Wednesday, April 6, 2016

*Deja Revu #7*

Picture
Déjà Revu is a weekly review round-up that is open to all book review blogs.

Picture
Picture

Contemporary

Fantasy

Paranormal



Picture

Fantasy

 Paranormal

Romance

Picture

Contemporary

 Horror

Paranormal

 Romance

Science Fiction


Woman's Fiction
Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

*Review* Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly


Genre: Historical Fiction
Published: April 5, 2016
Pages: 497

Synopsis

Inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this powerful debut novel reveals an incredible story of love, redemption, and terrible secrets that were hidden for decades.
 
New York socialite Caroline Ferriday has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon. But Caroline’s world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939—and then sets its sights on France.
 
An ocean away from Caroline, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she is drawn deeper into her role as courier for the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences.
 
For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power.
 
The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross continents—from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland—as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.
 
In Lilac Girls, Martha Hall Kelly has crafted a remarkable novel of unsung women and their quest for love, freedom, and second chances. It is a story that will keep readers bonded with the characters, searching for the truth, until the final pages.


Review

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

For as long as I can remember, I have had a morbid fascination with WWII and the Holocaust. In grade school I devoured books about the Holocaust (Number the Stars, The Devil's Arithmetic, etc.) In high school I wrote research papers on concentration camps. This fascination means that I was predisposed to enjoy this book before I even started reading it, but it also means that I had some pretty high expectations (and my recent readings of The Nightingale and All the Light We Cannot See definitely heightened them.) If you enjoyed either of those two books though, you will likely enjoy Lilac Girls too.

The story rotates through the POVs of three women (an American, a Pole, and a German), and it's written a bit like a soap opera (when things start to get really exciting or nerve-wracking for one character, we switch to another POV) which kept me glued to the book because I needed to know what happened next. I liked getting to see the story from such diverse points of view.

Although I had a little trouble relating to Herta at first, I still mostly felt all of the characters emotions while reading. I was nervous, scared, angry and a whole slew of other things. 

Overall I give Lilac Girls 4 out of 5 stars because it readily kept my interest. - Katie 

Buy the Book


About the Author

Martha is a native New Englander but has become nomadic, splitting her time between New York City, Martha's Vineyard and Atlanta, Georgia. She worked as an advertising copywriter for many years, raised three wonderful children who are now mostly out of the nest and this is her first novel. When she is not pressuring her husband Michael to break down and agree to buy a puppy, she is hard at work on the prequel to Lilac Girls. You'll find more info about the true story behind Lilac Girls at her website: marthahallkelly.com and on the Pinterest account she is madly in love with.
Posted by at 3 comments:

*Review* The Winemakers by Jan Moran


Genre: Historical Fiction
Published: April 5, 2015
Pages: 368

Synopsis

Many years ago, the Rosetta family’s hard-won dreams of staking their claim in the vineyards of California came to fruition. Now high-spirited, passionate Caterina Rosetta, who has inherited both her mother’s talent for crafting the finest wines and also her indomitable will, wants nothing more than to win her mother’s approval and work at her side. But that can never happen, because Caterina is keeping a secret that could ruin her: a daughter of her own, fathered by the love of her life, who left her without explanation. Just as she feels she has nowhere to turn, Caterina discovers that she has inherited a vineyard in the Tuscan countryside in Italy, from a grandmother she’s never heard of, and she seizes the chance to start a new life for herself and her child.
But the past is not so easily outrun. In the country of her ancestors, Caterina meets the family of the father she never knew, and discovers that her mother is also hiding her own secret―a secret so devastating it threatens the future of everything her family has worked for. As an old murder comes to light, and Caterina uncovers a tragedy that may destroy the man she loves, she realizes her happiness will depend on revealing the truth of her mother’s buried past―if she has the strength to face it.
From author Jan Moran comes The Winemakers, a sweeping, romantic novel that will hold you in its grasp until the last delicious sip.


Review

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

The cover and title of this book made me think of Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave and I've always enjoyed historical fiction so I was excited to dive in. It absolutely did not disappoint.

As a modern feminist, I spend large portions of the book irritated at the beliefs and actions of society in general. I realize that the attitudes were commonplace in the 1950s, when this book is set, and it makes me so thankful that I was born after the big push of the women's rights movement. I definitely had no problem relating to Caterina and Ava and their issues with society's attitudes toward strong, independent women.

The story got off to kind of a slow start for me, building the mystery and anticipation. There was a lot of "I can't ever let her know this very important secret" kind of stuff going on, and it was kind of obvious that these secrets should really be divulged (although maybe I just wanted that because I didn't get to know what most of them were either in the beginning.) Once the story picked up, it had me on the edge of my seat until the very end. There may have been some squealing involved (and pleading, ranting, and a bit of hoping as well if I'm being totally honest). I probably sounded like a certified lunatic for the last 30% of the book. 

Overall I give The Winemakers 5 out of 5 stars because it was just that good. I would highly recommend it. - Katie 


Buy the Book


About the Author

Jan Moran is a Rizzoli bestselling and award winning author. She writes historical women's fiction for St. Martin's Press, a contemporary women's fiction series, and nonfiction books. Her stories are smart and stylish, and written with emotional depth. Jan often draws on her international travel and business experiences, infusing her books with realistic details. The Midwest Book Review and Kirkus have recommended her books, calling her heroines strong, complex, and resourceful. She blogs for ProjectEve and at www.janmoran.com.

Jan has been featured in numerous publications and on television and radio, including CNN, Women's Wear Daily, Allure, InStyle, and O Magazine. As an editor and writer, she has covered fragrance, beauty, and spa travel for a variety of publications such as Cosmopolitan, Elle, Costco Connection, and Porthole Cruise. Clients have included Sephora, DFS, JCPenney, and Nordstrom.

Jan speaks before many groups, including Fashion Group International, The Fragrance Foundation, and The American Society of Perfumers. She has represented brands and retailers in media on behalf of several public relations companies, including Edelman and DeVries. Jan is available for speaking engagements.

Jan enjoys receiving letters and emails from readers, and is available to speak to book clubs about her writing and entrepreneurship. Visit her personal website or blog to contact her.
Posted by at 6 comments:

Sunday, April 3, 2016

*Review* Beyond by Mary Ting


Genre: Paranormal
Published: March 2, 2014
Pages: 328

Synopsis

Torn between the past she can't remember and a future she isn’t ready for, Claudia feels at a loss. With unanswered questions, she is certain there is more to her past than just being a venator. Finding the missing pieces in her life won’t be easy because duty calls. When mysterious dark shadows get released, an apocalypse sets in motion. The venators and the alkins must work together once again. Knowing Claudia would be the key to destroying the demons that were released, a familiar stranger appears to protect her. Drawn to the beautiful angel, Claudia finds she must unravel the mysteries of her past in order to help save the world. Who is the angel assisting her and why does she feel a strong connection to him? Time is running out. Will she discover all the secrets before it’s too late?


Review

I was hired to proofread this book. The author is not and was not aware that I would be reviewing the book afterwards. I just like to review every book that I read. If you feel that my connection with the book makes my review untrustworthy, so be it, but this is my honest review.

This is the third book in the series and the first one I've read (if you don't count The Angel Knights and The Chosen Knights from the spin-off series). I know I'm missing some backstory because it's hinted at and alluded to, but I'm just as clueless as Claudia is, which actually might have added to my reading experience. It certainly made it easy to relate to Claudia on that score.

I don't really understand the reasoning behind some of the rules the angels are supposed to follow, although they do sometimes get broken, and that might be because I haven't read the previous two books. But I don't really blame the angels for breaking these rules either because they seem rather stupid, which makes me wonder why they are even rules in the first place. It's kind of a vicious cycle going on in my head. But one of these standard practices is actually really the reason for most of the trouble in this story, which makes it seem that much more dumb.

I did find myself hoping for certain outcomes, and often found myself feeling anxious because of this. So the book kept me interested even though I was railing against the stupid angel rules.

Overall I give this book 4 out of 5 stars because I enjoyed it and really related to Claudia. - Katie 

Buy the Book


About the Author

International Bestselling Author Mary Ting/M. Clarke resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one-Something Great. Why the pen name, M Clarke? She tours with Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children's chapter book-No Bullies Allowed.

Ways to keep in touch with the author:

Newsletter Updates: http://eepurl.com/YMyCn

Website: www.authormaryting.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/authormaryting
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/CrossroadsBook
Twitter @maryting
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11283685-crossroads
Blog http://www.marytingbooks.blogspot.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/authormaryting 
Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, April 2, 2016

*Review* The Chosen Knights by Mary Ting


Genre: Paranormal
Published: March 19, 2016
Pages: 249

Synopsis

(Spin-off to Crossroads Saga) - Read Prequel - The Angel Knights - first **Can be read as stand-alone

When teens go missing in Hawaii, a group of demon-hunters—half human and half angel—disguised as high school students, must leave Crossroads, the place where they reside. In a race against time, they uncover the mystery connecting the missing teens, which dates back to the era of the Knights Templar. However, when they discover one of the Templars passed down a book containing all the secrets and codes to finding a particular treasure, they soon realize this forbidden treasure needs to be found before Cyrus, the lord of the possessor demons, acquires it—a treasure which been safeguarded and hidden from him.

There is only one problem: the pages containing the clues leading to the treasure is missing. When the first page is found, Cyrus threatens to kill more descendants of the Knights Templar if it is not given to him by Friday the thirteenth. In the midst of threats and discovery, the demon-hunting angels find they are not alone when supernatural beings begin to reveal themselves. Can they put their differences aside and work together to solve the Knights Templars’ cipher? As they astral travel to the past, they witness a lot more than they have bargained for. And some things are better left unseen.


Review

I was hired to proofread this book. The author was not and is not aware that I am posting this review and it was not part of our agreement. If you feel that my connection to the book makes my review untrustworthy, so be it, but this is my honest review.

This book got off to a great start for me. I love historical fiction, and that's basically what the prologue was. I'd love to read an entire HF book by Mary Ting because I was transported back in time in a matter of paragraphs and was secretly hoping that the whole book would be set in the past even though I knew it wouldn't be.

Unfortunately, I found the female MC incredibly annoying for large portions of the book. She is understandably clueless about a lot of every day human things, but even though I understood why she was clueless, it still ended up annoying me. Additionally, she is supposed to be a trained warrior, one of the best Heaven has to offer, but she comes off almost clueless in battle, at least she did to me. I just couldn't find a connection with her. 

Even though I was annoyed by the female MC, the story still held my attention. There was good use of foreshadowing to lead to conclusions about various events and whatnot that made me feel good about myself for figuring things out before the characters did.

Overall I give this 3.5 out of 5 stars because it got off to a great start and was really interesting overall, but the female MC really annoyed me. - Katie 

Buy the Book


About the Author

International Bestselling Author Mary Ting/M. Clarke resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one-Something Great. Why the pen name, M Clarke? She tours with Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children's chapter book-No Bullies Allowed.

Ways to keep in touch with the author:

Newsletter Updates: http://eepurl.com/YMyCn

Website: www.authormaryting.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/authormaryting
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/CrossroadsBook
Twitter @maryting
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11283685-crossroads
Blog http://www.marytingbooks.blogspot.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/authormaryting
Posted by at 1 comment:

*Review* Sexiest Man Alive by M. Clarke


Genre: New Adult/Romance
Published: February 18, 2016
Pages: 275

Synopsis

Everything is sexy at Knight Fashion Magazine.

Nathan Cross is a struggling actor waiting tables at a local restaurant to make ends meet while he attends endless auditions. Though his hopeful career moves at a slow pace, Olivia is the strength and sunshine in his life… until she leaves him. One day, he is offered a contract with a modeling agent, leading him to work for Knight Fashion Magazine—a dream job he never imagined would become a reality.
Olivia swore she would always put her career first and that’s precisely what she did when she left Nathan. Having a deadbeat dad and watching her mom work two jobs to make ends meet have been her driving force. When she is offered a modeling career, she drops everything—even the love of her life—and moves to New York.
Though Nathan and Olivia try to steer clear of one another, working for the same fashion magazine causes their paths to cross again and old emotions are awakened. Can Nathan forgive Olivia or will he take the next step with the woman he is currently dating? Will Olivia do everything she can to break them apart? Or will she choose her career over her heart… again? 


Review

I was hired to proofread this book. The author is not and was not aware that I would be reviewing the book after proofreading. I just review every book that I read. If you feel like my connection to the book makes my review too biased, so be it, but this is my honest review.

This book is told in dual first person POV. This allows us to see both sides of the story, which makes the events aggravating, at least for me, and much more sad. Everything feels personal. But the book also inspired a lot of yelling at the characters for being foolish, which I actually typically consider a good thing in a romance.

The dialogue was fairly realistic, although there were times when I felt like the characters were excessively cocky or self-assured; then I remembered that they are paid models, so the cockiness actually makes sense. 

I do have one complaint though. I felt like the characters ate way more pasta than seems reasonable for models, and I've watched both America's Next Top Model and Make Me a Supermodel, so I'm basically an expert on model diets. Okay, not really, and the book spans a fairly long time, like almost a year, but pasta is eaten a lot when food is mentioned and it did strike me as odd, but I really don't know much about the standard diet of your average model. 

Overall I give Sexiest Man Alive 5 out of 5 stars because it kept me interested and even surprised me a couple of times. - Katie 

Buy the Book


About the Author

International Bestselling, Award Winning, Author Mary Ting/M. Clarke resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one-Something Great. Why the pen name, M Clarke? She tours with Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children's chapter book-No Bullies Allowed.

Ways to keep in touch with the author:

Newsletter Updates: http://eepurl.com/YMyCn

Website: www.authormaryting.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMaryTing?
Tweeter @maryting
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11283685-crossroads
Blog http://www.marytingbooks.blogspot.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/authormaryting
Posted by at No comments:

Friday, April 1, 2016

*Review* Squirrel Bait by C.P. Davis


Genre: Fantasy/Humor
Published: February 21, 2016
Pages: 89

Synopsis

Tonya the librarian has an unusual passion for books, even for a librarian. When her books are harmed she takes it personally. When people turn up dead over damaged books, there are questions to answer. When the killer is a weresquirrel, the questions become more confusing. 

There is a certain pretentiousness in classical literature. Elegant writing filled with meaning both astounding and sublime. This is not that. Not horrific enough to be horror, nor humorous enough to be comedy, welcome to Chip’s Dollar Dreadfuls. There may not be any fundamental truths, but there will be blood...so much blood.


Review

I wanted to like this book, I really did, but it absolutely failed to impress me. I was promised an absolutely fantastically horrible death by the author and he didn't even deliver on that score. My fictional death was predictable and lame, and I'm not just saying that because I knew I was going to die beforehand.

The characters were all incredibly unrealistic and one-dimensional. There was no depth and no connection I could find with them (well except for our shared love of books.) Their motivations were laughable and ludicrous.

I spent most of the book forcing myself to keep reading, hoping for something to actually pique my interest, but the only part of the book that I really liked was the end because that meant my torment was over.

If all that wasn't bad enough, there were so many spelling errors that about a third of the book was utter nonsense that I had to re-read half a dozen times just to make sense of it.

Overall I give this book 1/2 a star out of 5 stars because it was just that bad (but I have to give it something). I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, not even my worst enemy. Stay far away from this book. - Katie 

Buy the Book



I have not read Squirrel Bait yet, but plan on doing so in the nearish future. If you would like to read some legitimate reviews of Squirrel Bait check out the links below.


About the Author

Chip discovered a passion for travel as a boy when his family moved from Arkansas to Kenya for two years as missionaries. He continued moving regularly as an adult, working construction jobs across several states, until having two school-aged sons dictated that he settle down. Fast forward through 15 years of structural design, the boys are grown and it is time to travel once again.  

Chip's dream is to become like Jack, the main character in his books. He will be traveling, learning new cultures and places, and looking for ways to help people along the way. This, in turn, will fuel the books to come.
Posted by at 6 comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)