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!!

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!

We had so much fun participating with Ladies Home Journal for their August book club pick, Bitter in the Mouth by Monique Truong that we have decided to join them again and read their December/January pick, The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen.  Again, this is not a normal genre read for us, but we are nothing if not adventurous. Plus, we think it’s good to branch out and stretch our brains.

Find more information here about Ladies Home Journal book club and The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen.

The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen
publisher: Crown
release: April 12, 2011
book links: goodreads author LHJ twitter

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.

If you would like to join us, check out our discussion schedule below:

December 13, 2011 – we’ll provide a detailed review of the book

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!

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).

——

Describe your book in five words.

Epic, dark, dangerous, tragic, and sexy. What would your five words be?

Scott Westerfeld said of The Taker, “…thinking person’s guilty pleasure.” You have some pretty high praises from some amazing authors, plus The Taker got a starred review from Booklist. Seriously, what was going through your head when you read all those reviews?

At first, I thought they either wrote that out of pity or were kidding with me. Seriously, when I read the good stuff, it seems to be about someone/something else, like I’m distanced from it, but the bad reviews hit me like a line drive to the gut. Weird, isn’t it? And what you hear people say–you can have all good reviews and one bad one and that’s the one you remember–is true. And I’m getting my share of really mean, snide reviews, like everyone else. I’m working on thickening my skin.

YOU WENT TO COMIC-CON AND WERE ON A PANEL!!!  Were you freaking out? How was it rubbing elbows with Michael Cassutt, Heather Brewer and Drew Magary? Were you in just complete awe?

Luckily I was heavily medicated so I kept it together. (I had a bout of vertigo so I was actually medicated.) I was so grateful to be on  that panel and every one else on it was so generous to me, the newbie, I can’t tell you. Maryelizabeth Hart, co-owner of Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore and moderator of the panel, is like a god to me now. She did fifteen panels in three days, didn’t miss a beat, kept everything flowing perfectly. I also got to meet the author Rachel Caine, who is a consummate pro and so generous. Yes, I was in complete awe of everyone. Add to that, the people who attend Comic-con are so nice. I had lots of great conversations with readers who stopped by the  Simon & Schuster booth, standing in lines, sharing tables in the food court. And I’ve watched G4′s Attack of the Show coverage of Comic-con for a couple years now, so I hung around the G4 booth like a total fangirl. I’m sure they were wondering why this middle-aged woman was stalking them.

The next book in the series is titled The Reckoning, is there anything you can share with us? Maybe share some Lanny and Luke insight??

Many characters from The Taker are back in The Reckoning–even some you might not expect. The Reckoning is poor Lanny’s worst nightmares come true, but there’s one character who gets treated even worse than Lanny, is really made to run the gamut of emotions. I hope it’s half as much fun to read as it’s been to write. We don’t have a pub date yet for either the US or UK, but hopefully will soon.

How many books will be in the series? Please say a million. Or five. Five works too.

You are too kind! Right now there are three books planned (the third one is titled The Descent, at least for now.) There’s also a spin-off book that’s half-written but I haven’t talked to my publishers about it yet. If The Taker trilogy does well, maybe it will see the light of day. I have ideas for some non-Taker books, too. I’m lucky in that I haven’t had a problem yet with writer’s block.

We love to know what authors are reading (especially ones we love to read!); it helps us determine our STACKS. So, what are you currently reading?

Since I’m on deadline with The Reckoning, I’m not reading as much as usual (sadly.) I’m about one-third into THE HANGMAN’S DAUGHTER by Oliver Potzsch. It reads like a fairy tale-murder mystery, very fun. After that I’m going to read THE NIGHT COUNTER by Alia Yunis, my roommate at Squaw Valley writers conference. The excerpt she read at the conference was so sharp, so witty, and so well done, I can’t wait to read the entire book. My TBR pile is about 20 books high right now, and growing.

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

*SPOILERS and as always you can download us from itunes*

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

from Amazon: Kelly Johnson becomes restless in her thirty-ninth year. An appetite for more forces her to take stock of her middling middle-American existence and her neighbors’ seemingly perfect lives. Her marriage to a successful attorney has settled into a comfortable routine, and being the mother of two adorable sons has been rewarding. But Kelly’s own passions lie wasted. She eyes with envy the lives of her two best friends, Kathryn and Charlotte, both beautiful, successful businesswomen who seem to have it all. Kelly takes charge of her life, devising a midlife makeover plan. From page one, Kelly’s witty reflections, self-deprecating humor, and clever tactics in executing that plan–she places Post-it notes all over her house and car–will have readers laughing out loud…

The novel remains authentic, easy to read, and emotional on several different levels.  When I started reading, I kept thinking – yeesh.  Kelly is just like me.  Well, besides the perfect house and lots of expensive outfits. I wish I was as strong and had as much time as Kelly.  You do relate with her on understanding that something is missing in her life without thinking “This girl has it all and has no reason to be unhappy”.  Why do we judge people, especially those who are mothers, and those who are our friends? We never know what is happening in someone elses home.

Without sounding too preachy, Here, Home, Hope really is a story of women emowerment with friendships, struggles, and eye-opening realities along the way.

I give Here, Home, Hope 3.5 STACKS

Love, STACKGIRL Shannan who needs to be able to fit into a pair of Seven jeans

The Virgin Queen’s Daughter by Ella March Chase
publisher: Crown
release date: December 2008
book info: goodreads author site

from Borders: As captivating now as it was more than four centuries ago, the reign of Elizabeth I with its scandal, intrigue, and resilience has sparked the imaginations of generations. In her sweeping historical debut, Ella March Chase explores a thrilling possibility: that the Tudor bloodline did not end with the Virgin Queen…

my take: I will admit now, I have had this book sitting in my to-be-read pile for over a year. What is more shameful is that I had started reading it, made it to chapter three and put it back in the stacks. What finally drew me back were the cover and the need to step back into historical fiction.

Where to begin…the beautiful detailed writing? The spot-on historical aspects? The intriguing story? The brilliant characters that captivated my every page turn? Yes my friends, it has it all.

While I could gush over this book forever, I will say just this…Elizabeth I was such a force, that reading fiction based on her, her virtues, her dynasty is always fascinating. The dynamic between Elizabeth I and Nell was tense, heart-warming, heart wrenching and tragic. Which, sadly could be said of most of the relationships Elizabeth had in this story.

However, this is the story of Nell de Lacey and her trials, triumphs, tears, heartache, deception and love as possibly the daughter of one of Britain’s most powerful monarchs.

My only problem with the book is the slow beginning, hence why I put it down in the first place.

I give this book 4.5 STACKS

See you in the STACKS,
Stacy – who literally feel in love with this book.

The Second Duchess by Elizabeth Loupas
publisher: New American Library (penguin)
release date: March 2011
book info: goodreads author

from Amazon… In a city-state known for magnificence, where love affairs and conspiracies play out amidst brilliant painters, poets and musicians, the powerful and ambitious Alfonso d’Este, duke of Ferrara, takes a new bride. Half of Europe is certain he murdered his first wife, Lucrezia, the luminous child of the Medici. But no one dares accuse him, and no one has proof-least of all his second duchess, the far less beautiful but delightfully clever Barbara of Austria…

 I’ve read my fair share of historical (romance type) fiction, most have been about falling in love with someone above/below your station, about a soft and gentle hero…this is not one of those books. Alfonso is all about preserving and advancing his ducal standing, which means he is hard, brutal and unrelenting. He very carefully selected his second wife, and it was not for love. AND he is very much a husband of the 16^th century, he rules the household. Period. Through the course of the book and while piecing together the mystery, you quickly learn why Alfonso is harsh – one is not powerful without enemies.

 As for Barbara, she was ready to be free of her country life and highly anticipating a life of courtly living, adventure. While she was unprepared for the harshness of Alonso and his court, she quickly learned how to play the game. She was surprising, daring, clever and sympathetic.

 The mystery is probably one of the best aspects of the story; it’s intriguing and leaves the reader constantly guessing. It’s like the game CLUE, trying to figure out who was the killer and what “weapon” was used.

While I enjoyed the mystery and the angst understanding (love?) between Alfonso and Barbara, I didn’t like the immobili, the ghost aspect. I felt it cheated the reader; it shared too much and gave too much reasoning, too much insight.

I give this book 3 STACKS

See you in the STACKS,
Stacy, who very much liked the ginger heroine!

from Goodreads: After nearly a decade as a sous-chef in a trendy eatery, Jenna is desperate for a change. She’s supported her ex-husband’s dreams for so long that she can’t even remember her own. Until she sees a for-lease sign near her parents’ home and envisions her very own cooking store.

Her crash course in business is aided by a streetwise store manager and Jenna’s adoptive mother. But just as she’s gaining a foothold in her new life, in walk her birth parents—aging hippies on a quest to reconnect with their firstborn.

Now Jenna must figure out how to reconcile the free-spirited Serenity and Tom with her traditional parents, deal with her feelings for a new love interest and decide what to do about her ex’s latest outrageous request. In the end, Jenna will find that there is no perfect family, only the people we love….

Hi Susan, thanks for stopping by today. We’re glad you’re here.

Thank you so much for having me! Thank you for kicking off my ten-day blog tour. So much fun! I’m thrilled by the reaction I’m getting to ALREADY HOME, and I appreciate you helping to spread the word about my latest book.

 1. Please, describe Already Home in five words.

Five words? Wow, that’s a challenge. Let’s see… Jenna meets her birth mother.

No, that’s too boring. That doesn’t capture any of the emotion of the situation. How about: The family she never wanted.

Hm, that’s getting closer. I still don’t love it, though.  Sounds too harsh. Maybe… Family is worth the headaches.

2. Tell us a little about Jenna, i.e. things that make her happy, things she loathes or maybe a surprising fact.

All her life, Jenna has loved cooking more than anything. But she never enjoyed following a recipe. Following a recipe, to her, felt about as joyful as doing a paint-by-numbers would feel to Michelangelo. The joy for her was in the creativity of cooking, putting flavors together that surprised people. The problem is, her ex-husband was also a chef who cut her down so often that she began to believe his assertion that she had no talent. As ALREADY HOME begins, Jenna is stuck in the joyless limbo of only being able to follow other people’s recipes. She has all of the skill to be a great chef but none of the spark.

3. The setting of Already Home takes place in Texas, which by the way is the best state ever, why? It’s because Texas is the best state ever, right?

To every Texan, it is! LOL I lived in Texas for several years, and I really enjoyed it, particularly the warmth of the people. It surprised me at first the way total strangers would talk to each other while waiting in line at the grocery store. Texans assume that happens everywhere, but no. I don’t think anyone is as proud of their state as Texans are. I live in Seattle now, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen Washington-shaped pasta.

4. We understand that this is one of the most emotional stories you’ve ever written, would you please elaborate on that?

 Jenna is dealing with the fallout from a recent divorce, and the book starts just after she’s signed the lease on a retail space without knowing a thing about retail. So her life is already pretty complicated when she’s approached by a couple who announce that they’re her birth parents. She always knew she was adopted, but she’s happy with the parents she has. Unfortunately for her, now that her birth parents have entered her life, they aren’t about to leave. They want Jenna to love them immediately, but to Jenna, they’re strangers, and she’s not sure she wants them to be more. If they begin to work their way into Jenna’s heart, will she hurt the mother who raised her? And with all of this going on, how will she find time for the first man who’s made her feel special in years?

5. As a prolific writer (we lost count after 25!), how do you spend your free time? Reading? Shopping? Cooking? Something else?

LOL! Yes, when you write 4-5 books every year, there isn’t a lot of free time left over. I love reading, of course. Mostly romance, but I also really enjoy YA. And by “reading,” I include audiobooks. I almost always have one or more books going, a magazine, plus an audiobook when I get in my car. I also love shopping – I can see Nordstrom’s from my office window, so I’m frequently tempted. Over the past couple of years, I’ve come to enjoy cooking, but I’m still going to hire a personal chef if I ever win the lottery. As for the “something else,” I’ve recently discovered much to my surprise that I enjoy Pilates. I’m not sure I would claim that exercising is fun, but Pilates is the least humiliating exercise I’ve ever done.

Let’s just say we love Texas, shopping at Nordstom’s and eating exercising…yea, you’re our kind of girl!! Thanks for stopping by.

For more information on Already Home or Susan Mallery visit her goodreads page or her website.

description from goodreads.com:

Archaeologist Sheppard Smyth has staked his career and the honorable memory of his deceased wife and partner on proving his widely-panned theory: Cleopatra VII, last ruler of Ancient Egypt, was murdered. When a statue of the doomed Queen is discovered in an Olmec excavation site in Mexico, Shep rushes to investigate and, hopefully, find the proof that has evaded him for so long.

Soon, he finds himself in the middle of the rivalry between the sexy, enigmatic international thief, Victoria Kent, and infamous rumored Russian mobster, Dmitri Kronastia. Both hold pieces to the puzzle that will finally shed light on Cleopatras death…Shep becomes a common pawn played by forces working to see out a quest older than the pyramids themselves and cloaked by the Mayan prophecy of 12.21.12.

my take:

Okay, so this is pretty much about the Mayan prophecy of the end of the world, but don’t think doom and gloom. This book focuses on a select group of people; some aliens, some ancient gods and a couple of mundanes (or are they?). While that mix-up may seem a little, well, weird…it’s not. It works. Trust me.

Here are some things I liked about the story:

1. It wasn’t doom and gloom. It was more light-hearted, and it was actually quite funny at times. Not ha-ha funny, just quick quips.

2. Victoria. She was quite the hybrid. She had soul, heart and a kick butt attitude. I want to be her.

3. Shep. He was the down to earth human and his pine for a lost loved was really hopelessly romantic.  Not to mention he was a smart professor guy.

4. The weaving of history, with aliens and gods. I thought this was a smart story that incorporated Cleopatra, the Olemc and the Mayans. It seemed plausible. It wasn’t terribly complex and I was able to follow along.

Here are a couple of things I didn’t like:

1. As much as liked Shep, Victoria and the gang I never connected with them.

2. While the story was good, I felt it was a little slow at times considering the story starts a few days before 12.21.12. There was a lot of down time.

3. I hate to admit this, but I wish there had been more of a love story. Let me back up, there was a love story, a couple of them. They just took a back seat in the story and seemed almost superficial. There was never a point when I thought, “Wow, they truly love each other.”

I give this book 3.5 STACKS

See you in the STACKS,
Stacy

So, what we’re saying is Jenna’s cool, writes good books and really famous people like her.

**want to know more?  Our review can be found here and Jenna’s blog here**

Author DIANE HAEGER, whose newest historical novel, THE QUEEN’S RIVAL, that was released this month, answers some of our cool questions. But first, let us tell you about the book…

author: Diane Haeger
publisher: New American Library (Penguin)
publication date: March 1, 2011
description from goodreads.com: As the beautiful daughter of courtiers, Elizabeth “Bessie” Blount is overjoyed when she secures a position as maid of honor to Katherine of Aragon. But when she captures the attention of the king himself, there are whispers that the queen ought to be worried for her throne.

When Bess gives birth to a healthy son the whispers become a roar. But soon the infamous Boleyn girls come to court and Henry’s love for her begins to fade. Now, Bess must turn to her trusted friend, the illegitimate son of Cardinal Wolsey, to help her move beyond life as the queen’s rival..

———

Salty or sweet?

Definitely salty. That goes for everything: food, language and sense of humor. It makes life interesting.

Cook at home, take out or dinner out?

All of the above. But if I have my way, it’s definitely dinner out. Having two teenagers still around, it’s fun for me to be waited on for a change.

Do you say pop, soda, coke?

Sometimes coke (mostly diet coke because regular is too sweet for me) or soda, never pop. That makes me think of Ozzie and Harriet.

Thesaurus or dictionary?

I love my trusty Thesaurus. That wins hands down. It has been with me for many years, through many books, providing me with amazing words I never would have thought of without it. The spine is broken and some of the pages are coming out, but it’s like a trusted friend now.

Country, hip hop, rock or classical?

Rock, classical, country, and in that order. Although my family would have country up front all of the time…. Not so much the hip hop. If I’m driving the LA freeways, reliable Mozart gets me where I need to go every time.

Star Wars, Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings?

Can I pick Twilight instead?… Okay, from the above three, I would say Harry Potter. At least the first 2 in the series.

Texting, emailing or talking on the phone?

Texting and emailing both equally. I have to keep up with my kids after all. And while it isn’t nearly as personal as talking on the phone, both certainly help me multi-task, which for me is an daily necessity. I’m decent at texting too, pretty darned fast, if I do say so myself.

Truth or dare?

While I love honesty, I would much rather take the dare.

Werewolf or vampire?

Ah, now that’s tough. Hmm… I’d say werewolf but there’s not 100% conviction there. Aren’t we all just a little torn on that one?

——–

See what we mean? These questions are our version of a personality test, and with answers like TWILIGHT, coke (only those who don’t know better say ‘pop’ or ‘soda’) and  thesaurus make her an honorary STACK Girl. She is undeniably cool.

from amazon…Lady Meredith Brookshire has every right to Oak Run. Now that she’s suddenly husbandless and penniless, where else would she, her addled father, and spinster aunt reside? Yet who should appear but Nicholas Caulfield, the new Brookshire heir, claiming the estate is rightfully his by law. The brute is as arrogant as he is handsome-besides, he’s supposed to be dead. And the only plan resourceful Meredith can devise to save her family from homelessness is a desperate scheme that may lead her to salvation or ruin . . .

What possessd me to read this book? I think it boiled down to curiosity. I wanted to see what her adult writing was like. My curoisty was piqued to say the least, and Sophie managed to make me blush like a school girl.

As I am not familiar with romance novels, I cannot adequately compare this one to others. Yet, I assume though that most of these novels are character driven plots budding with angst, passion and romance and little else. This one was no different.

I enjoyed the story, I enjoyed the characters. I loved how both Meredith and Nick were fierce, strong and independent in their own and very different ways. I immensly enjoyed seeing their collision with each other time and time again and how they managed to get under each other skin, good and bad.

As for the ‘passion’ parts, it was hot and spot on. Which I guess is the whole point of the book. Right?

What dissapointed me was the lack of world-building and the lack of ‘other’ characters. It’s portrayal as a historical romance was reduced to the swish of skirts, games of whist and traveling by hacks.  This story could have easily been placed in any time period with a few minor changes. As well, the ‘other’ character, or minor characters didn’t see much page time. I felt they were used only when it benifited Meredith and Nick. I would have liked to see more of the Finneys, Meredith’s dad and Mac.

I give this book 3.5 STACKS

See you in the STACKS,
Stacy, who also bought Marked by Moonlight written under Sophie’s other name, Sharie Kohler.

I loved this dark comedy about a dysfunctional family who happen to be vampires.  The Radleys live in a small suburban town, quietly living and working and going to school.  The parents, Peter and Helen, are abstaining vampires (they even own a copy of The Abstainer’s Handbook) who have not told their children exactly who – or what – they are.  The children, Clara and Rowan, are not popular by any means.  They are pale and “allergic” to the sun, feel ill all the time, and Rowan is picked on mercilessly by other boys.  Clara has become a vegan, which poses problems for Peter and Helen, who need her to eat meat to prevent anemia (and any unnatural cravings).  When Clara must defend herself from the unwanted advances of a boy, she inadvertently triggers her inner vampire and, well… eats her would-be rapist.  She’s frightened and confused but … she feels somewhat normal for once in her life (after having her fill of blood, that is).  Enter Uncle Will, whom Peter calls to help clean up the mess.  Will is a practicing vampire, and a somewhat debauched and careless one since Peter and Helen cut off contact with him.  Think of Will like a vampire Don Corleone – you think you’re out, but then they suck you back in.

This book was witty, smart and a lot of fun to read.  The strained relations between Peter, Helen and Will, Rowan’s pining for the girl he loves but who doesn’t know he exists, Clara’s angst over inhumane animal practices – all of these family problems are magnified by their “addiction” to blood.  While teen vampires are a part of this book, it actually spends equal time on the adults.  This is definitely a literary vampire book for grownups.  

 I give this book 4 STACKS!

See you in the STACKS,
Nancy – who hears there are sequels planned…

With all the glowing reviews about this book and Oprah’s picking it to be a book club selection, I decided I would give this a whirl.  However, I was somewhat puzzled about all the fuss.  Not that this is such a bad book, just that it wasn’t what I was expecting. 

I read along with Oprah’s book club (cliché, I know) and tried to find an emotional connection to the story.  That’s where it went wrong for me – I never really cared for either Patty or Walter.  Franzen is brilliant at describing his character’s feelings and revealing emotional insights, but honestly the characters were too odd for me to care.  Walter was too goody-goody, “more green than Greenpeace”, and Patty was too flaky, Richard too destructive.  I certainly liked the Patty from college much better than Patty from middle age as Franzen intended.  Walter was just too wrapped up in saving the world from overpopulation and then saving the endangered birds for me to like him at all.

The story was interesting and entertaining, but the “autobiographical” part that Patty wrote was nearly indistinguishable from the rest of the book.  The parts I liked best were Patty’s descriptions of her college days with Walter and Richard and her feelings for both men.  But the finale that was supposed to give me hope only left me thinking that after all they had been through and said to each other, it was unrealistic.

I give this book 3 STACKS.

See you in the STACKS,
Nancy