Voyager is the third book in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. Each one of these books is an epic adventure. Combine them and you have an amazingly detailed, historical fiction story that captivates.
I don't want to give anything away, so this review will be short. More characters are introduced, adventure and suspense abound. Time changes between the 1960s and the 1700s. Suffice it to say that all of your questions from the last book are answered in this one, and yet Ms. Gabaldon leaves us hanging with even more questions. What will happen next? Where will she take us on this unfolding adventure?
I highly recommend this series. Be prepared for a long read (each book is in the neighborhood of 1,000 pages), but don't be put off by it's size. It is well worth the time and you will find yourself totally immersed in Jamie and Claire's world, finishing the book much more quickly that you thought you would.
Happy Reading!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
The Kitchen House
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom is a gripping historical fiction novel about a young white girl raised on a plantation. This story is deeply touching, suspenseful, sweet and heartbreaking.
Lavinia arrives in America from Ireland an orphan. Her parents died during the journey and since she has no one to claim her, she and her brother are separated and she is sold to a plantation owner. She is a white girl who is now to live with the slaves on a tobacco plantation as an indentured servant. She lives and works in the kitchen house with the owner's illegitimate daughter as her caretaker. She bonds with her new family and lives life as they live it, but eventually gets accepted into the "big house" to help care for the master's wife who is hiding her own depression and psychological issues with an opium addiction.
As a white girl, who was raised as a slave, she is placed into a difficult position. She loves and misses her "family" from the kitchen house, but also understands the advantages that living in the big house afford her. She is forced to make decisions and choices that put everyone in danger.
This is a riveting book full of characters that the reader cheers for and those that the reader loathes, and some that the reader hopes until the end will somehow redeem themselves. Written from the perspective of Lavinia and Belle (the master's illegitimate daughter) provide the reader with a more full picture of the story. This was a fantastic read that became one of my favorite books. Highly recommend.
Happy Reading!
Lavinia arrives in America from Ireland an orphan. Her parents died during the journey and since she has no one to claim her, she and her brother are separated and she is sold to a plantation owner. She is a white girl who is now to live with the slaves on a tobacco plantation as an indentured servant. She lives and works in the kitchen house with the owner's illegitimate daughter as her caretaker. She bonds with her new family and lives life as they live it, but eventually gets accepted into the "big house" to help care for the master's wife who is hiding her own depression and psychological issues with an opium addiction.
As a white girl, who was raised as a slave, she is placed into a difficult position. She loves and misses her "family" from the kitchen house, but also understands the advantages that living in the big house afford her. She is forced to make decisions and choices that put everyone in danger.
This is a riveting book full of characters that the reader cheers for and those that the reader loathes, and some that the reader hopes until the end will somehow redeem themselves. Written from the perspective of Lavinia and Belle (the master's illegitimate daughter) provide the reader with a more full picture of the story. This was a fantastic read that became one of my favorite books. Highly recommend.
Happy Reading!
Monday, November 7, 2011
White Hot
Sandra Brown has an ability to weave a story web that keeps the reader guessing. She does it again in White Hot. Her books are easy to read and always quick, but boy are they entertaining!
In White Hot, Sayre Lynch returns to the small town where she grew up, the town she swore she would never return to, for her brother's funeral. Her father runs the large iron mill in the town, the only thing in there, so he controls the whole town. Her father and her brother are just as controlling and devious as ever and Sayre thinks that maybe there is more to her brother's death than the suicide that it was ruled.
Sandra Brown's books are very often full of unrealistic characters, but that is what escapism fiction is about. I am always surprised by how much I enjoy her twisting plot lines. I guess by now I should really give her credit where credit is due. If you want an escape from reality, a mystery with page turning suspense and romance thrown in, a book you can read in a day or two, then she is your author.
Happy Reading!
In White Hot, Sayre Lynch returns to the small town where she grew up, the town she swore she would never return to, for her brother's funeral. Her father runs the large iron mill in the town, the only thing in there, so he controls the whole town. Her father and her brother are just as controlling and devious as ever and Sayre thinks that maybe there is more to her brother's death than the suicide that it was ruled.
Sandra Brown's books are very often full of unrealistic characters, but that is what escapism fiction is about. I am always surprised by how much I enjoy her twisting plot lines. I guess by now I should really give her credit where credit is due. If you want an escape from reality, a mystery with page turning suspense and romance thrown in, a book you can read in a day or two, then she is your author.
Happy Reading!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Heart of a Witch
Heart of a Witch is a paranormal romance by Alicia Dean. It is about a member of a witch coven, that wants to remain a secret, who witnesses a murder. There is a male witch who wants to become all powerful and in order to do that he needs the female lead to be his partner. An ex-cop private investigator, who has a troubled past, gets involved to solve the mystery and romance ensues.
This was a typical paranormal romance. Girl is in trouble, girl meets boy, girl hates boy, boy likes girl, girl has secret, boy and girl eventually get together and boy gets girl out of trouble. I downloaded it for my nook on a Free Friday. It was okay. Not anything that I would recommend, but I didn't hate it either. Guess the fact that I can't remember any of the characters names says something. An easy, quick read and then easily forgotten.
Happy Reading!
This was a typical paranormal romance. Girl is in trouble, girl meets boy, girl hates boy, boy likes girl, girl has secret, boy and girl eventually get together and boy gets girl out of trouble. I downloaded it for my nook on a Free Friday. It was okay. Not anything that I would recommend, but I didn't hate it either. Guess the fact that I can't remember any of the characters names says something. An easy, quick read and then easily forgotten.
Happy Reading!
Friday, October 28, 2011
My Best Friend's Girl
Kamryn and Adele were best friends from the day they met in college. But when Adele slept with Kamryn's fiance, Kamryn walked away from both of them. After years of silence Adele is trying to get back in touch with Kamryn. She is dying and wants her old best friend to adopt her five year old daughter. Dorothy Koomson's novel, My Best Friend's Girl is a thought provoking novel about how far we would go for those who have hurt us, and the extraodinary bond between Kamryn and this amazing five year old girl.
Kamyrn's life focused around work and Kamryn. She is not prepared to take on the responsibilities and sacrifices that motherhood entails. She loves this little girl with her whole heart and is trying her best to make good decisions for her. But being thrown into motherhood with such little notice is destroying her life. She is forced to make sacrifices and gut wrenching decisions that are best for the child who is now in her care and looking to her for guidance and shelter. That part of the novel was touching and believable.
Unfortunately, I feel that the auther fell flat when dealing with the romance she tries to create for the main character. Kamryn is forced to reunite with her ex-fiance and it stirs up old feelings for both of them. In addition, there is a romance with someone from Kamryn's office. The office romance is completely unbelievable and lacks chemistry and tension.
Not sure if I would recommend this one. I think that the author should have stuck to the issues of mothering an orphan, and balancing career and family. That part of the book was sweet and touching. The romance part of the story did not strike a chord with me and so I believe the novel lost some of its charm.
Happy Reading!
Kamyrn's life focused around work and Kamryn. She is not prepared to take on the responsibilities and sacrifices that motherhood entails. She loves this little girl with her whole heart and is trying her best to make good decisions for her. But being thrown into motherhood with such little notice is destroying her life. She is forced to make sacrifices and gut wrenching decisions that are best for the child who is now in her care and looking to her for guidance and shelter. That part of the novel was touching and believable.
Unfortunately, I feel that the auther fell flat when dealing with the romance she tries to create for the main character. Kamryn is forced to reunite with her ex-fiance and it stirs up old feelings for both of them. In addition, there is a romance with someone from Kamryn's office. The office romance is completely unbelievable and lacks chemistry and tension.
Not sure if I would recommend this one. I think that the author should have stuck to the issues of mothering an orphan, and balancing career and family. That part of the book was sweet and touching. The romance part of the story did not strike a chord with me and so I believe the novel lost some of its charm.
Happy Reading!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Life Expectancy
Dean Koontz delivers a thrilling, yet fun, novel in Life Expectancy. This is a story about the extraordinary events that occur on very specific dates in one man's life, as predicted by his grandfather. Jimmy Tock enters the world at the very same time his grandfather leaves it. Before his death, Jimmy's grandfather predicts five dark days that will occur in his life. The story weaves the reader through these dark days, and as anyone who reads Dean Koontz knows, the story is a page turner.
The best thing about this novel is how loveable the characters are. Jimmy Tock is a great guy. He is funny, smart, loving, loyal...and his family is just as loveable. His grandmother and his parents become very real to the reader. His parents are loving and kind, and his grandmother is a hoot. The family dynamic is wonderful.
I can't say too much about the dark days, because it may give too much away. However, I can say that each event shapes Jimmy's life, and even though they are difficult, scary, dangerous events, somehow Jimmy is better off for having gone through them.
Sometimes Dean Koontz is too wordy and too descriptive and turns off the reader. This book did not do that and I highly recommend it. Light and fun, dark and scary all at the same time, with characters you wish you could meet in person. How did Koontz pull that off? You have to read this book to find out.
Happy Reading!
The best thing about this novel is how loveable the characters are. Jimmy Tock is a great guy. He is funny, smart, loving, loyal...and his family is just as loveable. His grandmother and his parents become very real to the reader. His parents are loving and kind, and his grandmother is a hoot. The family dynamic is wonderful.
I can't say too much about the dark days, because it may give too much away. However, I can say that each event shapes Jimmy's life, and even though they are difficult, scary, dangerous events, somehow Jimmy is better off for having gone through them.
Sometimes Dean Koontz is too wordy and too descriptive and turns off the reader. This book did not do that and I highly recommend it. Light and fun, dark and scary all at the same time, with characters you wish you could meet in person. How did Koontz pull that off? You have to read this book to find out.
Happy Reading!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
The Art of Racing in the Rain
This novel by Garth Stein is a heartfelt, touching, sweet and funny story as told from the perspective of the family dog, Enzo. The story is tragic, beautiful, at times humorous, but always real. It is full of hope, love and family and was an enjoyable read from start to finish.
Enzo's human best friend, Denny, is a race car driver. He lives, breathes, eats and sleeps racing and tells Enzo all about it. As a result, Enzo is quite schooled in the art of racing. Enzo is Denny's best companion, but as Denny matures, gets married and eventually has a child, Enzo learns the true meaning of family. He senses things before they happen, but without the proper makings of the human mouth he has no way to tell his family of the upcoming changes they will all face, or to tell his Denny of the people who are working against him. Enzo knows that in his next life, he will become human, for he is so close to being human already.
This book was incredible. Anyone who has ever loved a dog or, for that matter, known anyone else who has ever loved a dog, will love this book. The bond between Enzo and his family is the truest form of love. Enzo is the type of character that will imprint on the reader's soul. Denny's character never gives up, even in the face of despair. This book is rich with humanity and is one that will have the reader thinking of it long after turning the last page. I highly recommend it.
Happy Reading!
Enzo's human best friend, Denny, is a race car driver. He lives, breathes, eats and sleeps racing and tells Enzo all about it. As a result, Enzo is quite schooled in the art of racing. Enzo is Denny's best companion, but as Denny matures, gets married and eventually has a child, Enzo learns the true meaning of family. He senses things before they happen, but without the proper makings of the human mouth he has no way to tell his family of the upcoming changes they will all face, or to tell his Denny of the people who are working against him. Enzo knows that in his next life, he will become human, for he is so close to being human already.
This book was incredible. Anyone who has ever loved a dog or, for that matter, known anyone else who has ever loved a dog, will love this book. The bond between Enzo and his family is the truest form of love. Enzo is the type of character that will imprint on the reader's soul. Denny's character never gives up, even in the face of despair. This book is rich with humanity and is one that will have the reader thinking of it long after turning the last page. I highly recommend it.
Happy Reading!
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