Book Review (My Husband’s): Skipping A Beat by Sarah Pekkanen

Wednesday 2 March, 2011 By 12 Comments


Title: Skipping A Beat
Author: Sarah Pekkanen
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Publication Date: February 22, 2011
Paperback: 352 pages
ISBN: 978-1451609820
Genre: Fiction

From the Publisher:

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOUR HUSBAND SUDDENLY WANTED TO REWRITE THE RULES OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP?

My Thoughts:

I have heard nothing but high praise for Skipping a Beat and while I enjoyed the storyline, I was not emotionally invested like I was in The Opposite of Me. So after reading Skipping a Beat, which is told through Julia’s voice, I wanted to know what a man would think of this book. Would a husband have the same thoughts as his wife?  This is where my husband came into the picture and he agreed to read the book, rate the book and write his first review of a book.  After he completed the book we briefly discussed the book and while I found I related better to Michael than Julia, my husband said he was unable to relate with either character.   Without further ado…

My Husband’s Review:

It is truly a rare circumstance when a single event has such a profound effect on life, and in Sarah Pekkanen’s novel Skipping a Beat, we are immersed into the lives of a man and woman who have chanced upon one of those circumstances. Michael and Julia spent the better part of their lives together, beginning as high school sweethearts who went through college together and finally tying the knot once out of school. Life threw its share of difficulties at the young couple, requiring them to expend a lot of their energy on just getting by. Their dedication to their respective careers (Julia started her own party planning company while Michael eventually won success in his health beverage company) eventually pays off, but with success came simultaneous losses borne by their marriage as Michael’s growing interest in his burgeoning drink company gradually took more of his time, leaving less for his relationship with Julia. To compensate for the loss of intimacy and attention from her spouse, Julia found comfort in embracing the amassed possessions of the now very successful and wealthy couple. With so much reliance on material possessions, few events could derail the faux happiness built around the inanimate, so when Michael has a near-death experience, his perspective becomes instantly transformed as he discovers the veil of wealth that stood between him and the reality of his life. Michael suddenly loses his desire for the material things to which Julia remains intimately attached, a metamorphosis none too comforting for Julia, a twist made ironic by the fact that Michael now wishes to devote his time to his wife. The questions Julia must answer in order to bring order to her life with the “new” Michael make for a rather interesting read and Pekkanen offers some rather pensive discussion questions in the appendix, questions that make this a great discussion group pick.

About the Author:

Sarah Pekkanen is the author of The Opposite of Me and Skipping a Beat. Her work has been published in People, The Washington Post, USA Today, The New Republic, The Baltimore Sun, Reader’s Digest, and Washingtonian, among others. She writes a monthly Erma Bombeck type column for Bethesda Magazine, and has been an on-air contributor to NPR and E! Entertainment’s “Gossip Show.” She is the winner of a Dateline award and the Paul Miller Reporting Fellowship. Sarah lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland with her husband and three young sons.

To learn more about the author and her books please visit her website.

I received a complimentary copy of Skipping A Beat by Sarah Pekkanen from BookSparks PR to offer my honest review of the book. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned book.

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Book Spotlight: A Light At Winter’s End by Julia London

Thursday 24 February, 2011 By 1 Comment


Title: A Light At Winter’s End
Author: Julia London
Publisher: Pocket
Publication Date: February 22, 2011
Paperback: 400 pages
ISBN: 9978-1451606843
Genre: Fiction

From the Publisher:

Holly Fisher opens her door one day and finds her estranged sister Hannah standing there with a glassy look and her nine-month old baby on her hip. Before Holly knows what is happening, Hannah has left her baby with Holly and disappeared. Three months later, fresh out of rehab for addiction to painkillers, Hannah shows up sober, contrite, and wanting her son back. But Holly is in love with the baby and not willing to give him up to the mother who abandoned him.

Into the middle of this extraordinary conflict between two sisters walks a lonesome cowboy, Wyatt Clark (Summer of Two Wishes) who knows a thing or two about childcare and fractured families. He’s had his own troubles and has stayed away from women the last couple of years, but he can’t resist Holly and the baby. But when Holly is delivered a devastating blow and returns the baby to his mother, Holly is too distraught to continue her relationship with Wyatt. It will take an extraordinary turn from Hannah to bring Holly and Wyatt together so that they both may find the happiness that has eluded them.

About the Author:

JULIA LONDON is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of numerous historical romance and women’s fiction novels. She is a four-time finalist for the prestigious Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award for excellence in romantic fiction. A native Texan, Julia lives in Austin.

I received a complimentary copy of A Light At Winter’s End by Julia London from Simon and Schuster to offer my honest review of the book. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned book.

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Book Review: Red Wolf by Liza Marklund

Friday 11 February, 2011 By 8 Comments


Title: Red Wolf
Author: Liza Marklund
Publisher: Atria
Publication Date: February 15, 2011
Hardcover: 400 pages
ISBN: 978-1451602067
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller

From the Publisher:

Beneath a dark winter sky . . . death waits patiently.

A journalist is murdered in the frozen white landscape of a northern Swedish town. Annika Bengtzon, a reporter at a Stockholm-based tabloid, was planning to interview him about a long-ago attack against an isolated air base nearby, and now she suspects that his death is linked to that attack.

Against the explicit orders of her boss, she begins to investigate the event, which is soon followed by a series of shocking murders. Annika knows the murders are connected. At the same time, she begins to suspect that her husband is hiding something, and nothing can counteract the loneliness that has crept into her life.

Behind everything lurks the figure of the Red Wolf, a cold-blooded killer with the soul of a lover. In the end, she must discover the truth not only about the murders but also about the lies that are destroying her own family.

My Review:

Red Wolf (Den röda vargen) by Liza Marklund is an excellent example of just why I enjoy Swedish crime thrillers.  Red Wolf is the 5th book in Marklund’s  Annika Bengtzon series, however the series is not written in chronological order, allowing  the reader to begin with any in the series, and Red Wolf is an extraordinary introduction to Annika.    A reporter for Kvällspressen (Evening Post), and the former head of the investigative crime team, Annika Bengtzon has stepped down and selected to return to work as an independent investigative reporter focusing on terrorism.  Editor in Chief Anders Schyman reluctantly approves Annika’s request to follow up on what she believes to be a 30-year cover-up regarding a Draker fighter plane, which exploded in the middle of the F21 base at Kallax Heath just outside Luleå on 18 November 1969.

Annika travels to Luleå to compare notes with reporter Benny Ekland only to learn from Inspector Supp that Ekland has been killed, his death being viewed as death by dangerous driving.  The deeper Annika digs into the incident at the F21 base, the more bodies begin to turn up and the higher the stakes.  Annika who suffers from extreme anxiety due to her past trauma is not about to be frightened off the case, continuing to investigate despite Schyman’s insistence she cease.  Annika is an extremely strong character who is not just a tough journalist, a but also a wife and mother trying to keep all aspects of her life intact.

Marklund’s writing style is exceptional; her descriptions are so vivid each sense is on alert while reading her novels.  Red Wolf takes the reader into the cold, grey winter in the Arctic Circle and the hustle and bustle of Stockholm, while Annika is busy trying to unravel the clues to discover who or what is behind the murders and crack the case, while her life in Stockholm is unraveling.  Annika is a strong character and yet she and her family have been through so very much within the past year, it is no wonder they are experiencing problems.   I make it no secret that I am a fan of Marklund’s works and Red Wolf lives up to and exceeds my expectations for not only does Marklund keep the reader fully engaged in the investigation but also in Annika’s personal life, slowly watching as it unravels and hoping all can be repaired.  Marklund has written another extraordinary thriller with plenty of twists and turns along with extremely vivid scenes, beautiful prose, and an enticing cast of characters.  I would highly recommend Red Wolf to anyone who enjoys excellently written suspenseful thrillers with a strong female protagonist.  Personally, I am very excited to see Marklund’s series being translated into English, it truly is extraordinary.

About the Author:

LIZA MARKLUND is an author, journalist, columnist, and goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. She is also the co-owner of the publishing house PiratfÖrlaget. Since her debut in 1995, Liza Marklund has written ten novels and one nonfiction book. Her crime novels featuring the gutsy reporter Annika Bengtzon instantly became an international hit, and Marklund’s books have sold 9 million copies in 30 languages to date. Today, Liza Marklund lives in Marbella in southern Spain with her family. Liza Marklund is currently at work on the next installment in the Annika Bengtzon series.  To learn more about the author or the series, please visit Marklund’s website.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of Red Wolf by Liza Marklund from Atria Books to review. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review: Amaryllis In Blueberry by Christina Meldrum

Wednesday 9 February, 2011 By 12 Comments


Title: Amaryllis in Blueberry
Author: Christina Meldrum
Publisher: Gallery; Original edition
Publication Date: February 8, 2011
Paperback: 384 pages
ISBN: 978-1439156896
Genre: Literary Fiction

From the Publisher:

In the stirring tradition of The Secret Life of Bees and The Poisonwood Bible, Amaryllis in Blueberry explores the complexity of human relationships set against an unforgettable backdrop. Told through the haunting voices of Dick and Seena Slepy and their four daughters, Christina Meldrum’s soulful novel weaves together the past and the present of a family harmed—and healed—by buried secrets.

“Maybe, unlike hope, truth couldn’t be contained in a jar. . . .”

Meet the Slepys: Dick, the stern doctor, the naÏve husband, a man devoted to both facts and faith; Seena, the storyteller, the restless wife, a mother of four, a lover of myth. And their children, the Marys: Mary Grace, the devastating beauty; Mary Tessa, the insistent inquisitor; Mary Catherine, the saintly, lost soul; and finally, Amaryllis, Seena’s unspoken favorite, born with the mystifying ability to sense the future, touch the past, and distinguish the truth tellers from the most convincing liar of all.

When Dick insists his family move from Michigan to the unfamiliar world of Africa for missionary work, he can’t possibly foresee how this new land and its people will entrance and change his daughters—and himself—forever.

Nor can he predict how Africa will spur his wife Seena toward an old but unforgotten obsession. In fact, Seena may be falling into a trance of her own. . . .

My Review:

Amaryllis in Blueberry by Christina Meldrum is a deep and complex novel that the reader will probably either really enjoy or not care for all that much, I am uncertain if there will be many who are in the middle of the road, although that is exactly where I place myself.  I try very hard not to compare books, yet the entire time I was reading Amaryllis in Blueberry I kept thinking of the parallels to the extraordinary book The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, a comparison that is not entirely fair, as each writer clearly has their own sense of style, yet the outline is there and Amaryllis in Blueberry paled in comparison.  Now one may easily get the impression I did not like Amaryllis in Blueberry, which would be incorrect.  Meldrum has constructed an excellent story in her own right.  Dick and Seena Slepy have four daughters ranging from eighteen to eleven, their four Marys, each with very distinct personalities; the youngest of the daughters is Amaryllis.  Dick decides to relocate his family from Michigan to West Africa in order to work as a missionary with his cousin.  Meldrum exquisitely and vividly describes life not only in Michigan but also West Africa, it is not difficult for the reader to feel as though they are there with the characters.  The Slepys are a family mired in secrets, various ranges of beliefs, and personalities which are clearly shown through their voices as each tells a part of the story.  I was extremely intrigued in the details of events that took place in Africa, the rituals and customs, and I also enjoyed how Meldrum had each character react to a life so very different from the one they had known.  Amaryllis in Blueberry kept my attention and I did get caught up in the Slepys lives, however I do not think this is a book for everyone.  I do believe it would make for an excellent book discussion group pick.

About the Author:

Christina Meldrum received her Bachelor of Arts in religious studies and political science from the University of Michigan. After working in grassroots development in Africa, she earned her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. She has worked for the International Commission of Jurists in Geneva, Switzerland, and as a litigator at the law firm of Shearman & Sterling. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family and is on the advisory board of Women of the World Investments.

I received a complimentary copy of Amaryllis in Blueberry by Christina Meldrum from InkWell as well as Gallery Books to offer my honest review of the book. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned book.

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Book Review: A Stitch Before Dying by Anne Canadeo

Tuesday 28 December, 2010 By 7 Comments


Title: A Stitch Before Dying
Author: Anne Canadeo
Publisher: Gallery
Publication Date: December 28, 2010
Paperback: 288 pages
ISBN: 978-1439191392
Genre: Fiction, Mystery

From the Publisher:

Stitching it together . . .

The Black Sheep Knitters: a fivesome with a knack for knitting—and for solving crimes.

hen Maggie Messina, owner of the Black Sheep Knitting Shop, is invited to give knitting workshops at a Berkshires spa resort, she manages to negotiate a cottage that fits all five of the Black Sheep for what promises to be a weekend of knitting bliss. But while the friends are expert at counting stitches, they haven’t counted on murder.

Guests and staff at the Crystal Lake Inn are as varied as a mixed bag of yarn, but most colorful is certainly the owner, charismatic self-help guru and former psychiatrist Dr. Max Flemming. The doctor may have told all in a revealing autobiography, but from his ex-wife to the widow of his former business partner—both employees at the inn—Max seems mired in shad­ows from his past. And when a killer strikes during a mountaintop retreat, the Black Sheep wonder what the good doctor might be hiding.

The police seem to be following the wrong thread. But while Maggie’s workshops have given the knitters a unique view of the tensions at the little inn, can they make sense of a crime that is as complexly stranded as a Fair Isle sweater? When the killer murders a second time, the Black Sheep won­der if they’ve dropped a stitch and put themselves in mortal danger. . . .

My Review:

A Stitch Before Dying by Anna Canadeo is the third book in her Black Sheep Knitting series and the first I have read.  I do not think it is necessary to have read the first two for the reader to follow along in this charming cozy mystery.  Canadeo does an excellent job describing the five knitting friends and writes a charming, fun, and interesting cozy mystery.  The end of the book includes delicious recipes and fun knitting patterns and is perfect for those readers who enjoy modern day cozy mysteries with a healthy dose of female bonding.  Canadeo creates a lovely cast of characters in a delightful setting for the murder at a spa/retreat, and a rather intriguing trail to solving the mystery.  A Stitch Before Dying makes for a delightful afternoon of reading and I would heartily recommend it to any reader who enjoys charming, modern day whodunits.

About the Author:

ANNE CANADEO lives and knits in Northport, New York. A Stitch Before Dying is her knitting mystery with the Black Sheep characters. She also authored the popular Thomas Kinkade series writing as Katherine Spencer.

I received a complimentary copy of A Stitch Before Dying by Anne Canadeo from Gallery Books to review. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review: Unforgivable by Laura Griffin

Tuesday 30 November, 2010 By 1 Comment


Title: Unforgivable
Author: Laura Griffin
Publisher: Pocket
Publication Date: November 30, 2010
Paperback: 416 pages
ISBN: 9978-1439152966
Genre: Romance Mystery, Suspense

From the Publisher:

TRACING KILLERS IS MIA VOSS’S BUSINESS. AND HER WORK JUST GOT PERSONAL.

At first, Mia Voss thinks it’s just bad luck when her already lousy day ends with a carjacking, but what seems like a random incident is followed by another sinister episode. A DNA expert, Mia has made it her mission to put away vicious criminals. Suddenly, she’s become the target of one. And the only way to protect the people she loves most is to deliberately destroy her reputation and risk letting a killer walk free.

Once, Mia trusted Detective Ric Santos, but that was before Ric let his turbulent past ruin his chances with Mia, the sexiest, most intriguing woman he’s ever met. But he can tell when she’s lying—and when she’s scared. The key to catching a sadistic madman lies within a long-buried cold case that has haunted Mia for years. Only she can uncover the truth, but first, Ric will have to get her to entrust him with her secrets . . . and her life.

My Review:

Laura Griffin has done it again in her third Tracers series book Unforgivable.  Griffin has successfully written a series of brilliant stories based on a group referred to as Tracers, a specialized and eclectic group of Forensic experts.  Unforgivable reads as a stand alone novel, yet the series is so wonderful that in my earlier reviews of Untraceable and Unspeakable I highly recommended them and still do.  Griffin has a wonderful writing style in which she combines the genre of romance along with high tech forensics along with an intriguing suspense that captures the reader’s attention and does not let go.  Fast paced, intense, and rich in detail and fabulous characters, Unforgivable does not disappoint.  Griffin will take the reader on a wild ride, this time her main focus is on the characters of Mia and Ric, one a DNA expert, the other a detective, both attracted to each other. But is there time for romance while being chased and while pursuing a killer?  Emotionally charged, highly suspenseful with enough plot twists, secrets and romance to keep the reader thoroughly engaged until the last word has been read, the worst part is waiting for the next book in the Tracers series.  I highly recommend Unforgivable to any reader who enjoys well-written suspense.

About the Author:

LAURA GRIFFIN started her career in journalism before venturing into the world of romantic suspense with her novels for Pocket Books. Her work has been nominated for numerous awards, including a 2010 RITA (Whisper of Warning) and a 2009 RT Reviewers Choice Award (Untraceable). Her debut novel, One Last Breath, won the Booksellers Best Award for romantic suspense. Laura currently lives in Austin. Visit her website for more information.

I received a complimentary copy of Unforgivable by Laura Griffin from Simon & Schuster to review. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

Tuesday 30 November, 2010 By 11 Comments


Title: The Distant Hours
Author: Kate Morton
Publisher: Atria
Publication Date: November 9, 2010
Hardcover: 576 pages
ISBN: 978-1439152782
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

A long lost letter arrives in the post and Edie Burchill finds herself on a journey to Milderhurst Castle, a great but moldering old house, where the Blythe spinsters live and where her mother was billeted 50 years before as a 13 year old child during WW II. The elder Blythe sisters are twins and have spent most of their lives looking after the third and youngest sister, Juniper, who hasn’t been the same since her fiance jilted her in 1941.

Inside the decaying castle, Edie begins to unravel her mother’s past. But there are other secrets hidden in the stones of Milderhurst, and Edie is about to learn more than she expected. The truth of what happened in ‘the distant hours’ of the past has been waiting a long time for someone to find it.

Morton once again enthralls readers with an atmospheric story featuring unforgettable characters beset by love and circumstance and haunted by memory, that reminds us of the rich power of storytelling.

My Review:

An astonishingly brilliant gothic narrative, dark, mysterious, and beautiful, The Distant Hours by Kate Morton is an absolute must-read book.   I had heard about Kate Morton and her books, but this is the first one I have read and I was so impressed by the beauty from Morton’s use of lyrical prose, vividly described details both present and past, coupled with her marvelous characters. I was truly engrossed and unable to stop reading.  The Distant Hours is a rather lengthy tome, which will capture the reader from page one and not let go and as the reader journeys with the characters, time will pass by without notice as the reader journeys deep into the Blythe sisters history as Edie works to unearth the secrets of the Milderhurst Castle.  Historical fiction, a gothic mystery and a love story, The Distant Hours does not disappoint.  I am officially adding Morton’s previous two books, The House At Riverton and The Forgotten Garden to my Christmas wish list since The Distant Hours took my breath away.  Beautiful, lyrical, mysterious and riveting, I cannot praise The Distant Hours enough and without reservation highly recommend The Distant Hours to every reader and gift giver alike.

About the Author:

Kate Morton, a native Australian, holds degrees in dramatic art and English literature and is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Queensland. She lives with her family in Brisbane, Australia.

I received a complimentary copy of The Distant Hours by Kate Morton from Atria Books to review. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review: Lipstick In Afghanistan by Roberta Gately

Thursday 11 November, 2010 By 13 Comments


Title: Lipstick in Afghanistan
Author: Roberta Gately
Publisher: Gallery
Publication Date: November 9, 2010
Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN: 978-1439191385
Genre: Fiction

From the Publisher:

Roberta Gately’s lyrical and authentic debut novel—inspired by her own experiences as a nurse in third world war zones—is one woman’s moving story of offering help and finding hope in the last place she expected.

Gripped by haunting magazine images of starving refugees, Elsa has dreamed of becoming a nurse since she was a teenager. Of leaving her humble working-class Boston neighborhood to help people whose lives are far more difficult than her own. No one in her family has ever escaped poverty, but Elsa has a secret weapon: a tube of lipstick she found in her older sister’s bureau. Wearing it never fails to raise her spirits and cement her determination. With lipstick on, she can do anything—even travel alone to war-torn Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11.

But violent nights as an ER nurse in South Boston could not prepare Elsa for the devastation she witnesses at the small medical clinic she runs in Bamiyan. As she struggles to prove herself to the Afghan doctors and local villagers, she begins a forbidden romance with her only confidant, a charming Special Forces soldier. Then, a tube of lipstick she finds in the aftermath of a tragic bus bombing leads her to another life-changing friendship. In her neighbor Parween, Elsa finds a kindred spirit, fiery and generous. Together, the two women risk their lives to save friends and family from the worst excesses of the Taliban. But when the war waging around them threatens their own survival, Elsa discovers her only hope is to unveil the warrior within. Roberta Gately’s raw, intimate novel is an unforgettable tribute to the power of friendship and a poignant reminder of the tragic cost of war.

My Review:

A story of love, hope and faith in humanity, and the power of women, Lipstick in Afghanistan by Roberta Gately immediately draws the reader into the solitary life of Elsa Murphy who first determined she was destined to help those less fortunate than herself after viewing pictures of starving and dying women and children in Rwanda. Elsa overcomes numerous obstacles with her strong determination and with the help of strong females in her life to advance to the stage where she is finally experienced enough to be accepted by the International aid agency ADM and to fulfill her dream. Elsa is cleared to travel to Afghanistan shortly after the events of September 11, 2001, to head up a hospital/clinic in Bamiyan. Gately takes the reader not only to Bamiyan, but also introduces the reader to the culture of the Hazaras who reside in Bamiyan through Elsa but also through the story of Pareem. Lipstick in Afghanistan carries a beautiful message of the interconnectedness of women around the world through the symbolic use of lipstick and contains within it’s covers numerous strong and courageous women. Gately’s characters quickly weave themselves into the readers’ heart, especially Hamid, Amina, Parween, Mariam, Rahima, Dave, and Mike each in their own individual and unique ways. Lipstick in Afghanistan is an extraordinary look at humanity at its worst, all the while showing the beauty and love found in adversity and the strength of women and friendship. Uncle Abdullah became one of my favourite minor characters; his strong character has a lasting impact upon the reader. I strongly recommend Lipstick in Afghanistan to all readers and believe this book would make a wonderful discussion group pick.

About the Author:

A nurse, humanitarian aid worker, and writer, Roberta Gately has served in third-world war zones ranging from Africa to Afghanistan. She has written extensively on the subject of refugees for the Journal of Emergency Nursing, as well as a series of articles for the BBC Worlds News Online. She speaks regularly on the plight of the world’s refugees and displaced.

I received a complimentary copy of Lipstick in Afghanistan by Roberta Gately from Gallery Books to review. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review: The Love Goddess’ Cooking School by Melissa Senate

Thursday 28 October, 2010 By 9 Comments


Title: The Love Goddess’ Cooking School
Author: Melissa Senate
Publisher: Gallery
Publication Date: October 26, 2010
Hardcover: 352 pages
ISBN: 978-1439107232
Genre: Fiction

From the Publisher:

Camilla’s Cucinotta: Italian Cooking Classes. Fresh take-home pastas & sauces dailyBenvenuti! (Welcome!)

Holly Maguire’s grandmother Camilla was the Love Goddess of Blue Crab Island, Maine—a Milanese fortune-teller who could predict the right man for you, and whose Italian cooking was rumored to save marriages. Holly has been waiting years for her unlikely fortune: her true love will like sa cordula, an unappetizing old-world delicacy. But Holly can’t make a decent marinara sauce, let alone sa cordula. Maybe that’s why the man she hopes to marry breaks her heart. So when Holly inherits Camilla’s Cucinotta, she’s determined to forget about fortunes and love and become an Italian cooking teacher worthy of her grandmother’s legacy.

But Holly’s four students are seeking much more than how to make Camilla’s chicken alla Milanese. Simon, a single father, hopes to cook his way back into his daughter’s heart. Juliet, Holly’s childhood friend, hides a painful secret. Tamara, a serial dater, can’t find the love she longs for. And twelve-year-old Mia thinks learning to cook will stop her dad, Liam, from marrying his phony lasagna-queen girlfriend. As the class gathers each week, adding Camilla’s essential ingredients of wishes and memories in every pot and pan, unexpected friendships and romances are formed—and tested. Especially when Holly falls hard for Liam . . . and learns a thing or two about finding her own recipe for happiness.

My Review:

Melissa Senate’s newest release, The Love Goddess’ Cooking School is filled with love, hope, life lessons, and friendship. Holly Maguire’s heart has been broken so she heads to Blue Crab Island in Maine to stay with her Nonna, Camilla Constantina. While visiting, Camilla passes away and Holly inherits her Nonna’s Cucinotta. Camilla Constantina was known as the Love Goddess of Blue Crab Island, not only was she an exceptional cook, but she also could tell fortunes and used wishes in her cooking. Holly gets settled into her new way of life running the cooking school and quickly becomes part of her four students’ lives in ways no one could have predicted. Senate brilliantly weaves together several storylines to create a central story of friendship and love, heartache and joy, and the many facets each person faces in real life. The reader will learn all about Juliet, Simon, Tamara, Mia, and Liam. Senate’s characters are multi-dimensional, interesting, and people that I could imagine talking with. The Love Goddess’ Cooking School is an altogether feel-good novel, with added dimension of several characters lives, the interactions and the problems and joys associated with the rollercoaster that is life. Some of my favorite parts of the book were the pages of Camilla’s diary, which allowed the reader to get to know this remarkable woman, the Love Goddess of Blue Crab Island. This is the second book I have read of Melissa Senate’s and I was unable to put the book down. I was easily transported to Maine and to the cooking school, and fair warning, the book will make you hungry, but thankfully, Senate includes delicious recipes at the end of the book. I would recommend The Love Goddess’ Cooking School to anyone looking for an excellent book to curl up with.

About the Author:

Melissa Senate is the author of eight novels, including the bestselling See Jane Date, which was made into an ABC Family TV movie and has sold over 200,000 copies worldwide. She’s published short pieces in Everything I’ve Always Wanted to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume, It’s a Wonderful Lie, Flirting with Pride and Prejudice, and American Girls About Town. A former romance and young adult editor from New York, she now lives on the southern coast of Maine with her son.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Love Goddess’ Cooking School by Melissa Senate from Melissa Senate to review. I also agreed to review the ARC for Gallery Books. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review: Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan

Thursday 7 October, 2010 By 17 Comments


Title: Of Bees and Mist
Author: Erick Setiawan
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication July 6, 2010
Paperback: 416 pages
ISBN: 978-1416596257
Genre: Fiction

From the Publisher:

Raised in a sepulchral house where ghosts dwell in mirrors, Meridia grows up lonely and miserable. But at age sixteen, she has a chance at happiness when she falls in love with Daniel-a caring and naive young man. Soon they marry, and Meridia can finally escape to live with her husband’s family, unaware that they harbor dark secrets of their own. There is a grave hidden in the garden, there are two sisters groomed from birth to despise each other, and there is Eva-the formidable matriarch and the wickedest mother-in-law imaginable-whose grievances swarm the air in an army of bees. As Meridia struggles to keep her life and marriage together, she discovers long-buried secrets about her own past as well as shocking truths about her new family that inexorably push her love, courage, and sanity to the brink.

Of Bees and Mist is an engrossing fable that chronicles three generations of women under one family tree over a period of thirty years-their galvanic love and passion, their shifting alliances, their superstitions and complex domestic politics-and places them in a mythical town where spirits and spells, witchcraft and demons, and prophets and clairvoyance are an everyday reality. Erick Setiawan’s astonishing debut is a richly atmospheric and tumultuous ride of hope and heartbreak that is altogether touching, truthful, and entirely memorable.

My Review:

A remarkably beautiful and brilliantly unusual story of three generations of women, Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan is told in a setting reminiscent of a fairy tale.  Deeply beautiful, profound, and full of heart-breaking details, the reader is quickly swept into this magical story.  While not a fan of most magical novels, Setiawan’s writing is an exception. He takes the reader to a place that transcends time and tells a deeply moving story of love and longing in a manner, which could be interpreted to have occurred long into the past, present or well into the future.  Of Bees and Mist is filled with a delightful and imaginative array of characters which are easy to identify with and of whom the reader will either like or dislike, so well each is written, especially Meridia, Ravenna, and Eva and their relationships with each other.  Of Bees and Mist is, at first glance, a story of magic and stuff fairy tales are made of, yet Setiawan has expertly crafted his debut novel to read more as a work of fiction and it is this quality which drew me into this timeless story of love and redemption.  I heartily recommend Of Bees and Mist to my readers and think this would make an intriguing book discussion group pick.

About the Author:

Erick Setiawan was born in Jakarta, Indonesia, to Chinese parents and moved to the United States in 1991. He is a graduate of Stanford University and currently lives in San Francisco.

For more reviews of the book, please follow the book tour.

I received a complimentary copy of Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan from TLC Book Tours to be a part of this tour and offer my honest review of the book. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned book.

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