Santa Montefiore's Last Voyage of the Valentina is a voyage for the reader to a different time and place. It is an emotional journey, with ups and downs, but yet a very light and easy read. There is intrigue and romance, murder and adventure, all wrapped up in a coming of age story for a young woman who has some serious growing up to do.
Alba Arbuckle does not know her mother. That is because she died soon after Alba was born. Her father, doing what he thought was right, took her away from her mother's world back to England with him, and protected her from the past by not telling her about who her mother was. It was in the 40s, after the war, and a man did not raise a child alone. So he remarried and built a life for himself and his daughter. But, Alba grows up feeling like she doesn't belong in her father's new family. She thinks her stepmother is awful, is apathetic to her step siblings, and is angry with her father for keeping her mother from her. As a result, she lives a licentious life, spending her father's money, entertaining many boyfriends, trying to rebel against the proper life her father and stepmother have built.
Then things change. She finds a portrait of her mother that her father drew. She produces it for her father and demands answers that he is still unwilling to share. Buoyed by a new friend and lover, she decides to find the answers for herself. The reader is then transported back and forth between 1940s Italy when Alba's parents meet and fall in love, and Alba's journey discovering her extended family and herself during the present day (1971). As the reader takes this journey with Alba, we are left hopeful that when she finally learns the truth about her mother, she will see the truth of her father, as well, and that the discoveries she makes will heal old wounds for both of them.
Through all of the intrigue surrounding Alba's parents, there are two lovable characters from her life helping her along the way: Fitzroy and Viv. These two characters bring humor and romance into the novel. The reader is rooting for Fitz and Alba to make something of their romance, for Alba to grow up a little, and for a happy ending.
The descriptions of the places and of the time are exceptional. I could smell the lemon groves, salt air and figs and see the beautiful Amalfi coast. Santa Montefiori weaves a story that is really two tales in one and is able to incorporate the intrigue right along with the romance. While the reader may not get the ending they are expecting, the ending is a fitting one for the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would recommend it highly.
Happy Reading!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
The Weight of Water
The Weight of Water is a haunting novel by Anita Shreve. Alternately telling the story of Jean, a photographer, and her family who are on an assignment in the Isles of Shoals off of the coast of Maine, and of the Christensen family from Norway, who eventually emigrated to the United States in the late 1800s. This novel is like two books in one, both stories grabbing hold of the reader until their emotional conclusions. Both stories asking the question, "If you take a woman and push her to the edge, how will she behave?"
The Christensen family (and the Hontvedt family) story ends in a brutal double murder. Jean's assignment is to photograph the island where this murder took place for a magazine article. She and her husband Thomas and their daughter, along with Thomas' brother and his girlfriend set sail together for the island of Smuttynose. As Jean immerses herself in the double murder, she herself begins to tread water emotionally and begins to believe that her husband is having an affair. She examines her marriage and finds that maybe it isn't on solid ground, maybe it never was. Her jealousy begins to cloud her judgement, and that leads to her ultimate downfall, pushing her to her limits, much like her counterparts in the case of the Smuttynose murders.
The author seamlessly weaves these two stories together. Literally from paragraph to paragraph the reader is shifted between these two very different centuries. The harsh reality of life on Smuttynose in the 1860s and 70s to the reality of Jean's current familial struggles. It is not an uplifting book, it is one in which you know all along that there is going to be a horrible conclusion. It is a powerful work, one that begs the question, how far would you go? And how would you ever recover from starting off a series of events that you then have no control over? All of the characters are not necessarily likable, the setting is harsh, but this is a thought provoking book and a tale that will stay with the reader.
Happy Reading!
The Christensen family (and the Hontvedt family) story ends in a brutal double murder. Jean's assignment is to photograph the island where this murder took place for a magazine article. She and her husband Thomas and their daughter, along with Thomas' brother and his girlfriend set sail together for the island of Smuttynose. As Jean immerses herself in the double murder, she herself begins to tread water emotionally and begins to believe that her husband is having an affair. She examines her marriage and finds that maybe it isn't on solid ground, maybe it never was. Her jealousy begins to cloud her judgement, and that leads to her ultimate downfall, pushing her to her limits, much like her counterparts in the case of the Smuttynose murders.
The author seamlessly weaves these two stories together. Literally from paragraph to paragraph the reader is shifted between these two very different centuries. The harsh reality of life on Smuttynose in the 1860s and 70s to the reality of Jean's current familial struggles. It is not an uplifting book, it is one in which you know all along that there is going to be a horrible conclusion. It is a powerful work, one that begs the question, how far would you go? And how would you ever recover from starting off a series of events that you then have no control over? All of the characters are not necessarily likable, the setting is harsh, but this is a thought provoking book and a tale that will stay with the reader.
Happy Reading!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Garden Spells
Sarah Addison Allen spins a tale with such elegance that you get lost in her charming world and feel as if you have been in a dream when you finally emerge from the pages of her books. Garden Spells was such an enchanting, entertaining, utterly delightful read.
The Waverly's have something special about them. Well really, so does nearly everyone in the town of Bascom, North Carolina. There are family legacies that are passed down from generation to generation; special gifts that certain family names are known for. For the Waverly's it is all in the garden, from the special flowers and herbs that are grown there to the apple tree that asserts itself by tossing apples at inopportune times (or opportune depending on the circumstances). But these special gifts have made the Waverly's outsiders in their home town. Claire Waverly has made the best of her abilities and created a catering business around the special plants that grow in her garden. She likes her life to have structure and stability. Her world is rocked a bit when her free-spirited sister, who fled Bascom as soon as she was old enough, shows up one day looking for some of that safety and stability. Claire has to learn to accept change, and that some changes are for the better. Both sisters have secrets to share, and only when they do will they be able to get past their history and make a family for the future.
This novel was enjoyable from start to finish. The characters are quirky and lovable, from the aunt with a knack for giving strange gifts just before the receiver needs them, to the gay shop owner, to the next door neighbor and the family that owns the dairy farm. The story weaves so smoothly and sweetly, yet deals with some heavy issues like abuse, neglect, and fear of abandonment. Only Sarah Addison Allen could weave a story so profound while you are floating along on her mystical cloud. Loved loved loved Garden Spells and highly recommend it.
Happy Reading!
The Waverly's have something special about them. Well really, so does nearly everyone in the town of Bascom, North Carolina. There are family legacies that are passed down from generation to generation; special gifts that certain family names are known for. For the Waverly's it is all in the garden, from the special flowers and herbs that are grown there to the apple tree that asserts itself by tossing apples at inopportune times (or opportune depending on the circumstances). But these special gifts have made the Waverly's outsiders in their home town. Claire Waverly has made the best of her abilities and created a catering business around the special plants that grow in her garden. She likes her life to have structure and stability. Her world is rocked a bit when her free-spirited sister, who fled Bascom as soon as she was old enough, shows up one day looking for some of that safety and stability. Claire has to learn to accept change, and that some changes are for the better. Both sisters have secrets to share, and only when they do will they be able to get past their history and make a family for the future.
This novel was enjoyable from start to finish. The characters are quirky and lovable, from the aunt with a knack for giving strange gifts just before the receiver needs them, to the gay shop owner, to the next door neighbor and the family that owns the dairy farm. The story weaves so smoothly and sweetly, yet deals with some heavy issues like abuse, neglect, and fear of abandonment. Only Sarah Addison Allen could weave a story so profound while you are floating along on her mystical cloud. Loved loved loved Garden Spells and highly recommend it.
Happy Reading!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Listen
Listen is a suspenseful mystery by Rene Gutteridge. The small town of Marlo was voted one of the top ten places to raise your child. The last violent crime took place 20 years ago. That is until the residents start to mistrust each other and turn to violence after someone posts their private conversations on a web site. As the police deal with the increased violence, the newspaper tries to find out who is behind the web site, the town begins to fall apart and one family desperately tries to stay together.
This book had me hooked from the beginning and was a page turner. The premise was so fascinating. Someone eavesdropping on private conversations and then posting them for the whole world to read, or even worse, for the people you are talking about to read. The power of our words often escapes us. This book makes you think about it. The plot, while centered around this mystery, does twist off the path of it a few times, keeping the book interesting beyond just the main plot line. There are a few plot twists that wrench the heart, and had tears in my eyes. It was an emotional book for me, as a parent, from start to finish that tackled difficult issues like suicide, bullying, gossip, infidelity and even death.
I would have liked to see a few of the characters developed more. The characters that are well developed are likable. The author also has a tendency to jump very quickly from one thing to another, particularly during dialogue. This was a little confusing and I had to reread a few times to make sure I knew who or what was being referenced. I don't know if this is because the author is not an experienced writer (I know nothing about Gutteridge), or if this is just her style. It was a little annoying, but the story was good enough that I could look past it. Overall, this was a good read and I would recommend it.
Happy Reading!
This book had me hooked from the beginning and was a page turner. The premise was so fascinating. Someone eavesdropping on private conversations and then posting them for the whole world to read, or even worse, for the people you are talking about to read. The power of our words often escapes us. This book makes you think about it. The plot, while centered around this mystery, does twist off the path of it a few times, keeping the book interesting beyond just the main plot line. There are a few plot twists that wrench the heart, and had tears in my eyes. It was an emotional book for me, as a parent, from start to finish that tackled difficult issues like suicide, bullying, gossip, infidelity and even death.
I would have liked to see a few of the characters developed more. The characters that are well developed are likable. The author also has a tendency to jump very quickly from one thing to another, particularly during dialogue. This was a little confusing and I had to reread a few times to make sure I knew who or what was being referenced. I don't know if this is because the author is not an experienced writer (I know nothing about Gutteridge), or if this is just her style. It was a little annoying, but the story was good enough that I could look past it. Overall, this was a good read and I would recommend it.
Happy Reading!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Outlander
Outlander is the first book in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. This novel was full of adventure, romance, history, and suspense. Meet Claire Randall. She is a combat nurse, back from the war (it is 1945). She and her husband are on a second honeymoon after being reunited. Meet Jamie. Jamie is a Scots clansmen, warrior, nephew to a pair of clan leaders, and living in the Scottish Highlands in the year 1743. When Claire, walks through a stone in an ancient stone circle, she is hurled into the Scottish Highlands and right into Jamie's life.
.
Forced to leave the area of the stones for her own safety, Claire is accepted at the Castle Leoch, where Jamie's uncles rule. No one knows where this strange woman came from, and many are very suspicious of her. She is thrown into a world full of danger, adventure, political unrest and intrigue. When she falls for Jamie, she finds herself torn between two worlds. The husband she left behind and the man she never could have imagined she would become involved with. Through life threatening battles and adventures, Claire learns that she has a lot to give. And eventually has to make a choice: Do I go back to 1945, or do I stay in the 1700s?
This book was highly entertaining. It was a page turner from start to finish. The setting is so well described (without being overly so) that you can smell the forests and hear the hooves of horses bearing down on you. When you read this book, you become so entrenched in the lives of these characters that you forget your own world, begin to think in their dialect, and can't wait to get back to the pages of the story. There were so many different adventures in this novel, that it could have been two or even three separate books. I would highly recommend this novel. I will be seeking out the second book in the series, Dragonfly in Amber.
Happy Reading!
.
Forced to leave the area of the stones for her own safety, Claire is accepted at the Castle Leoch, where Jamie's uncles rule. No one knows where this strange woman came from, and many are very suspicious of her. She is thrown into a world full of danger, adventure, political unrest and intrigue. When she falls for Jamie, she finds herself torn between two worlds. The husband she left behind and the man she never could have imagined she would become involved with. Through life threatening battles and adventures, Claire learns that she has a lot to give. And eventually has to make a choice: Do I go back to 1945, or do I stay in the 1700s?
This book was highly entertaining. It was a page turner from start to finish. The setting is so well described (without being overly so) that you can smell the forests and hear the hooves of horses bearing down on you. When you read this book, you become so entrenched in the lives of these characters that you forget your own world, begin to think in their dialect, and can't wait to get back to the pages of the story. There were so many different adventures in this novel, that it could have been two or even three separate books. I would highly recommend this novel. I will be seeking out the second book in the series, Dragonfly in Amber.
Happy Reading!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Wicked Appetite
Oh, how delicious this book was! I love Janet Evanovich! In Wicked Appetite she has given Diesel, one of the characters from the Stephanie Plum between the numbers books, his own platform. And boy does he stand on his own.
Diesel is an Unmentionable. He has special abilities and works for an organization that tries to ensure that Unmentionables behave themselves. Elizabeth Tucker is a baker. A very good baker, especially when it comes to cupcakes. Turns out that Lizzy might also be an Unmentionable. She has an ability that Diesel needs to make sure that one of these evil Unmentionables doesn't get his hands on a powerful stone that could give him even more power.
There are seven stones of power, one for each one of the deadly sins, that have been guarded for centuries. They have also been sought by treasure hunters for centuries. Lizzy has the power to sense if an object has a special energy. Gerwulf Grimoire needs her power to find the first stone - gluttony. Diesel needs to make sure that Gerwulf doesn't get his greedy hands on the stone and he needs to protect Lizzy.
Sounds like a good supernatural/sci-fi mystery type book. But when it is written by Janet Evanovich, you can count on laughing out loud as you read. Crazy hijinks ensue with a supporting cast that will not disappoint, including a ninja cat and Carl the Monkey. I loved every page of this book! I was devastated when it was over. It seems like Ms. Evanovich may be setting us up for another series. I sure hope so! I would LOVE to see what Diesel and Lizzy get themselves into next! This one will be on my favorites list for the year. I highly recommend it to anyone, but especially if you are an Evanovich fan!
Happy Reading!
Diesel is an Unmentionable. He has special abilities and works for an organization that tries to ensure that Unmentionables behave themselves. Elizabeth Tucker is a baker. A very good baker, especially when it comes to cupcakes. Turns out that Lizzy might also be an Unmentionable. She has an ability that Diesel needs to make sure that one of these evil Unmentionables doesn't get his hands on a powerful stone that could give him even more power.
There are seven stones of power, one for each one of the deadly sins, that have been guarded for centuries. They have also been sought by treasure hunters for centuries. Lizzy has the power to sense if an object has a special energy. Gerwulf Grimoire needs her power to find the first stone - gluttony. Diesel needs to make sure that Gerwulf doesn't get his greedy hands on the stone and he needs to protect Lizzy.
Sounds like a good supernatural/sci-fi mystery type book. But when it is written by Janet Evanovich, you can count on laughing out loud as you read. Crazy hijinks ensue with a supporting cast that will not disappoint, including a ninja cat and Carl the Monkey. I loved every page of this book! I was devastated when it was over. It seems like Ms. Evanovich may be setting us up for another series. I sure hope so! I would LOVE to see what Diesel and Lizzy get themselves into next! This one will be on my favorites list for the year. I highly recommend it to anyone, but especially if you are an Evanovich fan!
Happy Reading!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Used-To-Be Lovers
Ah, the satisfaction that escapism fiction can offer. After reading The Rose Labyrinth I was in desperate need of some pure fluff, happy ending, feel good reading. So, off to that box of books my mother-in-law gave me I went. Used-To-Be Lovers by Linda Lael Miller (originally published in 1988) was just the ticket. Finished in two days, with no brain cells required to read, it was just what the librarian ordered!
Sharon and Tony are recently divorced. Unable to get along, busy both being business owners (of separate businesses) and parents, they could not maintain their marriage. They share an unusual living arrangement because of their children, though. They share a house so that the children have one place to live and alternate turns staying there. Loving one another was not the issue in their divorce, so these living arrangements make it difficult for either of them to move on. Through the pages of this novel, they struggle to get along, resolve their feelings for one another, figure out where they went wrong and see if their relationship can be saved.
Of course, as in any romance, misunderstandings ensue. They each play games with the other's feelings, and there is plenty of sexual tension. Also, as with most simple romance novels, there a few places where the background of the story is a little thin and where the author conveniently rearranges the characters feelings to suit the storyline moving forward either toward one of those misunderstandings or toward the happy ending. Books like this one are perfect for made-for-TV Lifetime movies. All of that being said, this romance was still enjoyable. I liked the characters, enjoyed the story and wanted that happy ending. Sometimes a girl is in the mood for one of those sappy, happy endings.
Happy Reading!
Sharon and Tony are recently divorced. Unable to get along, busy both being business owners (of separate businesses) and parents, they could not maintain their marriage. They share an unusual living arrangement because of their children, though. They share a house so that the children have one place to live and alternate turns staying there. Loving one another was not the issue in their divorce, so these living arrangements make it difficult for either of them to move on. Through the pages of this novel, they struggle to get along, resolve their feelings for one another, figure out where they went wrong and see if their relationship can be saved.
Of course, as in any romance, misunderstandings ensue. They each play games with the other's feelings, and there is plenty of sexual tension. Also, as with most simple romance novels, there a few places where the background of the story is a little thin and where the author conveniently rearranges the characters feelings to suit the storyline moving forward either toward one of those misunderstandings or toward the happy ending. Books like this one are perfect for made-for-TV Lifetime movies. All of that being said, this romance was still enjoyable. I liked the characters, enjoyed the story and wanted that happy ending. Sometimes a girl is in the mood for one of those sappy, happy endings.
Happy Reading!
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