’s published five books as Lynnette Hallberg. She’s currently writing as Lynnette Austin. Having grown up in a small town, that’s where her heart takes her—to those quirky small towns where everybody knows everybody…and all their business, for better or worse.

You can find more information about the author on her website. Also make sure to check out her Facebook page, I know she’s giving away some fun prizes today since its release day!

Giveaway

Click HERE to enter into a giveaway for 5 copies of The Best Laid Wedding Plans and a wedding garter!

2015 Book #111 – Rogue Knight by Regan Walker

Posted in Book reviews, Historical Romance by

61r1EcuRNUL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_Title: Rogue Knight
Author: Regan Walker
Date finished: 10/26/15
Genre: Historical romance
Publisher: Regan Walker (self-published)
Publication Date: October 7, 2015
Pages in book: 267
Stand alone or series: #2 in Medieval Warriors series
Where I got the book from: Author/publisher NOTE: I received this book for free from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.

Blurb from the cover:

York, England 1069… three years after the Norman Conquest
The North of England seethes with discontent under the heavy hand of William the Conqueror, who unleashes his fury on the rebels who dare to defy him. Amid the ensuing devastation, love blooms in the heart of a gallant Norman knight for a Yorkshire widow.
A LOVE NEITHER CAN DENY, A PASSION NEITHER CAN RESIST
Angry at the cruelty she has witnessed at the Normans’ hands, Emma of York is torn between her loyalty to her noble Danish father, a leader of the rebels, and her growing passion for an honorable French knight.
Loyal to King William, Sir Geoffroi de Tournai has no idea Emma hides a secret that could mean death for him and his fellow knights.
WAR DREW THEM TOGETHER, WAR WOULD TEAR THEM APART
War erupts, tearing asunder the tentative love growing between them, leaving each the enemy of the other. Will Sir Geoffroi, convinced Emma has betrayed him, defy his king to save her?

My rating: 3.5 stars out of a scale of 5

My review: I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. This book tells the story of Emma of York and the Norman knight she falls in love with, Sir Geoffroi de Tournai. To be honest I’ve never been that great with history so it was a little hard for me at first to keep up with what was going on. There was a lot of political stuff going on, many of which it seems are based on real events,though I didn’t know that while reading the book (see mention before of being bad with history). Geoffroi is a knight for William the Conqueror, the current king of England. He doesn’t really seem to be a great king though since a lot of his knights are treating the people of York quite badly, I would think as a king you would want to encourage peace and obedience, not rebellion.
Anyways, Emma is the daughter of a wealthy thegn (Maerleswein) who was displaced when William took power. Seeing his people so poorly treated, Maerleswein has been working with Edgar and the previous Earl of Cospatrick to instill an uprising within the people of York. They have also been arranging to receive help from their allies, King Malcolm of Scotland and King Sweyn of Denmark. There is a good description of the battle scenes within the book, and while they are obviously violent, I don’t think they were overly violent and did not make the book off-putting for me. Geoffroi begins to court Emma even though he doesn’t know who her father is. He helps her many times through the beginning of the book and she returns the favor by saving his life.
Overall I did enjoy this book. I liked Emma and Geoffroi as characters, as well as their friends and family who surrounded them. I think I would have ended up enjoying this book more if I had more historical knowledge of the time period the book was set in, I did struggle a little at first with keeping up with what was going on. I would definitely say do not let that discourage you from trying this book though, I just kept notes at first to keep track of what was what and it turned out just fine. I thought this was a good romance novel and I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

The bottom line: I enjoyed this book, the story line kept me interested throughout. There was more violence than I’m used to in a romance novel but not so much that it put me off from the book. I look forward to reading more by this author!

Link to author website

Click on the cover to go to the book’s Amazon page

2015 Book #108 – If You’re Lucky by Yvonne Prinz

Posted in Book reviews, Fiction, Thriller by

51moAp8QXyLTitle: If You’re Lucky
Author: Yvonne Prinz
Date finished: 10/15/15
Genre: Psychological thriller
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Publication Date: October 20, 2015
Pages in book: 278
Stand alone or series: Stand alone
Where I got the book from: NetGalley NOTE: I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.

Blurb from the cover:

Is Georgia’s mind playing tricks on her, or is the entire town walking into the arms of a killer who has everyone but her fooled?
When seventeen-year-old Georgia’s brother drowns while surfing halfway around the world in Australia, she refuses to believe that Lucky’s death was just bad luck. Lucky was smart. He wouldn’t have surfed in waters more dangerous than he could handle. Then a stranger named Fin arrives in False Bay, claiming to have been Lucky’s best friend. Soon Fin is working for Lucky’s father, charming Lucky’s mother, dating Lucky’s girlfriend. Georgia begins to wonder: Did Fin murder her brother in order to take over his whole life?
Determined to clear the fog from her mind in order to uncover the truth about Lucky’s death, Georgia secretly stops taking the medication that keeps away the voices in her head. She is certain she’s getting closer and closer to the truth about Fin, but as she does, her mental state becomes more and more precarious, and no one seems to trust what she’s saying.
As the chilling narrative unfolds, the reader must decide whether Georgia’s descent into madness is causing her to see things that don’t exist–or to see the deadly truth.

My rating: 3.75 stars out of a scale of 5

My review: I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. This book is about Georgia, a seventeen year old girl whose brother (Lucky) dies suddenly in Australia while surfing. Georgia has trouble dealing with her brother’s death, and her lack of control makes her want to stop taking her medication for her previously diagnosed schizophrenia. And then a boy named Fin starts hanging around more. And he inserts himself in what used to be Lucky’s life. Befriends his friends, takes his old jobs, starts dating his girlfriend, makes nice with Georgia’s parents. It seems like every time she turns around, Fin is filling up the hole that Lucky left behind. But something doesn’t feel right to Georgia. So many pieces of Fin’s story don’t add up and Georgia starts to wonder if maybe Lucky’s death wasn’t so accidental after all.
Overall I really liked this book. It was riveting and it kept me on the edge of my seat. I thought it was really interesting to hear the story from Georgia’s point of view since (especially once she stopped taking her meds) it was sometimes difficult to tell what was real and what wasn’t. Normally that would have frustrated me to no end but in this story it just made me all the more interested. I didn’t care as much as to what was real and what wasn’t because it was all real to Georgia and she and I were in this together! Anyways Georgia goes off the deep end a bit but she figures it out in the end. I thought that the ending of this book went just a tad too quickly. There was a whole book of build up and then bam it all happened so fast at the end I almost missed it. This was a good book though and I would encourage everyone to try it!

The bottom line: I really liked this book, I thought it was interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat. Ending went a little fast for me but I would definitely recommend this one!

Link to author website

Click on the cover to go to the book’s Amazon page

2015 Book #107 – The Good Neighbor by Amy Sue Nathan

Posted in Book reviews, Fiction, Women's fiction by

51I1+dyqiNLTitle: The Good Neighbor
Author: Amy Sue Nathan
Date finished: 10/13/15
Genre: Women’s fiction
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Publication Date: October 13, 2015
Pages in book: 272
Stand alone or series: Stand alone
Where I got the book from: NetGalley NOTE: I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.

Blurb from the cover:

When small lies have big consequences…
Things are a little rough for Izzy Lane. Still reeling from the break-up of her marriage, the newly single mom moves back to the Philadelphia home she grew up in, five-year-old Noah in tow. The transition is difficult, but with the help of her best friends-and her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Feldman-Izzy feels like she’s stepping closer to her new normal. Until her ex-husband shows up with his girlfriend. That’s when Izzy invents a boyfriend of her own. And that’s when life gets complicated.
Blogging about her “new guy” provides Izzy with something to do when Noah’s asleep. What’s the harm in a few made-up stories? But when her friends want to meet the mysterious “Mac,” someone online suspects Izzy’s a fraud, and a guy in real life catches her eye, Izzy realizes just how high the stakes are.

My rating: 3.75 stars out of a scale of 5

My review: I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. This book tells the story of Izzy (Elizabeth) Lane. After her divorce from Bruce, she moves back into her childhood home with her son Noah until she can get things together. After she puts Noah to bed every night she escapes into the online world of blogging. She started a blog where she relates her dating experiences and it has become more and more popular. It is because of this that Izzy’s friend Jade asks her to become one of the new writers on her web site. Only problem is that lately Izzy has been writing more and more about her new boyfriend Mac and Jade wants her to keep writing about their dates. Unfortunately, that’s going to be a little difficult because, well, Mac doesn’t exist.
What follows is a touching story about a near forty-year old woman trying to find her way in the world now that her life has been uprooted and trying to find a new purpose. Izzy as a character I felt could have had a little more depth but she was vulnerable and generous of heart. Her monologues about her feelings regarding Noah and sharing his time with Bruce were particularly touching for me. This book really brings home the heartbreaking situation that comes with having to share a child with another parent. Each parent has a right and a desire to have time with that child (in a perfect world) but who gets to decide which parent gets more time with the child? Parents (hopefully) decide what is best for the child in this scenario but I can’t imagine having to give up weeks at a time with a child, its just a terrible no-win situation. Anyways, the other characters in the story I also felt could have had more depth but the story line was well paced and the book overall was a quick read that I enjoyed.

The bottom line: I thought this was a quick and easy read. It was a sweet and touching story, I would recommend it.

Link to author website

Click on the cover to go to the book’s Amazon page

2015 Book #105 – Some Like It Scot by Suzanne Enoch

Posted in Book reviews, Historical Romance by

61hjN5cy-dL

Title: Some Like It Scot
Author: Suzanne Enoch
Date finished: 10/7/15
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Publication Date: October 6, 2015
Pages in book: 368
Stand alone or series: #4 in the Scandalous Highlanders series
Where I got the book from: NetGalley NOTE: I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.

Blurb from the cover:

CAN A CLASH OF WILLS
Nineteenth-century, Scotland:
When a mad lass in trousers shoots at him, Munro “Bear” MacLawry isn’t sure what impresses him more-the girl’s sure aim or her irresistibly tempting curves. Catriona MacColl has fled to the Highlands with her half-sister to escape an unwanted wedding, and wants no part of him, nor any man. But he can’t abandon the flame-haired, sharp-tongued wildcat now that he’s discovered her-not when she fits so perfectly in his arms…
LEAD TO A LOVE FOR ALL TIME?
Munro has more than earned his nickname-he’s a well-muscled, well-favored mountain of a man with an engaging bad-boy grin and a string of well-satisfied lasses behind him. Bringing Catriona food, blankets, candles, everything she needs to survive a winter in an abandoned abbey, Munro is an unexpected gift in her reckless bid for freedom-and an unexpected complication. Clan MacDonald has plans for her, and they don’t include her falling for a MacLawry. But this man makes her feel like a woman-and he may be her one chance to live a life about which she’s only dared dream…in Some Like It Scot by New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Enoch.

My rating: 4.25 stars out of a scale of 5

My review: I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. This book tells the story of Catriona MacColl, a girl who was raised by her father as if she was born the son he always wished for. Most comfortable in trousers and a man’s shirt, she makes an odd site and has been the cause of much gossip among her own clan. When she finds out that her Uncle plans to use her to stir up trouble, she plans to run away and thanks to great timing, her half-sister (Elizabeth) needs some rescuing right around the same time. Cat and Elizabeth end up hiding out on MacLawry land without realizing it, and Cat comes across Bear. Bear is instantly intrigued by this woman who wears men’s clothing and can shoot a gun better than he can. And so he dedicates himself to helping her without having full knowledge of what exactly she’s running away from.
Cat and Bear (Munro) obviously fall in love. I have to be honest I’ve read many a romance novel but the dialogue between Cat and Bear really was just truly moving. The emotions leapt off the page and the way Bear spoke of his love for her was akin to poetry. It was just utterly romantic. I also really liked the story line, I was interested throughout the book and I really had trouble putting it down once I got into the story, all I wanted to do was keep reading to find out what happened next.
I obviously enjoyed this book, I thought it was a good story line and it was very romantic. The only thing that frustrated me about this book was that I felt like the ending came about a little too quick. I really thought that Ran and the rest of the family (mostly just the men) should’ve had to apologize more since they were such jerks to both Cat and Bear when they were trying to tell them not to be together, especially since  they themselves moved heaven and earth to be with the ones they loved. I also would’ve liked his family to all have to admit that they liked Cat and that Bear was smarter than they all had been giving him credit for these last twenty years. Other than those couple small frustrations though I would say this is definitely a great historical romance and one I would definitely recommend!

The bottom line: I really enjoyed this book, I liked Catriona as a character and Munro as well. Great read, looking forward to catching up and reading the first three books in the series!

Link to author website

Click on the cover to go to the book’s Amazon page

2015 Book #104 – Maybe In Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Posted in Book reviews, Fiction by

51IY65uzYML

Title: Maybe in Another Life
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Date finished: 10/4/15
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Publication Date: July 7, 2015
Pages in book: 333
Stand alone or series: Stand alone
Where I got the book from: Terryville Public Library

Blurb from the cover:

From the acclaimed author of Forever, Interrupted and After I Do comes a breathtaking new novel about a young woman whose fate hinges on the choice she makes after bumping into an old flame; in alternating chapters, we see two possible scenarios unfold—with stunningly different results.
At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs since graduating college. On the heels of leaving yet another city, Hannah moves back to her hometown of Los Angeles and takes up residence in her best friend Gabby’s guestroom. Shortly after getting back to town, Hannah goes out to a bar one night with Gabby and meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan.
Just after midnight, Gabby asks Hannah if she’s ready to go. A moment later, Ethan offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay. Hannah hesitates. What happens if she leaves with Gabby? What happens if she leaves with Ethan?
In concurrent storylines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into radically different stories with large-scale consequences for Hannah, as well as the people around her. As the two alternate realities run their course, Maybe in Another Life raises questions about fate and true love: Is anything meant to be? How much in our life is determined by chance? And perhaps, most compellingly: Is there such a thing as a soul mate?
Hannah believes there is. And, in both worlds, she believes she’s found him.

My rating: 4.25 stars out of a scale of 5

My review: I felt like I saw this book on every list of “hot books to read this summer.” It probably wasn’t every list but it felt like it! The premise of this book was especially interesting to me (parallel universes and how the story would play out in each) so when I saw it available at my library I definitely had to borrow it. This book is about Hannah Martin, who is returning home to LA to try and get her mess of a life into some kind of order and try to find more direction with what she wants to do with her life. Until she gets her own place, she is living with her best friend Gabby and her husband Mark. Hannah’s family situation is complicated but Gabby and her parents have always been like family to Hannah, and Gabby knows her inside and out like no one else ever has. Gabby and Mark take Hannah out on the town her first night back to celebrate her return, and Hannah ends up seeing her high school boyfriend at the bar. When Gabby and Mark are getting ready to leave Hannah has to make a decision, should she stay at the bar with Ethan or go home with Gabby.
The book then breaks off into alternating chapters switching between the two story lines, between what would have happened if Hannah stayed at the bar with Ethan or if she went home with Gabby. Her life turns out extremely different in the two stories but there are some parallels between the two worlds. I loved seeing the story from two different possible paths it could have taken and also how each path affected not only Hannah’s life but her friends and family around her. Its amazing to me how differently your life can turn out based on one decision. And if you really think of the thousand of decisions you make each and every day, if there really are two parallel universes for each decision that is made, imagine how many different lives you could be living all at once right now.
Anyways, that was getting a little off track. As you can tell, this book is especially thought provoking and just a really interesting topic that I’ve never really though that much about before. I really enjoyed it and also that there were a good amount of twists and turns included in the story. I didn’t lose interest at all and I honestly just couldn’t put the book down once I got into the concurrent story lines. This was a great book and I will definitely be reading this author’s other novels as well as anything that comes out in the future!

The bottom line: I thought the concept behind this book was especially interesting. I’ve never read anything like this before, I really enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend!

Link to author website

Click on the cover to go to the book’s Amazon page

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books on My Fall TBR List

Posted in Book memes, Top Ten Tuesday by

toptentuesday2

Top Ten Tuesday is a book meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday there is a different bookish topic and bloggers are asked to post their own top ten list based on the topic. This week is a listing of the Top Ten Books on My Fall TBR List. There are a lot of good books coming out this fall and I had a little trouble narrowing it down to just 10 but I figured it out somehow. I highly doubt I’ll read all 10 of these this fall but they’re all added to my TBR listing and we’ll see how many I can fit into the schedule. A couple of them I was able to get through NetGalley so at least I know those will get read.

1. Stars of Fortune by Nora Roberts

2. Sweetest Scoundrel by Elizabeth Hoyt

3. Undead and Unforgiven by Mary Janice Davidson

4. After Alice by Gregory Maguire

5. Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams

6. This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance! by Jonathan Evison

7. The Good Neighbor by Amy Sue Nathan

8. Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy

9. A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

10. Blood & Salt by Kim Ligget

So those are my top 10 TBR for this fall. I’d love to hear any suggestions you readers might have though! I always love hearing about new books to try. Happy reading everyone!

2015 Book #101 – A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Posted in Book Clubs, Book reviews, Fiction, Terryville - Fiction Lovers by

51kijE-56mL

Title: A Thousand Splendid Suns
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Date finished: 9/21/15
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Riverhead
Publication Date: May 22, 2007
Pages in book: 372
Stand alone or series: Stand alone
Where I got the book from: Terryville Public Library

Blurb from the cover:

Propelled by the same superb instinct for storytelling that made The Kite Runner a beloved classic, A Thousand Splendid Suns is at once an incredible chronicle of thirty years of Afghan history and a deeply moving story of family, friendship, faith, and the salvation to be found in love.
Born a generation apart and with very different ideas about love and family, Mariam and Laila are two women brought jarringly together by war, by loss and by fate. As they endure the ever escalating dangers around them-in their home as well as in the streets of Kabul–they come to form a bond that makes them both sisters and mother-daughter to each other, and that will ultimately alter the course not just of their own lives but of the next generation. With heart-wrenching power and suspense, Hosseini shows how a woman’s love for her family can move her to shocking and heroic acts of self-sacrifice, and that in the end it is love, or even the memory of love, that is often the key to survival.
A stunning accomplishment, A Thousand Splendid Suns is a haunting, heartbreaking, compelling story of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love.

My rating:  4.0 stars out of a scale of 5

My review: I read this book for the Terryville Library’s Fiction Lover’s Book Discussion group discussion for this month (September). This book probably wasn’t something I would have picked up on my own but I’m very glad that I read it. I also thought it was interesting that I’ve never read books on this subject matter before but my other most recent read had a very similar story line and I couldn’t help but make parallels between the two novels. This book tells the story of two women: Miriam who grew up near Herat but moved to Kabul when she married, and Laila who grew up in Kabul and was born on the night of “the uprising.” These two women had very different childhoods. Miriam was a bastard child of a man who already had 3 wives, and she was raised out in a one room shack in the woods in order for the family to avoid being shamed. Laila was the third child of a couple in Kabul who ended up having to send their two first-born children (boys) to war, and while her father was doting her mother never recovered from having to send her boys off to war.
As Miriam and Laila journey through their lives in Kabul, regimes change hand again and again. Rules and restrictions are placed on the citizens of Afghanistan and women lose many basic rights and basically become prisoners in their own homes in many cases. Things are especially bad for women who are married to men like Rasheed, Miriam’s husband. Rasheed lays out rules with his fists and his belt, and when Miriam has one miscarriage after another, Rasheed wants even less to do with her. Miriam and Laila must both find their way in this world where they are treated as less, as if they are owned by their husbands and are not people on their own.
Overall I really liked this book a lot. There were a lot of interesting relationship dynamics between the characters and there were some unexpected twists thrown in there. Honestly I’m surprised I liked it so much considering how depressing it was. There was just so much violence in this book, and almost all of it was directed at women. This was a very powerful story though that really made me appreciate how lucky I am in life to not have to face such terror and heart-break. Both of these women were amazingly strong and I cannot imagine going through the things they experienced. Definitely an eye-opening novel and something I think everyone should read.

The bottom line: I really liked this book a lot. The subject matter was pretty depressing but overall it was a great novel.

Link to author website
Click on the cover to go to the book’s Amazon page

Friday Finds (Sept 18)

Posted in Book memes, Friday Finds by

FridayFinds-ADailyRhythm2

FRIDAY FINDS is hosted by A Daily Rhythm and showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list.  Whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased).

My finds this week include a women’s fiction, a young adult thriller, and a magical realism:

1. This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance! by  by Jonathan Evison
51cM2Rbd1ZL._SX327_BO1,204,203,200_I thought this book sounded good and it reminded me a tad of Where’d You Go Bernadette (which I LOVED) just based on the description.

2. The Next Time You See Me by Holly Goddard Jones
51EbgpZSWJL._SX325_BO1,204,203,200_This was on a list of books that Gillian Flynn (author of Gone Girl) recommends. The book sounds like it will be a great thriller and its recommended by an author I like so I figured I should give it a try.

3. Season of the Dragonflies by Sarah Creech
51ARd7UpnoL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_I thought this book sounded just great and I’ve been very into the magical realism lately. Compared to books by Sarah Addison Allen and Alice Hoffman (both of which I just love) so I marked this as a definite must read!

So those are my finds this week! Please feel free to share your finds or leave a link to your own “Friday Finds” blog posting below! Happy Friday!