Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

On a day that started like any other,

Mia had everything: a loving family, a gorgeous, admiring boyfriend, and a bright future full of music and full of choices. In an instant, almost all of that is taken from her. Caught between life and death, between a happy past and an unknowable future, Mia spends one critical day contemplating the only decision she has left. It is the most important decision she'll ever make.

Simultaneously tragic and hopeful, this is a romantic, riveting, and ultimately uplifting story about memory, music, living, dying, loving

Paperback, 262 pages

Published April 6th 2010 by Speak

Terri's Thoughts

I decided to read this story after a discussion with my young teenage nieces about upcoming movies based on books that they had read.  Since it is our tradition to have girls nights at the movie's and I never see a movie first if there is a book I figured I better read this.

I have to admit I really enjoyed this read.  The concept of Mia remembering moments of her life while she is lying in a hospitable bed fighting (or not) for her life was really powerful to me.  It was the fact that it wasn't always momentous moments however ones that stood out to her and meant something to her that drew me in.

I also have to admit that the fact that there was a love story also drew me in.  The classic opposites attract romance that seemed to be a romance of substance despite the young age.  I won't go in to detail here but it was a really nice love story.

Overall this is definitely a story written for the YA audience.  Although there is some language in the novel it is relatively clean.  I can see why it is so popular with the younger crowd and I can visualize how this will translate to the big screen well.  I look forward to seeing the emotions that were written on the page put in to motion.  I will be reading the rest of this series.

About the Author

(from her Goodreads profile)

Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, I was a journalist who specialized in reporting on young people and social-justice issues. Which is a fancy way of saying I reported on all the ways that young people get treated like crap—and overcome! I started out working for Seventeen magazine, writing the kinds of articles that people (i.e. adults) never believe that Seventeen ran (on everything from child soldiers in Sierra Leone to migrant teen farm workers in the U.S.). Later on, I became a freelance journalist, writing for magazines like Details, Jane, Glamour, The Nation, Elle, Budget Travel, and Cosmopolitan.

In 2002, I went traveling for a year around the world with my husband, Nick. I spent time hanging out with some pretty interesting people, a third sex (we’d probably call them transvestites here) in Tonga, Tolkien-obsessed, role-playing punks in Kazakhstan (bonus points to those of you who can find Kazakhstan on a map), working class hip-hop stars in Tanzania. The result of that year was my first book, a travel memoir called You Can’t Get There From Here: A Year On the Fringes of a Shrinking World. You can read about my trip and see pictures of it here.

What do you do when you get back home after traveling the globe for a whole year? First, you get disproportionately excited by the little comforts in life: Not having to look at a map to get everywhere? Yay! Being able to drink coffee without getting dressed and schlepping to a café first? Bliss! Then, if you’re 32 years old and have been with your husband for evah, you have a kid. Which we did. Presto, Willa!

So, there I was. With a baby. And all of a sudden I couldn’t do the kind of gallivanty reporting I’d done before. Well, you know how they say in life when one door closes another opens? In my case, the door came clear off the frame. Because I discovered that I could take the most amazing journeys of my life without ever having to leave my desk. It was all in my head. In stories I could make up. And the people I wanted to take these fantastical journeys with, they all happened to be between the ages of 12 and 20. I don’t know why. These are just the people who beckon me. And I go where I’m told.

My first young-adult novel, Sisters in Sanity, was based on another one of those social justice articles I wrote when for Seventeen and you can click here to read the article. Sisters was published in 2007. My next book, If I Stay, was published in April of 2009 by Dutton. It is also being published in 30 countries around the world, which is surreal. The sequel/companion book to If I Stay, Where She Went, comes out in April 2011. I am currently working on a new YA novel, that is, when my kids (plural, after Willa we adopted Denbele from Ethiopia) allow me to. And after that book is finished, I’ll write another, and another….

Wow. This is crazy long. I suppose the short version of this bio could simply read: My name is Gayle Forman and I love to write young-adult novels. Because I do. So thank you for reading them. Because without you, it’d just be me. And the voices in my head.

Gayle Forman is an award-winning author and journalist whose articles have appeared in such publications as Jane, Seventeen, Glamour, Elle, and The New York Times Magazine, to name just a few. She lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.


Website:  http://www.gayleforman.com/
Twitter:   gayleforman

Review: The White Mouse by Jack DuArte

The White Mouse is historical fiction and based on the real life exploits of Australian Nancy Wake during World War II. Wake was responsible for setting up a successful escape network around Marseille, France at the beginning of the war. She fled France and began working for Great Britain's Special Operations Executive during the invasion of Normandy. Wake succeeded in making the Auvergne Maquis a remarkable fighting force and did great harm to German Wehrmacht forces attempting to aid their coastal defences. For her remarkable efforts, Wake became the most decorated female officer in the British military during the war. She died in London in 2011 at the age of 98.

Paperback, 254 pages

Published February 9th 2014 by Cloud 9 Press

Kristine's Thoughts:

I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thank You!

I love stories relating to both Wold Wars, especially ones based on true stories. When I entered the giveaway for this book I was both excited and hopeful that I would get a copy and I was thrilled to be one of the lucky people to receive one.

This was an interesting read for me. I didn't really know much about Nancy Wake and I found her story intriguing. As I mentioned above, I love reading about the war so this was no surprise to me. Unfortunately the book read more like a documentary so it may not appeal to everyone. Although the text was interesting it did seem to lack some life behind the characters which made for a somewhat dull read and took away from the actual events that occur throughout. It reminded me of reading an essay. All the facts and information are there but no feeling or emotion. For lack of better words it was a bit robotic. For this I was a little disappointed.

This book would be good for people who are interested in learning about Nancy Wake but don't really care about the story or emotions of a book. For me, I like to have both.

About the Author

Jack DuArte is a native of New Orleans with a varied career in writing. DuArte attended Jesuit High School and worked for the Times-Picayune as a teenager. After attending the University of Kentucky and later graduating from the University of Evansville, DuArte served as an Air Force officer in Vietnam and received the Bronze Star for his efforts. He returned to New Orleans in 1971 and went into the wine business. He also authored a weekly column called Gastronomy for the Times-Picayune for a number of years and later hosted a radio talk show for WWL.

DuArte later enjoyed a full career in the wine business where he owned several Napa Valley wineries. DuArte always enjoyed a long time love affair for the thoroughbred horse industry and returned to Kentucky in 2001. He is an owner and breeder of thoroughbreds in Central Kentucky.

The White Mouse is DuArte’s fifth novel, and was his eighth published work. The White Mouse is part of DuArte’s World War II Series. Other WWII novels include The Resistance Singapore, Spitfire and MALTA. All are historical novels and predominantly based on fact.

DuArte read from his work at the International Book Project’s Passport to Literacy in Lexington, KY. He also participated in the several Kentucky Book Fairs in Frankfort and numerous other book fairs around the country.

DuArte and his wife Susan reside in Lexington, KY.

Connect with Jack

Website/Twitter/Goodreads 

 

Review: The Geometry of Love by Jessica Levine

Why is it easier for a woman to be a muse than to have one? Can one be fully creative—in art or life—without the inspiration of erotic love? These are the questions asked in The Geometry of Love, a novel set in New York in the 1980s, then fast-forwarding to Northern California 20 years later. Julia, an aspiring poet, is living with her British boyfriend Ben, a restrained professor at Princeton, when she has a chance meeting with Michael, a long-ago friend. A charismatic composer, Michael was once a catalyzing muse for her, but now returns as a destabilizing influence. Julia longs to become involved with Michael, but hesitates to give up the security of her relationship with Ben. When Michael signals he is too wounded to make a commitment, Julia turns her triangular situation into a square by setting him up with a cousin. In the process she discovers, as Pascal once said, that "the heart has its reasons which reason does not know." This deeply psychological tale explores the surprising ways we make romantic choices

Paperback, 292 pages

Published April 8th 2014 by She Writes Press

Terri's Thoughts

I won a copy of this book via a Goodreads Firstreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

I really struggled with this book.  I will clarify that it was not the writing style as it was fine and it was an easy read.  It was the content and the characters of the story that did not sit well.

For those opposed to stories about cheating I advise you to stop right now and do not read this story.  While I do not get up on my moral high horse very often I found it very uncomfortable with the ease in which Julie made the decisions she did.  While she struggled with her feelings for Michael she made other decisions outside of her relationship with relative ease that I found hard to sympathize or identify with.

I also found I couldn't invest in any of the characters.  They simply were not compelling enough.  I understand that the point of this story is about Julia figuring out her heart and her head and her future but I feel there could have been a better way to do so.

Overall I was disappointed in this read.  There just wasn't enough substance for me

About the Author

Twitter:  twitter.com/JessicaLevine19

Feature and Follow Friday #35

Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly meme that allows book bloggers to interact with each other and find new blogs! It has two hosts, Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. The rules are...
 
(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn’t have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers
If you’re new to the follow Friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog.

This week's question is...

What are some of your favorite picture books - either current ones or ones from your childhood?

Kristine's Answer

I don't really remember any picture books from my childhood. I'm sure I must have looked at some when I was little but what I remember is jumping right into chapter books as soon as I could read. Reading books has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As for now I don't have any favourites either. When I am in a book store I will glance at travel books and look at the beautiful destination pictures and I will also look at books with pictures of puppies. It's kind of a boring answer but I just don't have any favourites.

Terri's Answer

I have to admit my answer is the same as Kristine's.  I do not remember any picture books from my childhood years.  My only memory is when I was in grade school that I always signed books about horses out of the school library and many of them had pictures.  No series come to mind though.  Chapter books were a part of my life as long as I can remember.

What were some of your favourites?

That is our Feature and Follow Friday for this week! Comment down below if you're a new follower of ours with a link to your blog and we will make sure to follow you back. You can follow us via gfc, bloglovin, email, facebook and/or twitter.

  

 

Review: The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier

A rash of grisly serial murders plagued Seattle until the infamous "Beacon Hill Butcher" was finally hunted down and killed by police chief Edward Shank in 1985. Now, some thirty years later, Shank, retired and widowed, is giving up his large rambling Victorian house to his grandson Matt, whom he helped raise.

Settling back into his childhood home and doing some renovations in the backyard to make the house feel like his own, Matt, a young up-and-coming chef and restaurateur, stumbles upon a locked crate he’s never seen before. Curious, he picks the padlock and makes a discovery so gruesome it will forever haunt him… Faced with this deep dark family secret, Matt must decide whether to keep what he knows buried in the past, go to the police, or take matters into his own hands.

Meanwhile Matt’s girlfriend, Sam, has always suspected that her mother was murdered by the Beacon Hill Butcher—two years after the supposed Butcher was gunned down. As she pursues leads that will prove her right, Sam heads right into the path of Matt’s terrible secret.

A thriller with taut, fast-paced suspense, and twists around every corner, The Butcher will keep you guessing until the bitter, bloody end.

Kindle Edition, 352 pages

Expected publication: July 15th 2014 by Gallery Books
Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Kristine's Thoughts:

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank You!

This book revolves around three different people. First there is Edward who took down the Beacon Hill Butcher in 1985 and later became the chief of police. Then there is his grandson Matt who moves into his house when he retires and finds a shocking secret buried in the back yard. Finally there is Sam who is Matt's girlfriend who believes that her mother was killed by the Beacon Hill Butcher two years after he was supposedly shot and killed.

The Butcher was an entertaining read but it left me a little wanting. Unlike most thrillers the killer is revealed at the beginning so there is no guessing or trying to figure things out. The "who" is answered from the start. I then thought perhaps that would mean that we would get deep into the "Butchers" head. Although this did happen to some degree it wasn't as deep or exciting as I would have liked.

It is hard for me to explain the things that bothered me within the story without giving the story away. Mostly I wished that there was more of a story around Edward's daughter and Matt's mother. It is briefly explained near the end but it was rushed and almost too late. Also I wasn't a big fan of the ending. The "Butcher" was wanting a specific ending and that is exactly what he got. There was no excitement or sense of justice in it. Finally, I found that the entire ending was rushed. I remember seeing that I was at 90% of the book and thinking that there must be a sequel because it couldn't possible wrap up with only 10% left. I was wrong and it did wrap up that quickly.

I don't want it to seem like I disliked the book because I didn't. It provided a few hours of entertainment for me. It was just lacking some things to make it truly memorable.

About the Author

Jennifer Hillier is a full-time novelist who writes about dark, twisted people who do dark, twisted things. If you ask her why she writes such dark stuff, she'll stare at you blankly because she still hasn't figured out a clever way to answer that question.

Born and raised in Toronto and a proud Canadian, she spent five years living in Seattle, which is where she wrote her first novel. She currently splits her time between Toronto and Seattle, and is slightly ashamed to admit that she's way more of a Seahawks fan than a Leafs fan . . . which, she suspects, makes her a bad Canadian.

She loves her husband, her cat Kobe, and Stephen King. Not equally, but close. She's the author of the psychological thrillers CREEP (2011), FREAK (2012), and THE BUTCHER (2014), all published by Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Her agent is Victoria Skurnick of the Levine Greenberg Literary Agency in New York.

Connect with Jennifer

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads 

 

Review: Dollbaby: A Novel by Laura Lane McNeal

When Ibby Bell’s father dies unexpectedly in the summer of 1964, her mother unceremoniously deposits Ibby with her eccentric grandmother Fannie and throws in her father’s urn for good measure. Fannie’s New Orleans house is like no place Ibby has ever been—and Fannie, who has a tendency to end up in the local asylum—is like no one she has ever met. Fortunately, Fannie’s black cook, Queenie, and her smart-mouthed daughter, Dollbaby, take it upon themselves to initiate Ibby into the ways of the South, both its grand traditions and its darkest secrets.

For Fannie’s own family history is fraught with tragedy, hidden behind the closed rooms in her ornate Uptown mansion. It will take Ibby’s arrival to begin to unlock the mysteries there. And it will take Queenie and Dollbaby’s hard-won wisdom to show Ibby that family can sometimes be found in the least expected places.

For fans of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt and The Help, Dollbaby brings to life the charm and unrest of 1960s New Orleans through the eyes of a young girl learning to understand race for the first time.

By turns uplifting and funny, poignant and full of verve, Dollbaby is a novel readers will take to their hearts.

Hardcover, 352 pages

Expected publication: July 3rd 2014 by Pamela Dorman Books

Terri's Thoughts

I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher via Edelweiss in return for an honest review.  The expected publication date is July 3, 2014.  Thank you!

This story was absolutely wonderful!  I'm tempted to end my review here.  The reason is because a) it is true and b) this is a story that the reader needs to discover on their own and not through a bunch of other peoples opinions.  Therefore I will not discuss the plot at all in my thoughts

There are so many elements that are woven together that make this story worth reading.  The wonderful portrayal of the south, the racial divide of the 60's, family secrets and an abandoned girl who does not know what family means.  Mixed together it makes a story that is understated and powerful at the same time.  Truly a gem of a read.  Fans of historical fiction will love this read.

I admit I figured out some of the secrets before they were revealed however this did not hamper the story.  I understand that this is a debut novel and I must give a big round of applause for having such an impactful story the first time out of the gate.  I will be keeping my eye out for future work by Laura Lane McNeal based on this homerun!

About the Author

Laura Lane McNeal grew up In New Orleans where people laugh a lot, talk with their hands, love good music, good food, and will make up any excuse for a party.

After receiving two undergraduate degrees from Southern Methodist University (a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Business Administration), she went on to earn an MBA from Tulane University. She spent most of her career in advertising, working for firms in New York and Dallas, before returning to New Orleans where she started her own marketing consulting firm and became a free-lance writer as well as a decorative artist. In 2005, when the devastation of Hurricane Katrina left her with having to rebuild her life, Laura seized the opportunity to fulfill her lifetime dream of becoming a writer. She hasn’t stopped since.

Laura resides in New Orleans and is married with two sons. DOLLBABY is her first published novel. She is presently working on a second novel.


Website:  http://www.lauralanemcneal.com
Twitter:   llmcneal
  

    

Review: Breath of Life by Donald Stidham

New love is always magical when you are young . . . everything is seen with a brightness and clarity that shines like a brand new world. Colors are vibrant, food tastes magnificent, and happy wistful thoughts make for perfect dreams of a “happily ever after” life.
Lucas and Sophie’s honeymoon lingered into days spent laughing and teasing each other at the ocean at Myrtle Beach, discussing the future on the way to Washington, D. C., and exploring the deep passion they felt for each other in the mountains of Tennessee--even get caught skinny-dipping. Sharing a perfect life as newlyweds, traveling around the country while photographing little children at school made their lives seem like a fantasy that would last forever.
Bigger dreams took hold, which meant settling into more stable jobs in stable neighborhoods while raising their family. The routine of ordinary days set in; mundane, routine mind-numbing tasks took over, and the fantasy life faded as did the love of young romance when it turned into real adult responsibilities. Lucas could see the fairy tale life slipping away. He was losing his precious Sophie and his family--he couldn’t let that happen--he wouldn’t! It was that resolve that set him on a course to change all of their lives.
Breath of Life will make you believe again that love is precious and dear--something to cherish, to hold on to, something worth fighting for no matter the risk . . . no matter what it takes.

Paperback, 2nd, 418 pages

Published October 20th 2013 by Createspace 

Kristine's Thoughts:

I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this book was finding the way back to your one true love. Lucas and Sophie, once madly in love, lost sight of what they had and Lucas struggles to re-connect and get that spark back. I thought that I would be in for an epic love story but in the end I thought it was o.k. but lacked something that made it great.

I think that the problem for me was in the characters themselves. They weren't very likeable if I am being honest. I found them both to be a little self centred and selfish especially Sophie and Lucas did some things that really made me angry. If this was the intention of the author than he succeeded but it made me not really care much about the outcome for these two people. Sophie only seemed to be happy when she was travelling all over the country without any real adult responsibilities. As soon as she became pregnant she turned whiny and bitter. She came across as someone who was resentful of having kids and having to have real adult responsibilities and commitments. This aspect was not addressed thoroughly enough for me and instead she kept going on about how Lucas had changed. She changed just as much as he did if not more. Also she seemed bitter that Lucas no longer bought her little gifts (it was on her list of things she wanted) and that made her appear very shallow. I had issues with Lucas as well. What equal "spouse" would sell everything they own without consulting their significant other? Grounds for divorce right there if you ask me. Also he spanked Sophie as hard as he could in the rear to get her to calm down and listen to what he had to say. WHAT??? Lets not even talk about the "almost" affairs on both sides and the obsession with weight and figures.

For a slow moving story I found it to be quite busy. There were affairs, present and past stories, stalkers, locked journals, mythical or god like old men and a lot of food and restaurants. I think Stidham had a great idea with this story but it could have used a bit more tweaking and editing in order to make it read a little better and for the characters to be more likeable.

About the Author

Donald Stidham has been writing since 2006 in various genres. What started as a passion for unique storytelling has turned into a crusade for inspirational work. Breath of Life is about re-discovering love and fighting for it...at all costs. The Adventures of Bubba and Sissy: Daddy Does the Same Thing is a children's book about developing a strong bond between children and their fathers.
Donald is currently working on Pieces, which will be release in the summer of 2014. Pieces spins a tale of four families and fate that binds them closely.

Connect with Donald

Facebook/Twitter