Review: The Dress Shop of Dreams by Menna van Praag

Since her parents’ mysterious deaths many years ago, scientist Cora Sparks has spent her days in the safety of her university lab or at her grandmother Etta’s dress shop. Tucked away on a winding Cambridge street, Etta’s charming tiny store appears quite ordinary to passersby, but the colorfully vibrant racks of beaded silks, delicate laces, and jewel-toned velvets hold bewitching secrets: With just a few stitches from Etta’s needle, these gorgeous gowns have the power to free a woman’s deepest desires.

Etta’s dearest wish is to work her magic on her granddaughter. Cora’s studious, unromantic eye has overlooked Walt, the shy bookseller who has been in love with her forever. Determined not to allow Cora to miss her chance at happiness, Etta sews a tiny stitch into Walt’s collar, hoping to give him the courage to confess his feelings to Cora. But magic spells—like true love—can go awry. After Walt is spurred into action, Etta realizes she’s set in motion a series of astonishing events that will transform Cora’s life in extraordinary and unexpected ways.

Kindle Edition, 336 pages

Expected publication: December 30th 2014 by Ballantine Books 

Genre: Magical Realism

Kristine's Thoughts:

I received an advanced readers copy from Ballantine Books via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

The Dress Shop of Dreams is a very unique and different story. Etta and Cora are the two main characters but there are a wide range of people who's voices are heard on the pages who are all linked in one way or another. At first it can be a little confusing but it becomes very clear and effective as the story unfolds.

Etta's dress shop is special. Women don't choose the dresses, they choose the women. With an added little red stitch that Etta adds, magic happens. When I say magic I don't mean potions and spells or crazy and unrealistic magic. These dresses give the women awareness, self- confidence, self esteem and things like that. It is very subtle so readers who fear stories that are outside the norm need not fear or avoid this book. It is very well done.

The story is definitely one of love...lost, unrequited and new. Through all of the different voices there is a different kind of love present. If love is not your thing, there is also a mystery to be solved that I was not expecting. I wasn't entirely thrilled with the final outcome of that aspect but at the same time I guess I kind of understand it.

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Originally it was the synopsis that attracted me to it but I thought it could go either way. Magical realism is a hard genre to nail but if done right can be great and if done wrong can be just plain bad. I am happy to report that this book was done right and made for a quick, pleasant and enjoyable read.

About the Author

Menna van Praag was born in Cambridge, England and studied Modern History at Oxford University. Her first novella - an autobiographical tale about a waitress who aspires to be a writer - Men, Money & Chocolate has been translated into 26 languages. Her first work of literary fiction, The House at the End of Hope Street, was inspired by an idea the author had to set up a house for female artists to give them a year to fulfil their artistic ambitions. Her next novel, The Dress Shop of Dreams, is set on the magical street of All Saints Passage where a scientist falls in love with a mysterious man who has a magical voice. All Menna van Praag's novels, excepting Happier Than She's Ever Been, are set among the colleges, cafes and bookshops of Cambridge, England.

Connect with Menna

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads 

Review: After Us by Amber Hart

Sometimes secrets kill. Maybe slowly, maybe painfully. Maybe all at once.

Melissa smiles. She flirts. She jokes. But she never shows her scars. Eight months after tragedy ripped her from her closest friend, Melissa is broken. Plagued by grief, rage, and the painful memory of a single forbidden kiss.

Javier has scars of his own. Life in the States was supposed to be a new beginning, but a boy obsessed by vengeance has no time for the American dream. To honor his familia, Javier joins the gang who set up his cousin, Diego. The entrance price is blood. Death is the only escape.

Two broken souls could make each other whole again—or be shattered forever.

Our time will come. And we'll be ready

Paperback, 368 pages

Expected publication: December 30th 2014 by K-Teen

Terri's Thoughts

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Kensington via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!  The expected publication date is December 30th 2014.

I did not realize that this was the second book in a series when I requested it.  Although I was able to read this as a stand alone there were many unanswered questions I had throughout the story.  Luckily they were answered as the story progressed.  That being said I recommend reading the first book Before You first as I think it would assist with the flow of this story.

This is the type of story you are looking for when a want a YA love story about two people who can not be whole without each other.  Although there appeared to be no lead up to the attraction I believe some of the ground work may have been laid out in the first book.  Two broken souls who come together to heal each other.

There is no other way to describe this other than a love story.  Both Melissa and Javier had their own issues to deal with however they were unable to keep their walls up with each other.  Those who enjoy reading about young love will enjoy the fact that the air literally changed when the two of them were together.  The chemistry was evident and again would have been more evident if I had read the first book.  It is the type of attraction that every teenage girl dreams of having...well except maybe for the baggage that comes with it.

At the risk of sounding overly critical there are a couple of points that did not add up for me.  This could be the part of me that can no longer check off the YA demographic when filling out surveys.  The first is the geographical setting of the story.  This confused me a little bit.  Melissa worked at a club on the beach and it was noted that it was 20 minutes from her home.  It then went on to note that the gang Javier was mixed up with was located in Orlando.  The last time I checked it took more than 20 minutes to get to the beach from Orlando.  Perhaps I missed something in the location.

The second point is the way Javier spoke.  I understand that it was emphasizing the fact that he was from Cuba but did he always have to make comments like "mi mama"?  I got old rather quickly and seemed like a little bit of overkill.  I think the backstory about his mother not allowing him to date "gringo's" was enough to establish his heritage.

Overall this story was exactly as advertised.  I want a YA read that had a lot of romance with a story to go along with it.  That is what I got.  I feel this will resonate the most with teenaged girls due to the love story between Melissa and Javier.  I am glad I had the opportunity to read this.  I only recommend that you start with the first book and then pick this one up.

About the Author

Website:  http://www.amberhartbooks.com

Review: The Life Intended by Kristin Harmel

From the author of the international bestseller The Sweetness of Forgetting, named one of the Best Books of Summer 2012 by Marie Claire magazine, comes a captivating novel about the struggle to overcome the past when our memories refuse to be forgotten.

In this richly told story where Sliding Doors meets P.S. I Love You, Kristin Harmel weaves a heart-wrenching tale that asks: what does it take to move forward in life without forgetting the past?

After her husband's sudden death over ten years ago, Kate Waithman never expected to be lucky enough to find another love of her life. But now she's planning her second walk down the aisle to a perfectly nice man. So why isn't she more excited?

At first, Kate blames her lack of sleep on stress. But when she starts seeing Patrick, her late husband, in her dreams, she begins to wonder if she's really ready to move on. Is Patrick trying to tell her something? Attempting to navigate between dreams and reality, Kate must uncover her husband's hidden message. Her quest leads her to a sign language class and into the New York City foster system, where she finds rewards greater than she could have imagined.

Kindle Edition, 368 pages

Expected publication: December 30th 2014 by Gallery Books 

Genre: Womens Fiction

Kristine's Thoughts:

I received an advanced readers copy from the publishe via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

This book was absolutely stunning. I don't think there was a single emotion that I didn't feel while reading it. The pages were filled with love, loss, guilt, hope and the struggle to move on, told in a beautiful and heart wrenching way.

Kate lost her husband after just a few months of marriage and twelve years later she has agreed to marry her boyfriend of two years. It is after she says yes that she begins to have vivid dreams of her late husband and the family that they never got the chance to have. These dreams lead her to some new challenges and experiences but leave her confused and lost.

Ultimately this book is about figuring out how to move on and discovering how events in life directly impact the path you choose. It is beautifully honest in how it portrays grief. I was with Kate every step of the way and could feel every emotion and struggle she had. The story and writing was so powerful that I felt like I was Kate and I went through a roller coaster of emotions throughout. Even the supporting characters were portrayed in a realistic light from their support to their lack of understanding and their somewhat inappropriate comments at times.

This book is a journey and it doesn't deal with light and fluffy topics. I don't recommend this for people looking for a fun and quick read. If you are a fan of deep and emotional stories that are told honestly and realistically, you will not be disappointed. It is a truly wonderful story.

About the Author

 In addition to writing books (including ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS and the YA novel AFTER), I've also been a magazine writer for years; my credits include People, Men's Health, Woman's Day, American Baby and dozens more. I also appear regularly on the nationally syndicated TV morning show The Daily Buzz!

I love to travel, cook, correspond with readers and create! :-) I've lived in Paris, New York, LA and a handful of other places, and now I live in Orlando, Fla. (From Goodreads profile)

Connect with Kristin

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Review: Vanessa and Her Sister: A Novel by Priya Parmar

London, 1905: The city is alight with change, and the Stephen siblings are at the forefront. Vanessa, Virginia, Thoby, and Adrian are leaving behind their childhood home and taking a house in the leafy heart of avant-garde Bloomsbury. There they bring together a glittering circle of bright, outrageous artistic friends who will grow into legend and come to be known as the Bloomsbury Group. And at the center of this charmed circle are the devoted, gifted sisters: Vanessa, the painter, and Virginia, the writer.

Each member of the group will go on to earn fame and success, but so far Vanessa Bell has never sold a painting. Virginia Woolf’s book review has just been turned down by The Times. Lytton Strachey has not published anything. E. M. Forster has finished his first novel but does not like the title. Leonard Woolf is still a civil servant in Ceylon, and John Maynard Keynes is looking for a job. Together, this sparkling coterie of artists and intellectuals throw away convention and embrace the wild freedom of being young, single bohemians in London.

But the landscape shifts when Vanessa unexpectedly falls in love and her sister feels dangerously abandoned. Eerily possessive, charismatic, manipulative, and brilliant, Virginia has always lived in the shelter of Vanessa’s constant attention and encouragement. Without it, she careens toward self-destruction and madness. As tragedy and betrayal threaten to destroy the family, Vanessa must decide if it is finally time to protect her own happiness above all else.

The work of exciting young newcomer Priya Parmar, Vanessa and Her Sister exquisitely captures the champagne-heady days of prewar London and the extraordinary lives of sisters Vanessa Bell and Virginia Woolf.

Hardcover, 368 pages

Expected publication: December 30th 2014 by Ballantine Books

Terri's Thoughts

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.  The expected publication date is December 30th 2014.

I hesitate to pen my thoughts on this story.  I always wonder if I am being harsh or if I missed something when I am not particularly fond of a book that seems to be getting glowing reviews.  I just simply did not feel the love for this story.

The reason for my lack of enthusiasm is simply put the subject matter/characters of the book.  I did not find them interesting nor their lives and I found myself forcing my way through the story.  Vanessa was simply boring to me as was her family and friends.  They were not enough to sustain the book. 

It is a shame because I did like the concept of the story.  The way Parmar captured her story through diary entries, letters & travel tickets was very interesting.  I found this allowed you to read as little or as much as you wanted to in one shot without losing any impact.  I also found her writing enjoyable and easy to follow.

In summary I felt this was a well written story and I believe Parmar has a lot of promise however the characters in this book were too dull for me to care about them.  The good news is I seem to be in the minority on this one. I would not let this dissuade me from reading other works of Parmar.

About the Author

Educated at Mount Holyoke College, the University of Oxford and the University of Edinburgh, Priya Parmar is the author of one previous novel, Exit the Actress.

Her new novel, VANESSA AND HER SISTER will be published by Ballantine/Random House on 12/30/14.

She divides her time between Hawaii and London.

Website:  http://www.priyaparmar.com

Feature and Follow Friday #54

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.

Question of the Week: Do you have a go to genre when you're happy, sad, or angry? - Suggested by Take Me Away.... 

 

If I do have a go to genre for my different moods then I am not aware of it. I can read just about anything at any time, although if I am in a bad mood and my book is not good it can sometimes make my mood worse.

 

How about you? Do you have a go to genre for your different moods?

 

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: Hidden by Donna Jo Napoli

A young girl must learn to survive and find her family against all odds in this heartbreaking companion to Hush from award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli.

Lost at sea when her sister is taken captive on a marauding slave ship, Brigid is far removed from the only life she knew as a princess and the pampered daughter of an Irish king.

Now Brigid has few choices. Alone and abandoned, she disguises herself as a boy and vows to find her innocent sister taken into slavery. Through her search many years pass and she grows from being a child to a woman, tough Brigid does not give up. She lives from the land, meets friend and foe along the way, and gains a reputation as a woman thought to be fierce enough to conquer men. It is not fierceness that guides her but the love of isster and the longing for her family to be united. One day she finds her way, knowing that her only real power comes from within herself.

Kindle Edition, 384 pages

Expected publication: December 30th 2014 by Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books 

Genre: Young Adult/Historical Fiction

Kristine's Thoughts:

I received an advanced readers copy from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I really struggled with this book. It is geared towards the young adult audience so I tried to put myself in a younger frame of mind. I enjoy this genre so I didn't think it would be an issue. Unfortunately I had a hard time picturing young people reading and enjoying it. The story was painfully slow and written in such a way that I fear will not hold the attention of a young reader. Don't get me wrong...there are some interesting parts but there are also a lot of eye rolling parts as well. At the point where Brigid gets locked in the tower is where I contemplated giving up on the story but I powered through it. My opinion did not change. It just never grabbed me and I didn't feel the characters the way that I want to when reading a book.

About the Author

Donna Jo Napoli is both a linguist and a writer of children's and YA fiction.

Donna Jo has five children. She dreams of moving to the woods and becoming a naturalist. She loves to garden and bake bread.

At various times her house and yard have been filled with dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits. For thirteen years she had a cat named Taxi, and liked to go outside and call, "Taxi!" to make the neighbors wonder. But dear dear Taxi died in 2009.

She lives outside Philadelphia. She received her BA in mathematics in 1970 and her Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures in 1973, both from Harvard University, then did a postdoctoral year in Linguistics at MIT. She has since taught linguistics at Smith College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Georgetown University, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and Swarthmore College. It was at UM that she earned tenure (in 1981) and became a full professor (in 1984). She has held visiting positions at the University of Queensland (Australia), the University of Geneva (Switzerland), and Capital Normal University of Beijing (China), as well as lectured at the University of Sydney (Australia), Macquarie University (Australia), the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), and the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa). In the area of linguistics she has authored five books (one of which is being translated into Korean), co-authored four (one of which is in Italian), edited one, and co-edited four (with a fifth in press), ranging from theoretical linguistics to practical matters in language structure and use, including matters of interest to d/Deaf people. She has held grants and fellowships from the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Mellon Foundation, and the Sloan Foundation.

Website/Goodreads 

 

Review: Before I Go by Colleen Oakley

A heart-wrenching debut novel in the bestselling tradition of P.S. I Love You about a young woman with breast cancer who undertakes a mission to find a new wife for her husband before she passes away.

Twenty-seven-year-old Daisy already beat breast cancer three years ago. How can this be happening to her again?

On the eve of what was supposed to be a triumphant “Cancerversary” with her husband Jack to celebrate three years of being cancer-free, Daisy suffers a devastating blow: her doctor tells her that the cancer is back, but this time it’s an aggressive stage four diagnosis. She may have as few as four months left to live. Death is a frightening prospect—but not because she’s afraid for herself. She’s terrified of what will happen to her brilliant but otherwise charmingly helpless husband when she’s no longer there to take care of him. It’s this fear that keeps her up at night, until she stumbles on the solution: she has to find him another wife.

With a singular determination, Daisy scouts local parks and coffee shops and online dating sites looking for Jack’s perfect match. But the further she gets on her quest, the more she questions the sanity of her plan. As the thought of her husband with another woman becomes all too real, Daisy’s forced to decide what’s more important in the short amount of time she has left: her husband’s happiness—or her own?

Hardcover, 320 pages

Expected publication: January 6th 2015 by Gallery Books

Terri's Thoughts

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Gallery Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  The expected publication date is January 6th, 2015.

What is one to say about a story that deals with someone who knows that they are going to die?  There isn't a lot you can say unless you are in the shoes that Daisy was.  This was a very sobering read yet I couldn't pull myself away from it.  It was a raw and emotional read.

I am not going to regurgitate the plot in this review.  I will talk about the emotions I went through as I read this story.  The main question I kept asking myself was what would I do if I were in Daisy's shoes.  I found myself arguing with myself in my head.  Luckily my husband didn't catch any of these inner arguments.  I kept telling myself I would not react as Daisy did, that I would reach out to my loved ones and cherish every moment I had.  Then I thought about it further and realized that her reaction was probably very realistic.  Learning to ask or accept help can be something that is difficult to do and I know I would struggle with that.  The thought of losing independence is a scary one.

One thing I know I would not be doing is looking for another wife for my husband.  I am not that selfless and I would want to spend every moment with him.  I honestly think that imagining him with someone else would completely undo me.  You have to read the story to see how Daisy deals with it.

I want to thank Oakley for writing a story that made me be inside my own head as much as it was on this book.  Anytime a story makes me think I know it is one to remember

This is a serious book about a tragic disease.  If light and fluffy is your thing then look elsewhere.  If you can handle a well written emotional story that makes you think then I say pick this book up now.  You won't regret it.

On a side note...there was mention in the story that Golden Retrievers have a higher than average (60%) chance of getting Cancer.  I really hope Oakley was taking liberties with the facts on this as I had mine curled up with me the entire time I was reading this book :-(

About the Author

Colleen Oakley's articles, essays, and interviews have been featured in The New York Times, Ladies’ Home Journal, Marie Claire, Women’s Health, Redbook and Martha Stewart Weddings. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, two painfully cute kids and a huge lapdog named Bailey. Before I Go is her debut novel.

Website:  http://www.colleenoakley.com    
Twitter:  OakleyColleen