The Rosie Project - Book Review

Book: The Rosie Project

Author: Graeme Simsion

Genre: Fiction 

Publisher/Publish Date: Simon & Schuster / May, 2013

Source: Public Library

Pages: 295

Rating: 4/5

GoodReads  •  Amazon

A fun read and smartly written book. I had heard a bit about this book before I picked it up at the library, but didn't really know what is was about and was pleasantly surprised.

Don Tillman is a smart man, but not very smart about life and love. At 40 he has few friends, a structured life he's comfortable with, but is looking for love. Since dating doesn't work too well for him, he's ever been on a second date, he sets out to write the perfect survey to help him find the perfect woman for him, embarking on The Wife Project.

His search isn't working too well, but into his life stumbles Rosie, with a project of her own, finding her biological father. Tillman puts his project on hold to help with The Father Project, learning a lot about life and how sometimes the unexpected can lead to great things.

When I look at his author page on GoodReads, I found it humorous, and not surprising, that before writing fiction he was a information systems and wrote two books on data-modelling. Seems like his real life was inspiration for this novel.

Excited to see that Simsion is working on a sequel that will be out in September of 2014, The Rosie Effect.

what I've been reading....

Hi. It's nice to be back from my little break. Life got in the way of blogging and reading. It was all good stuff, but I have missed sharing here what I've been up to.

I was over on GoodReads.com the other day, listing some books I'd finished reading, and decided to check out how I was doing on my goal of reading 75 books this year. Well, the news was bad. While I've read 13 books, I'm 17 books behind... yikes! Not sure if I can catch up, or if I even care to try, but I want to get back on the horse and read more the second half of the year. I also have piles of books in my room to read:)

Books I've read since I last posted...

Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis, by Lauren F. Winner
I picked this up since I loved her first book Girl Meets God and this didn't disappoint. Winner honestly shares her struggles with God and Christianity, and where she sees her self in the Christian story.

Here I Go Again, by Jen Lancaster
A hard book to explain without giving too much away, Lissy Ryder returns to her high school for her 20th reunion to discover that her memories were a little rose-tinted, and she may not be as successful and beloved as she once thought.

The Bling Ring: How a Gang of Fame-Obsessed Teens Ripped Off Hollywood and Shocked the World, by Nancy Jo Sales
While not the most well written book, it's an interesting look at the headline catching story of six LA teens who burglarized celebrity homes including Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Orlando Bloom. This book attempts to discover the motivation behind the break-ins and what lead to their obsession with celebrity.

One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories, by B.J. Novak
Random, odd, funny, heart-touching. A mix of short stories, Novak does an amazing job of fabricating unique stories, characters and places.

Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell
I've heard about how great this book is, and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. It is definitely a young adult book, but is a beautiful story of two high school misfits finding love and seeing if they have what it takes to make it last.

Help Thanks Wow: Three Essential Prayers, by Anne Lamott
One of my favorite authors, Lamott shares the three prayers that get her through tough times, and shares personal stories that lead her to these three prayers.

The Knowledge of the Holy, by A.W. Tozer
I read this book with my church's small group. Tozer does an amazing job at identifying and expounding on God's attributes, such as wisdom, grace, mercy and justice. There was a lot of content that was new to me, and it's a dense book, elegantly written, and I probably re-read in a year or two.

Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Book Review

Book: Forever, Interrupted

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Genre: Fiction, Chick-Lit 

Publisher/Publish Date: Washington Square Press / July 9, 2013

Source: ARC courtesy of publisher

Pages: 352

Rating: 4/5

GoodReads  •  Amazon

“Have you ever heard of supernovas? They shine brighter than anything else in the sky and then fade out really quickly, a short burst of extraordinary energy. I like to think you and Ben were like that . . . in that short time, you had more passion than some people have in a lifetime.”

On a rainy New Year's Day, Elsie Porter heads out to pick up a pizza, and meets the charming Ben Ross. Their instant chemistry leads to a date that week, and an elopement by May. Nine days later, when Ben heads out to get cereal for Elsie, he is hit by a truck and killed on impact. At the hospital she has an unfortunate first introduction with her new mother-in-law Susan, who had never heard of Elsie.

As Taylor Jenkins Reid's first novel, this is very impressive. She interweaves Ben and Elsie's relationship with Elsie and Susan's grieving and healing. It's a beautiful story of love and loss, and learning to open yourself up to what the world has brought you.

This book had been on my shelf for a few months and I am glad I finally decided to read it. It's emotional, heart touching, book, dealing with romanic and friend relationships. The main character, Elsie Porter is wonderfully writer and relatable. I took this book on a trip, and it was the perfect one to pass a few hours on a plane and on layover. I'm a fan of light-hearted, silly chick-lit, but enjoyed that this had more depth to it, but wasn't overly sad or depressing.

If you have reviewed this book, please leave a link to the review in the comments and I will add your review to the main post. All I ask is for you to do the same to mine — thanks! 

Mad About a Boy by Helen Fielding - Book Review

Book: Mad About the Boy (Bridget Jones #3)

Author: Helen Fielding

Genre: Fiction, Chick-Lit

Publisher/Publish Date: Knopf Canada / October 15, 2013

Source: Public Library

Pages: 336

Rating: 4/5

GoodReads  •  Amazon

Thirteen years have passed, and at the age of 51 Bridget Jones is thrown back into the world of dating, though now as a widow with two young children. Bridget meets a man over Twitter who turns out to be 29, though a lot of fun. She must decided if he fits in her life as a single mother, and learns about herself him the process with the help of her hilarious and crazy friends.

I loved the first two Bridget Jones novels, as well as the movies, and was excited when I heard Helen Fielding wrote a third book in the series. It's a bit of a jump in time, so it was interesting to see a more grown up Bridget, though maybe only a little bit more mature than before. This book has a similar tone to the first time, and includes most of her friends who we have already been introduced to.

I am in my 30's and relate more to Bridget of the first two books, but even though she is in her 50's and they comment on it a lot, she's the same funny, neurotic, weight obsessed, self-help book reading character, but with a little more soul.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn - Book Review

Book: Sharp Objects

Author: Gillian Flynn

Genre: Fiction 

Publisher/Publish Date: Shaye Areheart Books / September, 2006

Source: Public Library

Pages: 272

Rating: 3.5/5

GoodReads  •  Amazon

An earlier novel by the author of Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects follows a Chicago reporter as she heads back to her home town to report on the murders of two young girls. She returns to her childhood home, staying with a mom that never knew how to be a good mom, and a much younger half-sister she barely knows and doesn't recognize at first. This novel is full of deep, interesting characters, who we discover as we move closer to learning who is behind the murders.

I loved Gone Girl, and was exciting to read more by Gillian Flynn. I was taking a little off guard with this book, but may have understood it better if I head read the synopsis before hand and had known what I was getting into. While I really liked the book, it takes a little while before you have all the clues to really understand the main character and her relationship with her family, which is at the core of the novel. This was the perfect book for a vacation, and helped me get through a few plane rides without getting too bored. The book moves fast and was riveting till the end.

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty - Book Review

Book: The Husband's Secret

Author: Liane Moriarty

Genre: Fiction 

Publisher/Publish Date: Penguin Books / April, 2013

Source: ARC from publisher

Pages: 416

Rating: 4/5

GoodReads  •  Amazon

I was first introduced to Liane Moriarty when I read her book What Alice Forgot, and was happy when I realized this ARC sitting on my bookshelf was also by Moriarty. I've always been a big fan of chick-lit authors like Marian Keyes, but I enjoy that Moriarty's novels are just a little more serious. I'd call it light-hearted drama.

The Husband's Secret follows the lives of three women. Cecilia, the main character, discovered a letter written by her husband labeled "read if I die." Upon learning that it was found, the husband rushes home from his work trip, making Cecilia even more curious that secrets lie in the letter. As the novel continues, the three women's lives start to entwine in some startling ways.

I won't say much more, since I don't want to give the "secret" away, but I will say the pay off it worth it. While Moriarty provides clues, it's hard to guess what the secret is before it's revealed. At least for me it was. The novel is told from three different point of views, which makes it a little confusing at times, but I think this was the best way to tell each women's story in a personal way.

Loved this book, and look forward to reading more by Liane Moriarty.

If you have reviewed this book, please leave a link to the review in the comments and I will add your review to the main post. All I ask is for you to do the same to mine — thanks!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, but it in no way effects my review of the book. Please note that we receive affiliate income from any books purchased at Amazon.

Night Film by Marisha Pessl - Book Review

Book: Night Film: A Novel

Author: Marisha Pessl

Genre: Historical Fiction 

Publisher/Publish Date: Milkweed Editions / September 3, 2013

Source: ARC courtesy of publisher

Pages: 256

Rating: 3.5/5

GoodReads  •  Amazon

(This post may be a bit spoilery, sorry.)

Creepy. Gripping. Insightful. Gritty.

After a wrong turn in an investigation into the mysterious life of cult-horror-film director Cordova leaves him disgraced, Journalist Scott McGrath hoped he has left that story behind for good. But the suicide of his daughter Ashley draws him back into his investigation. His search leads him to meet two witnesses, that become part of his team, and the story leads him on a journey through belief and unbelife. McGrath risks a lot in search of the truth, which in turn he may never be able to find.

I was attracted to this book because of it's use of images, and screen shots of web pages, and other "interactive" elements. They never came off as gimmicky, but actually enhance the story. (see the reviews on GoodReads for photos of the inside pages). Though I wasn't expecting the novel to be so dark, including satanic rituals, mysterious bridges, and lots of twisted characters.

I'm still a little uncertain about how I feel about this book. I was enraptured by it, finishing the 580 page novel in just a few days. And though the book tried to have a clear take away, I'm not sure if I got that personally from reading the book.

I felt that while the tone of the book wavered from comical (i.e. buddy cop) to way intense and creepy, plot plows a consistent path that never wavers. But maybe this is more like life. There are funny moments, and there are scary moments.

My favorite part was the first 2/3rds of the novel. I just wasn't satisfied with the ending. I didn't feel like much was truly answered.

I'm really interested in reading her other book Special Topics in Calamity Physics. Anyone read that? What did you think? Anyone else think this could make a really great movie?

Now I'm off to go read a fun and light-hearted book to cleans my palette (and mind).

What did you think of Night Film?

Let Him Go, by Larry Watson - Book Review

Book: Let Him Go: A Novel

Author: Larry Watson

Genre: Historical Fiction 

Publisher/Publish Date: Milkweed Editions / September 3, 2013

Source: ARC courtesy of publisher

Pages: 256

Rating: 3.5/5

GoodReads  •  Amazon

This book is a lot more serious, and slow moving than I usually read, but I got a free copy of it and figured I'd give it a chance.

Set in North Dakota in the fall of 1951, two grandparents go on a search to find their grandson. After the death of their son, his wife remarried, and they are concerned for the boys well-being in the care of his new father. As they travel through the bleakness of North Dakota that meet some helpful folks, though also run into some tough situations.

As plot carries you through the book, you sense the impending climax from the beginning. The author, Larry Watson, molds realistic and relatable characters, and it feels like you are sampling reading someone's life story. Beautifully told, though a little narratively dry for my taste.

What Alice Forgot, by Liane Moriarty - Book Review

Book: What Alice Forgot

Author: Liane Moriarty

Genre: Fiction 

Publisher/Publish Date: PanMacmillan Australia / January 2009

Source: Local Library

Pages: 487

Rating: 4/5

GoodReads  •  Amazon

At twenty-nine, Alice is married to a wonderful husband, looking forward to the birth of her first child.

But after falling and hitting her head during a spin class she wakes up to learn it's ten years in the future and she's lost ten years of memories. Now with three kids, a sister that seems really distance, and a mom that's been remarried, Alice has a lot to learn about her life at 39.

What Alice Forgot is a fun novel, with a lot of heart. We get to experience the funny parts of losing her memory, along with the heartbreak. As Alice reconstructs the past decade, she discovers some dark sides to herself, and has to decide if she wants to take the risk to change the bad decisions.

I'd compare this book to Bridget Jones Diary, with a little less absurdity and a little more reality thrown in.

With books like these I think about how I would feel in her shoes? How different would my life look? How crazy would it be to wake up and have a 9 year old calling you mom, and you have no memory of having a child? 

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - Book Review

Book: Ender's Game

Author: Orson Scott Card

Genre: YA, Sci-Fi 

Publisher/Publish Date: Tor Science Fiction / 1985

Source: Public Library

Pages: 324

Rating: 3.5/5

GoodReads  •  Amazon

I have been hearing so much about this book lately, probably since there is a movie of it coming out this year, I decided I better see what all the fuss about.

If you have been living in the woods like me, here is the premise of the story: Ender is the third child in a world that usually only allows two per family. After surviving two wars with "bugs," the world's focus is on creating an army that can defeat them for good, allowing humans to live in peace. All kids are monitored from birth to see if they have what it takes to go to battle school, and Ender is special and is chosen to go. 

Most of the book focuses on the tests and knowledge he learns at school. Orson Scott Card created a word that is twisted and focused on violence, and describes technology that isn't too far off than some of what we have today.

I'm not a huge sci-fi fan, but I really enjoyed this, and maybe in this century some of what he writes doesn't seem so out of this world. This is a young adult book, and the characters are really young, but I think the topics are great for discussion and consideration for all ages.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson - Book Review

Book: We Have Always Lived in the Castle

Author: Shirley Jackson

Genre: Fiction

Publisher/Publish Date: Penguin Classics / 1962

Source: Public Library

Pages: 146

Rating: 4/5

GoodReads  •  Amazon

Dark, melodic and poetic, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, tells the story of two sisters and their wheelchair bound uncle who live together in the house where the rest of their family died. I don't want to give too much away, but fairly early in the book you learn that one of the sisters was accused and tried for poisoning 4 family members. They live on a large peice of property that they have closed off to the world, and only one of them ever leaves, to pick up groceries on her bi-weekly. They have a couple family friends who visit them, but other than that, they have closed themselves off to a world they find hostel.

I wasn't familiar with Jackson's writing but was recommended it, and was glad I picked it up to read. The copy that I got not only have a pretty awesome cover by Thomas Ott (see above), but also a great introduction by Jonathan Lethem that informed my about Jackson as an author. Lethem explains that parts of Jackson's personality highly influences these characters, helping me appreciate the story better.

Jackson is best known for her short story, The Lottery, so if you are curious, that would be a good start into reading this author. I highly recommend this book, and it's short, so doesn't take too long to read.

The Cuckoo's Calling by J.K. Rowling - Book Review

Book: The Cuckoo's Calling (Cormoran Strike #1)

Author:  Robert Galbraith (Pseudonym), J.K. Rowling

Genre: Mystery

Publisher/Publish Date: Mulholland Books / April 30, 2013

Source: Local Library

Pages: 455

Rating: 4.5/5

GoodReads  •  Amazon

I requested this book from the library as soon as it was revealed that J.K. Rowling was the offer. It was a good thing I was so fast, a week later there were 600+ holds on the book.

While I don't read too many crime novels, I do enjoy crime shows, and found this book hard to put down. Rowling did a great job of creating a complex mystery and I didn't even have a clue who was guilty until it was revealed.

The main character, Detective Cormoran Strike, hires a temp assistant, Robin, who I am assuming will be a character throughout the series (more books are planned). But I felt she lacked any development, there were just hints at her life outside the office, so I am looking forward to her being a large part of the story in subsequent novels.

Overall the novel is fairly light though touches on deeper issues, and I'm really looking forward to reading more about Strikes detective agency and seeing what other mysteries he solve.

More from Connie Willis - Novella Review

On Wednesday I posted a general review of Connie Willis' collection of short stories, The Winds of Marble Arch, and today I am back with two more reviews.


The Last of the WinnebagosOut of the four novellas I read, this on was my favorite. It's set in a time when animals are dying off, roads and cars are changing drastically, and technology is taking over the job of newspaper photographers (ok, that last one seems to be happening already).

David McCome is a reporter and photographer on route to report on the last RV on the road. RV's are banned in all but four states and relegated to only driving on the old undivided multiways.

On his way he passes a dead jackal on the road, bringing back memories of his old dog and the day he died. The story weaves in many side stories and mysteries, with a satisfying ending.


Even The Queen

In a futurist setting, Traci's daughter joins group called the Cyclists. In recent history women have made strides to become more like men, remove third-person singular pronouns and use words like "herstory." but this pre-Liberation women's groups wants to go back to the core of who they are as women. They want to have their periods again. 

It seems that during the liberation women decided to implant a shunt to free them of their monthly cycle and all the negative effects of it. So now, the alternative thing to do, is to have the shunt remove and get back to nature.

As Traci's mother-in-law bring the family together to try and "save" the daughter, there is humorous debates over the pros and cons of having a menstrual cycle, and beautifully written dialog among the women of the family.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

I'd recommend this book for people who like science fiction or short stories, or anyone else to wants to read. Luckily the short stories don't take too much commitment, and if you don't like it, you probably will be done in a few pages.

If you have reviewed this book, please leave a link to the review in the comments and I will add your review to the main post. All I ask is for you to do the same to mine — thanks! 

The Winds of Marble Arch and Other Stories by Connie Willis - Novella Review

Book: The Winds of Marble Arch and Other Stories

Author: Connie Willis

Genre: Short Stories, Sci-Fi 

Publisher/Publish Date: Subterranean Press / 2007

Source: Public Library

Pages: 700

Rating: 3.5/5

GoodReads  •  Amazon

While I rarely read short stories, I was recommended this author on a podcast I listen to, Books On The Nightstand, which I would recommend to anyone who loves books. The hosts have dubbed 2013 "The Year of the Short Story" and have been recommending a story or two each week. Their review of Connie Willis "Fire Watch" intrigued me and I decided to check out a collection of her stories from the library. This book is 700 pages! And contains 23 stories, so I decided not to over due it but read and review four stories that were highlighted on the dust jacket. A celebrated Science Fiction writer who has won many awards, Willis has been called, "the most relentlessly delightful science fiction writer alive."

As many of her novels plop you right down in the middle of the world she's created,  and it takes a few pages, or until the end to discover what really is going on, there may be some spoilers in the following reviews.

A Letter from the Clearys
Located miles and miles from anyone, Lynn lives with her over protective parents and a family friend, Mrs. Talbot. On a trip to the post office to pick up some magazines, she discovers a letter from the Clearys. As the story continues we discover there was some sort of large explosion that wiped out most of the population, and possibly the Clearys who were supposed to be visiting them at the time it happened. They now live in fear or looters.

This novela, like many of the others, focuses on the characters and the details of their life, which in turn allows us to discover the nature of the world they are living in.

Fire Watch
This novela in particular was recommended by the podcast I mentioned above. In the world this story is set in, historians travel in time. They seem to travel to record date about specific events, i.e. number of deaths and certain dates, but I questions that their presence there would possibly change history.

Mr Bartholomew is tasked with traveling to London in 1940, during the Blitz, with little advance warning and little time to train. While he seems unsure about what his task is exactly, he is sent to the church St Paul's to be part of the fire watch, and spends three months helping put out the bombs that land on the roof.

Willis is skilled at creating a universe with it's own vocabulary and way of life, which I really enjoyed in this story.

Check back on Friday for reviews of two more novellas from this collection.


*Please note that we receive affiliate income from any books purchased at Amazon. 

If you have reviewed this book, please leave a link to the review in the comments and I will add your review to the main post. All I ask is for you to do the same to mine — thanks!

A Dangerous Fiction by Barbara Rogan - Book Review

Book: A Dangerous Fiction: A Mystery

Author: Barbara Rogan

Genre: Mystery 

Publisher/Publish Date: Viking Adult / July 25, 2013

Source: ARC courtesy of publisher

Pages: 336

Rating: 4.5/5

GoodReads  •  Amazon

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, but it in no way effects my review of the book.

So good! But an understated good, if that makes sense. I read quite a few ARC's, so it's always great when I get to read one I enjoy so much. And this one was published in July, so if you like a good mystery novel, go buy this or get it from your library.

The tone of the novel harkens back to classic crime novels, i.e.: "It was a dark and storm night," from Paul Clifford. Literary Agent Jo Donovan has lead a tough life, but she's a fighter and has come out on top. She runs on of the best literary agencies, although widowed, had a wonderful relationship with a renowned author, and has some great close friends.

But an ambitious writer threatens to ruin it all, when he starts stalking her and attacking those around her. At the same time, and ambitious author working on a biography of her late husband, starts digging around, causing Jo to question if her memory is as accurate as she thinks.

And of course there needs to be a little romance, as an old fame who is now a NYPD detective takes her case, and tries to help her track down who her stalker is.

As I said above, I really enjoyed it and it was hard to put down (which is my favorite type of book). The plot is neat, and ties up loose ends, which I appreciate. And the characters are complex and true to life.

The author's page on GoodReads mentions this is the "first in a new mystery series set in the high-stakes world of big publishing," so I'm excited to hear there may be more. I could see this becoming a really great movie. A triller with heart.

*Please note that we receive affiliate income from any books purchased at Amazon.

If you have reviewed this book, please leave a link to the review in the comments and I will add your review to the main post. All I ask is for you to do the same to mine — thanks! 

July - What I Read

After a really slow reading month in June (only 3 books), I kicked it up a notch in July. Though it helped that one is a photo book, another I only read part of, and yet another was short stories.

Coyote Lost at Sea, by Julia Plant 

I really enjoy adventure books and this was no exception. It's a look at the life of Mike Plant, seen through the eyes of his younger sister Julia. He's a solo sailer, willing to risk his life for the sport he loved. [my review]

Kneading to Die, by Liz Mugavero
A good beach read with a bit of heart. Luckily the pet parts didn't over power the other good qualities of the book. [my review]

Vanishing Portland, by Ray Bottenberg
A photography book, showing historical architecture in Portland Oregon, along side a bit of info. Fun way to see and read about the history of this city.

Portland in Three Centuries, by Carl Abbott
Another history book about Portland Oregon, but with a lot more words. I only made it through half of it. It found it interesting, but it had a lot of details and I felt ready to move onto another book.

The Short, Strange Life of Herschel Grynszpan, by Jonathan Kirsch
While I really liked this book and learned a lot from it, it wasn't the most fun book to read. I powered through it and was glad I did. [my review]

Seaside Harmony, by Evangeline Kelley
Another good beach read or summer read. Lighthearted and made me wish I could take a trip to where the book was set.

Accidental Time Traveller, by Janis Mackay
A pretty decent Middle Grade book about a young girl who travels and gets stuck in time.

A Dangerous Fiction, by Barbara Rogan
A really great mystery novel. Well written with a plot that is layer though not too complicated to get confusing. Expect a review for this soon.

The Winds of Marble Arch and Other Stories, by Connie Willis
A collection of short stories. I read four of them, and really enjoyed them. Mostly I am not a huge fan of short stories though, would rather have something around 300-400 pages with a good story I can get lost in.

Seaside Harmony by Evangeline Kelley - Book Review

Book: Seaside Harmony

Author: Evangeline Kelley

Genre: Fiction 

Publisher/Publish Date: GuidepostsBooks / January, 2012

Source: Publisher, through GoodReads

Pages: 333

Rating: 3.5/

GoodReads  •  Amazon

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, but it in no way effects my review of the book.

The first book in a series, Seaside Harmony introduces us to sisters Caroline, Gracie and Sam, who are vacationing together in Nantucket. They had recently lost their mother, so they returned to the site of their childhood family vacations to reconnect.

As they are on the beach one day, they notice Misty Harbor Inn, which their mother loved so much. As the go to visit it, they discover that it's been left uncared for, the garden overgrown, and a for sales sign. After much haggling between the sisters, they decide to all pitch in to purchase and restore the Inn.

As this is the first in which is currently a three book series, this novel doesn't cover much more than getting the inn up and running. This book wasn't as juicy as books I usually read (ie: it was published by Guideposts), but it wasn't overly spiritual and I really enjoyed the characters. Their stories of having a dream, acting on it, and all moving in together, in a small town seems idyllic to me. It sounds like a fun way to spend your retirement years.

If I didn't have such a long list of books to read I would probably read the other books in the series. This book does leave a couple relational cliff hangers, and it would be nice to see how those turn out.

This would be great for a laid back summer day of reading in the hammock.

FYI: Evangeline Kelley is the pen name for the writing team of Patti Berg, Pam Andrews, Barbara Hanson, and Camy Tang.

*Please note that we receive affiliate income from any books purchased at Amazon.

If you have reviewed this book, please leave a link to the review in the comments and I will add your review to the main post. All I ask is for you to do the same to mine — thanks! 

Kneading to Die by Liz Mugavero - Book Review

Book: Kneading to Die (Pawsitively Organic Mysteries)

Author: Liz Mugavero

Genre: Mystery 

Publisher/Publish Date: Kensington / May 7, 2013

Source: ARC courtesy of publisher 

Pages: 343

Rating: 3.5/5

GoodReads  •  Amazon

Please forgive the slightly cheesy title of the book:) I requested this book planning to pass it on to a friend who I thought might enjoy it, decided to read it before I passed it on, and was pleasantly surprised. Be warned there may be some spoilers in the review.

The first in a series, Kneading to Die introduces us to the protagonist, Stan, who is new in the small town of Frog Ledge. After losing her highly paid PR job, she decides to have a fresh start in what she believes to be a quite town. Within a few days she's meet some new people, made some homemade doggie treats to share with their dogs, and she's coerced into an appointment for her cat with the local vet. Surprisingly things don't go as planned, and when she arrives at the clinic, she finds the vet murdered.

Stan is not one to sit still, especially with the small town sherif marking her as the main suspect, so she starts asking questions and poking her nose in where it doesn't belong. At this point the story gets a little silly, but it never takes it self too seriously, and it's a breeze to read.

Stan has a boyfriend, who still lives in her old city, maybe a 40-60 minutes drive. From the get go the seem like an odd paring, so while it may add some romantic drama to the book, it feels a little forced at times. Many of the town's characters are friendly, and realistic, though a few seem over the top. It makes the book a bit less "real world" believable, but not really in a negative way.

This is the perfect book for vacation or the beach. For me this book came at a great time, between some more serious, historical books, it was a nice, lighthearted, break and only took me 2 days to read. Not sure if I will read the next book in the series, but it wouldn't be the most surprising thing.

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PS: My new digs in Portland has a beautiful backyard, which is a lovely place for blog writing:)

Woke Up Lonely by Fiona Maazel - Book Review

Book: Woke Up Lonely

Author: Fiona Maazel

Genre: Fiction 

Publisher/Publish Date: Greywolf Press / April 2013

Source: Copy courtesy of publisher

Pages: 336

Rating: 3.5/5

GoodReads  •  Amazon

Thurlow Dan is the founder of the Helix, a cult that promises to cure loneliness in the twenty-first century. With its communes and speed-dating, mixers and confession sessions, the Helix has become a national phenomenon—and attracted the attention of governments worldwide. But Thurlow, camped out in his Cincinnati headquarters, is lonely. And his ex-wife, Esme, is the only one he wants. They were a family once; they had a child together. For Esme’s part, she’s a covert agent who has spent her life spying on Thurlow, mostly in an effort to protect him from the law. Now, with her superiors demanding results, Esme recruits four misfits to botch a reconnaissance mission in Cincinnati. [via GoodReads]

A unique novel, with lots of heart and dark humor. The author weaves together the story of Thurlow, Esme, and the four "agents" to tell a fascinating story about a misguided cult and the lives it affects. While the cult was originally created as a way to connect lonely people, it has spiraled out of Thurlow's control, and has got him into a heap-load of trouble. Unbeknownst to him, the love of his life, Esme, has been following and investigating him since they day they meet. Not complicated at all, hu?

Throughout the novel they tell the story of how they fell in love, how the Helix came to be, and how their lives started to fall apart.

This is a book that took me awhile to warm up to. It has a very unique writing structure, and a lot of characters are introduced in around about way. Though once I figured out the rhythm to that, I started to really enjoy the book. So if you don't like it at first, keep reading, it might grow on you.