North of Here by Laurel Saville

April 11, 2016 By Leave a Comment

nORTH
North of Here by Laurel Saville
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (258 pgs)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

The sounds of unexpected tragedies—a roll of thunder, the crash of metal on metal—leave Miranda in shock amid the ruins of her broken family.

As she searches for new meaning in her life, Miranda finds quiet refuge with her family’s handyman, Dix, in his cabin in the dark forests of the Adirondack Mountains. Dix is kind, dependable, and good with an ax—the right man to help the sheltered Miranda heal—but ultimately, her sadness creates a void even Dix can’t fill.

The system had no escape from the BSOD error was originally a ‘Black Screen of Death’ (as some people viagra vs cialis say) instead of ‘Blue Screen of Death’. As we probably am aware, it is PDE 5 inhibiting drug viagra online no prescriptions which enables men to reduce the effects of PDE 5 enzymes, so that, ED symptoms can be lessened. Well one very popular way is through is the medication. levitra generic usa is the most prominent medication treatment for a specific kind of sexual issue. Echocardiographic valve analysis is of canadian pharmacy levitra critical importance to begin treatment immediately. When a man from her distant past turns up, the handsome idealist now known as Darius, he offers Miranda a chance to do meaningful work at The Source, a secluded property filled with his nature worshipers. Miranda feels this charismatic guru is the key to remaking her life, but her grief and desire for love also create an opportunity for his deception. And in her desperate quest to find herself after losing almost everything, Miranda and Dix could pay a higher price than they ever imagined.

Miranda was an interesting character in this book, and the main reason I kept on to the end.  While I liked the author’s voice and the flow of her prose, I have to say this book wasn’t exactly my cup of tea. I’ll admit I’m more of a genre fiction fan than a literary one and this book fit into the latter category and may be the reason I didn’t enjoy it as much as I’d hoped.

The reason I’m not typically a fan of literary novels is I feel authors spend too much time telling us what happened rather than showing us. It’s not so much the fault of the writer, but the style they choose to write in. I did feel this story could have been much stronger and more enjoyable, at least for me, told with more dialogue and more in the here and now than being told the story in narration form.

It’s a bittersweet story, very moving in parts, very sad in others. I did feel a connection with Miranda because of the situation she found herself in. It’s a dire one and none of which is her fault, so I began cheering her on. I hoped that things turn around for her, especially when Dix comes on the scene.

What dialogue there was in this book was excellent, very lifelike and one of the reasons I wished there would have been more. All the characters seemed believable even if some weren’t that likeable.

It does, as any book should, make you think about things, in this case, lose and healing and trying to move on with one’s life after a tragedy.

If you are a fan of literary fiction, I’d say give this one a read.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Island in the Sea by Anita Hughes

April 4, 2016 By Leave a Comment

ISLAND
Island in the Sea by Anita Hughes
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press-Griffin Books
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (292 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

Juliet Lyman is a senior executive at Yesterday Records. Music is her passion and she’s very good at her job. That’s why her famously philanthropic boss Gideon sends her to Majorca, Spain to work with a very tortured, but talented client. Lionel Harding is one of the best song writers of the 20th century, the multi-Grammy award-winning lyricist of the third most recorded song in history. But now he’s 42 and six months overdue on the his latest paid assignment. Juliet is not leaving Majorca without either new lyrics or a very large check.

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As her professional and personal lives start to mix for the first time, Juliet is forced to reevaluate her priorities. Gideon hasn’t been totally honest, and love may be the only thing that gives them all what they need.

I haven’t found many books set on the island of Majorca so I knew I had to read this one. I used to spend summers there when I was growing up so reading Island in the Sea was part nostalgia and part interesting story.

I thought the author did a wonderful job describing the flora and fauna. I imagined myself back there. The story was an interesting one but it never held my interest as much as I would have liked. There was nothing wrong with the pacing of dialogue or even the characters, but somehow I wasn’t able to connect with them, especially the lead character, Juliet, as much as I would have liked.

While a good part of the story does take place in the present and in Majorca, there were constant flashbacks of Lionel and his relationship with a woman called Samantha. While it was interesting to read, it sort of took away from the present story and sometimes the switches were abrupt and short. I did like the storyline with native resident Gabriella and how loyal she was to her family.

All in all, it was an interesting read, and if you’re looking for something with a setting that will be new to you, I’d say give this a try.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Whistling Women by Kelly Romo

February 5, 2016 By Leave a Comment

women
Whistling Women by Kelly Romo
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Historical, Women’s Fiction
Length: Full Length (447 pgs)
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Life went terribly wrong for Addie Bates in San Diego, and she’s been running from dark memories ever since. For fifteen years, the Sleepy Valley Nudist Colony has provided a safe haven for Addie to hide from the crime she committed. But when the residents pack up to go on exhibit at the 1935 world’s fair in San Diego, Addie returns and must face the thrilling yet terrifying prospect of reuniting with her estranged sister, Wavey.

Addie isn’t the only one interested in a reunion. When her niece, Rumor, discovers she has an aunt, Rumor is determined to bring her family together. But it’s not so easy when the women are forced to confront family secrets, past and present.
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Set against the backdrop of the 1935 world’s fair, Whistling Women explores the complex relationships between sisters, the sacrifices required to protect family, and the devastating consequences of a single impulsive act.

This book wasn’t anything I expected and it’s a good and bad thing.

You might be wondering. Why would I start a review with the above sentence? When I opened Whistling Women by Kelly Romo, I had sort of an idea what I was getting into–there are sisters, there’s strife and an interesting story of how they might get back together as a family. As far as that goes, I wasn’t steered wrong. The story has its interesting parts and characters that kept my attention. I liked Rumor. She’s spunky and forthright. I rooted for her.

That said, there were parts that, well, dragged for me. I’m not knocking Kelly Romo’s writing style. She’s written a vivid story and paints an interesting picture of 1930’s California. I even liked the quirkiness of Addie. But the story definitely dragged for the first half of the book. I struggled, even though I wanted to keep going in order to reach the pay off. That’s not to say this was a bad book. It wasn’t. There’s a lot of potential to the book and with a little more editing, it can be great.

What was the thing I totally didn’t expect in the book? The nudist colony. I won’t elaborate so I don’t ruin the story for you, but it wasn’t where I thought the story would go. It’s definitely quirky.

If you want a book that’s heavy on heart and a little different, then this might be the book for you.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Last Midwife by Sandra Dallas

January 18, 2016 By Leave a Comment

LAST
The Last Midwife by Sandra Dallas
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Historical, Mystery/Suspense, Women’s Fiction
Length: Full Length (353 pgs)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

It is 1880 and Gracy Brookens is the only midwife in a small Colorado mining town where she has delivered hundreds, maybe thousands, of babies in her lifetime. The women of Swandyke trust and depend on Gracy, and most couldn’t imagine getting through pregnancy and labor without her by their sides.

But everything changes when a baby is found dead…and the evidence points to Gracy as the murderer.

She didn’t commit the crime, but clearing her name isn’t so easy when her innocence is not quite as simple, either. She knows things, and that’s dangerous. Invited into her neighbors’ homes during their most intimate and vulnerable times, she can’t help what she sees and hears. A woman sometimes says things in the birthing bed, when life and death seem suspended within the same moment. Gracy has always tucked those revelations away, even the confessions that have cast shadows on her heart.
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With her friends taking sides and a trial looming, Gracy must decide whether it’s worth risking everything to prove her innocence. And she knows that her years of discretion may simply demand too high a price now…especially since she’s been keeping more than a few dark secrets of her own.

There’s always something special about the last book you read before the calendar flips over to a new year and The Last Midwife was no exception. I spend the holidays relaxing reading this book and have to say it was hard to put down.

The main character, Gracy is a midwife in a Colorado town during the gold mining days. Her voice pulls you into the story and you like her straight away. She seems kind and sweet so when she’s suddenly accused of killing a baby, you’re put on edge and want to start reading more chapters.

It’s not just Gracy who’s a great character in this story, but just about everyone she comes in contact with. Each one seemed to jump off the page and I liked the way the author gave them all some sort of secret to keep hidden.

The author did a wonderful job portraying the town and how people actually lived and sometimes suffered through this period of history. You get a feel for what women went through during pregnancy and childbirth and just how tough the female of the family had to be to survive.

I felt like this book not only offered me a wonderful read but also a well told history lesson rolled in there too. The pacing was perfect and I found myself spending more time reading each time I picked up this book. This was the first time I’d read anything by this author and now I’ll be looking for more titles written by her.

Ms. Dallas has set the bar high for my New Year reading and I hope the next book I read is just as enjoyable. It’s one I suggest you add to your winter reading list.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Witch’s Market by Mingmei Yip

January 5, 2016 By Leave a Comment

MARKET
The Witch’s Market by Mingmei Yip
Publisher: Kensington Books
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Length: Full Length (304 pgs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Thistledown

Chinese-American assistant professor Eileen Chen specializes in folk religion at her San Francisco college. Though her grandmother made her living as a shamaness, Eileen publicly dismisses witchcraft as mere superstition. Yet privately, the subject intrigues her.

When a research project takes her to the Canary Islands—long rumored to be home to real witches—Eileen is struck by the lush beauty of Tenerife and its blend of Spanish and Moroccan culture. A stranger invites her to a local market where women sell amulets, charms, and love spells. Gradually Eileen immerses herself in her exotic surroundings, finding romance with a handsome young furniture maker. But as she learns more about the lives of these self-proclaimed witches, Eileen must choose how much trust to place in this new and seductive world, where love, greed, and vengeance can be as powerful, or as destructive, as any magic.

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Filled with a rich family history, Eileen has the gift of sight, passed down from her grandmother who made her living as a shaman. Written eloquently, Ms. Yip paints a fairytale picture of a land rich with magic and mystery as Chen finds herself embroiled in a mystery. Who is the enigmatic man who seems to have his designs set on her? Who are the witches that turn up in strange places with spells on their lips? What is this Witch’s Market? Sometimes the past doesn’t want to stay buried and as Eileen will learn, there are ruthless forces in place concerned with doing just that.

This was an eloquently told tale, but at times the way Eileen and the other characters spoke seemed too stylized for real life. It fit with the fairy tale quality of the book, but I found myself getting irritated by the unreal speech or laughter. It reminded me of some of the dubbed martial arts movies that are so beautiful with the lush costumes but the speakers matched to the characters don’t do the story justice.

Eileen was an interesting person. A professor researching folk religion who just happens to be a witch. As she learns more about the dual nature of shamanistic Chinese magic and Western witchcraft, she grows as a woman and in her powers of observation and sight.

Overall, I enjoyed this book but wished the author had done more with dialog and making it as real as some of the inner lives of the characters they represented. If you enjoyed books about Chinese history or even books about witchcraft, you may find this book intriguing. I did. The blend of Eastern and Western culture was one of its strongest points, combined with the lyrical quality to Yip’s words.

A mysterious read perfect for a night of reading…

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Smoke by Catherine McKenzie

December 7, 2015 By Leave a Comment

SMOKE
Smoke by Catherine McKenzie
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (337 pages)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

After a decade-long career combating wildfires, Elizabeth has traded in for a quieter life with her husband. Now she works as the local arson investigator in a beautiful, quaint town in the Rockies. But that tranquil life vanishes when she and her husband agree to divorce, and when a fire started in nearby Cooper Basin begins to spread rapidly. For Elizabeth, containing a raging wildfire is easier than accepting that her marriage has failed.

For Elizabeth’s ex-friend Mindy, who feels disconnected from her husband and teenage children, the fire represents a chance to find a new purpose: helping a man who lost his home to the blaze. But her faith is shattered by a shocking accusation.

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Engrossing… simply engrossing.

I’m generally not a fan of chick lit. Why? I like a little more romance to the books I read. That said, I did enjoy Smoke. There’s just enough going on in this book. It kept my attention and flowed well. The writing was good and I liked the characters for the most part.

The backdrop of the wildfires helped to illustrate the way the lives of the characters seem to be falling into shambles, but there’s a chance for rebirth. I liked that. I like knowing things aren’t always going to be horrible and this author did that for me.

The slow buildup of the characters could be a bit of a story killer for some. It’s not a fast moving book to begin with. I had to fight a little early on, but once I got into the story… I was hooked. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t engrossing, it just means you may have to put in some effort to get to the payoff. It’s worth it.

Elizabeth and Mindy are good characters and easy to relate to because we’ve all been in their shoes–kids, marriages, crises and the like. How the characters handled their problems was very down to earth and worth the read.

Grab a copy. Good reading.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Life and Other Near-Death Experiences by Camille Pagán

November 25, 2015 By Leave a Comment

NEAR
Life and Other Near-Death Experiences by Camille Pagán
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: Full Length (262 pgs)
Rated: 4.5 stars
Review by Poppy

Libby Miller has always been an unwavering optimist—but when her husband drops a bomb on their marriage the same day a doctor delivers devastating news, she realizes her rose-colored glasses have actually been blinding her.
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With nothing left to lose, she abandons her life in Chicago for the clear waters and bright beaches of the Caribbean for what might be her last hurrah. Despite her new sunny locale, her plans go awry when she finds that she can’t quite outrun the past or bring herself to face an unknowable future. Every day of tropical bliss may be an invitation to disaster, but with her twin brother on her trail and a new relationship on the horizon, Libby is determined to forget about fate. Will she risk it all to live—and love—a little longer?

From critically acclaimed author Camille Pagán comes a hilarious and hopeful story about a woman choosing between a “perfect” life and actually living.

Alternately exceptionally deep and heart-rending and absolutely hysterical, Life and Other Near-Death Experiences was nothing like I expected and completely enjoyable.

From the first page, I was both chuckling at Libby’s attitude and heart-broken at the way her life was crumbling around her. She has the kind of snarky, internal (and sometimes external) humor that I absolutely enjoy. Despite her world falling apart, she moves forward and makes choices and does what needs doing. Sometimes I questioned her choices, but not having walked in her shoes, how would I know what the “right” way to behave would be.

The author has a descriptive but breezy style that’s so easy to read. While this isn’t my typical genre, I’m glad I grabbed it. It was both edifying and uplifting and so very interesting. Parts were a little draggy, but mostly I zipped right through the book. From Chicago to the tropics, I was right there with our heroine as she went from giving up and deciding to die, to learning how to live and love again. It was an incredible journey that sometimes left me breathless and ultimately left me moved. I’m glad I decided to pick it up and recommend it to any reader who enjoys a book both meaningful and completely entertaining.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Hands Full of Ashes by Kim Hotzon

July 22, 2015 By 6 Comments

BookCover_HandsFullofAshes

Hands Full of Ashes by Kim Hotzon
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Genre: Womens Fiction, Contemporary
Length: Full (247 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rated: 3.5 stars
Review by Rose

Instead of keeping it hidden and feeling discount levitra no rx http://icks.org/n/data/ijks/1498534150_add_file_3.pdf ashamed about it, now men can try the Supplemax programs that can help them as well. Another commonly advised cialis online consultation investigation is endoscopy. Try to confide in your partner to get the branded medication. viagra cialis prix The 3 medicines given http://www.icks.org/html/04_publication.php?cate=SPRING%2FSUMMER+2009 viagra prices above are inside the generic form. Olivia promises her dying husband that she will spread his ashes around the world. Landing in Africa, Olivia begins volunteering at an orphanage. After a weekend excursion viewing mountain gorillas, Olivia is unaware of how drastically her life is about to change. Love was never part of her plan . . .

This is an intriguing story about one woman’s journey to fulfill a promise she made to her dying husband, but it becomes so much more than that. It becomes the story of Olivia finding herself and finding a new passion for her life.

Although listed as “spicy” as a heat level, there is only one sexual scene, and it is not descriptive. It is, however, pivotal to the plot of the story. It’s hard to go into detail without getting into spoilers, but suffice it to say that Olivia doesn’t always make the best choices in this story.

The story is told not only from Olivia’s POV but at times from different character’s POV as well. A few of those could have been left out without hurting the main plot, in this reviewer’s opinion. But, they were not enough of a distraction to take away from Olivia’s story.

There is one decision Olivia makes towards the end of the book that some readers might find questionable.  It’s understandable given the circumstances and it’s very much in character with Olivia’s personality, but still made me raise an eyebrow. It was a hard decision.

Over all, the book was easy to read and gave me a new appreciation of Rwanda and Uganda and the troubles they have gone through. Good job.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Kindness by Polly Samson

July 9, 2015 By Leave a Comment

KINDNESS
The Kindness by Polly Samson
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Genre- Women’s fiction, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (290 pgs)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

A novel both heartbreaking and hopeful, about love and family, and the major and minor ways we lose people in our lives—from an acclaimed talent.

Julian’s fall begins the moment he sets eyes on Julia, flying a hawk high on a ridge. Julian is an English student, heading toward academia; Julia is married and eight years his senior. And yet, ignoring warnings from family and friends, they each give up all they have to be together. Their new life in London offers immense happiness, especially after their daughter, Mira, is born.
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But when Julian’s adored—and remote—boyhood home becomes available, he sets out to re-create a lost paradise for his new family. Once again, he allows love to blind him. Only when Mira becomes dangerously ill does it become impossible for Julia to conceal the explosive secret that she has been keeping.

In this first introduction to American readers, the acclaimed Polly Samson explores how the yearning for the past can affect joy in the present and the future. The Kindness is a haunting story of love, grief, betrayal, and reconciliation—masterfully plotted and exquisitely rendered.

I’d never read anything by this author before but glad that I chose to review this book. It’s told in current tense, third person with carefully placed flashbacks. The first part of the book focuses on Julian, one of the main characters. The story is told through his eyes. That story is how he met Julia, and fell in love with her. It’s about their life with daughter Mira and Mira’s illness. It also covers his past relationship with Kate, an old school friend. It’s beautifully told and while I don’t want to spoil your enjoyment of the book I can say that all is not what it seems.

The last half of the book is told from Julia’s point of view. It’s sort of her take on the story that’s unfolded during the first part of the book. While it’s not a case of there’s two sides to every story, Ms. Samson did a wonderful job winning you over to both these character’s sides. I felt like they were both flawed in some way and that together they healed one another.

As all good books should, The Kindness is an emotional read. It has lots of twists and turns, especially in the second half. It tugs your heartstrings continually the more you learn about these characters and the truth behind their story. In a way it’s almost upsetting realizing they can’t all have a happy ending.

I’ll definitely be looking for more books by this author. And if you enjoy women’s fiction packed with emotion and told in an original way, I’d recommend putting this one on your to read list.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Blueprints by Barbara Delinsky

July 1, 2015 By Leave a Comment

BLUEPRINTS
Blueprints by Barbara Delinsky
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Mainstream/ Women’s Fiction
Length: Full Length (405 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

Some women are born with an instinct for knowing how things work
-and what to do when they break.

Caroline MacAfee is a skilled carpenter, her daughter Jamie, a talented architect. Together they are the faces of Gut It!, a home renovation series on local public television. Caroline takes pride in her work, and in the way she connects with the show’s audience. But when she is told the network wants her daughter to replace her as host-the day after Caroline’s fifty-sixth birthday-she is devastated. The fallout couldn’t come at a worse time.

For Jamie, life changes overnight when, soon after learning of the host shift, her father and his new wife die in a car accident that orphans their two-year-old son. Accustomed to organization and planning, she is now grappling with a toddler who misses his parents, a fiancé who doesn’t want the child, a staggering new attraction, and a work challenge that, if botched, could undermine the future of both MacAfee Homes and Gut It!

For Caroline, hosting Gut It! is part of her identity. Facing its loss, she feels betrayed by her daughter and old in the eyes of the world. Her ex-husband’s death thrusts her into the role of caregiver to his aging father. And then there’s Dean, a long-time friend, whose efforts to seduce her awaken desires that have been dormant for so long that she feels foreign to herself.
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Who am I? Both women ask, as the blueprints they’ve built their lives around suddenly need revising. While loyalties shift, decisions hover, and new relationships tempt, their challenge comes not only in remaking themselves, but in rebuilding their relationship with each other.

Blueprints starts off in a slow, easy manner and gains speed as Barbara Delinsky reaches into the depths of the main characters’ minds and hearts at a life-changing. Emotions churn inside them, under their can-do, professional façade.

Like so many women in real life, Carolyn, age fifty-seven, and her daughter Jamie, age twenty-nine, define themselves by their professions. They compete in male-dominant professions and downplay their sensuality. Neither realizes it, until two modern superheroes ease into their lives and awaken passion, not just the sexual kind, but also passion for life itself.

Blindsided by a change other people demand in their roles in a TV show they do for the family business, Carolyn and Jamie are at odds with each other—a conflict unusual for them. Self-esteem and self-worth come away with some bruises. How they heal and move on makes compelling reading.

They are forced to come to grips with who they really are after the death of Carolyn’s ex-husband—Jamie’s father. He has been a major player in the family business that they have all dedicated their time and talents to for years. Their intellectualizing leads them one way. Their feelings lead them another way.

The upheaval after the tragic death leaves Carolyn watching over, and more and more filling the shoes of her ex-father-in-law who started and heads up the family business; while Jamie becomes guardian of her precious two-year-old half brother—a role she has no skills in. Love for the little boy compels her to make adjustments that play havoc with her pristine, orderly lifestyle.

The two super heroes mentioned won this reader’s heart. Both are “manly” men who are steady, trustworthy, helpful, and totally supportive. Dean, a longtime friend and colleague of Carolyn’s, is comfortable in his own skin at this stage in this life. He eases into her life and becomes SO much more than a treasured friend. It’s as if she sees him for the first time after all their years of working together. He protects, challenges, chides gently at times, all the while awakening the passionate part of Carolyn that had always been dormant.

For Jamie, drowning in motherhood, is rescued by Chip, a bad-boy hockey player turned teacher. He is a single parent who learned by trial and error. How their relationship evolves is captivating. The love they share has sizzle and SO much more. It makes one’s heart feel good.

Barbara Delinsky, in her very special way, immerses the reader in the lives of the characters. Blueprints is a keeper to read more than once.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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