Cold Mountain is a novel by Charles Frazier, and was the latest pick "book club" pick in my tight circle of friends. It is said to be "Whitmanesque" (James Polk, The New York Times Book Review) and "as close to a masterpiece as American writing is going to come these days" (Fred Chappell, Raleigh News & Observer). I found it to be depressing and at the end of the novel I felt cheated. But maybe that is what the author intended.
This novel is a story about two main characters trying to survive in the South during the Civil War. Inman is a Confederate soldier, who does not support the cause and just wants to get back home to Cold Mountain. There he hopes to reunite with his the object of his affections, Ada. Ada is the daughter of a pastor, who was raised in a city and brought up to be a woman of society in the South. Her father moved them to the rustic, far removed Cold Mountain, where she is completely out of her element. She meets Inman and takes an interest in him, as well. After he is drafted to go to war, her father passes away leaving her to fend for herself on their plot of land with no clue how to survive on her own.
The book intertwines their journeys. Inman as he defects and tried desperately to get home; Ada as she does not really even attempt to figure out how to survive and is eventually saved by a young woman named Ruby, who teaches her how to survive on her own. The journey for Inman is perilous, it is fraught with danger and constant struggle, but he is full of goodness. He spends his journey helping strangers when needed and doing his best to repay those who help him. There is not much redeeming about Ada, she seems spoiled and weak as she allows Ruby to lead her. Regardless, because of Inman's incredible character the reader hopes that he will arrive safely and they will be reunited.
I won't give away the rest. Suffice it to say that the novel was very gloomy and violent. I felt the author used descriptive language that sets the mood to be depressing, which made the book difficult to pick up each day to read. I did really like Inman's character and also Ruby. When I finished reading the book, I was not happy with it and felt that it had been a waste of time. Upon further reflection, maybe that is just what the author intended.
I caution you to read at your own risk. I had intended to watch the movie starring Jude Law and Nicole Kidman, but I could not bring myself to watch it. My time is limited enough that I did not want to waste any more of it on such a depressing story.
(not so) Happy Reading!
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Thursday, January 24, 2013
The Last Noel
Michael Malone's The Last Noel is a fantastic novel. The novel is about two unlikely friends and 12 Christmases that they spend together throughout the years, beginning in 1963. It is heart warming and heart breaking, funny and emotional. The story grips you from the beginning with a tenderness that is truly felt by the reader, and has excellent character development.
Kaye & Noni are both seven years old. One is a child of privilege, living in the town's grandest home. The other is the grandson of the maid of that home. The two become fast friends one Christmas Eve and their unlikely, but deep, friendship continues across the years. They deal with their families issues, the prejudices of the small North Carolina town, other relationships that threaten to tear them apart and their own stubbornness. This story masterfully weaves through the decades by focusing on the Christmas season, as that is where their story began. As each of them grows, ages, experiences joys and sorrows, their relationship only deepens even when those outside forces do push them apart.
This is a book worth reading. It had me laughing, crying and whole-heartedly cheering for Noni & Kaye throughout their individual struggles, as well as some of the supporting characters. The deep friendship that these characters develop is something that not many of us get to experience. There are so many things to discuss in this book that I was sorry it wasn't a book club reading selection. This is the kind of book that you want your friends to read so you can talk about it. It touches on historical events, physiological and psychological issues, family dynamics, discrimination, womens' liberation, war and peace. The Last Noel is a book that will not be easily forgotten. I highly recommend it.
Happy Reading!
Kaye & Noni are both seven years old. One is a child of privilege, living in the town's grandest home. The other is the grandson of the maid of that home. The two become fast friends one Christmas Eve and their unlikely, but deep, friendship continues across the years. They deal with their families issues, the prejudices of the small North Carolina town, other relationships that threaten to tear them apart and their own stubbornness. This story masterfully weaves through the decades by focusing on the Christmas season, as that is where their story began. As each of them grows, ages, experiences joys and sorrows, their relationship only deepens even when those outside forces do push them apart.
This is a book worth reading. It had me laughing, crying and whole-heartedly cheering for Noni & Kaye throughout their individual struggles, as well as some of the supporting characters. The deep friendship that these characters develop is something that not many of us get to experience. There are so many things to discuss in this book that I was sorry it wasn't a book club reading selection. This is the kind of book that you want your friends to read so you can talk about it. It touches on historical events, physiological and psychological issues, family dynamics, discrimination, womens' liberation, war and peace. The Last Noel is a book that will not be easily forgotten. I highly recommend it.
Happy Reading!
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Devil's Cradle
Devil's Cradle is the second book in the Kendall O'Dell series by Sylvia Nobel. This novel had action and lots of intrigue and conspiracy. So much, that it was a bit confusing!
Kendall O'Dell's next adventure takes her to a small mining town in southern Arizona. A friend of her brother's from Pittsburgh has just been told that she is the heir to a mining conglomerate. But she didn't even know that this was her family. Her entire life has been a lie. Kendall's brother asks her to help this young woman on her journey to AZ, and Kendall senses a good human interest story. The two set out on their adventure and it turns into something they did not expect. There are a lot of people in this mining town that don't seem to want this young girl to stake her claim. But just who has the biggest motive for wanting her father dead? And will she be next?
I was so excited to read this next installment in this series but it fell flat for me. What I loved most about the first novel was the great cast of characters from Castle Valley. Unfortunately, because this story takes place outside of Castle Valley, those characters were not in this novel very much. The story just didn't have as much flavor without them. In addition, the mystery involved was so convoluted with so many characters and potential adversaries that it got confusing. It was hard to keep everyone and their motives straight, and I found myself just wishing I could get to the end of the book to find out who the perpetrator was. There was one final issue I had with the book: I could not stand the young woman that Kendall was helping. She was wishy-washy, needy, full of mood swings and immature. This was her character because she has been sheltered and because of a medical condition. But I found her too annoying to get behind her, and therefore I didn't care as much about the outcome.
I was disappointed with this read. From what I can tell, the next novel in the series takes place back in Castle Valley so maybe it will be better. It isn't all that high on my "want to read" list now though.
Happy Reading!
Kendall O'Dell's next adventure takes her to a small mining town in southern Arizona. A friend of her brother's from Pittsburgh has just been told that she is the heir to a mining conglomerate. But she didn't even know that this was her family. Her entire life has been a lie. Kendall's brother asks her to help this young woman on her journey to AZ, and Kendall senses a good human interest story. The two set out on their adventure and it turns into something they did not expect. There are a lot of people in this mining town that don't seem to want this young girl to stake her claim. But just who has the biggest motive for wanting her father dead? And will she be next?
I was so excited to read this next installment in this series but it fell flat for me. What I loved most about the first novel was the great cast of characters from Castle Valley. Unfortunately, because this story takes place outside of Castle Valley, those characters were not in this novel very much. The story just didn't have as much flavor without them. In addition, the mystery involved was so convoluted with so many characters and potential adversaries that it got confusing. It was hard to keep everyone and their motives straight, and I found myself just wishing I could get to the end of the book to find out who the perpetrator was. There was one final issue I had with the book: I could not stand the young woman that Kendall was helping. She was wishy-washy, needy, full of mood swings and immature. This was her character because she has been sheltered and because of a medical condition. But I found her too annoying to get behind her, and therefore I didn't care as much about the outcome.
I was disappointed with this read. From what I can tell, the next novel in the series takes place back in Castle Valley so maybe it will be better. It isn't all that high on my "want to read" list now though.
Happy Reading!
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Deadly Sanctuary
Deadly Sanctuary is a mystery novel by Sylvia Nobel. It is the first in her Kendall O'Dell Series. It was a fast paced, well developed novel of intrigue surrounding a conspiracy in a small town in Arizona.
Kendall O'Dell has just moved to the town of Castle Valley, AZ to help with her asthma. She has taken a job as an investigative reporter at the local paper, which is a much smaller operation than what she is used to, coming from Philadelphia. The position opened up because her predecessor disappeared. The paper's editor wants her to look into the reporter's disappearance and see if she can link his disappearance to the last story he was working on. One which he kept a secret, only saying that it would blow the lid off of the small town. But, she has to be quiet about it. Because the previous reporter's investigation included the town's sheriff, who also happens to be the financial support behind the paper and the editor's brother-in-law.
What ensues is a twisting turning ride, full of things that seem to be a dead end but somehow weave together to create an intricate plot. Throw in some quirky but lovable co-workers, a sexy rancher and a wealthy lawyer who vie for Kendall's attention and a breathtaking setting and you have a winner of a novel. This is my first experience with Sylvia Nobel and the character of Kendall O'Dell. I enjoyed the book so much that I am going to start the second in the series (Devil's Cradle) right away.
Happy Reading!
Kendall O'Dell has just moved to the town of Castle Valley, AZ to help with her asthma. She has taken a job as an investigative reporter at the local paper, which is a much smaller operation than what she is used to, coming from Philadelphia. The position opened up because her predecessor disappeared. The paper's editor wants her to look into the reporter's disappearance and see if she can link his disappearance to the last story he was working on. One which he kept a secret, only saying that it would blow the lid off of the small town. But, she has to be quiet about it. Because the previous reporter's investigation included the town's sheriff, who also happens to be the financial support behind the paper and the editor's brother-in-law.
What ensues is a twisting turning ride, full of things that seem to be a dead end but somehow weave together to create an intricate plot. Throw in some quirky but lovable co-workers, a sexy rancher and a wealthy lawyer who vie for Kendall's attention and a breathtaking setting and you have a winner of a novel. This is my first experience with Sylvia Nobel and the character of Kendall O'Dell. I enjoyed the book so much that I am going to start the second in the series (Devil's Cradle) right away.
Happy Reading!
Friday, December 28, 2012
Year End: 2012
I have not posted in eight months. It has been a very busy, difficult year caring for my father (who is thankfully on the mend) and my family, and my free time to post has been limited. There would be no way for me to review the 18 books I have read since my last post. I have not tracked the books that I have read well either. There may be a few missing from the list (as of my last post in April, I was only on number 12). As a result, I can only come up with 30 books read. I am below my average reading for the year, with only 2.5 books read per month. That is not very surprising, given my time limitations. My book club also consumed fewer books this year with only three books read (Cold Mountain being completed just this week) rather than our usual of four or five. Favorites from this year include Notorious Nineteen (Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich), Wicked Business (the second in the Wicked series by Janet Evanovich), Still Alice, The Map of Time, and The Fiery Cross (5th in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon).
2012 was a life changing year. A year that split my life into the "before" and the "after" with the passing of my mother. Not all of it was bad, but a lot of it was challenging. The books that I read offered escape from those challenges (notice the number of silly, non consequential novels on the list of 29). This past year I learned a lot about myself - about my limits and my strength; about my blessings and my love of my family; about what really matters. 2013 will be a better year and hopefully my time will allow for more frequent blog posts.
2012 was a life changing year. A year that split my life into the "before" and the "after" with the passing of my mother. Not all of it was bad, but a lot of it was challenging. The books that I read offered escape from those challenges (notice the number of silly, non consequential novels on the list of 29). This past year I learned a lot about myself - about my limits and my strength; about my blessings and my love of my family; about what really matters. 2013 will be a better year and hopefully my time will allow for more frequent blog posts.
Books Read in 2012
Drums of Autumn
Perfect Match
Kill Me
Love, Unexpectedly
Cool Shade
Still Alice
Off Season
The Journey Home
Love in a Nutshell
Double Dare
Chasing the Dime
The Lilac Bus
The Night Circus (BC)
Fifty Shades of Grey
Fifty Shades Darker
Fifty Shades Freed
Montana Creeds: Logan
Montana Creeds: Tyler
Montana Creeds: Dylan
The Last Summer of You and Me
Dedication
The Broker
The Map of Time (BC)
Wicked Business
Pillow Talk
The Fiery Cross
Falling Star
Dark Fever
Cold Mountain (BC)
Notorious Nineteen
Thursday, April 26, 2012
The Lilac Bus
Maeve Binchy's The Lilac Bus is more of a novella than a full novel. At just over 100 pages, it is a quick and easy read about some loveable, and some not so loveable, quirky characters. The novella is broken up into eight chapters, one for each of the characters.
Tom owns the Lilac Bus, and every Friday his passengers travel with him from Dublin, across Ireland to a small town for the weekend. Each one of them is traveling there each weekend for a different purpose, and each chapter reveals that characters purpose. What makes this book so enjoyable and interesting is that in addition to telling their own story in their chapter, each character also includes commentary on the lives of the other passengers. It isn't until you read each character's chapter that the reader is able to put together the pieces of the puzzle.
Maeve Binchy is excellent at character development, and is known for her heartwarming stories about Ireland and it's people. Her characters come alive on the page, and this book is a perfect example of how she can make the characters in her books seem like people you know.
If you haven't ever checked out Maeve Binchy, she is worth your time. Her novels are charming, and this one is no exception. Happy Reading!
Tom owns the Lilac Bus, and every Friday his passengers travel with him from Dublin, across Ireland to a small town for the weekend. Each one of them is traveling there each weekend for a different purpose, and each chapter reveals that characters purpose. What makes this book so enjoyable and interesting is that in addition to telling their own story in their chapter, each character also includes commentary on the lives of the other passengers. It isn't until you read each character's chapter that the reader is able to put together the pieces of the puzzle.
Maeve Binchy is excellent at character development, and is known for her heartwarming stories about Ireland and it's people. Her characters come alive on the page, and this book is a perfect example of how she can make the characters in her books seem like people you know.
If you haven't ever checked out Maeve Binchy, she is worth your time. Her novels are charming, and this one is no exception. Happy Reading!
Monday, April 9, 2012
Behind in Blogging
The beginning of this year has been a very difficult one for my family. Due to recent medical crises with my Mom & Dad, and my mother's passing a couple of weeks ago, I have gotten behind in my blogging. These last three months have been an incredibly busy, stressful and emotional time. I escaped a bit with my reading, but my time on the computer was greatly limited. Since so much time has passed, I can't give full reviews to each book that I consumed. So below, I am going to give a brief synopsis and my overall recommendation for each book.
The Drums of Autumn
This is the fourth book in the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. So far it is my favorite in the series. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I will just say that it is full of action, adventure and my favorite characters. If you have started reading this series, this book is a must read.
Perfect Match
Jodi Piccoult is excellent at weaving an emotional storyline and making the reader question what he/she would do in the same situation. Her books are realistic, heart wrenching, and sometimes difficult to read. This is one of those books. In Perfect Match the main character, Nina, is a prosecutor. She prosecutes child molesters and knows all too well that the legal system does not always protect the victims. She never expects her own child to become a victim. What would you do, if you knew that your child's molester might get away with it? What would you do, if you knew the process to convict that monster might inflict more damage onto your family? Jodi Piccoult addresses those difficult emotional and moral questions, and writes a story that is a page turner from the beginning. Highly recommend, but this is a difficult read.
Kill Me
I had not read Stephen White before reading this fast paced thriller. What if you could hire someone that would take your life at a precise, predetermined time? What if you could set the parameters for the point at which your life would have no more meaning? What if you changed your mind? The book really has two main characters, a therapist and the patient that comes to him trying to change the course of a future that he set into motion. The author unfolds the story so expertly to keep you guessing and thinking up until the very end. Full of action, and truly a page turner. I will be returning to Stephen White. I recommend this one.
Love, Unexpectedly
This novel by Susan Fox was a silly romance that was free on my nook. It was alright. Different premise/setting than any other romance I have read, and a twist on the typical romance formula. It served it's purpose of being a quick, simple read, but there was nothing too special about it. If you have limited time to read, you might want to skip this one.
Cool Shade
This was also a free nook book. This novel is the reason I am not a big fan of romance novels. The author, Theresa Weir, tried to mix a romance in with some mystery. The plot fell really short, the mystery was poorly contrived, the characters were barely likeable, and it followed the annoying typical romance novel formula (boy meets girl, boy & girl hate each other, boy & girl get together, then have misunderstanding, then work it out. Oh and by the way, girl is really needy and even though it is the 21st century and girl is in her mid 20s, she is still a virgin.) Blech! I don't believe the author did any research into her subject, which makes me as a reader feel that she just thinks I am stupid. Maybe I was for wasting my time on this one.
Still Alice
This was an intelligent, well researched, touching novel by Lisa Genova. In it, Alice, a Harvard professor is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. The story follows her as she accepts her fate, begins to deteriorate, and is forced to give up her independence. The fact that it is written from the perspective of the person with Alzheimer's is part of the reason that the novel is so gripping. The author has a Ph.D. in neuroscience, so the book gets technical and yet the story is eloquently written. This was an impressive novel, especially for a first time novelist. Lisa Genova is one to watch. Highly recommend this one.
Off Season
Anne Rivers Siddons' novel about a woman dealing with her husband's death is moving and thought provoking. Lilly, the novel's main character, takes a road trip to her family's cabin in Maine so that she can grieve her husband. She delves into her past, from her childhood to falling in love with her husband, Cam, and their life together. While in Maine, she discovers things that her husband kept from her and discovers something that maybe she should have seen coming. While this book was touching, I sort of felt like so many bad things could not possibly happen to one person. I really liked Lilly, and wanted more for her. This novel was okay, but not one that would make me seek out more by the author.
The Journey Home
At just over 100 pages, this was more of a novella than a full novel, by Michael Baron. He weaves two seemingly separate storylines together. The first is about a man in his late thirties who has just awoken with no idea where he is or where he is from, he only knows that he must find his wife. The second is about an elderly woman suffering from dementia and living in an assisted living facility. Her son visits her every day and tries in vain to get her out of the downward spiral she is in. There is a twist to the story that I figured out early on, but it didn't ruin the book for me. There was a happy ending, one that I needed at that moment in my life. I recommend this one, especially since it was such a short novel.
Love in a Nutshell
This is a Janet Evanovich romance novel, that she co-authored with Dorien Kelly. I loved this book. Not your everyday romance with a good mystery thrown in, all with a dash of Evanovich's humor. As stated previously, I am not a big fan of the typical romance. In this book, the typical romance novel formula is not really present. The subject matter is researched well enough, the characters stay true to themselves, the reader is actually kept guessing until the end, and the main characters are likeable. The main female character is starting over in the small coastal town where her family owns a cabin. She wants to turn the cabin into a B&B, but she has a cash flow problem. She finds a job at the local brew pub, and works as the owner's spy. He is being sabotaged, but doesn't know why or by whom. Typically in a romance novel, there is some sort of misunderstanding that drives a temporary wedge between the two love interest characters. In this novel, surprise of all surprises, the characters are actually honest with one another and said misunderstanding is avoided. So refreshing! This one was definitely worth the time. There is a reason Janet Evanovich is one of my favorite "escapism lit" authors.
Double Dare
The good dose of escapism in the last novel, had me wanting more. So I read this free nook book by Rhonda Nelson. It was another example of why I don't care for the typical romance. I didn't hate this book, but with so many more worthy novels on my shelves, this was a waste of time. Silly, gratuitous, formulaic. This one was about a girl who was prearranged to marry someone so that her father's company could have a smooth merger with the groom's family's company. Really? In today's business world? She runs away from the alter and decides to hire an "adventure guide" to take her on an adventurous vacation. Complete silliness, no noticeable research into the subject matter, characters who do not stay true to their profiles from the beginning of the book, and for Pete's sake another virginal main character. Please! Another pet peeve...this was a "self published" electronic book that was full of grammatical errors and misspellings (words that the spell check wouldn't necessarily catch). I am not a perfect speller and make my fair share of grammatical errors, but if I were going to put my name on a novel, you can be sure it would be edited by someone other than the word processor's spell check. The main character's name was misspelled several times (Sam was spelled Same). C'mon self publishers, you can do better than that.
Chasing the Dime
After reading a few escapism romance, I was ready for something else, so I picked up Michael Connelly's thriller. This was a great read. Henry Pierce gets a new phone number after moving out of the home he shared with his girlfriend. But the phone calls Henry is getting are certainly not for him; they are all for a girl named Lilly who, it appears, is some sort of an escort. Pierce heads a company that is on the cutting edge of emerging technologies and has come across a discovery that could change the world. Now is not the time for him to be distracted. But he feels drawn to Lilly and finding out what happened to her. The ride Michael Connelly takes the reader on from there is a suspenseful page turner (almost 400 pages that I ripped through in less than two days). At times, the novel gets quite technical but it stays interesting all the same. If you are looking for a mystery that will have you guessing until the last pages, this is it. I recommend this one.
Whew! I am caught up. Happy Reading!
The Drums of Autumn
This is the fourth book in the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. So far it is my favorite in the series. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I will just say that it is full of action, adventure and my favorite characters. If you have started reading this series, this book is a must read.
Perfect Match
Jodi Piccoult is excellent at weaving an emotional storyline and making the reader question what he/she would do in the same situation. Her books are realistic, heart wrenching, and sometimes difficult to read. This is one of those books. In Perfect Match the main character, Nina, is a prosecutor. She prosecutes child molesters and knows all too well that the legal system does not always protect the victims. She never expects her own child to become a victim. What would you do, if you knew that your child's molester might get away with it? What would you do, if you knew the process to convict that monster might inflict more damage onto your family? Jodi Piccoult addresses those difficult emotional and moral questions, and writes a story that is a page turner from the beginning. Highly recommend, but this is a difficult read.
Kill Me
I had not read Stephen White before reading this fast paced thriller. What if you could hire someone that would take your life at a precise, predetermined time? What if you could set the parameters for the point at which your life would have no more meaning? What if you changed your mind? The book really has two main characters, a therapist and the patient that comes to him trying to change the course of a future that he set into motion. The author unfolds the story so expertly to keep you guessing and thinking up until the very end. Full of action, and truly a page turner. I will be returning to Stephen White. I recommend this one.
Love, Unexpectedly
This novel by Susan Fox was a silly romance that was free on my nook. It was alright. Different premise/setting than any other romance I have read, and a twist on the typical romance formula. It served it's purpose of being a quick, simple read, but there was nothing too special about it. If you have limited time to read, you might want to skip this one.
Cool Shade
This was also a free nook book. This novel is the reason I am not a big fan of romance novels. The author, Theresa Weir, tried to mix a romance in with some mystery. The plot fell really short, the mystery was poorly contrived, the characters were barely likeable, and it followed the annoying typical romance novel formula (boy meets girl, boy & girl hate each other, boy & girl get together, then have misunderstanding, then work it out. Oh and by the way, girl is really needy and even though it is the 21st century and girl is in her mid 20s, she is still a virgin.) Blech! I don't believe the author did any research into her subject, which makes me as a reader feel that she just thinks I am stupid. Maybe I was for wasting my time on this one.
Still Alice
This was an intelligent, well researched, touching novel by Lisa Genova. In it, Alice, a Harvard professor is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. The story follows her as she accepts her fate, begins to deteriorate, and is forced to give up her independence. The fact that it is written from the perspective of the person with Alzheimer's is part of the reason that the novel is so gripping. The author has a Ph.D. in neuroscience, so the book gets technical and yet the story is eloquently written. This was an impressive novel, especially for a first time novelist. Lisa Genova is one to watch. Highly recommend this one.
Off Season
Anne Rivers Siddons' novel about a woman dealing with her husband's death is moving and thought provoking. Lilly, the novel's main character, takes a road trip to her family's cabin in Maine so that she can grieve her husband. She delves into her past, from her childhood to falling in love with her husband, Cam, and their life together. While in Maine, she discovers things that her husband kept from her and discovers something that maybe she should have seen coming. While this book was touching, I sort of felt like so many bad things could not possibly happen to one person. I really liked Lilly, and wanted more for her. This novel was okay, but not one that would make me seek out more by the author.
The Journey Home
At just over 100 pages, this was more of a novella than a full novel, by Michael Baron. He weaves two seemingly separate storylines together. The first is about a man in his late thirties who has just awoken with no idea where he is or where he is from, he only knows that he must find his wife. The second is about an elderly woman suffering from dementia and living in an assisted living facility. Her son visits her every day and tries in vain to get her out of the downward spiral she is in. There is a twist to the story that I figured out early on, but it didn't ruin the book for me. There was a happy ending, one that I needed at that moment in my life. I recommend this one, especially since it was such a short novel.
Love in a Nutshell
This is a Janet Evanovich romance novel, that she co-authored with Dorien Kelly. I loved this book. Not your everyday romance with a good mystery thrown in, all with a dash of Evanovich's humor. As stated previously, I am not a big fan of the typical romance. In this book, the typical romance novel formula is not really present. The subject matter is researched well enough, the characters stay true to themselves, the reader is actually kept guessing until the end, and the main characters are likeable. The main female character is starting over in the small coastal town where her family owns a cabin. She wants to turn the cabin into a B&B, but she has a cash flow problem. She finds a job at the local brew pub, and works as the owner's spy. He is being sabotaged, but doesn't know why or by whom. Typically in a romance novel, there is some sort of misunderstanding that drives a temporary wedge between the two love interest characters. In this novel, surprise of all surprises, the characters are actually honest with one another and said misunderstanding is avoided. So refreshing! This one was definitely worth the time. There is a reason Janet Evanovich is one of my favorite "escapism lit" authors.
Double Dare
The good dose of escapism in the last novel, had me wanting more. So I read this free nook book by Rhonda Nelson. It was another example of why I don't care for the typical romance. I didn't hate this book, but with so many more worthy novels on my shelves, this was a waste of time. Silly, gratuitous, formulaic. This one was about a girl who was prearranged to marry someone so that her father's company could have a smooth merger with the groom's family's company. Really? In today's business world? She runs away from the alter and decides to hire an "adventure guide" to take her on an adventurous vacation. Complete silliness, no noticeable research into the subject matter, characters who do not stay true to their profiles from the beginning of the book, and for Pete's sake another virginal main character. Please! Another pet peeve...this was a "self published" electronic book that was full of grammatical errors and misspellings (words that the spell check wouldn't necessarily catch). I am not a perfect speller and make my fair share of grammatical errors, but if I were going to put my name on a novel, you can be sure it would be edited by someone other than the word processor's spell check. The main character's name was misspelled several times (Sam was spelled Same). C'mon self publishers, you can do better than that.
Chasing the Dime
After reading a few escapism romance, I was ready for something else, so I picked up Michael Connelly's thriller. This was a great read. Henry Pierce gets a new phone number after moving out of the home he shared with his girlfriend. But the phone calls Henry is getting are certainly not for him; they are all for a girl named Lilly who, it appears, is some sort of an escort. Pierce heads a company that is on the cutting edge of emerging technologies and has come across a discovery that could change the world. Now is not the time for him to be distracted. But he feels drawn to Lilly and finding out what happened to her. The ride Michael Connelly takes the reader on from there is a suspenseful page turner (almost 400 pages that I ripped through in less than two days). At times, the novel gets quite technical but it stays interesting all the same. If you are looking for a mystery that will have you guessing until the last pages, this is it. I recommend this one.
Whew! I am caught up. Happy Reading!
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