My Sweet Saga

from goodreads – At nearly 30 years old, Brandon is barely able to make it through life, much less enjoy it. He is weeks away from what should be one of the happiest days of his life, his wedding day to his fiancée, Clarissa, but his attention is distracted when his estranged, erratic and oddly eccentric father suddenly reappears with a bizarre demand: to accompany him to Stockholm, Sweden, where they will meet a man who he claims will change their lives.

Desperate for even a brief escape from his reality, Brandon reluctantly goes with his father, ready for a disaster. But his life changes completely the moment his eyes meet the mysterious Swedish man’s daughter, Saga. On a cobblestone street in the middle of Stockholm, Brandon reawakens to life, though struggles to navigate the messy love triangle with Saga and his fiancée, which includes multiple arrests, hospital stays, terrorist bombs, acts of heroism and foolishness, family secrets and even a bit of public nudity.

my take – Brett Sills has written a taut debut that showcases his ability to weld a pen and entertain.

My Sweet Saga is what I refer to as ‘every males fantasy.’ An overly average “Joe” (in this case Brandon) who’s dead end career, coupled with his nagging fiancée leads him to an overseas adventure with a European hottie, where fun and Scooby Doo type mayhem ensues.

One of the best characters is main character Brandon’s lottery-winning, eccentric dad. At first he seems a swarthy, Tommy Bahama wearing, selfish bastard, but in the end he is applaud worthy.  His ability not to be forth coming is, in the end, a noble gesture.

While this is an extremely well written novel with a cast of unlikable, but realistic, yet over the top characters, this one wasn’t for me. Brandon is at times a racists (and a bigot) and a selfish, weak willed male who let’s his circumstances dictate his life instead of standing up for himself and taking a stand. On the outside he seems like a good guy, but his thoughts are perverse and ugly. By the end of the novel he did figure out that he had to fight for what he wanted, but his selfishness still reigned.

Over all, this is a solid book and a perfect choice for those looking for a read with lots of themes and a plethora of characters for in-depth character studies.

Stacy 

Publisher

from Goodreads - An unflinching portrayal of the Korean immigrant experience from an extraordinary new talent in fiction.

Spanning Korea and the United States, from the postwar era to contemporary times, Krys Lee’s stunning fiction debut, “Drifting House,” illuminates a people torn between the traumas of their collective past and the indignities and sorrows of their present.

In the title story, children escaping famine in North Korea are forced to make unthinkable sacrifices to survive. The tales set in America reveal the immigrants’ unmoored existence, playing out in cramped apartments and Koreatown strip malls. A makeshift family is fractured when a shaman from the old country moves in next door. An abandoned wife enters into a fake marriage in order to find her kidnapped daughter.

In the tradition of Chang-rae Lee’s “Native Speaker” and Jhumpa Lahiri’s “Interpreter of Maladies, Drifting House” is an unforgettable work by a gifted new writer.

my take: I am in love with short stories lately.  I think it is because I don’t freak out if I have to put down the book to cook dinner or listen to my kids talk about their day.  It also brings several stories, ideas, and characters to me within a 250 page book.  I like it.  Also, if I am not entirely excited about a story, I only have 10 pages to read and then I get another chance to be enthralled with a new one.

Krys Lee challenges my boundaries and what I am used to reading in these beautifully written yet sometimes not entirely relatable pieces.  With that said, the struggles of the Korean people within the pages of Drifting House are heart-wrenching.

Drifting House made me dig into my Korean friends history and I asked about their life and that of their parents.  I also asked why they moved to the United States as I wondered if it was anything close to anyone in the stories in the book.  (It wasn’t.)

There really is a story for everyone in Drifting House. I just love the name of the book and the cover is so inviting.  I feel like I am looking into the window of their lives.  I don’t see the whole picture but I see one tiny section and I get transformed to a different character and more importantly, a different journey with every story I read.  Although the short story titled Drifting House came close to making me change my mind as my favorite story in the book,  At The Edge of the World really pulled my heart strings.   The young boy Mark, as he is called at school and Myeongseok as he is called at home made my heart cry and I wanted to adopt him.  I’m anxious to know if you feel the same.

Lee shows a beautiful collection of stories that bleed with sorrow, grieving, and heartache from the beginning of the book until the very end.  Although there is hope within the book, it shows the struggles of the Koreans with blinding pain.

Love, Stackgirl Shannan

Jane Eyre, simply put, is a tale of love and redemption.

description from penguin classics… Having grown up an orphan in the home of her cruel aunt and at a harsh charity school, Jane Eyre becomes an independent and spirited survivor—qualities that serve her well as governess at Thornfield Hall. But when she finds love with her sardonic employer, Rochester, the discovery of his terrible secret forces her to make a choice. Should she stay with him whatever the consequences or follow her convictions, even if it means leaving her beloved?

Here are my thoughts:

My thoughts are many and varied and they are inadvertenly scrambled. Ahhhh!!!

Okay, meltdown over…moving on.

*Jane’s abusive childhood and utter loneliness brought tears to my eyes. I felt every harsh word and look of disapproval. The only saving grace was Bessie, which consequently is whom I think she learned to love from. However, the exposition was long. When I say long, I mean long. There were ten chapters, yes TEN whole chapters on Jane’s childhood, maybe even more. I was beginning to think I picked up an MG book.

*Jane is constantly thrown into grueling situations. Like the good trooper she is she endures all, from the hard hand of Mr. Brocklehurst at Lowood, to her desperate times on the street to suffering judgments from others unfairly. She remains constant;  she learns, yes, but she does not degrade herself long with her situation.

*I can’t stop thinking about Jane’s relatives. Her aunt, Mrs. Reed and her cousin John were just appalling. They were mean, uncaring and crass towards her. She not only suffered physical abuse, but emotional as well. I’m surprised at how well she turned out with such a beginning.

*The “gothic” elements of this book might have been on the edge of scary back in the day, but I found them dull and boring.

*There were lots and lots of references to the Bible and God. If I were a good scholar I would pick out all the points and scrutinize them. Alas, I have no time for that but I do have a theory or several little theories. That is, don’t judge people by who they are/what they are (there was a lot of that going on), because things aren’t always as they seem, nor are people. Money nor station does not secure your spot in heaven, that only love, forgiveness and redemption can do that.

*I thought it was interesting how much alike St. John and Jane were in their respects to temptation and their chosen path. They seemed to reflect each other.

*Jane has tenacity. Love that the most about her, she never gives up or loses her faith.

*The “third floor mystery” fell flat for me. It could be because I saw it coming, remembered it from a movie or just from casual conversation with friends. Though, I will admit if I had seen that woman in my room ripping apart my veil I would have screamed like a little girl.

*Edward. I liked him. He did piss me off a bit with his hot and cold attitude and his underhanded way he handled the whole Miss Ingram affair.

*I loved, LOVED the way Edward and Jane communicated their love. It wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine, it was real and it was heartfelt. Albeit, the elf talk could have been left out.

*Jane is true to herself, her beliefs and she uses that to guide her and does not fall to temptation.

I could go on and on but in the interest of your time (and mine) I end my review here.

If you’re a lover of classic literature than this is a must read, however if old English and French phrases that are never interpreted isn’t your style than I would suggest watching one of the many movies based on the books or read a modern re-telling and call it a day.

See you in the STACKS,
Stacy, who’s kindle did more defining than there are hours in the week while reading this book.

The Garden Intrigue

from goodreads - As Napoleon pursues his plans for the invasion of England, English operative Augustus Whittlesby gets wind of a top  secret device, to be demonstrated over the course of a house party at Malmaison. The catch? The only way in is to join forces with that annoying American socialite, Emma Morris Delagardie, who has been commissioned to write a masque for the weekend’s entertainment. Even so, it should leave plenty of alone time with Augustus’ colleague (and goddess), Jane Wooliston, who has been tapped to play the heroine. Or so Augustus tells himself. In this complicated masque within a masque, nothing seems to go quite as scripted… especially Emma.

all me - Willig has done it again. Her newest Pink Carnation book, The Garden Intrigue is just as captivating and charming as the rest.

This time we are introduced to Emma, a small and overly ostentatious American living in Paris. Though small, she is no wall flower. She knows everyone, including First Consul and soon to be Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. She’s also friends with the Pink Carnation, Jane and secret agent disguised as a poet, Augustus. These relationships, and her deceased husband’s desire for irrigation, put her smack dab in the middle of Napoleon’s scheme to invade England and those who thwart it.

I heart Emma. Her bodices are a bit too low, and her finery is over the top. She is a perfect wiry and full of life character. Yet, with all of her outward illusions, Emma is a very private person. She guards her heart, her feelings and lets very few in – including herself. Which brings me to…

Augustus, the “atrocious” and rather silly poet. His life as a secret agent has him hiding behind tight pantaloons, billowy shirts (puffy shirt!!)  and rather absurd poetry. His life too is full of illusion and because of his trade his true self is seldom, if ever seen.

These two illusion artists, who are hiding from themselves, are a perfect match. Watching their friendship blossom is oh, so sweet and to see it fully bloom into passion is just down right romantic. There are pivotal points in the story that you can see their relationship grow from their early quick and humorous banter to mutual respect and understanding, and finally, to love.

As for the “intrigue” part of the story, it’s simple and brilliantly keen.  How Willig manages to take a key time in history and add in believable elements with great dollops of whimsical romance is utterly amazing. She had me convinced that her Bonaparte was the real deal; from the submarines to theatrical productions to covert operations.

My only complaint with the story is the present day tale. It seems trite. The saga of Colin and Eloise’s relationship seems to be stuck in time, like it’s taken to long for them to get where they are. I’m sure this has everything to do with their short screen time, and the fact we get a new “historical romance” every book but their story remains the same.

See you in the STACKS, Stacy – who wonders  when is it Jane’s turn for a romance and are we going to see Turnip again??

150 Pounds

from goodreads – A smartly-written novel of two women starting at opposite ends of the scale–and finding compromise and friendship in their journey towards 150 pounds In the fast paced life of blogging, two women stand out: Alexis Allbright, of Skinny Chick, and Shoshana Weiner, who writes Fat and Fabulous. Both have over five million loyal readers. Both are hungry for success. But the similarities stop there. 

With over 100 pounds on the scale separating them, weight isn’t their only difference. Alexis is a loner who is so bitchy the only person who can stand her company is her gay best friend Billy. She gives neurotic New Yorkers a run for their money with her strict daily workout routine, and weighing of food. Shoshana is Alexis’s opposite. Living in Jersey with rowdy roommates, she is someone who “collects friends,” as her mother puts it; and treasures a life of expanding circles…and waistlines.

When both appear as panelists on a popular talk show, their lives intersect in ways neither could have imagined. In turns comedic, heartwarming–and familiar to any woman who’s ever stepped on a scale–Alexis and Shoshana realize they have far more in common than either could have possibly imagined, and more importantly, something to offer.

my take – When I picked up this book I was expecting a fun, but very predictable read.  Fortunately, this one had a few unexpected surprising elements that were smart and utterly charming.

This book is written in third person, with alternating perspectives from Shoshana and Alexis.  Rockland did a great job giving each girl an engaging story line. It’s funny, I would get so engrossed reading one girls section and then moan when it changed, but yet would groan again when perspectives changed again.

Shoshana and Alexis each had their own battles to fight, issues to overcome, and their story reflected that. Shoshana, the heavy one and by far my favorite character, had one of those infectious personalities that automatically lifts your spirits and brings a smile to your face. She’s one you’d want to be BFF. Her weight isn’t a barrier, she embraces it and you can’t help but respect her.

Alexis, the skinny one, is the total opposite. She may have the perfect hair, clothes and body, but she has a closed off personality. She puts up a wall that very few can climb, and has an elitist attitude. Watching her metamorphous was a definite highlight of the book, though it wasn’t without lots of eye rolling.

Oh, and I just have to mention the adorably cute cover. It fits the tone and mood of the book perfectly. Seriously, is there anyway one could walk by those scrumptious cupcakes without picking the book up?

Overall, this is a cute read!

Stacy

THREE FEMALE FRIENDS FACE MIDLIFE CRISES IN A NO-HOLDS-BARRED EXPLORATION OF SEX, MARRIAGE, AND THE FRAGILITY OF LIFE.  Holly: Filled with regret for being a stay-at-home mom, she sheds sixty pounds and loses herself in the world of extramarital sex. Will it bring the fulfillment she is searching for? Andrea: A single mom and avowed celibate, she watches her friend Holly’s meltdown with a mixture of concern and contempt. Holly is throwing away what Andrea has spent her whole life searching for—a committed relationship with a decent guy. So what if Andrea picks up Holly’s castaway husband?  Marissa: She has more than her fair share of challenges—a gay, rebellious teenage son, a terminally ill daughter, and a husband who buries himself in his work rather than face the facts.  As one woman’s marriage unravels, another’s rekindles.  As one woman’s family comes apart at the seams, another’s reconfigures into something bigger and better. In this story of connections and disconnections, one woman’s up is another one’s down, and all of them will learn the meaning of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness.  Unflinchingly honest, emotionally powerful, surprisingly erotic, Triangles is the ultimate page-turner.  Hopkins’s gorgeous, expertly honed poetic verse perfectly captures the inner lives of her characters.  Sometimes it happens like that.  Sometimes you just get lost.  Get lost in the world of Triangles, where the lives of three unforgettable women intersect, and where there are no easy answers.

my take:  Ellen Hopkins has a successful career as a young adult writer, with a fiercely devoted fan base and lots of accolades (as well as controversy).  Triangles, her first foray into adult fiction, is just as mesmerizing and remarkable as her YA fiction.  It’s written in her signature verse novel format, which makes the pages fly by. 

What I love about Ellen Hopkins is her ability to capture the emotions of her characters, and to dig deep into their psyche to get to the heart of what drives them.  The entire human experience is fleshed out in her writings – some I can identify with, some I cannot, but I always gain understanding.

As an adult reading Hopkin’s YA novels, I sought to identify with characters very unlike me.  As an adult reading Triangles, I felt the book hit disturbingly close to home.  These women were just like me, or my friends, or people I know - dealing with midlife, children, divorce, death, serious problems.  These characters resonated with me and made me look at certain issues differently - is this how some of my friends may feel about these issues?  Would I have behaved in the same way as these characters in that situation?  Would I have had more sympathy for a friend if I had an inkling of what she was really going through? 

The narratives from the three women are skillfully intertwined and absorbing.  Of course, this book is for adults and it does cover some very adult situations frankly and honestly.  Sex is a large part of the lives of these women, and for the character of Holly it’s not vanilla.  But if you have read any of Hopkins’ work, you know that she doesn’t shy away from taboo topics. 

I’m so glad Ellen Hopkins decided to begin writing novels for the adults in her fan base – she has another one coming in the fall of 2012 titled Collateral, about deployment and what that means to those left behind.  I recommend this book for adult women of all ages who appreciate frank and honest depictions of their lives – warts and all.

See you in the STACKS,
Nancy

Austentatious

from goodreads: In this quirky, sexy novel set against the lively, music-filled backdrop of Austin, Texas, a young woman learns that romance can wreak havoc with even the best laid plans. . .

It started innocently enough. While browsing in one of Austin’s funky little shops, Nicola James is intrigued by a blank vintage journal she finds hidden among a set of Jane Austen novels. Even though Nic is a straight-laced engineer, she’s still a sucker for anything Austen-esque. But her enthusiasm quickly turns to disbelief once she starts writing in the journal–because somehow, it’s writing her back. . .

Miss Nicola James will be sensible and indulge in a little romance. Those twelve tiny words hit Nic like a thunderbolt, as if her diary was channeling Austen herself! Itching for a bit of excitement, Nic decides to follow her “Fairy Jane’s” advice. The result: a red-hot romance with a sexy Scottish musician who charms his way into Nic’s heart in about five seconds flat.

Sean MacInnes is warm, funny, and happens to think Nic is the most desirable woman he’s ever met. But a guy like Sean doesn’t exactly fit into her Life Plan. With no one but Fairy Jane to guide her, Nic must choose between the life she thought she wanted–and the kind of happy ending she never saw coming…

my take:  What a lovely romp of a read!!! I easily devoured it in one sitting – laughing and smiling.

I absolutely adore this Jane Austen-esque book. It is full of wit, comedy, magical journaling and utterly cute and ahhh worthy romance. Goodnight has done an excellent job capturing the essence of Jane Austen and her characters – creating a modern world for them to live. While there aren’t direct correlations to Austen characters (well, except for Nicola and Sean), there are plenty of references to them for Jane Austen fans to devour.

Nicola, our dear Lizzy Bennet, is a definite kindred spirit character. The reader can’t help but to smile at her sensibility and her simple, but realistic and very safe life plan. And then we smile even more when whimsy and magic interfere and she is reluctaly nudged into a whirlwind romance. Her wit and comedy are on par with her Austen escapade.

Sean is the swoon worthy Mr. Darcy. He is (borrowing from the book) ‘the perfect mix of charming and presumptuous.’  Not only is he the sexy rocker, he’s also thoughtful, has an adventurous spirit and (this is the biggest) he has an accent. He is modern Mr. Darcy through and through, without the stubborn pride! His romance with Nicola is every girls dream.

The side characters are a big highlight to the story; my favorites are Nicola’s neighbors, Leslie, and her partner Laura. Where one is snarky and pulls no punches the other is sweet. The story would not be the same with out them. They add sizzle, spice and laughs.

Favorite scenes: The infamous ‘mushroom extraction,’ Leslie and Laura’s Friday night karaoke parties, and Nicola’s attempt at karaoke and the aftermath.

If you’re a fan of Jane Austen modern re-telling’s, then this is a MUST read!

Stacy - who thinks that the Austin, Texas setting is perfect and licked her lips when Hey Cupcake was mentioned!!

——

The Bird Sisters is set in Spring Green, Wisconsin, a small farming community by the Wisconsin River. Spring Green seems to be distinct in nearly every way from Deadwater, Minnesota, which is where Cousin Bett has grown up. How does each location shape the story, each community, and our characters? Can you imagine Milly and Twiss in Deadwater? How do the places we live shape us?

Nancy – Deadwater sounds about as inviting as its name – Bett called it “officially irrelevant” and made up wild stories about the town  and its inhabitants; stories that thrilled and fascinated Twiss but repelled Milly.  Spring Green was as bucolic as it sounds, a lush farming community that prospered.  Twiss would have loved the adventure of staying in Deadwater; Milly would have hated it.

Sarah – I think Bett came from death (Deadwater) and tried to live life fully -a bit too fully in terms of the affair with Milly and Twiss’s  dad.  I think Milly and Twiss came from a theoretical “always green” kind of life-at least it must have looked like that to Bett -as they had both parents, enough to eat and a decent sized house.  Also their father was always (in his head after he lost his job) on the greens of a golf course.  The sisters’ also never married, making them “green” virgins perpetually.  However, it seems like they too were living in a type of Deadwood created by their mother and her bitterness.  Overall, all three girls wanted to escape their hometowns, but only Bett succeeded in doing so, mostly through her cousins sacrificing their own plans.

Stacy – Locations, places (settings) shape everyone’s life, including novel characters. For example, if you grow up in the city, it’s more  likely you’ll be exposed to a variety of arts, nationalities, have several dining choices, etc. In contrast, growing up rurally your choices are typically limited. Not to mention that every community has customs, idiosyncrasies, environment factors etc.  that are influential. Just like Nancy and Sarah pointed out, Deadwater and Spring Green couldn’t be more different. The girls from these cities were in part, a product of where they came from.

The novel is primarily set during the late 1940s, when the pace of life was a little bit slower than it is today. There seems to be a pervasive cultural nostalgia and a renaissance with regard to skills and cultural mores from the recent past (for example, folks learning how to can vegetables, a love of vintage clothing, etc.). Why do you think this is?

Nancy – My goodness, everything is rosy the further away you get from it.  People always are looking for the easier, simpler times.  As a  society, people tend to romanticize the happier aspects and gloss over the ugly parts.  But humanity is made up of people who are complicated in any time period.

Sarah – I think Nancy rocked this question- no more to add!

Stacy – Nancy, I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Memories play such a powerful role in Milly and Twiss’s lives because, in many ways, their lives were arrested while both were teenagers. Can they ever be at peace? Is there always time for a fresh start?

Nancy – I think they may not be at peace, but they have learned to live with it.  They both have regrets, and I think that if they had wanted a fresh start they would have done it long ago.  Why didn’t Milly try to find love again (or at least another suitor), or Twiss leave after their parents died?  I believe Milly finally found peace by forgiving and letting go of the past when Asa puts the note in her soaps, saying I know why you did it, she swings the club just like him.

Sarah – I think the fact that both characters are reliving their memories to become at peace with their decisions (I remain bitter on  their behalf, however).  Although frustrated by the woman who accuses Milly of ignorance because of her lack of children, Milly- and also Twiss -both seem to take satisfaction in taking care of broken birds and one another.   I think that it is too late for a fresh start, but they are at peace by the end of the novel.

Stacy – It’s never too late for peace, but like Sarah and Nancy said, Twiss and Milly have learned to live with their decisions. If Milly  and Twiss want a fresh start, I suggest online dating. I’m not saying love is the answer, but it would provide new and exciting experiences for them, something out of their normal.

Milly and Twiss will do anything and everything for each other in the novel, but they won’t talk openly about all that has happened to them over the course of their lives — especially events in their youth. Why is it so difficult for them? After so many years together, do you think that each knows of the other’s disappointments, vulnerabilities, and heartbreaks without having to explicitly say it? Or do you think that even after all this time the two do not know each other as well as they think?

Nancy – I think part of it may have been the era they grew up in.  People just didn’t talk openly about sexual issues – infidelity, homosexuality, out of wedlock pregnancy – all had a terrible social stigma that made the people involved cover it up.  Even though they may think they know how the other feels, it’s tacitly understood they won’t talk about it, and they are too stubborn to bring it up – even though talking about it could begin a new chapter in their lives.  However, that doesn’t mean they don’t love each other – on the contrary, they love each other enough that they won’t embarrass the other by talking about it.

Sarah – I agree with Nancy, but also feel that bringing up the ngative aspects of their lives would just bring them down, and they are clinging to the few strings of happiness daily life brings them.  To bring up old wounds with one another would just make the pain that much worse.

Money is a constant source of tension for Milly and Twiss’s parents in the novel, but in the beginning of their relationship, their mother thought that her dreams would come true without her family’s money, and their father thought that his dreams would come true through his proximity to money at the country club. How were they right and how were they wrong? Money, and lack of it, is also a source of conflict between other characters (for example, Father Rice steals the entire meager collection from the church and Mr. Peterson pays for Bett’s medical care). How does money solve problems in the novel as well as create them?

Nancy – Ahhh, money, the root cause of many a failed marriage.  Maisie believed love would compensate for the lack of money.

Stacy – While I think money was an issue in Maisie’s marriage, the real problem was her husband’s selfishness. Love can conquer all, but that love can only conquer all if both parties are fully committed and act selflessly.

Sarah – I think the need for money overtakes the sense of love that characters have for one another. Milly and Twiss’s parents (as did their aunt and uncle) believed that their love would overcome financial worries. However, it seemed to drive Milly and Twiss’s mother and aunt away from their husbands; it caused the sisters to become bitter because their husbands could not provide the type of life they were accustomed to and learning how to function without such money was a hardship neither sister ever got over.  I think Mr. Peterson is able to solve Bett’s medical problems through paying for her medical care -but also drives her away from the sisters in the process.

Cousin Bettie — Bett — comes down from Deadwater, Minnesota, to stay with Milly and Twiss for the summer and in doing so changes the dynamics of their family. Bett grows close to each of the sisters in very different ways. How would the family have changed if not for Bett? In other words, do you think that the changes were the result of Bett’s particular personality? Or do you think that she was just in
the right place at the right time to be seen as a catalyst?

Nancy – I think the family would have imploded even if Bett had not come for the summer, but it would have been much later rather than sooner. While Bett was in the right place at the right time to alter the family, I do think Bett’s personality was partly responsible for the problems.  She was plain and sickly, and worried she’d never find a better life. Bett behaved in a sometimes reckless manner – plunging her arms into a bee-filled sand pile, for example. Afterwards, Millie thinks “…she couldn’t find a polite way to explain what she’d seen: a person so untouched by fear she was certain something terrible had happened to Cousin Bettie, or would.”

Stacy – I truly believe Bett was a catalyst. Her visit was at a pivotal time, coupled with her personality, the perfect formula was established for the life changing summer.

Sarah – I think Bett brings out Twiss’s homosexuality and Milly’s fears, but without Bett, these would have been there, just not as exposed.  It is Bett’s affair with her father, subsequent pregnancy and Milly’s sacrifice of Asa for Bett that brings about the real change-not Bett’s personality itself.

Both Milly and Twiss sacrifice their personal dreams for, they think, the betterment of the other. When is personal sacrifice for the sake of the larger goal noble and valiant? At what point is it foolish? Do you think that they make the right choices? How do you think Bett feels about her choices? What do you think she was trying to tell Milly by sending her the book?

Nancy – Oh man, do I want to give Bett an earful.  Looking at the situation from my modern perspective, I definitely have a different opinion than Milly and Twiss would about sacrificing my happiness for the sake of my family’s reputation.  However, even looking at it from their perspective, I think Milly could have worked things out without losing her chance at happiness and a family.  Why couldn’t Bett go back to Deadwater to have the baby?  Or go to a home for unwed mothers and give it up for adoption?  Why couldn’t Milly have taken Twiss with her if she got married? Bett may have felt guilty, but not guilty enough to not marry Asa.

Sarah – I TOTALLY agree with Nancy.  The most frustrating aspect of the book for me was how Milly and Twiss just seemed to roll over and let Bett walk all over them.  However, I also tend to be a proactive woman in an age that allows me to do so; I find their choices valiant and foolish simultaneously.

Overall, I think Bett does feel guilty-but allowed Milly to make the sacrifice for her (just as she let Mr. Peterson pay for all her medical treatment).  It is like Bett is the reverse of her mother and aunt-she moves up from poverty to wealth because of who she chooses to marry (and Milly kindly and stupidly sacrificed that for her).

Milly and Twiss love their parents deeply, but they don’t know quite how to forgive them. How do you think their lives might change if they were able to forgive them? Are they able to forgive Bett and Asa?

Sarah – I think it is not so much about forgiving their parents and Bett and Asa but being comfortable with who they are.  I think the book is ultimately about both of them learning to accept the decisions they made and move on; but if they had done so early on, they could have had more fulfilling lives.

Stacy – They’ve never truly forgiven their parents, because their parents never forgave each other. As well, forgiveness was never doled out to Bett and Asa. Forgiveness is a powerful act, its bondage breaking. Like Sarah said, Twiss and Milly accepted everyone transgressions but had they actually forgiven them they could have moved on and had more fulfilling lives.

Asa, Mr. Peterson, and Joe all seem to make significant life choices based on snap judgments. How has this impulsive streak served them well? How has it hurt them? If Asa truly loved Milly as he seemed to, how could he so quickly abandon her? Do you think he understood at the time what Milly was asking of him? And by asking it, do you think she was asking too much of someone she loved?

Sarah – I don’t think Asa truly loved Milly or he would not have abandoned her for Bett without a fight. I think Milly too made a snap decision by sacrificing her love for Asa for her cousin -which clearly does not serve her well.  I don’t think snap decisions are shown in a positive light-but really none of the characters make good choices-whether thought through or made quickly.

Throughout the novel, Twiss and Father Rice exchange letters. In these letters, Twiss often reveals her secret feelings. Father Rice, in turn, reveals his. In the age of the Internet, have we lost the intimacy that can be found in this old-fashioned form of correspondence, the traditional letter? How do we choose to share what we do when it’s by letter, e-mail, text, Twitter, Facebook update, blog post, or telephone? When was the last time you handwrote a letter?

Nancy – I dunno, I think we can still be profound and meaningful and intimate even when limited to 140 characters…LOL.  I still write letters to people, I just send them electronically instead of in an envelope with a stamp.  But I handwrite thank you notes and birthday cards, because that is just the way you do it.

Sarah - I think e-mails can be just as intimate as letters-they just get delivered faster. I do write letters to people-but I think I am more communicative in an email because my feeling and thoughts can be communicated faster through typing than writing.

publisher: Ace Hardcover
release date: May 3, 2011
book info: goodreads author site

Nancy’s thoughts - Let’s just say this is not my favorite out of the series. Honestly, this book was slow to start, meandered around a bit and had an unsatisfying ending that left me irritated. Yes, we did get some resolution of various plot threads, and the main plot mostly revolved around the relationship between Eric and Sookie, which made us Stackgirls very happy. However, it was not my spunky Sookie, but a harder and morose Sookie. And the ending was one of those ‘things that make you go hmmmm’. Or in my case, “Really?”

I give this book 3 STACKS!

Stacy’s thoughts - Give me a minute…*trying to wrap head around this one*

Well, I can certainly say that I see a definite path that Charlaine has set out for Sookie. Storylines are coming to close as well as key relationships. Yes, key.

As much as I want to see character growth in Sookie (I mean, who wants a stagnant character) I’m not happy. Though, I guess I should be. She is making decisions that are best for her. Guess I’m just upset she didn’t consult me, haha.

Team Eric or Team Bill? Guess again.

I give this book 3 STACKS!

From Goodreads:  Deeper Than the Dead introduced Tami Hoag’s millions of fans to Oak Knoll, a small California town that, in the mid-eighties, seemed as idyllic as any . . . until the See-No-Evil killer shattered that notion. It took FBI agent Vince Leone and a new technique called “profiling” to put an end to the trauma.

Secrets to the Grave brought Leone’s teacher-turned-child- advocate wife, Anne, into a central role. Together with Vince and local sheriff ‘s deputy Tony Mendez, she solved an Oak Knoll murder with a particularly challenging mystery: The victim never existed.  And now Hoag returns once more to Oak Knoll for the third installment of this bestselling series. Through Leone’s pioneering, science-based investigatory skills, Hoag explores the early days of forensic police work. And through the chilling case at the heart of Down the Darkest Road, she hooks ever more readers into the meticulously crafted, all-too-terrifying world of Oak Knoll, where the scariest secrets of all can be found . . . Down the Darkest Road.

My Take: I am a mystery newbie.  My mom would kill me to know that.  She reads a mystery a day.  Cross my heart.  She may wonder why her adult daughter is in love with young adult books and can’t get enough of paranormal romances and dystopian novels.  Well, she shall wonder no more.  I am now hooked on mysteries. Holy cow!  Hoag freaked me out with this thriller!  Everything seemed so real.  It has changed the way I think about security in my house.  I am 1. getting put on anxiety meds 2. installing an alarm & 3. getting a dog.

As the mom of a daughter, the story of a child abduction couldn’t have drawn me in any faster.  I stayed up until 4 in the morning finishing the book.  Then I proceeded to check all the locks in my home and check on my kids.  It’s so sad to know that this story, although it is fiction, is really happening in this world.  There are so many children that are taken from their families and I cannot fathom what heartache those families live with.  I can’t say that I would act much different than the mother, Lauren.  Although she emotionally neglects her younger daughter while searching for her older, missing daughter, who knows how one would really act unless you are thrown in that nightmare of a case.  After four years of missing a daughter and then losing a husband, let alone being stalked by the person who probably took your child, I think I would be on a rampage for justice even if I had to take it into my own hands, like Lauren.

The police departments in Down the Darkest Road were so interesting.  Yes, this was in the early 90′s when computers and analyzing DNA wasn’t as sophisticated as it is now.  I can’t believe how far we have come!!

I loved getting to know Tony and Anne!  I wish I really had them as friends.  And something I loved about Hoag is her writing.  I’m telling you, she scared me with her suspenseful writing and the way we got to know the characters with Hoag changing the point of view throughout the whole novel.

As this is my first adult mystery that I have read,  I am thankful that is was written by  a talented author who tells a suspenseful story while still maintaining heart and hope.

If you would like to meet Tami Hoag on tour (we are excited to meet her!), check out these dates:

December 27^th 7pm
Barnes & Noble Apache Mall
Rochester, MN

December 28^th 7pm
The Poisoned Pen
Scottsdale, AZ

December 29^th 6:30pm
Murder By The Book
Houston, TX

December 30^th 12pm
Hastings
Waxahachie, TX

December 30^th 7pm (We are going to this one! We love A Real Bookstore!!)
A Real Bookstore
Fairview, TX

January 4^th 7pm
Murder on the Beach
Delray Beach, FL

January 5^th 7pm
Barnes & Noble
The Shoppes at Wellington Green
Wellington, FL

January 7^th 3pm
Vero Beach Book Center
Vero Beach, FL

January 10^th 6:30pm
Sho Clothes Equestrian Boutique
Wellington, FL

The Bird Sisters

from goodreads - 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.

The Bird Sisters is a lovely book about two sisters who sacrificed their own happiness for their cousin and each other. The story is told through the two sisters who live together and are known for nursing wounded birds back to life (metaphor, anyone?). They are living in the present day, but after a woman brings a bird to their doorstep, her comments to them trigger each sister to reflect back on the summer their cousin came to stay with them, and the havoc (and clarity) it brought to their lives.

Author Rebecca Rasmussen is clearly a lyrical poet with her prose, and this book has several bookmarked pages where I just loved her turn of phrase. The story itself dragged a bit, unfortunately, as the end of the book delivers punches that have to be built up, but seem less meaningful during the reading. The sisters’ reflections throughout the day reveal the flaws of all the characters-from family members to eccentric townspeople – so it was hard to really root for any one specific character. However, in the end, the sisters’ love for one another triumphs over all the ugliness of their parents’ unhappy marriage and subsequent actions and that was a nice redemption after being rather frustrated with most people in the story.

For a finally developed story focused on revealing the beauty in the midst of unhappiness, The Bird Sisters is a finely honed and beautifully written novel. Clearly a labor of love, Rasmussen revealed on her site for the book that the characters and plot were based on her own family’s background, and I’m intrigued to know what facts specifically have been embedded into this fictional story, although it seems a bit of a depressing one.

Sarah

If you would like to join us, check out our discussion schedule below:
 January 6, 2012 – we’ll tackle those scholarly discussion questions
January 8, 2012 –listen in to our podcast for our candid thoughts and opinions

And make sure to join in the discussion on twitter, just use the hashtag #LHJbookclub . We’re always open for academic debate!

The Lovers Dictionary

This book was so unexpected and different that I had a hard time putting it down. David’s created a humanistic vocabulary approach to a lover’s plight which is full of exposed emotion and has managed to capture the general lover’s doubts (that’s you and me) and focus them in a story that we can all relate too. I’ll be frank though and admit this is NOT for the etymology faint of heart. If it weren’t for my kindle and the easy word look-up feature I would still be plugging through this with a worn copy of Webster’s by my side. Even though I felt like I just stepped out of an intensive SAT vocabulary prep class, I was walking tall and proud and started saying things like, “The esoteric propensities of the average dodo bird confound naturalist as do the vestige of their life.”

While we never know names and specifics, we get to know the heart of the narrator (or is it narrators?) and see his (because I think it is a male) fears, his anxiety over his lover. We see him in moments of elation and moments of doubt and self-worth. It’s the perfect mix of the good times and the bad.

Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

An utterly delightful read!!

This genius book was penned by both Cohn and Levithan and you should defiantly check out their writing process for this book here. Basically, the story was passed back in forth with Cohn writing Lily’s part and Levithan writing that of Dash. While I am not familiar with Cohn’s writing I can say without a doubt that Dash was pure Levithan, it’s filled with his trademark vocabulary (go vocab!).

Dash and Lily are the perfect opposites, where one grumbles the other smiles. They balanced each other perfectly. Dash was like a cantankerous old man and Lily the over obsessed Christmas freak, it was hilarious watching them come together.

Two of the great things about this story is the quintessential Christmas time New York and the red Moleskine notebook. This lone little notebook sets two random people on mad (as in good) adventures across Manhattan in search of themselves (unbeknownst to them) and each other.

Every You, Every Me

This book has an interesting origin, David sees a picture at a friend’s house and begins to craft story around said picture. He then had his friend send him random pictures and continued story around all the pictures (see pics here).  I think this is genius, creative and sounds like a totally fun and random way to write a story. As fun as the idea was behind the story, the story itself is not “fun” and lighthearted. It’s morose and sad and a little bit psychological thriller.

The story is told from Evans point of view, and it’s trulyemotional and raw. David perfectly honed in on Evan and his plight and was able to convince readers we we’re in his head. Not only are we in his head, we witness him on the edge of breaking, through his eyes, while wondering is he crazy, maybe suffering a little from PTSD? It’s intense, to say the least.

I can’t say too much without giving away major plot points, but let’s just say there are several questions from the beginning.

Crush: 26 Real-Life Tales of First Love ed. by Andrea N. Richesin

Leviathan’s short “Creative Writing,”  is one of the best and most poignant stories from this collection.  David’s talent as a writer is evident and his ability to express his feelings and thoughts in a meaningful way are truly beautiful. I would love to see this story expanded into novel form, fictionalized or real.

See you in the STACKS, Stacy - who is now an automatic buyer of books with the name David Levithan on them.

My take:
Stacy, Shannan and Nancy have teased me about my reading Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts because so far, I have tended to stick with younger YA books or historical fiction. However, I am an English major with a love of all things Jane Austen, so I thought it my duty to find out what all the fuss was about with this newest rendition of Pride and Prejudice -this time without zombies but with more explicit details of the romantic lives of the characters.

What I really liked about Szereto’s rendition is that it made sense and the insertions were much lovelier to read than the inclusion of dead, grizzled walking corpses (as found in in Seth Graham-Smith’s Pride and Prejudice and Zombies). My literary friends and I have always joked that Mr. Bingley seemed a little too attached to Mr. Darcy, that Mr. Bennett was always trying to avoid his wife in his study, and that Lydia had to know what she was doing to have run off with Wickam.

This book answers all these questions in a light, satirical way, embedding descriptions of what’s really going on between Jane Austen’s original prose in the same style as the original. However, I will caution you that the content can get rather explicit, and I would mark the book for those 18 and older.

Only once or twice did I feel Szereto was a bit far-fetched in her writing (I don’t think Charlotte Bingley’s dresses were really cut that low and the first proposal scene was rather ludicrous), but I loved the sly wink that I felt she was giving her readers as to the motivations and actions of the characters that Austen left open for interpretation.  I laughed out loud once or twice and have been encouraging my “PhD in English Literature” friends to read it for a good chuckle; so as long as you don’t take your Austen too seriously, I think you will find this version an amusing and  titillating treat!

P.S. I was a bit astounded by the controversy the book has caused though-check out Szereto’s response: Pride and Prejudice and Pitchforks

At fifteen, Leen De Graaf likes everything she shouldn’t: smoking cigarettes, wearing red lipstick, driving illegally, and working in the fields. It seems the only thing she shares with her fellow Dutchmen is a fear of the German soldiers stationed nearby and a frantic wish for the war to end. When a soldier’s dog runs in front of Leen’s truck, her split decision sets off a storm of events that pitches her family against the German forces when they are most desperate – and fierce. Leen tries to hold her family together, but despite her efforts, bit by bit everything falls apart, and just when Leen experiences a horrific loss, she must make a decision that could forever brand her a traitor, yet finally allow her to live as her heart desires. Inspired by the life of the author’s mother, River in the Sea is a powerful and moving account of one girl reaching adulthood when everything she believes about family, friendship, and loyalty is questioned by war.

my take:  This self published e-book is a historical fiction based on the life of the author’s mother – and what a life it was!  Leen is a girl who is not only trying to navigate her teen years, she is dealing with war and the occupation of her hometown by the Germans. 

Boscha does a great job building the atmosphere with the little details of life in occupied Friesland, a northern province of the Netherlands.  Vignettes of people, places and life in occupied Friesland were filled with detail and the local language.  In the first and second chapters, the fear and terror is palpable when she runs over a German dog and fears for her life (and her virtue).  The consequences of that act resounds with Leen and her family throughout the rest of the book.  

After that strong beginning, the story pacing seemed slow.  However, that may have been intentional – the townspeople kept thinking that the war would be over any day, yet the occupation dragged on for another two years.  When Leen’s father and brother had to go into hiding (they called it Underdoek),  Leen had to deal with her mother’s depression and find food to keep her sisters fed.  When Leen went Underdoek (which consisted of sleeping anywhere but at home but no other changes to routine) her first kiss with Jakob was sweet and funny and sad at the same time.

I felt like the climax of the story was played out too slowly, and was too thin for impact, but the sadness and regret Leen felt was nicely handled, as was Jakob’s support.  When Leen decides to go to America, I wished she had been able to go with her family, or had a happier ending with Jakob.  But like life, the endings are not always happy – but there is always hope.

See you in the STACKS,
Nancy

from goodreads – An Irish lass. An English lord. A love that overcomes all boundaries. 

August Grayson has secretly dreamt of the girl living on his family’s Irish estate since childhoods spent together in Killarney. Now a proper Lord of the British Empire, he knows that Maeve could never be more than just a distant fantasy. Still, if only… 

Maeve O’Connor owns nothing in this world but her good name, which proves just enough to win a proposal for a marriage of convenience to a good, Irish lad. Until the wedding, however, she’s in dire straits. Rent on the cottage she and her father share is due, but there simply isn’t the money to pay. Driven to desperation, Maeve hopes Lord Grayson, her childhood-chum-turned-dashing-English-rogue, will prove lenient when she comes seeking clemency….

my take - McRae did it again! Much like her first novel 12.21.12 (read my review here) she has delivered a great story that is worthy of many re-reads. However, unlike the speculative fiction of 12.21.12, this novel is a historical romance. How one can switch gears from aliens and Mayan prophecy to the Irish country side of 1866, is beyond me, but she does it and she does it well. (actually, she answers the question below!!)

Here are just a few reasons why you should read this book:

*this is not just a character driven story; the story line is solid and real. There is more going on than just the “romance.”

*McRae’s historical research is evident; her 19^th century Ireland is authentic.

*the setting is beautiful.

*the writing is excellent, McRae’s prose is fluid.

*Maeve. She is a strong character, who does what is needed and doesn’t back down. I may not agree with all her decisions, but she owns actions and that is respectful.

*I love it that there are several times when it gets “ugly” for Maeve and your heart breaks (okay, I don’t really like it, but it does make the ending more endearing!!)

*As for the “heat” in the story I loved it! McRae teases, and taunts and you have to wait for it, but I assure you it is well worth the wait.

*Lord August Grayson is a typical English Lord on the outside, but on the inside a battle rages. At first he is nothing more than a tyrant, but eventually the backstory unfolds and we learn his depth.

I only have two small complaints. 1) The novel is long and at one point the story takes a different direction. 2) As much as I like Lord  Grayson and his flawed character, there are several times I wanted to slap him. Let me just say that I prefer honesty when it comes to affairs of the heart.

If you are a fan of well-written historical romance, then this is a book for you. If you’re a fan of a good historical fiction with romance, then this is for you too.

Gah! Now I want to re-read it!
Stacy

——

You’re newest book, A Love by Any Measure is a big departure from your first novel, 12.21.12. What was it like switching gears from speculative fiction (??)  to historical romance?  (how would you categorize 12.21.12?)
I love the “??”. That’s usually how I describe 12.21.12, too! But that leads to my answer, oddly enough. When I write, I’m focused entirely on the story, and don’t think much about genre. So, for me, it wasn’t really switching gears as much. It’s like baking a cake. You worry about the ingredients of the recipe, not the shape of the pan.Of course, it is a little frustrating that, because of the reality ALBAM’s character exists in, I couldn’t have Maeve able to read August’s mind and vice versa. That would have cut out a lot of drama, wouldn’t it have?

(And to answer your question more directly on 12.21.12, I generally describe it as a speculative fiction, which is a sort of catch-all
term for works that encompass several aspects of mystery, science fiction, suspense, alternative history, and/or the paranormal.)

Let’s talk cover design! It’s not a typical romance book cover, it has more of an art house feel. What was your role in the cover design?

This time around, I designed the cover for the book. Authors and agents will tell  you, when thinking about what your cover might look like, look around at other books in your genre and see what the conventions are. Thing was, as I looked at the covers for other regency and historical romance, 95% of them all looked the same to me: a beautiful woman barely wearing a ball gown, a muscle-repleted man behind her, his shirt partially open or missing entirely. Sometimes there was a horse. Me? I spit in the general direction of convention. I wanted to cover to immediately speak two things. Firstly, that this is a historical book. I used a Victorian motif to achieve that. Second, that this is more complex and not quite a all-happy, all-the-time type of romance. The image of the girl that frames the other images is downtrodden, reflective and yet, beautiful. The lovers on the left are still in the moment of consuming temptation. And on the right, we see both a quizzically-placed lady of wealth and a brooding man of integrity.

What’s the most challenging aspect of being a self-published author? 

Well, I guess I have to qualify that answer with a “depends what you mean by self-publishing.” ALBAM has gone through all the steps of publishing that any indie-published book would go through (editing, development, formatting, etc.). The only difference is that I am the
alpha and omega on initiating these processes. Is not that I do everything. I’m smart enough to pay other people with more skills and knowledge than me to do a lot of it.  But despite the fact that it’s a consuming process, it also comes with a lot of freedom. I no longer feel restricted by efforts of others. If my book succeeds or if my book fails, I have only myself to take account for. A lot of work? Yes, indeedly. But rich, rewarding, satisfying work.

Children of Paranoia

from goodreads – ALL WARS HAVE RULES

Rule Number One: No killing innocent bystanders.

Rule Number Two: No killing anyone under the age of
eighteen.

BREAK THE RULES, BECOME THE TARGET.

my take – The rules, the cover and all the postcards I got in the mail (marketing  from publisher) made me think this was a YA book. I. WAS. WRONG.

This book is a heart-pounding adult thriller, a la James Bourne. And it was good, real good.

The first chapter is a bit macabre; the main character is killing someone. I know what you’re thinking, how can you relate to a killer? Well, you can. Joe is a solider not a murderer, following orders that he thinks will help bring peace between the two warring factions. It’s the eventual unraveling of the story, his personal realizations and his insight that cause almost immediate liking to his character and his plight.

I loved Joe. I loved his loyalty to his friends, I loved his passionate relationship with Maria and I loved his fierce protectiveness. He’s a good guy with morals, one who’s been brainwashed into killing. He does the best he can where others are calling all the shots.

Like I mentioned earlier, this book is like the Bourne Identity.  The story is full of action, secret agencies and lies. It’s pure adrenaline awesomeness. While we never get the full backstory of “why” things are the way they are, it’s a full ride to the end that leaves us begging for more.

bottom line - I’m not gonna lie, the ending was not my favorite. Shane pulled no punches, but he did give us a realistic story in an alternate reality world that is believable. Good for you Shane!

Stacy

The Night Circus

from Barnes & Noble.com -  The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart. 

all me - How many adjectives can I use to describe this story?  Magical, wondrous, enchanting, mysterious!  I really don’t think there are enough.

Truly, this book charmed me.

I’ll start with the writing.  Yes, it says “rich, seductive prose” in the blurb above, and I say BINGO!  Morgenstern paints pictures with her words, incredibly detailed descriptions of amazing sights and wonders.  Intimate and revealing moments are lushly written, and scenes where you gradually realize something horrible is about to happen are especially appalling because it surprises you.

I liked that the viewpoints change throughout the book – some chapters are Celia, some Bailey, some are other characters.  I had to read the dates at the top of each chapter carefully because they shift back and forth, and sometimes by years, sometimes by weeks or even days.  Sometimes you learned something about the future that made you tie it in with the past (and vice versa) as you read along.

Celia is our heroine – and the sad scene where she meets her father (Hector, aka “Prospero the Great”) sets the tone for the rest of the book.  Hector, who only is interested in his daughter for her magical abilities, and Celia – strong willed and her own person, even though she is dependent on her father and bound by the strange competition.

At first I did not like Marco because I felt he was a very self-centered character.  He used Isobel and Chandresh to further himself in the competition.  By the end, I softened somewhat; one, because of his poor upbringing by the mysterious Alexander (aka the man in the grey suit); and two, because his love for Celia and willingness to sacrifice for her.

The rest of the characters felt like my friends – Bailey and the twins born at the circus, Poppet and Widget; Isobel and Tsukiko, both circus performers; Chandresh, Marco’s employer and the circus owner, and his circle of friends - the Burgess sisters,  Mr. Barris, and Mme. Padva; and finally Friedrick Thiessen, the clockmaker who built the wonderous clock that stands at the entrance of the circus and founder of the Rêveurs.  Each character is fully fleshed out, and they all have an important role to play in the circus (and thereby the competition).

Even the cover is perfectly suited for the story – a black and white circus with red (echoes of the group of circus fanatics, called Rêveurs, who wear black and white with one red accent).  I feel a little bit like a Rêveur myself – a fan of the magical, wondrous, enchanting, mysterious circus that comes and goes without warning.  I would follow it today if only I could find it.  I highly recommend this story!

See you in the STACKS,
Nancy

From Barnes and Noble.com:  A mesmerizing, moving, and elegantly written debut novel, The Language of Flowers beautifully weaves past and present, creating a vivid portrait of an unforgettable woman whose gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles to overcome her own troubled past.

The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it’s been more useful in communicating grief, mistrust, and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings.

Now eighteen and emancipated from the system,Victoria has nowhere to go and sleeps in a public park, where she plants a small garden of her own. Soon a local florist discovers her talents, and Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But a mysterious vendor at the flower market has her questioning what’s been missing in her life, and when she’s forced to confront a painful secret from her past, she must decide whether it’s worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.

My Take: This book we picked up at BEA and I was unsure what to expect since it was not our usual genre (what? no werewolves, vampires, or fairies?).  But once I started reading it, I fell in love with the shy, damaged Victoria, who speaks to people using the language of flowers.

Victoria is not always a lovable character though – an abused & neglected product of the foster system, she is broken and untrusting.  When she is taken in as a child by Elizabeth, the woman who teaches her the meaning of the flowers, she constantly tests that love.  Will she get stop loving me if I do this?  It broke my heart, every time she sabotaged herself.  Elizabeth dealt with it patiently, until a final horrible event severed the relationship.

I loved the way Victoria and Elizabeth’s story was interwoven with her current story.  Her talent with flowers gets her a job, and her boss Renata carefully walks the minefield that Victoria has laid between boss and friend.  She meets Grant at the flower market, who understands the meaning behind her reply of rhododendron (beware) to his first clumsy offering of a lilly; his reply is mistletoe (I surmount all obstacles).  Grant is familiar with the language of flowers, but his definitions are slightly different than hers.  Drawing Victoria out to talk about the meanings of various flowers leads them to attempt to make their own dictionary so there would be no misunderstandings.  But being in a relationship is difficult for Victoria, who does not like to be touched and has major commitment issues.  Victoria always hoped for love, and actually getting it is a scary prospect.  For her, it is not only difficult to learn how to love and receive love in return, it is terrifying.

I’m in love with this novel.  It is a powerful and moving story about forgiveness and second chances.  No werewolves, vampires or fairies needed.

I give this book 5 STACKS.

See you in the STACKS,
Nancy – who will pretend to give you a bouquet with Cosmos (joy in love and life), Freesia (lasting friendship), and Olive (peace).

from goodreads  – On the midnight shift at a hospital in rural Maine, Dr. Luke Findley is expecting another quiet evening of frostbite and the occasional domestic dispute. But the minute Lanore McIlvrae—Lanny—walks into his ER, she changes his life forever. A mysterious woman with a past and plenty of dark secrets, Lanny is unlike anyone Luke has ever met. He is inexplicably drawn to her . . . despite the fact that she is a murder suspect with a police escort. And as she begins to tell her story, a story of enduring love and consummate betrayal that transcends time and mortality, Luke finds himself utterly captivated.

Part historical novel, part supernatural page-turner, The Taker is an unforgettable tale about the power of unrequited love not only to elevate and sustain, but also to blind and ultimately destroy, and how each of us is responsible for finding our own path to redemption.

my take – A very unique paranormal story where the definitions are vague and leaves the readers guessing!!

First, let’s talk cover. While it’s not a stand-out the unfocused photograph is pretty creepy in a totally Blair Witch project sort of way. This seriously fits the book – creepy and you’re not quite sure what you’re dealing with….

The story is told in three parts and within those three parts, there are two stories that you lead you up to the present day, Lukes story. But don’t think linear, the story starts in a present day ER but flips back and forth. Each story has a way of engaging the reader that it left me really wanting more from all three!!

I instantly connected with Lanny. From the beginning, I knew there was more to her than what we were being told. That her life had been long, and she had seen much. Without giving too much away, I will say that we get to see her grow from a very naive girl to a woman who takes control of her life. She’s brave when needed and very resourceful. Which brings me to sex…

This supernatural, macabre story about love has its fair share of sex scenes. While it’s not erotica or even HQ romance graphic, they do have an animalistic type passion to them. Some were lust filled; others out of pure love and the rest used as a source of control.

One of the biggest draws to the story is Adair. He’s powerful, rich and in total control. One minute you like him, the next you can’t stand him. His affection for Lanny I believe is sincere, but one doesn’t live a cruel life without handing out cruelty.

The ending (though not a cliffhanger) leaves lots of unanswered questions. My first thought was, “huh, that’s it?” But it’s not, this is a planned series. YAY!! Cause I need more Luke.

I give this book 4 STACKS

Stacy

Murder in Manolos

Twenty-something Heidi Hart finds herself without a job,  with little money and no prospects. Instead of relying on her wealthy and thoroughly dysfunctional family she becomes the nanny/companion of fifteen year  old Lauren. From there comical amateur sleuthing ensues to uncover the mystery surrounding the Dayton family.

From the moment I meet Heidi Hart I felt an instant connection. This adorable, yet quirky girl is funny, sweet, smart and totally naïve. She definitely marches to her own beat and has the confidence to pull it off.  Her inter dialogue is just plain  hilarious, which makes her perfect bff material. Plus she has great fashion  sense.

Heidi’s relationship with Lauren and Lucas is genuine, fun and makes you wish you were their friends too. The trust, the camaraderie, the playful banter all adds to the light fullness, yet utterly delightfulness of  the book.

Lucus!! I loved him. He is some metrosexual hotness. Open  your eyes Heidi!! Don’t get me wrong, there was some tension between him and  Heidi. I just wanted more.

As much as I wanted to invite Heidi along for the next  girl’s night out, there were just a few things that hampered my enjoyment of the book. The biggest disappointment was the mystery. Mysteries need to be tight  and solid. They don’t have to be complex, just logical and believable. This one  had several holes, several points that just didn’t add up. It didn’t help that  I figured out who done it early on, which normally never happens.

Smaller details like outdated pop culture references coming from a fifteen and twenty year old, finding a job through a newspaper ad or paying a bill by check in the twenty-first century just added to the disappointment.

Overall, I really liked this book. Heidi is an utterly fun character, one that you would want to go sleuthing and shopping with.

I give this book 3 STACKS

See you in the STACKS,
Stacy

The Ideal Man

from goodreads - Dr. Ellie Sullivan has just completed her residency at a large urban hospital. While jogging in a park nearby, she witnesses the shooting of an FBI agent in pursuit of wanted criminals, a couple identified as the Landrys. The only person to see the shooter’s face, Ellie is suddenly at the center of a criminal investigation.

Agent Max Daniels takes over the Landry case. A no-nonsense lawman, he’s definitely not the ideal man that Ellie has always imagined, yet she’s attracted to him in a way she can’t explain…

my thoughts - I typically don’t read romance books, but the tough looking, black wearing, badge holding hunk of a man on the cover swayed me to pick this one up. (And yea, he was IDEAL!)

Garwood is a seasoned romance writer. She writes good, interesting stories that are plausible and creates an air of suspense to keep you on your toes. Oh, and she knows how to throw in the spice that brings on the heat.

However, as tight as the mystery /plot and sizzle were the characters were just a bit to ‘ideal’ for me. Ellie, is a doctor who is beautiful, caring, selfless, easy going, looks good in sexy dresses, likes football and oh, yea is a prodigy.  I could not find one thing in this book to make her seem real. I would have settled for a clubbed thumb, or frizzy hair.

Agent Max Daniels wasn’t much better.  He was tough, rugged, carried a gun, confident and ultra-hot. I almost forgot, he was a super smart too. Though, he did let his temper flare up from time to time, but then only when it came to protecting Ellie.

The mutual attraction was too immediate and the need for Max to protect Ellie almost from the beginning was unrealistic.  Then again, that could be normal for romance books

I give this book 3 STACKS

Stacy

The Twelfth Enchantment

from goodreads - Lucy Derrick is a young Regency woman of good breeding and poor finances: after the death of her father, she is forced to maintain a shabby dignity as an unwanted boarder with her unpleasant uncle, fending off marriage to the local mill owner, Mr. Olson. But her prospects of even that unwanted match are complicated by the appearance of a beautiful stricken man who appears on the family doorstep begging her not to marry Mr. Olson just as he collapses. This appearance seems to open the door to a series of increasingly strange occurrences surrounding Lucy. Soon it becomes clear that there is more at stake than her own happiness — and that she is caught between two forces, one ancient and one modern — and that the soul of her very country is at stake.

my thoughts – This is a charming, quick-witted novel that I couldn’t help but read while sitting at the dinner table. I love the paring of the Regency era with urban fantasy (my ideal read!). It’s a story of Luddites versus the Industrial Revolution, with a fantasy twist full of revenants, a golem, an order of Rosicrucian’s and Lord Byron.

When we first meet Lucy she is an amiable creature ready to please. She is quite reserved and willing to marry the awful Mr. Olson. Enter Lord Byron with a cryptic message and the magic and entanglement of betrothal with Mr. Olson (and sleuthing) begins.

Lucy is an ideal character. She is quaint, humble and so very naïve. Yet, she is determined, brave and just a bit magical to uncover a plot of the worst kind. I loved her sleuthing, her inner-thoughts and her ever constant worrying over her reputation.

If I could give Lucy a bff charm I would!

Not only has David Liss given us an interesting and unique plot, but he has created some very colorful characters that are, quite frankly, charming. Some of the best lines came from Lord Byron, which added great comical elements to the story. Then there was the ever elusive yet so knowledgeable Mrs. Emmett and my personal favorite, Mr. Morrison who made a perfect partner for Lucy.

I totally, without a doubt give this novel 5 STACKS

Stacy

From Goodreads:
For anyone who has ever wanted to step into the world of a favorite book, here is a pioneer pilgrimage, a tribute to Laura Ingalls Wilder, and a hilarious account of butter-churning obsession…Wendy McClure…retraces the pioneer journey of the Ingalls family- looking for the Big Woods among the medium trees in Wisconsin, wading in Plum Creek, and enduring a prairie hailstorm in South Dakota…

The Wilder Life is the ultimate in vicarious experiences. Part travelogue, part memoir, part research review, and part cooking reflection, I loved every single audio minute! Did I have to actually travel to the numerous Laura Ingalls Wilder (LIW) historical sites, delve into the archives of LIW doctoral theses, or attempt to grind my own flour – NO! Did I have a heck of a good time reliving McClure’s efforts-YES!

Wendy McClure and I will hopefully have a conversation at a cocktail party one day where I can say, “I totally had the same experience you did with LIW-I didn’t ever want to watch the TV show because they couldn’t possibly be like the books, I am so excited that you got to see all the historical sites and now I want to go too, and your @HalfPintIngalls tweets are freakin’ hilarious. Oh, and Wendy, the LiteraryMama you quoted who wrote about how frustrated she became when her daughter liked Mary more than Laura? Yeah, she’s my college professor and that daughter was a flowergirl in my wedding…so we should totally be best friends now-right?”

My point is, you will want to listen to (or read) The Wilder Life for yourself because it will make you laugh out loud, nod your head vigorously and gape in astonishment over everything that is jam-packed into the book. I know you loved LIW as much as I did as a kid, and having someone discuss what’s been fictionalized in the books (who knew?), discuss why there is SO MUCH FOOD in Farmer Boy, explain what happened to Laura in her later years, and share why we all love to hate Nellie Oleson –these are just a few of the reasons that make this book as fabulous as I thought it would be and much more informative than I ever expected.

The reader of the audiobook, Teri Clark Linden, did a lovely job narrating The Wilder Life, once I got over that Wendy herself did not read her book (which I always prefer when it’s a memoir). However, I soon believed that Teri was channeling Wendy because she was so expressive and articulate, it sounded like Wendy was in the room telling me about her journey to find “Laura World.”

I have to end you with my current favorite @HalfPintIngalls tweet to give you a “taste” –pun intended-of McClure’s sense of humor: “Happy July 4th! Good thing I’m ahead of Nellie Oleson in the lemonade line because that’s one wicked cold sore she’s got. Wipe the dipper!”

I give The Wilder Life 5 stacks with earbuds!

-audiobibliophile Sarah

This is a gritty, violent, realistic portrayal of the lascivious, often manic events, acted out by dangerous drunk individuals with little left to lose.  Warning: Not a tale for the faint of heart!

my thoughts: Many know that I have a love affair with historical fiction. To me I suppose it is the lure of a world that is like mine, but so greatly different; from the clothes, to the vernacular, to the customs, to the time period, etc. It’s in these worlds (if they’re cleverly written) that I can find myself transported and feel as though I am part of the landscape. In Perriman’s debut novel, I felt like the preverbal fly on the dank and gritty walls, and y’all I needed a long hot shower after this one. *shivers*

As the warning states above, this is not a fairytale. It’s the grimy underbelly of pirating; from child molestation, to savagery, to rape, to murder to everything else that’s seedy. Perriman captured the true essence of piracy (greed, lust) and created characters and situations that perfectly blend history with fiction.

Lola Blaise is a survivor. Her life was turbulent at best. From early on she was thrown in situations and circumstances beyond her control. Bad things happened to her, horribly bad things (things I don’t even want to mention).  Through all the “bad things,” Lola took them in stride and did what she needed to survive. However, I felt like she lacked strong emotions. Therefore I never felt connected to her character. Only once while reading did I shout “no” loud enough to wake my husband. I felt that with all the “bad-ness” I should have been shouting more.

I give this book 4 STACKS

See you in the STACKS – Stacy

Clint
the upperclassman who’s too good to be true

Vanessa
the best friend turned backstabber

Gregory
the guy who’s a total(ly hot) mistake

and Lexi
the social queen who wants to bring Callie down.

But Callie didn’t get into Harvard by giving up, and she isn’t about to now. Besides, she’s not the only one with something to hide. . . .

my take - ahhhh!  I’m not gonna (not an Ivy approved word, I’m sure) lie!  I eat these books up!  Secrets is cleverly crafted and you relate to the experiences of all the characters.  Even when you see the stage set for a misunderstanding, it all seems believable and well contrived when it is executed.  You love Callie even when you are screaming that she should just man errr… woman up.  She may be brighter – come on, she is at Harvard! And she may play soccer better but you honestly think that you could be her friend, hope to help her and be able to set her straight.  Although you can’t feel too sorry for her, she has two gorgeous and interesting men vying for her attention although it doesn’t, thank goodness, take center stage in the book.

Things that had me rolling in fits of laughter:

1. Alexis Thorndike’s Fifteen Minutes Magazine advice columns.  Can you say pure genius?

2. Mimi.  Enough said.

I loved The Ivy so much I was worried how its sequel, Secrets would compare.  It’s just as good, just as smart and just as honest that one has to wonder if some of this is true.  If these characters are not characters at all but real people that went through this.  If so, THANK YOU!

Th ending had me holding my breath and thinking the next book better come out soon. I CAN NOT WAIT!

I give  Secrets 5 STACKS!

Love, STACKGirl Shannan who wishes she went to Harvard so I could do  watch Primal Scream