A Rogue by Any Other Name

Title: A Rogue by Any Other Name
Author: Sarah MacLean
Series: The Rules of Scoundrels #1
Read: October 21, 2014

Summary: What a scoundrel wants, a scoundrel gets...

A decade ago, the Marquess of Bourne was cast from society with nothing but his title. Now a partner in London’s most exclusive gaming hell, the cold, ruthless Bourne will do whatever it takes to regain his inheritance—including marrying perfect, proper Lady Penelope Marbury.

A broken engagement and years of disappointing courtships have left Penelope with little interest in a quiet, comfortable marriage, and a longing for something more. How lucky that her new husband has access to such unexplored pleasures.

Bourne may be a prince of London’s underworld, but he vows to keep Penelope untouched by its wickedness—a challenge indeed as the lady discovers her own desires, and her willingness to wager anything for them... even her heart.

Review: As you may remember, I got this book in one of my Quarterly boxes and it was the first time I had heard of this series or author. I knew it was going to be a romance novel but not much else. The name of the series led me to believe it may be a raunchy but that's about all I started with. Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised. It was pretty basic for a romance novel but the characters were developed enough for me to connect with them and there wasn't too much raunch (just the right amount!)

I enjoyed that this story was set in the 1800s with the ladies and lords of that time. It gave the story a little more depth since courting and marriage was handled very differently back then. I was also ssurprisedby Bourne's job at that time period because I don't know much about the gambling dens of that time but now that I think about it, it makes sense.

The attraction and passion between the two main characters was obvious and while the lack of communication which resulted in sexual tension was redundant at times, I believe that overall, it worked. This is the first in the series and we got a little teaser about what the next book will be like in the epilogue but I'm not sure I will pursue it. If I need an easy, well done, period romance, I may seek it out but it's not going on the TBR list as of now.

Horns

Title: Horns
Author: Joe Hill
Read: July 22, 2014

Summary:

Ignatius Perrish spent the night drunk and doing terrible things. He woke up the next morning with a thunderous hangover, a raging headache . . . and a pair of horns growing from his temples.

At first Ig thought the horns were a hallucination, the product of a mind damaged by rage and grief. He had spent the last year in a lonely, private purgatory, following the death of his beloved, Merrin Williams, who was raped and murdered under inexplicable circumstances. A mental breakdown would have been the most natural thing in the world. But there was nothing natural about the horns, which were all too real.

Once the righteous Ig had enjoyed the life of the blessed: born into privilege, the second son of a renowned musician and younger brother of a rising late-night TV star, he had security, wealth, and a place in his community. Ig had it all, and more—he had Merrin and a love founded on shared daydreams, mutual daring, and unlikely midsummer magic.

But Merrin's death damned all that. The only suspect in the crime, Ig was never charged or tried. And he was never cleared. In the court of public opinion in Gideon, New Hampshire, Ig is and always will be guilty because his rich and connected parents pulled strings to make the investigation go away. Nothing Ig can do, nothing he can say, matters. Everyone, it seems, including God, has abandoned him. Everyone, that is, but the devil inside. . . .

Now Ig is possessed of a terrible new power to go with his terrible new look—a macabre talent he intends to use to find the monster who killed Merrin and destroyed his life. Being good and praying for the best got him nowhere. It's time for a little revenge. . . . It's time the devil had his due. . . . goodreads

Review: Well, I've finally ventured into the son of the King's books-- Joe Hill that is. Most of you know he is Stephen King's son but just to clarify, he is! And I think that if you were to read this book without knowing that, but being a King fan, you would feel the whisperings of classic King. That being said, I think Hill has definitely found his own voice in the horror/thriller genre and I will be exploring more of his books. 

Now, my feelings about the book. I was pleasantly surprised with this dark little tale. I really enjoyed Ig, horns and all. The story starts off introducing us to Ig and we very quickly learn of the "growth" on his head. It took me a little while to understand if they were really horns or what was happening but we learn quickly that yes, they are really horns. We also quickly learn that he has been accused of (though never tried for) murdering his girlfriend. We also learn that these horns provide Ig with the power to see into people's subconscious so he knows what they really think and feel. Some people may think this is a very cool gift but in Ig's case, it's anything but. Imagine everyone thinking you killed someone they love and getting to hear exactly what they thought of you. Not fun. Ig also gets to see the deep, dark, and sometimes evil sides of his family and friends. 

This book is much more than good vs. evil, heaven vs. hell, light vs. dark. Yes, those are all important themes but I think the focus of this book is more on how each of us has a little bit of both sides in us and explores how characters choose which one they follow. If you think about it, that's what life is all about. The choices you make and how they impact your life. 

Hill does a phenomenal job not only of writing a novel with a lot of depth but for also creating characters that can pull on the heartstrings as well as make you despise them. Following Ig's story specifically, there were times I wanted him to make different decisions than he did but by the time I got to the end of the book, even though the choices weren't the ones I would make, they made sense for Ig and made his character more complete. That's the best summary of what I think/feel that I can give you without spoiling anything. Basic point-- READ THIS BOOK! I'm not even going to qualify that with if you like King, you'll like this because I think Hill has earned a name of his own. Good for him!

Inferno

Title: Inferno
Author: Dan Brown
Series: Robert Langdon #4
Read: July 15, 2014

Summary: In his international blockbusters The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, and The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown masterfully fused history, art, codes, and symbols. In this riveting new thriller, Brown returns to his element and has crafted his highest-stakes novel to date.

In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces . . . Dante’s Inferno.

Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust . . . before the world is irrevocably altered. goodreads

Review: I feel like people either really enjoy Brown or they love to hate him. Personally, I fall in the former category. I think I've read all of this books at this point and I've enjoyed the Robert Langdon series. My favorite part of his books is that the conspiracy have a sense of reality to them. Yes, it's a far stretch most of the time, but his information that backs up these crazy stories is legit and it makes it seem like it may possibly happen someday, maybe. (Ok, I know it won't but I like that it could.)

This book just like the Da Vinci Code is set in Italy but this time, we visit my beloved Florence. I have to say, the reason I enjoyed this book so much was because of the setting. I studied abroad in college and after my program was over, my mom, a friend, and I spent a week in Florence/Tuscany and I absolutely fell in love. I enjoyed being able to remember what the various landmarks actually looked like and it helped me imagine the events more vividly. Always a plus!

I also enjoyed that Langdon was a little out of his element in this book after catching a case of amnesia. One of the possible annoying things about Langdon is that he knows everything about everything. I'm sure at times, this can be very cool, but there are also times where it's just enough already. So the fact that there was a huge space of time that he couldn't account for really got to him and made him a little more human rather than the all-knowing historian.

Overall, this book moved quickly and was filled with some great history, art, and conspiracies. If you are a Brown fan, you'll enjoy it. If not, stay away. Duh. But if you've never read Brown, while I wouldn't suggest starting here, if you did, you might find yourself hooked.

Gated

Title: Gated
Author: Amy Christine Parker
Series: Gated #1
Read: July 3, 2014

Summary: A fast-paced, nerve-fraying contemporary thriller that questions loyalties and twists truths.

Appearances can be deceiving.

In the Community, life seems perfect. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Pioneer invited Lyla’s family to join his group and escape the evil in the world. They were happy to be chosen, happy to move away from New York and start over in such an idyllic gated community. Now seventeen, Lyla knows that Pioneer is more than just their charismatic leader, he is their prophet . . . but his visions have grown dark.

Lyla is a loyal member of the Community, but a chance encounter with an outsider boy has her questioning Pioneer, the Community—everything. And if there’s one thing not allowed in the Community, it’s doubt. Her family and friends are certain in their belief. Lyla wishes she could feel the same. As Pioneer begins to manipulate his flock toward disaster, the question remains: Will Lyla follow them over the edge?

From the outside looking in, it’s hard to understand why anyone would join a cult. But Gated tells the story of the Community from the inside looking out, and from behind the gates things are not quite so simple. Amy Christine Parker’s beautiful writing creates a chilling, utterly unique YA story. Perfect for fans of creepy thrillers and contemporary fiction alike. goodreads

Review: This book came out of the blue and I'm so glad it did! For some reason, I thought this was a dystopian thriller. I'm not sure where I got that idea but it colored the first half of the book for me in a completely different way than if I would have know the whole thing was a crazy cult to begin with. When I was introduced to Lyla and her family, I really thought the "end was coming." The "breathren" were a stretch but I thought it was some sci-fi thriller thing and just went with it. Yes, the community sounded a little cult-ish but it didn't hit me that we were dealing with full-on Jonestown, drink the kool-aid, cult.

When the community is visited by "outsiders," we quickly learn the real world still exists and they don't know the world is coming to an end. As Lyla starts to see some of the cracks in Pioneer's teachings and beliefs, we start to understand how crazy this cult is. And if there is one thing I love, it's crazy cults! I think the psychology behind them is so interesting and the indoctrination is so creative. It's super creepy but I love that stuff.

So not only did I enjoy the premise of the story but I thought the plot was well developed and I enjoyed how we learned more and more that the real world still existed. I wonder what other people think the story is going in and how that affects how they view the various characters and their beliefs. I'm glad I thought this was dystopian because it helped me align with Lyla and I was learning the truth right along with her. Well done and I look forward to the next one!

The Daughter He Never Knew

Title: The Daughter He Never Knew
Author: Linda Barrett
Read: June 6, 2014

Summary: "Tell Lila not to wait..."

Five simple words -- scribbled on an impersonal Christmas card to his parents -- changed Lila Sullivan's life forever. Jason Parker, the boy she'd loved, was never coming back to her...or to the daughter he'd never seen. He'd fled Pilgrim Cove five years before, taking all his hurt and guilt with him. Only his promise to return had kept Lila going.

Now four more years have passed, and Lila is about to marry someone else. Eight-year-old Katie is thrilled to be getting a dad and a sister. A real family of her own.

Then Jason sends a new message. This time it's personal. He's coming home. goodreads

Review: I don't know if you picked up this gem from the picture above, but prepare yourself, this is a SUPERROMANCE! What?!?!?! I didn't even know such a thing existed! But rest assured, it does and it seems Barrett is the author of some of them. I'm not sure how this ended up on my TBR (along with most of the books) but I knew nothing about it going in. I quickly found that Pilgrim Cove is most likely the place of multiple SUPERROMANCE stories that are all probably just as short and sweet as this one. When we are introduced to this lovely sea side town, we meet lots of other characters who seem to have a back story but it is not exactly the focus for the reader. I assume this is because each of these characters/couples has their own SUPERROMANCE that we are supposed to have already read. I didn't. My bad.

That being said, I really enjoyed this little love story. The main characters and their history were well developed and I enjoyed getting to know them better. I think Jason Parker is one of the best men out there, even though he lost himself for a decade. Now he's got his stuff back together and he is coming home to make amends. I give this book credit because it made me cry twice which I wasn't expecting and I found myself connecting with the characters more than I thought I would. I loved the younger generation in this book as well as the older one. Barrett does a good job of giving everyone a real personality and not just making the younger ones "kids" and the older ones "old guys."

While the writing is not phenomenal, and the story is not especially deep or symbolic, I really enjoyed immersing myself in this town with these characters. You can get a lower rating from me if your deep, meaningful novel bores me but it's not hard to get a high rating if I thoroughly enjoy the book (even if it's nothing to write home about.) Sometimes, I just need to check out of reality and enjoy what I'm reading because it's easy. If you are looking for a short, sweet beach read, I don't think you can go astray with any of the books set in Pilgrim Cove.

The Cuckoo's Calling

Title: The Cuckoo's Calling
Author: Robert Galbraith
Read: May 28, 2014
Series: Cormoran Strike #1

Summary: A brilliant debut mystery in a classic vein: Detective Cormoran Strike investigates a supermodel's suicide.

After losing his leg to a land mine in Afghanistan, Cormoran Strike is barely scraping by as a private investigator. Strike is down to one client, and creditors are calling. He has also just broken up with his longtime girlfriend and is living in his office.

Then John Bristow walks through his door with an amazing story: His sister, the legendary supermodel Lula Landry, known to her friends as the Cuckoo, famously fell to her death a few months earlier. The police ruled it a suicide, but John refuses to believe that. The case plunges Strike into the world of multimillionaire beauties, rock-star boyfriends, and desperate designers, and it introduces him to every variety of pleasure, enticement, seduction, and delusion known to man.

You may think you know detectives, but you've never met one quite like Strike. You may think you know about the wealthy and famous, but you've never seen them under an investigation like this.

Introducing Cormoran Strike, this is the acclaimed first crime novel by J.K. Rowling, writing under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. goodreads

Review: Well it looks like since the cat's out of the bag, the summary now exposes JK for writing under a pseudonym. I was so excited when I found out she had written another book but I can't imagine how devastated she was when her secret leaked (or was she? It could have also been an awesome publicity stunt.) That being said, I don't know if I would have picked up this book as soon as I did if JK hadn't been behind it. I love a good mystery but series like this aren't always at the top of my TBR lists and it probably would have fallen into my hands just by luck from my dad. Either way, I'm very glad I read it and was pleasantly surprised to find out the sequel comes out this summer!

So, let's get down to the nitty gritty. Honestly, I loved Strike. I think most people would because he is very enduring and Galbraith (you all know who I'm talking about!) does a great job of backing up his good personality with a deep back story which makes the reader love him even more. He's smart, knows what he is doing, has good morals, and has had his heart broken. He's not the perfect hero that most protagonists are and that's endearing. I also loved Robin. She is newly engaged and Galbraith does a great job of describing this period of time in a young lady's life. Being recently married (and obviously engaged prior to that) I related to her gushing which may have put others off. I thought it was sweet and set up her character well. As we get to know her better though, we find out that homegirl has a brain! Oh, a smart, independent, girl with initiative? Give me more! She fell into Strike's life via a temp agency but was caught up in the PI biz. Who wouldn't be?!?! But the best part about the characters was their platonic (for now, I assume) relationship with one another. They're both so fascinated with one another but too shy to express it so they are continuously walking on eggshells and alternately being pleasantly surprised by what the other has done. This dynamic creates a sweet, albeit awkward, relationship that you just root for. Yes, I would like for them to end up together eventually (later books in the series?) but I loved that that didn't happen in this one.

I also enjoyed the plot. I didn't guess who it was within the first 50 pages (even though I had my suspicious) and there were multiple possibilities of who-dun-it so even when I though I knew, I couldn't be sure. I think this is one of the best features of a mystery. I want to be constantly trying to figure it out and still be surprised in the end. The evidence for why the person did what they did made sense and wasn't filled with random events and facts that really didn't make sense.

As far as the writing goes, I did not swoon as I did with Harry but that's ok. I was entertained the entire time and the writing is still very well done. I was expecting something different from Harry as well as A Casual Vacancy and I was pleasantly surprised. Looking forward to the next one!

Coming Clean

Title: Coming Clean
Author: Kimberly Rae Miller
Read: May 15, 2014

Summary: A stunning memoir about a childhood spent growing up in a family of extreme hoarders and hiding squalor behind the veneer of a perfect family. Kim Miller is an immaculately put-together woman with a great career, a loving boyfriend, and a beautifully tidy apartment in Brooklyn. You would never guess that she spent her childhood hiding behind the closed doors of her family’s idyllic Long Island house, navigating between teetering stacks of aging newspaper, broken computers, and boxes upon boxes of unused junk festering in every room—the product of her father’s painful and unending struggle with hoarding. In this coming-of-age story, Kim brings to life her experience of growing up in a rat-infested home, concealing her father’s shameful secret from friends for years, and of the emotional burden that ultimately led to an attempt to take her own life. And in beautiful prose, Miller sheds light on her complicated yet loving relationship with her parents that has thrived in spite of the odds. Coming Clean is a story about recognizing where we come from and the relationships that define us—and about finding peace in the homes we make for ourselves. goodreads

Review: This is a tragic, yet beautiful story of how Kim survived growing up in a house with a hoarder. Hoarding has become a hot topic in the media over the last 10 years. People are oddly intrigued by it because they can't fathom how someone can get to that point in their lives, but not many people understand the psychological aspect of the illness and how debilitating it can be. Kim Miller does a great job of explaining this in her memoir but it is heartbreaking to learn that she had to endure this lifestyle for so long.

I really enjoyed Kim's writing and her way of story telling. She does a good job of using humor to cope and it is clear that it took her a long time to get to the point she is now, but it says a lot of her coping skills that she can look back on this now and find some humor in it. I'm sure in the moment, it was not funny. Kim is also one of those kids who was raised by people with mental illness and who grew up to be the exact opposite of what her parents were. She is driven, accomplished, a neat-freak, and much more mainstream than her hippie father. That being said, there are some similarities. She is very strong and I think that she gets from both of her parents. People forget that hoarding is a coping skill for people and they are doing their very best to get through the day like everyone else. Kim's dad couldn't control his hoarding but he was surviving. Kim's mom did not start out as a hoarder and she had to deal with multiple health problems as well as a spouse who hoarded, so she coped the best she could by shopping. All of the Millers are very strong people but Kim found ways of using healthy coping skills and that is what made all the difference.

Y'all know I'm into the psychological side of this book but despite that, it is very well written and kept me entertained thoroughly. It made sense to me why these nonsensical things happened but my heart broke for Kim every time she had to ask for help with her parents. Kim is a very good daughter and the love she has for her parents is ever lasting but they definitely push her to her limits. I recommend this book to anyone who doesn't understand their parents but loves them regardless. Or, you know, anyone interested in a good book about a unique situation.

Breathe

Title: Breathe
Author: Sarah Crossan
Series: Breathe #1
Read: May 3, 2014

Summary: The world has no air. If you want to survive, you pay to breathe. But what if you can't? And what if you think everything could be different? Three teens will leave everything they know behind in Sarah Crossan's gripping and original dystopian teen novel of danger, longing, and glimmering hope that will appeal to fans of Patrick Ness and Veronica Roth.

National Book Award Finalist Kathleen Duey called Breathe "An amazing story! Sit down. Inhale. Now, while you still can." Ever since the Switch, when the oxygen levels plummeted and most of humanity died, the survivors have been protected in glass domes full of manufactured air. Protected . . . or trapped? Or controlled? Alina's a revolutionary who believes we can save the environment. Quinn's a Premium who's never had to worry about having enough air. His best friend, Bea, is an Auxiliary who's never worried about anything but having enough air. When the three cross paths, they will change everything. Sarah Crossan's thrilling and provocative novel is about passion, about yearning for something better, and about breaking free for the very first time. The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books proclaims it an "action-packed dystopian series opener to watch out for." goodreads

Review: I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I think the dystopian young adult books are all the rage now and it's hard to find some that really get me caught up in their world but this one did. The first thing that caught my attention was the three main characters. Yes, there is initially the love triangle which drives me crazy but it fades out pretty quickly. But when you get down to it, the three main characters, Bea, Quinn, and Alina, are so different that they each give their own perspective of the exact same world. This helps the reader understand what it is like to be in each social circle as well as the difference between the informed and the ignorant. This was very well done.

Next, I enjoyed the ways Crossan developed the world because I could see a disaster like this actually happening. The reason there is no more oxygen is because they cut all the trees down to make space for farming to feed the booming population. Yes, this is extreme but if we don't treasure some of our natural resources, we could use them all up and not be able to replenish them. The reminder of this makes this story a little more scary. It was also well created without being too "tree-hugger" for my tastes.

The reader also gets to see each character grow and become less disillusioned with the world that they thought they knew. All three of them had this perceived notion of why the world was the way it was and while they were all very different notions, the characters learned that parts of them were right but parts were very off-base. This allowed the characters to grow and the reader to connect with them. Initially, I really didn't like the characters as people that much but as they were developed throughout the story, they really started to grow on me.

I know this is the first book in the series and I look forward to continuing it. The difference between this book and the Chosen Ones (my review) is that Sarah Crossan was able to achieve all of these things in her first book which could be a stand alone if it needed to be. It didn't just provide initial information and then end while trying to hook you into the next one. While I don't think this book is the next big thing and it's one of my favorites, it caught my attention and kept me entertained thoroughly. I will definitely be following this series!

The Fellowship of the Worms: The House Girl

One of my favorite blogs I follow is Words for Worms. Katie reads a lot of the same books as me but she is way better at this whole blogger thing. She also hosts a monthly book club read called The Fellowship of the Worms and this month, I finally got to participate. She posts the questions, I post my answers, and then I link up. If you've read The House Girl, you should too! 

I'm not sure where I first heard of this book but when Katie announced the book for this month, I was pleasantly surprised that it was one from my TBR list and one I already owned. Score! I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did but I found myself talking about it to random people and sharing the summary with them and recommending it to them. I think that is a sign of a good book. I've listed and answered Katie's questions below but I did so based on info from the whole book and that you have read it with me. If you haven't read the book and want to avoid spoilers, read it, then come back! Fair warning!

Title: The House Girl
Author: Tara Conklin
Read: March 27, 2014

Summary: Virginia, 1852. Seventeen-year-old Josephine Bell decides to run from the failing tobacco farm where she is a slave and nurse to her ailing mistress, the aspiring artist Lu Anne Bell. New York City, 2004. Lina Sparrow, an ambitious first-year associate in an elite law firm, is given a difficult, highly sensitive assignment that could make her career: she must find the “perfect plaintiff” to lead a historic class-action lawsuit worth trillions of dollars in reparations for descendants of American slaves.

It is through her father, the renowned artist Oscar Sparrow, that Lina discovers Josephine Bell and a controversy roiling the art world: are the iconic paintings long ascribed to Lu Anne Bell really the work of her house slave, Josephine? A descendant of Josephine’s would be the perfect face for the reparations lawsuit—if Lina can find one. While following the runaway girl’s faint trail through old letters and plantation records, Lina finds herself questioning her own family history and the secrets that her father has never revealed: How did Lina’s mother die? And why will he never speak about her?

Moving between antebellum Virginia and modern-day New York, this searing, suspenseful and heartbreaking tale of art and history, love and secrets, explores what it means to repair a wrong and asks whether truth is sometimes more important than justice. goodreads

The Fellowship of the Worms Questions

1. The House Girl is told in a dual narrative, switching back and forth between Lina in modern day NYC and Josephine in 1852 Virginia. In addition to the two major narrators, there are a number of additional characters advancing the story through letters. Did you enjoy the multiple perspectives? Did you find it added or detracted from the story Conklin was trying to tell? 

A lot of people hate the dual narratives but they really don't bother me and in this book, I really enjoyed it. It was hard at times to get so wrapped up in the old south and then switch back to the dog-eat-dog world of law in NYC but overall, I really liked hearing their different stories. It also provided great foreshadowing because sometimes Lina would know further into the story than Josephine and vice versa. Without the dual narrative, I don't think I would have connected with Josephine and Lina like I did. I can't imagine how you could tell this story with only the letters and evidence from the past instead of a first hand perspective. The multiple narratives may not work in all books but in this one, it definitely did!

2. Do you think that Lu Anne intentionally passed off Josephine’s art work as her own? Do you think she would have done things differently had she known the notoriety the art would eventually garner? 

It sounded to me like Lu Anne really enjoyed her drawings and intended to complete them but eventually, Josephine would step in to help or finalize something. I may be wrong, but it didn't sound intentional to me. It sounded more collaborative initially and then Josephine went on to do her own work. I'd also assume that neither one them knew how famous their art would eventually be and they didn't document what was what. It's also important to remember that by the end, Lu Anne was very sick and delirious through most of it and she may not have realized how much of the work Josephine really did. I have a soft spot for Lu Anne and I think she tried to do what was best for Josephine even though the ways she went about it weren't all that great. Therefore, my soft spot says it was not intentional.

3. Lina is the daughter of the artsiest artists in all the land, and yet she chose to pursue a career in law. What in her upbringing to you think helped spur her decision to choose a career so based in reason? 

I think it has to be difficult to be raised by artists and it seems like Lina had a lot of different views compared to her parents. I find that if a child is raised by parents in one extreme, they tend to grow up to do the opposite. I'm not sure what the reasoning is behind this other than she valued her type of success over what her father did. I also don't remember hearing too much about Lina's artistic ability and she may not have explored those options because she was so wrapped up in her parents' abilities. It felt as though Lina saw a lot of flaws in the way Oscar lived his life and she didn't want to repeat them.

4. As a house slave, Josephine walks a lonely road. How does her unique status contribute to her desire to run?

I can't imagine how lonely Josephine was. Here she was a slave, yet the other slaves didn't accept her and she damn sure was not part of the family in the house. There is no one to vent to or lean on in that position and that isolation has to be crippling. Even in the end, she tried to find someone to run with her and couldn't find a companion. Josephine wanted more out of life but I also think that her desire to have interactions with people similar to her contributed to her running.

5. How did you feel when Oscar dropped the bombshell about what really happened to Lina’s mother Grace?

Initially, I was pissed off!! I couldn't believe he lied to her all these years and had her go through that grief. Once I thought about it more, I kind of started to understand it. She would have had to deal with grief regardless but this way, she may not internalize it as much as she would if she knew that her mom left her by choice all those years ago. I think Oscar was trying to protect Lina from all the feelings that he had which probably revolved around questioning why he wasn't good enough and what he did wrong. A child would have those same questions but they would make them a permanent part of their self-image and that could do more damage than the loss of a loved one. It's a hard situation and I think Oscar meant well but who knows if it was the right choice.

Link up with Katie and share your thought on this book or read it if you haven't. I loved it!

Red Seas Under Red Skies

Title: Red Seas Under Red Skies
Author: Scott Lynch
Series: Gentleman Bastard #2
Read: March 2, 2014

Summary: Locke and his trusted sidekick, Jean, target the grandest prize of all: the Sinspire, the most exclusive and heavily guarded gambling house in the world. Its nine floors attract the wealthiest clientele—and to rise to the top, one must impress with good credit, amusing behavior... and excruciatingly impeccable play. For there is one cardinal rule, enforced by Requin, the house's cold-blooded master: it is death to cheat at any game at the Sinspire.

But someone in Tal Verrar has uncovered the duo's secret. Someone from their past who has every intention of making the impudent criminals pay for their sins. Now it will take every ounce of cunning to save their mercenary souls. And even that may not be enough. goodreads

Review: The boys are back! And this time, they are going out to sea to live the pirate life. From the very first pages in the prologue, Scott Lynch rips your heart out, dances all over it, and then feeds it to his dog. If those first handful of pages don't just kill you, you should put this book back and quit reading altogether because you will never be able to connect with a story or a set of characters if you can connect with these guys. Just quit know.

If you haven't quit, then you will jump back a couple of years in the first few chapters to pick up where Lies left off. Locke is recovering and Jean is doing his best to take care of him. Pretty early on, we start to see the relationship between these two start to fray. They are both overwhelmed by recent events and are handling it very differently which causes some friction. Luckily, they get past it and begin their next con. This story started out following the boys on a con at a gambling house but quickly veered off to a story of Tel Verrar politics and the life of a pirate.

I really enjoyed the story pretty much up until they became pirates but then I kind of fell off. Don't get me wrong, I still loved it and Jean and Locke and some of the new characters but I couldn't care less for the life of a seaman and all of the details that were included regarding how to man a ship. Didn't care. Eventually the boys pick up their con in Tal Verrar again which I enjoyed but it was relatively anti-climatic.

I guess I'm a Gentleman Bastards purist and I want to learn about the cons and the stealing and the relationships more than technical ship information. While the story didn't do as much for me as Lies did, I really felt like Jean and Locke's relationship was tested and grew during this book, which of course I loved. I'm currently reading the third book and I've officially met Sabetha so I can't wait to see where the story goes.

Not as entertaining as Lies of Locke Lamora but still damn good!

Hyperbole and a Half

Title: Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened

Author: Allie Brosh

Read: March 9, 2014

Summary: This is a book I wrote. Because I wrote it, I had to figure out what to put on the back cover to explain what it is. I tried to write a long, third-person summary that would imply how great the book is and also sound vaguely authoritative--like maybe someone who isn’t me wrote it--but I soon discovered that I’m not sneaky enough to pull it off convincingly. So I decided to just make a list of things that are in the book:

Pictures

Words

Stories about things that happened to me

Stories about things that happened to other people because of me

Eight billion dollars*

Stories about dogs

The secret to eternal happiness*

*These are lies. Perhaps I have underestimated my sneakiness! goodreads

Review: I'm assuming you have heard of Allie's blog if you haven't been living under a rock for the last year or so. If not, drop everything you are doing and go visit her right now! After visiting her blog, or cracking open this book, you will quickly realize a few things. 1) She's effing hilarious and awkward and may be your spirit animal (or that's just me.) 2) Homegirl has skills with Paintbrush that you could never imagine. 3) You aren't the only one with a "simple dog." 4) She originated "Clean all the things!" (see below).

via 

I got this book for my husband for Christmas (even he had heard of it, people!!!) and there were multiples times that he looked up from reading to tell me she reminds him of me (particularly the cake story...) I'm assuming this happens to a lot of people based on how funny she is but I just related to her and her ridiculous adventures. Even the depression she handled in such a perfect and unique way that I was impressed she didn't have a degree in Psych. She communicated what it feels like to go through depression and how you see the world while going through it in a way that people can understand. Even if they've never felt it before. I love that she gets very deep and personal on a blog that makes millions of people laugh and that her audience now understands depression in a way I'm sure they didn't before. Good work, Allie!

This book is fun, quick, and entertaining. The drawings are their own kind of art and the short stories provide an interesting view of every day life. I would recommend it to anyone with a sense of humor (even if you don't like blogs or short stories) and who knows, maybe you'll just find your spirit animal!

The Bird Sisters

Title: The Bird Sisters
Author: Rebecca Rasmussen
Read: January 31, 2014

Summary: When a bird flies into a window in Spring Green, Wisconsin, sisters Milly and Twiss get a visit. Twiss listens to the birds' heartbeats, assessing what she can fix and what she can't, while Milly listens to the heartaches of the people who've brought them. These spinster sisters have spent their lives nursing people and birds back to health.

But back in the summer of 1947, Milly and Twiss knew nothing about trying to mend what had been accidentally broken. Milly was known as a great beauty with emerald eyes and Twiss was a brazen wild child who never wore a dress or did what she was told. That was the summer their golf pro father got into an accident that cost him both his swing and his charm, and their mother, the daughter of a wealthy jeweler, finally admitted their hardscrabble lives wouldn't change. It was the summer their priest, Father Rice, announced that God didn't exist and ran off to Mexico, and a boy named Asa finally caught Milly's eye. And, most unforgettably, it was the summer their cousin Bett came down from a town called Deadwater and changed the course of their lives forever.

Rebecca Rasmussen's masterfully written debut novel is full of hope and beauty, heartbreak and sacrifice, love and the power of sisterhood, and offers wonderful surprises at every turn. goodreads

Review: This book was surprisingly fulls of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. The story follows Milly and Twiss throughout the summer their cousin Bett comes to visit them and changed everything. Twiss and Milly are about as different as they come. Twiss is wild and full of energy and very selfish while Milly is kind and endearing but tends to put others before herself which, in the end, does more harm than good sometimes. Bett is the whirlwind that sets the girls' family on end. This is also a story of love and heartache and as we start to understand more of the girls' parents' marriage, we see how simple mistakes can ruin relationships.

The thing that stood out to me the most in this story were the sacrifices that were made. I think everyone made their sacrifices in their own way and that was what united them in some ways but destroyed them in others. Some of the sacrifices were bigger than others (and I don't want to spoil anything so you'll just have to take my word for it) but they all affected the main characters one way or another. This book shines the light on the impact those closest to you can have on your decisions as well as how those people, and their decisions, can destroy you.

The writing was lovely and successfully forced the reader to look at their own decision making and be more aware of the effect it has on those around them. The author was clever enough to do this without shoving the idea down the readers throat but also making it very clear that the concept of "the butterfly effect" does exist and everything you do, affects everything else.

White Oleander

 Title: White Oleander
Author: Janet Fitch
Read: December 21, 2013

Summary: When Astrid's mother, a beautiful, headstrong poet, murders a former lover and is imprisoned for life, Astrid becomes one of the thousands of foster children in Los Angeles. As she navigates this new reality, Astrid finds strength in her unshakable certainty of her own worth and her unfettered sense of the absurd. goodreads

Review: This book is heart wrenching. Following Astrid through the series of foster homes and the people she has to deal with is tough to do and really makes you feel for her when you think about the fact that she had to actually experience these things from a young age. That being said, all of these crazy women who foster her help her to discover who she is and have an impact on the person she has become which is beautiful in it's own way.

Even though the story focuses mostly on Astrid's relationships with her foster families, the real focus is on Astrid and Ingrid's (her mother) relationship. From the start, I despised Ingrid for who she was as a mother and a person. She was selfish and did things her own way, regardless of the consequences, because she was an unique, artistic, individual. Frankly, she gives unique, artistic, individuals a bad name. Throughout the book it is clear the impact the person she was had on Astrid, both good and bad.

In the beginning of the book, it seems as though Astrid feels guilty for just existing and burdening her mother with the responsibility of taking care of her. She is constantly taking the blame for anything that goes wrong and internalizes all of the issues. At that point in her life, Astrid could never imagine blaming her mother for the things that were going wrong (which of course were a direct result of Ingrid's actions.) As the story progresses and Ingrid goes to jail, Astrid is forced into numerous foster homes which give her new perspectives of the world. It is obvious that Astrid was lacking in the mother department and while these homes are wretched most of the time, they also expose Astrid to other ways of living and thinking which is ultimately, for her benefit. They give her someone to compare Ingrid to and sometimes, Ingrid actually comes out on top. Not to give credit to Ingrid but some of the moms were just so horrible that they made her look good.

Astrid's view of her mother also begins to change as she grows up. She begins to see the evil Ingrid is capable of and her numerous faults. I believe this enlightenment happens with every daughter and mother to some extent. Not that girls start to see their mothers as evil, but they start to see their parents as human beings rather than untouchable super heroes. They realize there are flaws and mistakes that they had missed when growing up and this realization can be hard for any child. It was very hard for Astrid. Especially when she had so many "mothers" to compare Ingrid to. In the end, Ingrid found a way to redeem herself to an extent which made me not hate her as much but it didn't change all of the damage she did to Astrid. Through this journey, Astrid starts to see reality and the ugly truth. She goes from being naive to a little jaded but she is a survivor and finds ways to make all of her experiences work for her rather than hinder her.

I loved this book and the writing was lyrical and poetic at times. The bond between a mother and her daughter can be beautiful and deep but also very confusing and complicated and this story shows that in many different ways. I would definitely recommend!

The Art of Racing in the Rain

Title: The Art of Racing in the Rain
Author: Garth Stein
Read: January 5, 2014

Summary: Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver.

Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through.

A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life...as only a dog could tell it. goodreads

Review: Dog people. I'm one of them. If you're not, I don't recommend this book. You won't understand the ultimate hope every dog person has that their dog has a personality of his own, that they understand every word you say, and that they know whats going on around them. I know my dog has a personality because I see it every day. He's stubborn but lovable and just wants someone to throw his rope and rub his belly. He's simple but loyal and very entertaining at times. I know this makes me a dog person. Some people may think I'm crazy (I'll admit I have my moments) but my life is better because my dog is in it. If you are one of those people who thinks this is crazy, stop reading now. Come back for the next non-dog related review though!

Welcome, dog people! Now I will warn you, this is a tear jerker. I was crying within the first chapter and you can assume the reason why. I knew this outcome was likely in this book and while it broke my heart, I love hearing about other people's relationships with their dogs and I thought this book would be interesting anyway. I was right!

This story is told through the eyes of Enzo rather than his "owner" which makes it unique from other dog stories. Enzo's main goal is to be a human in his next life and he believes that he is as close to one as a dog can get. He sees things that most people would overlook and he is aware of subtle cues that can affect everything. He is very loyal to Denny and this story follows Enzo and Denny's life through a series of car racing metaphors. This aspect of the book was very well done and prefaced a lot of the big moments in their lives. Enzo would refer to a technique used in racing that would be helpful for a person to use in real life when crises arise. If you're anything like me, you couldn't care less about racing, but this aspect of the book is not overwhelming and doesn't distract from the relationships and overall plot. This is a story that looks at human nature through a dog's eyes and it is very well done. I would recommend it to even the sanest of the "dog people."

And just for fun, here is a picture of my dog, Bowman

Who wouldn't love this guy? Wonder what he's thinking...

Doctor Sleep

I didn't really look at this cover art until
 I finished the book but it is super creepy
when you take a second to look at it. 

Title: Doctor Sleep
Author: Stephen King
Read: December 1, 2013
Series: The Shining #2 (technically)

Summary: Stephen King returns to the characters and territory of one of his most popular novels ever, The Shining, in this instantly riveting novel about the now middle-aged Dan Torrance (the boy protagonist of The Shining) and the very special twelve-year-old girl he must save from a tribe of murderous paranormals.

On highways across America, a tribe of people called The True Knot travel in search of sustenance. They look harmless—mostly old, lots of polyester, and married to their RVs. But as Dan Torrance knows, and spunky twelve-year-old Abra Stone learns, The True Knot are quasi-immortal, living off the “steam” that children with the “shining” produce when they are slowly tortured to death.

Haunted by the inhabitants of the Overlook Hotel where he spent one horrific childhood year, Dan has been drifting for decades, desperate to shed his father’s legacy of despair, alcoholism, and violence. Finally, he settles in a New Hampshire town, an AA community that sustains him, and a job at a nursing home where his remnant “shining” power provides the crucial final comfort to the dying. Aided by a prescient cat, he becomes “Doctor Sleep.”

Then Dan meets the evanescent Abra Stone, and it is her spectacular gift, the brightest shining ever seen, that reignites Dan’s own demons and summons him to a battle for Abra’s soul and survival. This is an epic war between good and evil, a gory, glorious story that will thrill the millions of devoted readers of The Shining and satisfy anyone new to the territory of this icon in the King canon. goodreads

Review: Did anyone ever predict King would come back with a sequel for The Shining? I never did! I think that is one of his most famous, well done books and I never thought he would touch it again. Personally, I didn't really need to know what happened to Danny. I was so satisfied by The Shining and that story that I didn't actually look into the future for him. This is weird because usually I can't get enough of characters in good books but I just didn't ever wonder about Danny Torrance. Turns out, I may have been the only one. 

King brings Danny, now Dan, back to life in Doctor Sleep and he does it by creating another unique story with hints of The Shining's (TS from here on out) greatness in it. I really enjoyed how King referenced TS throughout the book, whether it was through similar locations, memories, or still lingering fears. Dan starts out exactly where you would expect him to if you were to think past the last pages of TS. He is person who has used alcohol to cope with the traumas of his past and avoid the scary things that have happened and from time to time, still happen. Luckily for him, he finds AA and starts to build a life where his special ability (his shining) can help people rather than just scare the crap out of him. 

Along the way, The Shining (and good ole Tony) connect Dan and a little girl named Abra. I loved Abra! Not only was she extremely talented as far as her ability to shine goes, she has one hell of a personality for a little girl. Part of this I think she gets from her Momo (great-grandmother) who I also enjoyed, but she makes the feistiness all her own and it is bad news for the True Knot. Personally, I didn't really connect with the True Knot aspect of the story. I really enjoyed the ghost/haunted hotel aspect of TS but didn't enjoy this antagonist as much. Yes, they were scary. The tusk?!? Terrifying. Yes, they feed on children and cause nightmares. I just wasn't as impacted by them as I was by the Overlook Hotel. 

Eventually, Dan, Abra, and the True Knot come together and Dan and Abra decide they have had enough, The True Knot is going down. This is where Abra gets a little scary and a lot feisty. She goes toe to toe with these beings that have been around for centuries and she does not show any desire to back down. She does show her maniacal smile, which Dan appreciated and understood, but The True Knot did not seem to give her the credit she deserved. But once again, the child of King's book comes out and kicks some ass which keep the reader entertained and invested in the outcome of the children with The Shining. I think I still prefer TS to Doctor Sleep. I prefer the Overlook to The True Knot but I definitely prefer Abra to Dan. So maybe it's a toss up. Either way, if you're a fan of King or a fan of The Shining, check out the sequel just for fun!

A Million Little Pieces

Title: A Million Little Pieces
Author: James Frey
Date Read: November 10, 2013

Summary: At the age of 23, James Frey woke up on a plane to find his front teeth knocked out and his nose broken. He had no idea where the plane was headed nor any recollection of the past two weeks. An alcoholic for ten years and a crack addict for three, he checked into a treatment facility shortly after landing. There he was told he could either stop using or die before he reached age 24. This is Frey's acclaimed account of his six weeks in rehab. goodreads

Review: To be honest, I picked up this book because I LOVE a good scandal. (PS Scandal the TV series is phenomenal. Check it out!) If you don't remember how all of this went down, let me remind you. Frey classified this book as a memoir from the very beginning. This was his downfall because it turns out, it's not really true. At all. Granted, he had some substance abuse problems and did time in rehab but all of the arrests and severity of drug abuse was grossly exaggerated and manipulated. In addition to lying to the general media, his publishers, and his readers, he also lied to Oprah Winfrey. Lied to her face! When Big O found out about this, she essentially crucified him on her show for lying and making her look like a fool (because she adopted this book for her book club and brought him on the show to brag about him.) Oh goodness, 2006 was a bad year for James Frey. But it did get him a lot of publicity (really bad publicity) and that's how this book ended up in my hands. Going into reading this book, I was aware of most of the scandal but not the extent to how much be made up or altered so my review is based on knowing some of it is lies but believing big parts of it (which now I know was pretty naive...)

The story follows James through his stint in rehab with a lot of flashbacks to his history with drugs and alcohol. He is made out to be this total bad ass who doesn't care about anything and is looking for pain and punishment in the form of substance abuse. The stories, such as serious dental surgery without anesthesia, make him sound like a bad ass but there are parts that don't totally ring true whether you think it's a memoir or know he lied. From what I know of substance abuse, most addicts can't tell you what they did last night much less their entire substance use history and details of how it affected those around them. First red flag. Then he goes on to ignore all of the statistics and studies surrounding the 12-step program and make a decision to be sober which just so happens to work for the rest of his life. I think most people know how unlikely this is but I have to admit that there are people who go cold turkey and get control of their lives. Most of them aren't life long drug addicts or alcoholics who have reached the pointed Frey did, but whatever. We'll let that one slide.

When it comes down to it though, and you can let all of the exaggerated stories go, this is actually a relatively enjoyable book for what it is. James was an ass hole his whole life but starts to finally come around in rehab and make connections and friendships that he has never been able to do before. He reconnects with his family and somehow manages to survive everything he has been through and come out on the other side of it ok. This book gets relatively graphic at times but in a way that feels honest (ironic, I know) and adds to the story rather than deters from it. The writing is very odd with random words capitalized and very few commas but it helps the reader understand the chaotic thoughts that go through an addict's head. Parts of it were just ridiculous, like his relationship with Lilly and successfully breaking the big rule of rehab and not being kicked out, but part of me wanted to believe all of it. I wanted to believe that someone could overcome this level of addiction simply by deciding not to do drugs anymore. To believe that he was able to pick of the million little pieces of his life and move on with his friends and family and be successful. To believe that there are people like the employees at the rehab who look out for people with addictions and mental health issues and do what's best for them. I want to believe and at parts, I did. But then I come back down to reality and am extremely disappointed that James Frey made bad decisions, which negatively colored a book that could have impacted people in a positive way. I enjoyed this book for what it was and will always wonder which parts were actually true (you know, other than the proof that he was not arrested all those time or when he created a sick, made up relationship with a girl who actually was killed by a train). I may or may not also pick up his follow up book to this which centers around his friend Leonard. I liked Leonard and would like to find out what happened to him before he died. Granted, I may never know because Frey lies like a rug but it still may be interesting because whatever else Frey is, he's a good story teller.

Four Past Midnight Mini-review #3

Stephen King is one of my favorite authors and this time of year, I can't get enough of a good thriller. Luckily, I had this grouping of four of King's novellas already on my nook so I didn't have to look very far to satisfy my cravings. I'm going to do the review for this book a little differently. Since it's actually four small books (about 200 pages each), I think I will do mini reviews for each and then a summary at the end. Changing things up around here, look out!


Title: Four Past Midnight
Author: Stephen King
Date Read: October 17, 2013

The Library Policeman

Summary:   Set in Junction City, Iowa, "The Library Policeman" is the story of Sam Peebles, a middle-aged businessman who happens to have some overdue books. It seems a minor offense—but not to Junction City's malevolent monster of a librarian. What follows is spine-tingling suspense as only Stephen King can deliver it. goodreads

Review: This was my favorite short story out of all of them. I think the part that got me the most is, I specifically remember each library I belonged to growing up and the impact they had on me. I never had the negative feelings about one like Sam did but when it was revealed what those feelings were related to, it was completely understandable why he would avoid/dread libraries. I did connect with Sam on one level though; I remember being frightened of certain librarians. It was always the old lady librarians. You know the ones with the beaded glasses chain and the sweaters? They always intimidated me. I don't know if it was because they knew if I owed money or because I thought they would lecture me if I brought books back late (which I almost never did) but I did not like interacting with them. So much so that to this day, I use the self checkout at the library (not to mention it is a bazillion times faster.) Anyway...

I also really enjoyed the main characters and Dave's story especially. I thought it was well done and added a lot to the main story line. It helped us to really understand who he was as a person rather than the reputation that he had throughout the town. Initially, I really didn't like Sam but as the novella progressed, I started to like him more and more. I'd like to think this was intentional.  Maybe King made him more appealing as the story continued and the different weights were lifted from his shoulders. It's more likely though that I may just be imagining that. This story puts a good, scary spin on libraries and librarians which is rare to hear about in the book blogger community and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Crashed

Title: Crashed
Author: Timothy Hallinan
Date Read: October 24, 2013
Series: Junior Bender #1

Summary: Junior Bender is a Los Angeles burglar with a magic touch. Since he first started breaking into houses when he was fourteen years old, he’s never once been caught. But now, after twenty-two years of an exemplary career, Junior has been blackmailed by Trey Annunziato, one of the most powerful crime bosses in LA, into acting as a private investigator on the set of Trey’s porn movie venture, which someone keeps sabotaging. The star Trey has lined up to do all that’s unwholesome on camera is Thistle Downing, America’s beloved child star, who now lives alone in a drug-induced stupor, destitute and uninsurable. Her starring role will be the scandalous fall-from-grace gossip of rubber-neckers across the country. No wonder Trey needs help keeping the production on track.


Junior knows what that he should do—get Thistle out and find her help—but doing the right thing will land him on the wrong side of LA’s scariest mob boss. With the help of his precocious twelve-year-old daughter, Rina, and his criminal sidekick, Louie the Lost (an ex-getaway driver), Junior has to figure out a miracle solution.

Review: I've read a handful of Hallinan before and have never been overly impressed or disappointed. Most of his books for me are just ok. Relatively entertaining, but I could take them or leave them. This one was different though and I think it was because I really liked Junior. I'm not sure exactly what it is about him that I like. He's a crook, so normally you would assume his moral compass is skewed but you quickly realize it actually isn't. Sure, he steals from people. But he also has a big heart which is apparent when you start to meet his fellow crooks and his family. A lovable crook, who knew!?!

I also really enjoyed Thistle. Yea, she was a hot mess. But it was completely understandable how she got there. I'm sure I'm not the first and I won't be the last to comment on this, but she reminded me of Lindsay Lohan. A child who star who was misguided from a young age and is just looking for something she can't find. But Thistle is crazy talented and a fighter which is why she is also endearing. 

Most of the extraneous characters were relatively enjoyable. The plot was a little weird. It centers around an adult film and crime in LA but it's easy to get hooked in this story once you meet Junior and Thistle. You want the best for both of the main characters and the author does a good job of taking you on a ride in order to figure out where they will end up. I would recommend this over all of the other Hallinan books I've read at this point! 

Four Past Midnight Mini-review #2

Stephen King is one of my favorite authors and this time of year, I can't get enough of a good thriller. Luckily, I had this grouping of four of King's novellas already on my nook so I didn't have to look very far to satisfy my cravings. I'm going to do the review for this book a little differently. Since it's actually four small books (about 200 pages each), I think I will do mini reviews for each and then a summary at the end. Changing things up around here, look out!


Title: Four Past Midnight
Author: Stephen King
Date Read: October 17, 2013

Secret Window, Secret Garden

Summary: Recently divorced writer Mort Rainey is alone at Tashmore Lake--that is, until a figure named John Shooter arrives, pointing an accusing finger. goodreads

Review: Unfortunately, this is one of those cases where I saw the movie, before I read the book. I hate it when I do this because it ruins the book for me. Luckily, I hadn't seen this movie in a very long time by the time I read this book, but I remembered the overall gist of the twist. King does a good job of blurring the real and the dream/unreal/fantasy lines again. It makes the reader question with the characters what is actually going on which I believe adds to the thriller. I noticed a lot more coincidences while reading this book that I don't think I would have caught had I not seen the movie. I loved seeing how the "coincidences" played out and the characters started to discover them. Very cleverly done!

Safe Haven

 Title: Safe Haven
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Date Read: October 19, 2013

Summary: Love hurts. There is nothing as painful as heartbreak. But in order to learn to love again, you must learn to trust again. 

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo’s empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

Review: Let me start out by saying, yes, this book is entirely predictable and entirely typical Nick Sparks. It has all of his major themes, grief, military vet, abuse, fires, yada yada yada. But it still grabbed me. I really enjoyed Katie and totally fell for Alex. Who could resist a dedicated father who puts his kids well-being first while still being totally emotionally available (despite being a widower)? Sparks did a great job of telling Katie's background through detailed flashbacks and I think these were what made you respect Katie as a character. You saw what she went through and how she had to be unbelievably strong to survive. 

This book is going exactly where you think it is going until the very end. I didn't see that coming. I think that twist was unlike other Sparks novels I had read but it was well done and fit into the story well. If you are looking for a love story a la The Notebook, Safe Haven will not disappoint. And now I can't wait to watch the movie :)