Synopsis

 

A sweet and sassy contemporary romance from New York Times bestselling author MaryJanice Davidson!

Captain Ava Capp has been flying from her past for a decade. She’d much rather leave it, and her home state, behind forever. But when she finds herself back in Minnesota, against her better judgment, everything goes sideways in a way she never expected it to.

M.E. Dr. Tom Baker has never forgotten Ava and the cold case she ran away from. When she shows up unexpectedly in town, in spite of himself, sparks fly. Which is terrible because he can’t stop his growing attraction to her. Can these two Type-A’s let their guards down and work together to put Ava’s tragic past behind her for good? And keep their hands off each other at the same time?

 

 

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Review

 

This book made me giggle with all of the tropes and kept me enthralled with the mystery of who killed Danielle ten years ago and why was it resurfacing?

I had read a previous book in this “series” that was ok, not horrible but not great. So I was a little hesitant to read this book but am glad since I was pleasantly surprised. I loved Hannah, the precocious niece of Dr. Tom Baker, the ME for the town in Minnesota. She is just a little too smart for her own good, but she helps keep Tom grounded…most of the time. I loved the nerdy talk from Tom and Hannah and even Ava.

The tropes are what kept me in stitches – yes everything was expected when it came to the characters, but it all worked in my mind. G.B. and India are two hoots on top of everything else.

The romance between Ava and Tom took time to grow but when they finally came together, sparks galore.  They had some missteps but it worked well into the storyline.  It was interesting that they were both interested in the macabre of Minnesota.

 

“Who knew the capital of Minnesota was such a hotbed of exotic/weird murders?”

 

There are remnants of the previous book at the beginning and the end involving Blake from the 2nd book. I like how it was tied together to create a flow from one story to the next even though they were not intertwined.

We give this book 4 1/2 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

MaryJanice Davidson is an American author and motivational speaker who writes mostly paranormal romance, but also young adult and non-fiction. She is the creator of the popular Undead series and is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She writes a bi-weekly column for USA Today and lives in St. Paul with her family.

 

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Synopsis

 

Five friends. One dog. One river carrying a secret.

When one of their friends goes missing, everything comes crashing down for the small group of childhood friends in the small town of Greenfield. Ethan takes it hard. Then he loses his dog, his only consolation.

Hoping to start anew, Ethan leaves Greenfield and moves to New York City. Far from the ghosts of his childhood and the river that gives and takes life. There he finds his one true love and builds a career as a bestselling author.

But how long will Ethan’s happiness last as doubts creep back into him and shatter his reality? And will his reconciliation with the past come at too great a price?

All rivers carry their secrets, but not every river keeps its secret forever.

In this heartwarming coming-of-age literary fiction with episodes of mystery and romance cross-genre story, Bernard Jan, the author of Look for Me Under the Rainbow and A World Without Color, speaks of true friendship, first darlings, and real loves. With gentle words, he describes our connection with nature and love for our four-legged friends who quickly become honorable members of our families but also tells about the dark secrets we carry in our hearts.

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

Ethan McCoy lay in the grass, stretched out to his full length. He flung his head back and unbuttoned his shirt, exposing his neck and the pale skin of his chest to the sun. His rolled-up sleeves were already drenched in sweat. Perspiration ran off his forehead, dripping onto the jacket folded under his head in a faux pillow.

Ethan removed the light-sensitive glasses from his nose and wiped the sweat off with a handkerchief. Inhaling deeply, he stared at the sun through unprotected eyes. The scent of Greenfield invaded his nostrils, conquering his throat, lungs, and heart. Inside him the memories were waking up, ignited by familiar feelings from the past.

In the strong light he felt a pain in his eyes, forcing him to close them. So that he might suffer too, he didn’t move to escape into the protective shadows. Determined to stay exposed to heat that reached him from the vast distance with such strength, he willed the sun to cause him pain. Wanted it to numb his senses and make him oblivious to any and all experiences—both pleasant and unpleasant. Most of all, he wanted to let go of the internal pain that refused to leave him alone after all these years.

He wished one pain could soothe another. The physical could annul the emotional. Even as he thought it, he knew it was in vain. He also accepted there was no cure for that pain. At best, it might be blunted some day and become just a painful reminder of his past.

But it would never disappear.

Because if it did, Greenfield would no longer exist. The artificially created grove beside the river in which he now rested, would vanish too. The same for Willy, then Jason, Derrick, and Sarah. Riv and . . . Susan. Could they evaporate, all of them? Did he have the right to ask that?

Or, what if it were possible for all of them to remain in their reality where they belonged? While he—Ethan—disappeared? Both could be possible only by some supernatural phenomenon. Something that could never happen.

Eventually moving into the shadows, he took off his shirt, shoes and socks and continued with his fantasy. Recalling. Or gathering up the strength and determination to do what he intended. Well, that’s what he planned on saying if someone asked him why he was there. So far, nobody had. Nobody knew. He arrived less than an hour ago. He hadn’t gone to the town, but had come straight to the river. To the place where everything had begun. Therefore, it only seemed fitting that it be where the beginning of the end transpired. The place where he would insert a period at the end of a life story. If he got lucky, he’d tear out a blank page and start anew. No memories. No past.

Without the bad memories, he could live in peace.

However, if he were honest with himself, that would be equally impossible to achieve.

In the still air, the river flowed quietly. Steadily. Innocently. Nothing about it had changed as if nothing happened. Effortlessly and seemingly without concern, the river continued to give life to all around it. But also taking it. . . .

Ethan watched the river and felt as though the river also observed him. Two silent witnesses, side by side again after so much time. Ethan had often wondered what this moment would be like. Would he find the river repelling, disgusting even, carried by the ravages of time and pressured by anxiety heavy as storm clouds? Or would it be seductive like it had been long ago when he was still a child?

Removing the rest of his clothes, he stood on the sand along the riverbank. The sunbeams warmed his naked body—a body weakened and slimmed by an avalanche of past events. He walked into the cold water up to his knees and shuddered. Almost icy. Or was he too hot after basking in the sun?

He barely hesitated before plunging in. He knew he wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation. Love between the river and him could not dissipate that easily. As he swam, he wondered if this love would ever dissolve. Would another separation be even harder than the last?

Not far away, a dog gave up chasing a butterfly. Pricking up his ears and staring toward the woods, he searched the spot where his guardian had lain only a moment ago. Except for a heap of clothes tossed on the grass, the spot was empty. Sniffing the air, the dog moved toward the river—slowly at first and then breaking into a run.

Reaching the riverbank, he looked at the water. He gazed at the other bank. No sign of life on the river. Only the nature, butterflies, and the twittering of the birds. He wagged his tail and whined. Then he barked. Soon, he ran up and down the riverbank not knowing what to do. His barking became louder and uneasy. He decided to jump and was already in the air when Ethan surfaced, with no way to avoid the collision.

The sound of the dog’s whine mingled with a yell of surprise filled the air before it was swallowed and disappeared in the splash of water. The waves rippled its calm surface.

 

Review

 

January River is a coming of age story that focuses on Ethan and Will McCoy.  They are from a small town in Nebraska that is picturesque but not without its own share of tragedies.  Ethan and Will are thick as thieves and have a few friends that do what young men do, have adventures and try to avoid too much trouble.  As we watch them grow up, they leave the town and end up in New York City.  The story at this point really focuses on Ethan and his life, meeting his wife, his career, and watching him mature in life despite some issues that hold him back.

Ethan has many facets to his character and he holds guilt close to his heart when he should be moving past events that are dragging him down.  It takes the whole story for him to do that, but it is a journey he has to take to reach that conclusion.  Thankfully, he has the love of his wife and his dog, River.  He has his family too, especially his brother, but there are others that care about him and his well being.

This book spans several decades and it is interesting to see the world change around Ethan.  It was a simpler time then and I think that binds the story together and will take the reader back in time and remember what life was like before technology.

There are a few passages I would like to share with you from the book.  These are poignant and show the depth of the thought process of the author and his direction for the story.

“Life sometimes goes astray, into unusual streams, and then you must swim upstream if you don’t want to be dragged down the stream and fall over the waterfall.”

“He also knew he wasn’t ready for that yet, that he didn’t have courage. So he agreed to pay the price for it. The price of fear.”

“It is hard when we lose someone we loved. Very hard. We’ll all leave one day. Someone sooner, the other one later. but the end comes to all of us whether or not we like it.”

I enjoyed reading this book and watching the characters become more complex as they aged and coming to terms with events in their past. It doesn’t hurt that there are a couple of dogs in the book that help facilitate the story as they become a focal point for more than just the name of the river in their town, but for a location that has fond and tragic memories.  The story has a variety of characters, both good and bad, that make this book complete.  The story will also hit on a variety of emotions at various points and I found myself empathizing with different characters at different points.

This is a book worth reading and we give it 4 1/2 paws.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

“There is no greater joy than to share what you love with those who appreciate it.”—Bernard Jan

Bernard Jan is a novelist and a poet from Croatia, and he has released three books in English.

A World Without Color is a true story of the last three days he spent with his cat, while Look for Me Under the Rainbow in a unique and gentle way sheds light on the plight of harp seal pups in Canada. It warms the heart of all readers concerned about our planet and its treasures. January River is a heartwarming cross-genre novel about five friends, one dog, and one river carrying a secret.

His first two books were written at the beginning of the war in Croatia in 1991 amidst air alerts and illusory attempts when he wanted to believe and think that life is normal, that everything is all right with the world. He has published five novels, two novellas, and one book of poems in Croatian. Four of his books, including the book of poems, were translated into English.

His passion for music and entertainment resulted in his becoming a partner of Tom’s Music Place, which was established in 2009 by his friend Thomas Carley Jr., whose objective was to raise the respect of music.

His desire to help others came to the fore during his years advocating environmental protection and advocacy of animal rights. He did volunteering work for the refugees, because suffering does not know any borders. When it comes within your reach in your home, you simply have to do something. As part of his animal advocacy activities, it has been a great honor and pleasure to translate Eternal Treblinka: Our Treatment of Animals and the Holocaust by Charles Patterson into Croatian.

 

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LANDING IN MY PRESENT

 

by

 

Mary Clark

 

Biography / Aviation / Historical / WWII

Publisher: Hellgate Press

Date of Publication: June 15, 2020

Number of Pages: 218

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Mary Walker Clark barely knew her father. When he died, he left not only the obvious void every teen would experience, but took with him scores of Indiana Jones-style tales about flying the Hump, a treacherous series of US missions that transported supplies over the Himalayas to China during World War II.

 

It would take a chance interview with a pilot who had flown with her father in the war to launch a series of extraordinary journeys—into a shrouded past and halfway around the globe to India and China—for Clark to finally come to know the father whose absence had haunted her for decades.

 

Landing in My Present chronicles the adventures of a daughter who chose to pry open a painful past while enlarging her view of an adventurous father long thought lost.

 

 

Amazon • Hellgate Press

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every now and then a book will come along that will touch a myriad of emotions and this book does just that.  The journey that Mary Clark takes us on spans nearly a century starting with her father’s life through her journey to learn more about his past that just wasn’t discussed.  It might have been the times or perhaps that was just her father’s personality, but as she delves into his story and her memories, a more complex man emerges.

Charles (Charlie) Walker died when Mary was just 16 and a junior in high school from a freak accident on the family farm located in the Panhandle of Texas. While he didn’t die right away, there came a point where her mother had to make a tough decision, one that no one ever wishes to make in their life.  This is a quote that shows Mary’s maturity looking back at the situation and the decision her mother made:

“I admired her for making that decision (to bring him home to die) and deeply felt the sadness and anxiety that would have accompanied the choice she didn’t want to make.  I wished we had talked during that emotional time but we didn’t, an early indication of my family’s tilt toward silence, choosing to let traumatic events sink below consciousness.”

I think many families from that time period didn’t talk about feelings or what they were thinking about doing and just did what was necessary.  This next quote ties into that mindset and sums it up nicely and I think if anyone were to look back on their ancestors they might see the same traits, I know I do.

“My cousin Carolyn calls this “stuffing.” You stuff all the bad news down deep and don’t allow it to surface. A more proper description is that we lived in a culture of silent grief.”

Fifty years later, she started really questioning what she knew about her father and decided to learn more about him after hearing an interview with a fellow aviator that flew with her father during the war.  She is an analytical thinker and I felt like each piece of information she uncovered was filling in the puzzle of what her father experienced during the war.  She started with what she knew and dived deeper into family archives and researching the Hump pilots.  Considering how late she waited to research these pilots, many had passed away but she was lucky to have met a few and their families that shared what information they had gleaned from their father that aided in her research.  The letters she uncovered were like a gift to her.  They shared stories and memories that assisted Mary in her research and filling in the missing pieces of her father’s life.  I found it interesting that the military gave each soldier personalized stationery.  In today’s world, they would just text or email those they wished to communicate with so the art of a letter is slowly being lost which is a shame because that is how we track our history.

Researching her father’s past had positive benefits.  Mary and her brother’s remembered more once they shared memories which might trigger another memory and really open their minds to their childhood.  I know if I think about my past, I remember some things but others will share stories that I have forgotten.  So I can see where this would be a huge benefit to any family.  But the negative consequences included the guilt that Mary felt for not knowing her father better. She shouldn’t blame herself for not knowing him better because she was a teenager and what teenager really knows their parent?  I know I couldn’t tell you things about my dad’s past when I was a teen because we don’t think that way at that age.

Once the research was done, we are taken on a trek through India and China and the towns and villages that Charlie visited while stationed over there.  I could feel the emotions from Mary’s writing on the impact it made on her to see where he lived, worked, and how the people in those countries felt about the US Military stationed there during WWII.  It was amazing that 50+ years later that some were still so thankful for what people like her father did for them.  I could sense some closure on that part of his life.  There was still more research to do, but this helped assuage her desire to know more about her father.  Between her descriptions of the scenery and the pictures, it is easy to picture these in my mind.

There are a few things that I took away from this book – and these are my interpretations – to document your family history.  Ask the questions, interview the grandparents and parents, ask what it was like when they were a child, how they met their spouse, the different paths that they took to where they are now.  The other is to not let so much time pass by before asking the questions because you never know when it will be too late.  I wish I had asked my father more things before he passed away.  Much like Mary, I will have to do my own research and ask my mother more questions so that information isn’t lost.  I also learned to cherish your family.  Time together is better than anything else.

This was an educational book on many fronts – from the war to family dynamics.  The addition of the photographs and memories just added to the depth of this memoir. I think anyone that enjoys history and different aspects of WWII would learn something new and be amazed at the bravery that some people hold.

I leave you with a few additional quotes that spoke to me.

“What I didn’t see until later was the biggest loss of all, his story.”

“My parents weren’t afraid of the world, so neither was I.”

“I had come to more fully understand Dad’s experience in this remote location, and that we did.”

 

I give this 4 1/2 paws.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary Walker Clark is a retired attorney turned travel writer who loves taking readers with her to worldwide destinations. She has been traveling independently and internationally for over fifty years. Her essays may be found in the Paris News, at her blog, “Mary Clark, Traveler,” and her podcasts at KETR 88.9, an NPR affiliate. Clark is an award-winning member of the North American Travel Journalists Association and a contributor to Still Me, … After All These Years, 24 Writers Reflect on Aging.

 

In 2016, Clark traveled to India and China to follow her father’s WWII footsteps when he was a Hump pilot flying over the Himalayas. Her journey to connect with him fifty years after his death is told in her book, Landing in My Present.

Clark is a fifth generation Texan living in Paris, Texas.

 

 

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 July 21-July 31, 2020

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7/21/20	BONUS Post	Texas Book Lover
7/21/20	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
7/22/20	Review	Book Bustle
7/22/20	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
7/23/20	Review	The Adventures of a Travelers Wife
7/24/20	Review	Forgotten Winds
7/24/20	Review	Jennifer Silverwood
7/25/20	Review	The Clueless Gent
7/26/20	Review	It’s Not All Gravy
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A DELIGHTFUL LITTLE BOOK ON AGING

 

by

 

Stephanie Raffelock

 

 

Genre: Inspirational / Spiritual / Essays / Self-Help

Publisher: She Writes Press

Publication Date: April 28, 2020

Number of Pages: 119 pages

 

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All around us, older women flourish in industry, entertainment, and politics. Do they know something that we don’t, or are we all just trying to figure it out? For so many of us, our hearts and minds still feel that we are twenty-something young women who can take on the world. But in our bodies, the flexibility and strength that were once taken for granted are far from how we remember them. Every day we have to rise above the creaky joints and achy knees to earn the opportunity of moving through the world with a modicum of grace.

Yet we do rise, because it’s a privilege to grow old, and every single day is a gift. Peter Pan’s mantra was, “Never grow up”; our collective mantra should be, “Never stop growing.” This collection of user-friendly stories, essays, and philosophies invites readers to celebrate whatever age they are with a sense of joy and purpose and with a spirit of gratitude.

 

 

 

 

  Amazon ┃ IndieBound

 

 

Praise

 

“Where are the elders? The wise women, the crones, the guardians of truth here to gently, lovingly, and playfully guide us towards the fulfillment of our collective destiny? It turns out that they are right here, in our midst, and Stephanie Raffelock is showcasing the reclamation of aging as a moment of becoming, no longer a dreaded withering into insignificance. A Delightful Little Book on Aging lays down new and beautiful tracks for the journey into our richest, deepest, and wildest years.” – Kelly Brogan, MD, author of the New York Times bestseller A Mind of Your Own

 

“A helpful, uplifting work for readers handling the challenges of growing older.” – Kirkus Reviews

 

 

 

 

 

This is an introspective book about aging as a person, especially as a woman, and is a book meant to be savored and reflected upon.  We all feel what the author has felt at one time or another whether we are over 60 or under 60.  This is a crazy world and we have to learn how to adapt and cope so that we don’t make ourselves crazy in the process.

This book is divided into four sections that address different aspects of how to age gracefully.  The sections are Grief, Reclamation, Vision, and Laughter.  Grief is letting go of ideas of what it means to be young or what you believe youth means from the outside. Reclamation is reclaiming who you are and perhaps past hobbies or interests that might be a new outlet for you. Vision is becoming engaged in life and perhaps taking what you reclaimed and make it your own.  And laughter really doesn’t need much explanation – it is celebrating life and not letting the little things bring you down.

There are many ideas that are repeated and to me, that means you need to take note of those things because they are important.  Exercise is one of those that is repeated many times and I can understand that because if you stay active you are able to do more things that keep you young.  I like how the author doesn’t say you need to be in a gym or lifting weights – just walk.

“None of us are in it alone. We are moving toward the sunset together, and on that horizon eternity lingers. May we all embrace living fully, with unabashed joy and appreciation for this path of transition.”

No matter your age, we all need to sit back and enjoy life and those that are in our life.  You never know what tomorrow will bring and by enjoying the simple pleasures in life and those around us, we make our days more fruitful and blessed.

“You don’t need a PhD to see that the personas we craft for social media are all rainbows and unicorns. It’s as though the struggles of our lives are shameful and must be kept secret. We need places (probably not social media) to give air to what it means to be human. Too much energy convincing everyone of how positive you are while holding sorrow in abeyance can turn a person numb.”

“Social media is not reality. Be real. Be vulnerable. Be authentic, and be yourself…and don’t waste too much time on social media.”

These two passages resonated with me especially in the crazy times we live in today. Many times I don’t want to even log into Facebook, Twitter, or even read/watch the news because of the negativity and the hate that I see many show towards one another.  It saddens my heart that many do not want to have civil conversations with someone they don’t agree with about the hot button topics.  But if we communicate with each other on an equal playing field, we may discover some information we didn’t know before, and perhaps our viewpoint will change or we will have a better understanding of how others think.

“What we shed are the “things” that gather dust – the things that bind, the things that have become clutter. The new skin is made of of the intangible – purpose, meaning, connection, joy, and love.”

This statement is so true and relevant.  We have become a world of consumers and these purchases bog us down.  What is really important is the experiences and relationships we have with others.  This is a good reminder for me to not worry about “things” and to enjoy life and the relationships with my friends and family.

“Taking full deep breaths slows everything down. I close my eyes and breathe deeply ten times. With each exhale I say to myself, “thank you.” And isn’t “thank you” a beautiful prayer to whisper throughout the day?”

I am a big believer in taking deep breaths to calms and center myself.  I never thought about saying Thank You while doing this and it makes sense.  We are thanking the universe for providing for us.  I plan to do this next time I need some calming breaths.

There are so many parts of this book that I enjoyed, from her frank discussions about life to sharing stories that touch your heart.  I especially enjoyed a story about six teenage young women that were at a pool helping a friend through a tough time.  From the outside, you might think that they are shallow or vapid young women, but if you look past appearances and listen to conversations, you might find the truth is the complete opposite.

Here are some of my other favorite lines from the book:

“I worked with my hairstylist so I could stop dying my hair. Now it’s turning silver. I prefer the word “silver” over “gray” because silver sparkles, and I think that women our age sparkle.”

“Love, even the size of a parakeet’s heart, is eternal.”

“The conclusion was that we fear insignificance.”

“I have accepted that, in order to be successful, I need failure.”

“As the plane landed, all the babies stopped crying. Clearly the whole thing had been planned. They had probably met at the changing table in one of the airport restooms and plotted their little baby tyranny.”

 

Overall this was a delightful book and there are many nuggets of wisdom to take with you as you continue on through life.  I think many could learn a little something from this book and I plan to share it with my girlfriends because I feel like they will learn something from this book.

We give this book 4 1/2 paws up and suggest picking up a copy for yourself and your friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephanie Raffelock is the author of A Delightful Little Book on Aging  (She Writes Press, April 2020). A graduate of Naropa University’s program in Writing and Poetics, she has penned articles for numerous publications, including the Aspen Times, the Rogue Valley Messenger, Nexus Magazine, Omaha Lifestyles, Care2.com, and SixtyandMe.com. Stephanie is part of the positive-aging movement, which encourages viewing age as a beautiful and noble passage, the fruition of years that birth wisdom and deep gratitude for all of life.  She’s a recent transplant to Austin, Texas, where she enjoys life with her husband, Dean, and their Labrador retriever, Jeter (yes, named after the great Yankee shortstop).

 

 

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7/9/20	Notable Quotable	That’s What She’s Reading
7/9/20	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
7/10/20	Review	Carpe Diem Chronicles
7/10/20	BONUS Post	Hall Ways Blog
7/11/20	Author Video	All the Ups and Downs
7/12/20	Guest Post	Chapter Break Book Blog
7/13/20	Author Interview	Texas Book Lover
7/13/20	Review	Forgotten Winds
7/14/20	Review	Momma on the Rocks
7/15/20	Podcast	The Clueless Gent
7/15/20	Review	Kelly Well Read
7/16/20	Review	It’s Not All Gravy
7/17/20	Guest Post	Missus Gonzo
7/17/20	Review	Sydney Young, Stories
7/18/20	Review	Books and Broomsticks
7/18/20	Review	Reading by Moonlight

 

 

 

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Finding Esme

by

Suzanne Crowley

 

Genre: Middle Grade (3-7) / Magical Realism / Family & Loss

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Date of Publication: August 14, 2018

Number of Pages: 288

 

 

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After her grandfather died from a heart attack while driving his tractor on Solace Hill, twelve-year-old Esme’s been inextricably drawn to that spot, although her grandmother warns her to stay away. But when she follows her little brother, Bo, and her dog, Old Jack, up the hill while chasing fireflies, she makes an incredible discovery—dinosaur bones peeking out from underneath the abandoned tractor.

The bones must be a message from her grandfather, a connection from beyond the grave. But when word gets out that the farm is hiding something valuable, reporters, researchers, and neighbors arrive in droves. Esme struggles to understand who has her best interests at heart, especially as the memory of her grandfather begins to slip away.

Full of friendship and adventure, and featuring a palpable Texas setting, Finding Esme is a moving and heartfelt story about family, friendship, and learning to deal with loss.

 

 

 

 

Praise & Honors

“Esme is a brave, appealing heroine with the odds stacked against her… Bad blood and layered family secrets drive this story to its ultimately optimistic and satisfying conclusion.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

“Esme McCauley is a lonely but spirited 12-year-old who feels nothing ever happens to her the way it’s supposed to…A poignant tale for readers who enjoy character-driven realism.” — School Library Journal

“Readers muddling through preteen changes or unstable family lives will identify with Esme’s struggles, but the thrill of discovery will appeal to most.” — Booklist

Texas Library Association 2019 Spirit of Texas (SPOT) reading program selection

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finding Esme is one of those books that you will want to take your time to enjoy and not rush through like a house on fire.

Esme is wise for her 12 years, and apparently, she was born this way.   She definitely has not grown into her body yet, or maybe rather her body hasn’t quite caught up with her intellect yet.  She has big eyes, pale (translucent even) skin, a small mouth, and skinny legs.  She calls herself unflattering names based on these attributes.  This is heartbreaking, but realistic for most girls her age.  But what she lacks in looks, she makes up for in family and friends.

The variety of characters is a treat because I felt like they were not just shallow place holders, but thought out characters with depth and added dimension to the story.  I think my favorite character, after Esme, was Fitch, Esme’s best friend.  They truly watched out for each other and are two peas in a pod.  Esme’s grandmother Bee is a strong woman that really holds the family together.  Esme’s mother, June Rain, is something of a disappointment because she doesn’t seem to be invested in her children’s life.  I don’t know if she is not all there, misses her husband, or a combination of the two.

I enjoyed the timeframe of when the book is set, and while not defined specifically, I am assuming it is somewhere in the 1950s-1970s.  There is the mention of party lines (where everyone knows your business), a five and dime type store, and a few other hints that lead me to believe this is when the book is set.  I always enjoy reading a book where the characters are not reliant on technology as they have to think on their feet and find other resources than a device held in their hand.

This book does touch on life and the loss of family and friends.  It is evident that Esme misses her grandfather.  I think they had a special relationship from some of the various passages.  It is hard for Esme to go on at times, but she does with the help of Fitch, Bo, and Bee.  Esme is inquisitive and when she discovers the dinosaur, she becomes invested in learning more about what she has found.

The mystical realism comes into play as Esme starts having flashes of lost objects and where they can be found.  This delights a few people because the items that were believed to be forever lost were found. Esme takes after Bee in this regard and she can see it as a gift or as a curse, but hopefully, she considers it a gift.

This book is aimed at middle-grade readers but can be enjoyed by readers of nearly any age.  There are some topics that might be too heavy for a younger reader unless read together with a parent to discuss some of those topics.

Overall we give this 4 1/2 paws.  You will find many nuggets to savor peppered throughout the book, so take your time and enjoy the characters, imagery, and innocence of children.

 

 

 

 

 

Suzanne Crowley is the author of two acclaimed novels for young readers, The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous and The Stolen One. The author, who is also a miniaturist and dollhouse collector whose work has graced the covers of magazines worldwide, was born in a small town in Texas and lives in Southlake, Texas. When not hugging her dog or imbibing in chocolate, she can often be found taking a nap.

 

 

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TWO READERS EACH WIN A SIGNED COPY OF FINDING ESME, 

TWO CANDLES, BOOKMARKS, FUN FACT CARDS, AND A PEN!

February 11-21, 2020

(U.S. Only)

 

 

 

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Check out the other blogs on this tour

2/11/20	Review	Momma on the Rocks
2/11/20	Review	The Page Unbound
2/12/20	Audio Review	Hall Ways Blog
2/12/20	Review	Librariel Book Adventures
2/13/20	Review	Jennifer Silverwood
2/14/20	Review	Missus Gonzo
2/14/20	Review	#Bookish
2/15/20	Review	Reading by Moonlight
2/16/20	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
2/17/20	Review	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
2/17/20	Review	Rebecca R. Cahill, Author
2/18/20	Review	All the Ups and Downs
2/19/20	Review	That’s What She’s Reading
2/20/20	Review	Books and Broomsticks
2/20/20	Audio Review	Forgotten Winds

 

 

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Glass Slippers, Ever After, and Me

by Julie Wright

Publication Date: 10/21/19

Page Count: 336

Fiction / Romance / Contemporary

Cover Design: © Shadow Mountain

Art Direction: Richard Erickson

Design: Kimberly Kay

 

Synopsis

 

Can the fairy tale bring Charlotte the happiness she’s looking for or was he always there to begin with?

A modern reimagined Cinderella story.

When aspiring author Charlotte Kingsley finally gets published, she thinks all her dreams have come true. But the trouble begins when her publicity firm reinvents her quirky online presence into a perfectly curated dream life. Gone are the days of sweatpant posts and ice cream binges with her best friend, Anders, replaced instead with beautiful clothes, orchestrated selfies, and no boyfriend. Only, that carefully curated fairy tale life is ruining her self-esteem and making her feel like a fraud.

When a bestselling author takes Charlotte under her wing—almost like a fairy godmother—she helps Charlotte see the beautiful person she already is and the worth of being authentic. But is it too late to save her relationship with Anders? The clock is quickly ticking towards midnight, and Charlotte must decide between her fairy tale life and the man she loves before he’s gone forever.

 

 

IndieBound * Amazon * B&N

 

Walmart * BAM * Deseret Books

 

Praise

 

“This sweet, heartfelt tale of authentic characters facing intriguing challenges is at once very romantic and charmingly chaste.” -Booklist, starred review

“Wright spins a modern-day and very meta Cinderella tale. This fast-paced, lighthearted romance also carries a moral lesson about falsehoods getting in the way of the quest for true happiness.” -Publishers Weekly

“Aspiring author Charlotte ‘Lettie’ Kingsley writes fairy tales and hopes to be published. When she gets one more rejection, her feelings of pique lead her to an inspired idea: She’ll write a self-help book called The Cinderella Fiction that will encourage readers to live their best lives. Lettie’s agent has big plans for the book and has created a team to make it a bestseller, including a PR firm that demands a complete makeover for Lettie. From wardrobe to apartment to a new nickname, ‘Char,’ every detail is changed to create an image that inspires admiration and a legion of followers. However, it also means that her real-life relationships are affected, and the new Char is so different from the old Lettie that she’ll have to sift through what she wanted, and what she’s gained, so she can live her own best life, authentically. Wright updates ‘Cinderella’ with a modern twist and smart, satisfying details.” -Kirkus

 

Review

 

This book will make you laugh but also give you pause to look at your own life and if you are living behind a mask.

After years of rejection, Lettie has had a book accepted to be published and her life is about to turn upside down on all fronts.  She has a tenuous relationship with her mother, she has a stepsister that she adores, and a hunky paramedic neighbor that is about to become more than just friends.

Lettie is probably like most of us, comfortable in her skin but has yet to have her dream of being a published author of fairy tales come true.  It is only when she writes a self-help book called The Cinderella Fiction, that her dream comes true.  But the sacrifices she will have to make nearly ruin her life.  You probably have read stories about people that seem to have a “perfect” life via social media but have learned it is all staged.  That is what happens to Lettie but not by choice, it is forced onto her by her publicist.  I get that the publicist is trying to help improve her image so that when her book is published she seems authentic.  But what she has Lettie doing going against her normal nature and this causes rifts with her stepsister, Kat, and her now boyfriend (and neighbor) Anders.  Lettie has to go on her own journey to find herself and thankfully she does in the end.

I admired Lettie for pursuing her dreams but I don’t think she was very confident which is why she found herself in the situations she was in throughout the book.  But a book without some angst wouldn’t be as much fun to read.  The witty banter between Lettie and Anders had me laughing.  The book was about soul searching, not only for Lettie, but for Anders too.  I think even Lettie’s mother learned a few things by the end, not only about her daughter but about her stepdaughter too.

There are so many great lines in this book and here are just a few of my favorites (and I have quite a few!):

“What? You think every time I say I don’t believe in marriage, a married couple drops down dead?”

“What happened?  I have a shovel and a pretty decent knowledge of the surrounding woods  If she broke your heart, all you have to do is say the word.”

“I don’t know.  Maybe if a member of the Mafia murdered someone on a couch, they’d need a quick replacement.”

“You know, when I was a kid and we’d first moved to the States, my parents told me that the ice cream truck music only ever played when the truck had run out of ice cream.”  “You have nothing to say to that?”  “I’m paying my respects to your stolen childhood with a moment of silence.”

 

This was a fun book and we give it 4 1/2 paws.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Julie Wright started her first book when she was fifteen. She’s written over a dozen books since then, is a Whitney Award winner, and feels she’s finally getting the hang of this writing gig. She enjoys speaking to writing groups, youth groups, and schools. She loves reading, eating writing, hiking, playing on the beach with her kids, and snuggling with her husband to watch movies. Julie’s favorite thing to do is watch her husband make dinner. She hates mayonnaise but has a healthy respect for ice cream.

 

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An essential addition to every cook’s bookshelf, The Modern Cook’s Year will show you how to make the most of seasonal produce, using simple, hugely inventive flavours and ingredients.

Divided into six seasons, Anna Jones’s long-awaited new cook book contains over 250 delicious vegetarian recipes interspersed with tips on everything from seasonal music playlists to flowers to look out for in each month of the year.

The Modern Cook’s Year includes:

Start of the Year: Spelt with pickled pears and pink leaves and Chocolate and blood orange freezer cake; First Warm Days of Spring: Elderflower dressed broad beans and leaves with burrata and Chickpea farinata with slow cooked courgettes; Herald of Spring: Spring chickpea soup with salted lemons and Rhubarb and rose geranium frozen yoghurt; Summer: Smoked aubergine flatbreads and Beetroot tops tart; Autumn: Orzo with tomatoes and feta and Honey, lemon and coriander seed cake; Winter: Velvet squash broth with miso and soba and Chocolate rye porridge with quick honey pears.

Guiding you through the year, from the coldest winter days to the long light summer evenings, The Modern Cook’s Year is set to become a contemporary classic.

 

Review

This colorful cookbook is chock full of recipes that incorporates vegetables that are in season by the season.  There are six sections including each season, start of the year, herald of spring, first warm days, and basics.  There are even Flavor Maps which give you a place to start whether it is soups, flatbreads, fritters, or other dishes.  Then it walks you through each step of deciding what to add from other vegetables, spices, to what to serve the dish with at mealtime.  For a newer cook these are invaluable as it isn’t a recipe to follow per se, but a guide to trying different spices or vegetables in the same basic recipe.

I like that this cookbook focuses each section based on what is in season because we all know that is when those fruits and vegetables taste the best.  There are 250 recipes in this cookbook and you could make something different every day and not repeat any recipe for nearly a year.  I’m sure you will find some favorites that will become a staple in your home.

The recipe that I am going to try first (because I have a picky husband) is Tomatoes with Whipped Feta.  This is in the summer section and while not quite summer, close enough for me! Plus I love tomatoes and this looks like an easy side dish to make.

I have several other recipes tagged including Orzo with spiced tomato sauce and feta, Mini squash and chive dumplings, and Sea-salted chocolate and lemon mousse.  There are so many delicious recipes I can’t wait to try them all and see what my family thinks.

Overall I give this 4 1/2 paws up only because some of the ingredients are not common and might be harder to find in the store.  The author is from the UK so some things may be easier for her to find than me without running around to multiple stores or shopping online for some of the less common ingredients.

 

About the Author

Anna Jones is a cook, writer, and stylist, the voice of modern vegetarian cooking, and the author of several cookbooks.  The Modern Cook’s Year won the Guild of Food Writers Cookery Book Award 2018 and Observer Food Monthly’s Best Cookbook 2018.  Anna’s books have been translated into six languages.  She writes a weekly column for the Guardian.  She believes in putting vegetables at the center of the table and the unbridled joy of cooking and eating.  She lives in Hackney, East London, with her husband and son.

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Death, Diamonds, and Freezer Burn (Grime Pays Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Soul Mate Publishing, Inc.
Release Date – October 24, 2018

Synopsis

An unwelcome visitor, an unrequited love, and a dead body create chaos in a middle-aged woman’s plan for a productive summer.

Despite a looming divorce, an empty checkbook, and a struggling cleaning business, Cece Cavanaugh is determined to land on her own two feet. Adamant about staying a safe distance from the handsome detective who has her fantasizing about violating the morals clause in her prenuptial agreement, Cece dives headlong into her work.

Even though she has no free time to spare, Cece finds herself guilted into cleaning a hoarder’s home. Her discoveries in the condemned house are too shocking to ignore. Diamond-laden pachyderms, a secret cache of money, and a dead body lure Cece into launching an investigation that places her in direct contact with the one person she’s desperate to avoid–hunky Detective Case Alder.

With clues in hand, Cece runs down leads and eliminates suspects one by one. Her conclusion and brave accusation put a friend’s life in peril forcing Cece to hatch a plan to outsmart the killer. A daring move could either save Cece and her friend or lead to their demise.

Review

Entertaining with laugh out loud moments and some interesting twists in the second book of this series.

Lots of things I like about this book/series – an older protagonist that seems to be ok doing whatever it takes to keep herself afloat considering the soon to be ex left her with nothing (he cleaned out the bank accounts when he moved out and hadn’t made house payments in 6 months). Her children are a mix of supportive and spoiled so it is a good balance. She has a housekeeper, Beatrice, (paid for by the MIL Hazel) that doesn’t like the MIL so she creates stories to protect CeCe and to stick it to Hazel. I think that cracks me up the most, Beatrice trying to come up with stories to rattle Hazel but not so bad that they would hurt CeCe. And the final cherry is CeCe gaining a roommate of sorts. Nancy, the gum-smacking receptionist from CeCe’s first job has lost her home and needs a place to stay, so she ingratiates herself into CeCe’s house and life. Nancy is very annoying but turns out she has some positive attributes, it just takes a while to find them.

The mystery itself has multiple moving parts – a dead body is found in a freezer, diamonds are discovered in an unlikely place, and not everyone is who they seem to be. While I did figure out part of the mystery, the story still kept me guessing and the ending was quite the surprise.

I do think that CeCe needs to be a bit stronger. She should have changed the locks when Phillip moved out and she should never have signed a prenup with a morals clause that was all one-sided (thanks to Witch Hazel!). But she is learning from her mistakes and turning things around. She just has to keep the two men interested in her at bay until the divorce is final.

I can’t wait for the third book so I can see how things progress for everyone.

We give it 4 1/2 paws

About the Author

Tricia L. Sanders writes about women with class, sass, and a touch of kickass.  A former instructional designer and corporate trainer, she traded in curriculum writing for novel writing, because she hates bullet points and loves to make stuff up. And fiction is more fun than training guides and lesson plans.

When she isn’t writing, Tricia is busy crossing dreams off her bucket list. With all 50 states checked, she’s concentrating on foreign interests. She’s an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, so don’t get between her and the television when a game is on. Currently, she is working on a mystery series set in the fictional town of Wickford, Missouri. Another project in the works is a women’s fiction road trip adventure.

Her essays have appeared in Sasee, ByLine, The Cuivre River Anthology and Great American Outhouse Stories; The Whole Truth and Nothing Butt. She is a proud member of The Lit Ladies, six women writing their truths into fiction.

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Giveaway

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Synopsis

Clutch is the laugh-out-loud, chick lit story that chronicles the dating misadventures of Caroline Johnson, a single purse designer, who goes through a series of unsuccessful romantic relationships she compares to various styles of handbags – the “Hobo” starving artist, the “Diaper Bag” single dad, the “Briefcase” intense businessman, etc.  With her best friend, bar owner Mike by her side, the overly-accommodating Caroline drinks Chardonnay, puts her heart on the line, endures her share of unworthy suitors and finds the courage to stand up for the handbag style that embodies what she ultimately wants – the “Clutch” or someone to hold onto.

** Now with five new bonus chapters **

Praise

“LOVED. The perfect blend of sassy, smart and stylish!” – Amazon Bestsellers Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke

“This book is absolutely hilarious!” – Pretty Little Book Reviews

“I thought the comparison to men and handbags was so genius! Becker really knows how to write to her audience, and this clever novel had me giggling throughout.” – Chick Lit Plus

Trailer

Review

This book reminded me of When Harry Met Sally. Caroline and Mike meet at Harvard and become fast friends. They see each other through good times and bad and have that one time in college where they hooked up….which they tease each other about all the time.

I loved the purse references and how Caroline always had a different purse, clutch, or wristlet for each outfit. I can’t imagine what her closet looked like with all those bags.

While I kinda suspected that they would get together in the end, it was interesting to read about all the people that each dated (more so from Caroline’s perspective) and how each man would be shot down by Mike for one reason or another. Of course we know why, he wanted Caroline for himself but wouldn’t tell her.

Caroline did need to learn to stand up for herself and confront those. I get that it isn’t easy but sometimes you just have to do it otherwise you will be taken advantage of in life.

The book was an easy read and had me laughing in various parts. There are some f* bombs but thankfully not too many.

We give this 4 1/2 paws up!

About the Author

Lisa Becker is a romance writer who spends her time like she spends her money – on books and margaritas.  In addition to Clutch: a novel, she is the author of the Click trilogy, a contemporary romance series about online dating and Links, a standalone, second chance romance reader.  As Lisa’s grandmother used to say, “For every chair, there’s a tush.” Lisa is now happily married to a wonderful man she met online and lives in Manhattan Beach, California with him and their two daughters. So, if it happened for her, there’s hope for anyone!

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MORNINGS ON MAIN:

A Small-Town Texas Novel

by

Jodi Thomas

Genre: Mainstream Romance

Publisher: HQN

Number of Pages: 320 pages

AVAILABLE APRIL 10, 2018! (That’s Today!!!)

 

Jillian James has never had a place to call home. Desperate to make some quick cash before moving on again, she agrees to help an elderly woman close her beloved quilt shop.

Connor Larady’s grandmother has owned the shop all her life, but lately she has struggled with Alzheimer’s. Connor’s seventeen-year-old daughter has spent her whole life in Laurelee, Texas, and she feels restless. When Jillian moves to town, she represents travel, adventure and excitement.

Weaving together the story of three generations of women looking for a place to belong, Mornings on Main asks us to consider how we make our memories—what we remember, what we forget, what becomes part of our story—and remind us that it’s not where we live, but how we live that counts.

Check out Jodi’s video – Walk the Land!

Sneak Peek at Jodi Thomas’ Writing Spots

I have an office at the university, an office at home, and three hideouts I run away to.  I Write everywhere I go.  I tell myself a story to get to sleep every night.  I don’t write for a living; I am a writer.  What else can I say?  I write.

Even though I wasn’t officially on this tour as a reviewer, I did snag a copy from Netgalley and wanted to share my thoughts on this book.

Living in Texas, I always enjoy books set in the Lone Star State and sometimes the locations are close to somewhere I have lived and I can imagine the town and the people.  Laurel Springs felt like many small towns across the country where everyone knows each other and stick their noses in your business, but under the guise of being concerned.  But that sort of community is a blessing to those that embrace it because they know that there are people that care about them and their well being.

Jillian ends up in this small town searching for details about her parents and her history.  Growing up, she never had ties to anywhere she lived or any person other than her father, and even that is questionable based on some of their histories that is revealed throughout the story.

Connor has had a rough life, or at least not the one he expected to live out in his dreams.  He wanted to travel and write books but ended up married with a daughter and the responsibilities that ensue.  But meeting Jillian fills a hole that has been empty for quite some time.

This book has a great cast of characters, from the steady to the quirky.  Each rounds out the story and makes an impact on the story and each other.  I loved seeing Sunnie mature a bit more when it came to boys and I think Jillian had an impact on that even if it was subtle.  Gram may be dealing with memory issues, but she is still pretty sharp and endears everyone to her that knows her, especially Joe who has probably loved her for 60+ years.

This book made me laugh and cry and the only thing I wish was an epilogue or something to let us know if Jillian ever resolved her past.  I don’t want to say too much about that but would love to know what happened.  I felt like a few stories were left unfinished and perhaps that means another book?  Only time will tell.

We give it 4 1/2 paws.

With millions of books in print, Jodi Thomas is both a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 45 novels and 14 short story collections. Her stories travel through the past and present days of Texas and draw readers from around the world.

In July 2006, Jodi was the 11^th writer to be inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. With five RITA’s to her credit, along with National Readers’ Choice Awards and Booksellers’ Best Awards, Thomas has proven her skill as a master storyteller.

Honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumni by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, Thomas enjoys interacting with students at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas, where she currently serves as Writer in Residence.

When not working on a novel, or inspiring students to pursue writing careers, Thomas enjoys traveling with her husband, renovating a historic home, and “checking up” on their grown sons and four grandchildren.

 Website ║ Facebook ║ Twitter 

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Check out the other blogs on this tour

4/3/18	Excerpt	Reading by Moonlight
4/3/18	Bonus Post	Hall Ways Blog
4/4/18	Review	Books in the Garden
4/5/18	Author Interview	Texas Book Lover
4/6/18	Review	That’s What She’s Reading
4/7/18	Excerpt	Chapter Break Book Blog
4/8/18	Guest Post	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
4/9/18	Review	Carpe Diem Chronicles
4/10/18	Sneak Peek	StoreyBook Reviews
4/11/18	Excerpt	Books and Broomsticks
4/12/18	Review	Momma on the Rocks

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