Review: The Salt God's Daughter by Ilie Ruby

Title: The Salt God's Daughter Author: Ilie Ruby Publication Date: September 4, 2012
From Goodreads:
Set in Long Beach, California, beginning in the 1970s, The Salt God’s Daughter follows Ruthie and her sister, Dolly, as they carve out a life in a place filled with meteorological myths and exotic folklore, where female rites of passage are met with startling discoveries. Raised by a mother drawn to the ocean and guided by the moons, their heritage is a mystery and with their mother often absent, they are forced to confront the social and sexual mores of the time on their own as they search for true love and a home. Ruthie's daughter, Naida, is born into this conflicted landscape with a secret she tries to keep hidden as she seeks out the father she never knew. Woven with a traditional Scottish folktale and hints of Jewish mysticism, The Salt God’s Daughter examines how far we’ll go to find our place in a world that is often hostile to those who are different.
My Thoughts:
It's the 1970s and Ruthie and Dolly are living on the road with their mother, Diana. Traveling through California in "Big Ugly", their station wagon, Ruthie and Dolly are just young children forced to work strawberry fields and trash pick to survive. Diana lives her life by the moons, obsessing over her Farmer's Almanac, always changing her course depending on what the book has to offer that day. Diana's moods are constantly shifting as well, drinking often and punishing Ruthie for very small mistakes. 
From childhood to adulthood, Diana's ways stay with Ruthie, who constantly struggles with life's injustices and who wants nothing more than to find love. This comes in the shape of Graham, a mysterious man who comes and goes without warning, ultimately giving Ruthie what she always wanted: Naida, a daughter. The Salt God's daughter follows the lives of Diana, Ruthie and Naida as they struggle to make sense of their pasts and determine what promise their future holds.

First, I have to say that this novel is written quite beautifully. Almost lyrically. The author has an exceptional skill and it shows. But have you ever finished a book that left you feeling confused? That is how I am feeling right now, confused. When I first came upon The Salt God's Daughter, I knew right away that I wanted to read it. I am drawn to stories about unstable families, especially mothers and daughters, and this one sounded very promising. The stunning cover definitely helped grab my attention as well. But it was far different from what I was expecting. 
The story takes place in three parts: Ruthie before Naida, Ruthie immediately after Naida's birth, and Naida's childhood. I was immediately drawn to Ruthie, her childhood was harsh and I wished I could snatch her right out of the book to live with me each time her mother left her standing alone in the desert for hours just to teach her a lesson, always wondering how long she would be there before her mother's mood changed and she came back for her. Many times I was left feeling uncomfortable for the girls, knowing that things would not get better for them yet still aching each time another vicious act was committed against them. I felt for Dolly too, although her smug attitude sometimes turned me off to her, and especially Naida. Born with a defect but also the gift of sight, she is tortured at school and her only friends are the old folks in the retirement home in which she lives. 
But as much as I loved the characters and felt every heartache they endured, and as beautifully written as it was, I still struggled to keep up with the storyline. Reality is fused with folklore throughout the story and this is where I came into trouble. I had a very hard time figuring out if these tales were meant  to be believed or were just used as metaphors. Did these strange things actually happen, or were they meant to explain other things altogether? I just don't know, and I'm not sure I will ever figure it out, short of actually talking with the author. I think I would have enjoyed the book much more had I known about this ahead of time. I like knowing beforehand if there is a mystical aspect to a story, for this very reason.
However, that being said, please do not let this discourage you from reading this story. I know for a fact that had I known from the beginning that there was this aspect to the story, I would have really loved it. So now that you know, you will not be confused as I was. Please do not let my bias stop you from giving this a chance. The writing is lovely and the story is heartbreaking, two crucial elements to a wonderful read.

For more about Ilie Ruby and The Salt God's Daughter, visit her website.
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*I received this book for free in exchange of my honest review. This did not influence my opinion in any way and all views and opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Review: Populazzi by Elise Allen

Title: Populazzi Author: Elise Allen Publication Date: August 1, 2011 Synopsis:

Cara has never been one of those girls: confident, self-possessed, and always ready with the perfect thing to say. A girl at the very top of the popularity tower. One of the Populazzi.

Now, junior year could change everything. Cara’s moving to a new school, and her best friend urges her to seize the moment—with the help of the Ladder. Its rungs are relationships, and if Cara transforms into the perfect girlfriend for guys ever-higher on the tower, she’ll reach the ultimate goal: Supreme Populazzi.

The Ladder seems like a lighthearted social experiment, a straight climb up, but it quickly becomes gnarled and twisted. And when everything goes wrong, only the most audacious act Cara can think of has a chance of setting things even a little bit right.

My Thoughts: In kindergarten, Cara Leonard suffered what was known as "the incident", forever labeling her and best friend Claudia as losers. Even now, as juniors, Cara and Claudia are still outcasts. But that is about to change. Cara has moved and is starting a new school, finally giving her the chance to become what she always wanted: Populazzi. Populazzi is the highest level of social status. They are the most popular and elite, everyone wants to be them or be friends with them. Claudia has come up with a plan: The Ladder. By starting low and working her way up, Cara has agreed to climb The Ladder by dating boys in the different rungs. Each new boyfriend will get her the attention of the higher level groups, thereby making her more and more popular, ultimately getting her into the Populazzi. Only Cara didn't realize exactly what The Ladder meant. It meant having to change herself to please everyone else, ultimately losing herself along the way. 
Populazzi has spent a long time on my wish list. A very long time. I first heard about it well over a year ago, months before it was published. I tried to get my hands on an early copy back then, didn't, but then swore to myself that I would buy it as soon as it came out. But I suffer from The Book Store Blank Stare, which means that even if I know exactly what I'm looking for when I get to the book store, my mind is completely wiped clean as soon as I walk in. I wander the aisles for a good hour while trying to remember, and eventually end up leaving with something completely different. When this happens, and it happens far more often that I'd like to admit, the original book I wanted to buy gets shoved deep down into the dark areas of my brain, not to be thought of again for a very long time.  Sadly, this happened with Populazzi. 
Then a few months ago I came across the BookSparksPR Summer Reading Challenge and ha! Populazzi was on the list. I immediately signed up for the challenge and requested my copy. Finally it arrived and I couldn't have been happier, only I was still a few weeks away from reading it due to my review schedule. So again, I had to wait. 
But then it was finally time to sit down and read, and I can promise you that I was not disappointed. Populazzi was everything I thought it would be and more. I liked Cara and Claudia immediately. They were funny, weird and had fun personalities. They also seemed to have a very special bond, the best kind of friendship there is. But as Cara worked her way up The Ladder, she started to change. Even though she knew it wasn't supposed to be for real, she started to actually think and act like those she was trying to emulate. This did not help her keep her true friends, especially Archer, one of the first people she met at her new school who she seemed to really hit it off with. 
Even though Cara did start to change, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. I can't imagine what it must have been like to have something happen to you at such a young age only to never outlive it. I can understand wanting to get a new start and trying to have everything you ever wanted. Did she go about it the right way? Definitely not, but everyone makes mistakes. 
My feelings towards some of the other characters though, were not as sympathetic. Cara's parents, for example, were not my favorite. Her mother seemed more obsessed with keeping Karl, her husband, happy and ignoring the fact that he was very mentally abusive towards Cara. He seemed very jealous over her natural father, even going to extremes and smashing a Christmas gift he has given Cara as a child. If I were the mother, I never would have tolerated this. My only issue with this book was that I was hoping this would become a greater issue and be resolved further, but it wasn't. At least not as much as I hoped.
As much as I loved Archer, my favorite character had to be Robert, the Star Wars loving, Jedi Knight cape-wearing, nerd who first befriends Cara. He was hilarious, always talking in movie quotes or using Yoda Speak. He definitely brought a fun quality to the story.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book. It was funny, clever and brilliantly executed, making it a breeze to  read through and extremely difficult to put down when forced to. It also dealt with many deeper issues other than popularity. We face peer pressure, bullying, drugs and alcohol abuse along with emotional abuse. 
I recommend this book to all teens, especially those who find themselves a little lower on the totem pole of popularity and are desperate to work themselves up. Perhaps this will give them a glimpse of what life is like on the other side and they can make better choices. I also recommend this to parents of teens to help them remember what it's like being a kid and hopefully be more understanding. Of course, I also recommend this to everyone else who is looking for just a fun, quick read. You won't be disappointed!

For more about Elise Allen or Popluazzi, check out her website here.

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*I received this book for free in exchange of my honest review. This did not influence my opinion in any way and all views and opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Review: Girl Unmoored by Jennifer Gooch Hummer

Title: Girl Unmoored Author: Jennifer Gooch Hummer Publication Date: March 6, 2012 From Goodreads: Apron Bramhall has come unmoored. It’s 1985 and her mom has passed away, her evil stepmother is pregnant, and her best friend has traded her in for a newer model. Fortunately, she’s about to be saved by Jesus. Not that Jesus—the actor who plays him in Jesus Christ, Superstar. Apron is desperate to avoid the look-alike Mike (no one should look that much like Jesus unless they can perform a miracle or two), but suddenly he’s everywhere. Until one day, she’s stuck in church with him—of all places. And then something happens; Apron’s broken teenage heart blinks on for the first time since she’s been adrift. 

Mike and his grumpy boyfriend, Chad, offer her a summer job in their flower store and Apron’s world seems to calm. But when she uncovers Chad’s secret, coming of age becomes almost too much bear. She’s forced to see things the adults around her fail to—like what love really means and who is paying too much for it. My Thoughts: Apron Bramhall is just thirteen years old but she has already been through way too much. Her mother has died, her father's new wife hates her and her best friend has also decided that she is not good enough to be friends with anymore. With big, red hair and freckles, Apron feels out of place and alone.  Enter Mike, the Jesus look-a-like who Apron sees in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Thrown together by unpleasant circumstances, Apron and Mike seem to hit it off. For the first time, Apron feels like there may be some hope after all. Someone is there to listen to her and soon she finds herself in a terrific friendship with Mike and his boyfriend, Chad. Unfortunately, being friends with them brings other tragedies to Apron's life, things that she never expected. Girl Unmoored is one of those books that leaves you feeling a million different emotions long after you turn the last page. Sadness, anger, but most of all, hope. Apron is one of the best young characters I've read in a long time. Even at thirteen, she is very kind and wise beyond her years. She is still dealing with the loss of her mother and her father's new marriage to her mother's nurse. "M", as Apron refers to her, is incredibly cruel. Desperate to stay in America, M has chosen Apron's father as her new husband and means of getting citizenship. She wants Apron gone and does whatever she can to get her into trouble. She even says horrible things to her when her father is not around. He, of course, doesn't believe Apron so she is left to suffer. Even with all these things going on, Apron doesn't lash out. She stays to herself and ignores the horrible comments from her old best friend. I'm not sure I would be as strong as she is. Each side character was exactly what you would think them to be. The author does an incredible job of  character development and this created some very real people, although I'm not sure I would want to know many of them personally. Actually, I do know them. Not the exact characters, but there are people I have met over the years who could very well be the characters in this book so it was very easy for me to picture these characters while reading. I'm pretty sure that everyone has come across people like this and it definitely gives the book a very raw, emotional feel. As for Mike and Chad, I loved them. They are who they are and they weren't sorry for it. Even when faced with unbelievable cruelty, they still kept a smile on their face. They showed Apron what is means to truly love without boundaries and to show kindness even when someone didn't deserve it.  I think there is a lot to be learned from this story. Although it takes place in the 1980s and many things have changed since then, we are still faced with some of the ignorance portrayed by some of these characters. People are still committing hate crimes based on race and sexual orientation, and there is still a stigma that comes along with AIDS. People are still picketing and fighting about whether gay marriage should be allowed. While I have high hopes that I will live to see these hatreds disappear, I am pretty sure this will not be the case.  There is only one way to cure hatred: knowledge. Children are not born to hate based on religion, race, sexual orientation or politics. They are taught this by us, their parents and community, throughout their lives. Teach them respect instead. Show them that everyone is different and that is what makes our world special. Teach them that everyone has a right to happiness, no matter how they choose to attain it. The only way to cure hatred is to stop teaching it.  Girl Unmoored is not a book to breeze through. Take the time to fully grasp all the lessons you can learn from it. Share it with a friend, perhaps one that shares different views. Even if it only changes one person's opinion, that is one step in the right direction for a safer world. To learn more about Jennifer Gooch Hummer or Girl Unmoored, check out her website here. {Purchase} {Amazon}{B&N}{The Book Depository} *I received this book for free in exchange of my honest review. This did not influence my opinion in any way and all views and opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Review: How Lucky You Are by Kristyn Kusek Lewis

Title: How Lucky You Are
Author: Kristyn Kusek Lewis
Publication Date: September 4, 2012

From Goodreads:

In the tradition of Emily Giffin and Marisa de los Santos, HOW LUCKY YOU ARE is an engaging and moving novel about three women struggling to keep their longstanding friendship alive. Waverly, who's always been the group's anchor, runs a cozy bakery but worries each month about her mounting debt. Kate is married to a man who's on track to be the next governor of Virginia, but the larger questions brewing in their future are unsettling her. Stay-at-home mom Amy has a perfect life on paper, but as the horrific secret she's keeping from her friends threatens to reveal itself, she panics. 

As life's pressures build all around them, Waverly knows she has some big decisions to make. In doing so, she will discover that the lines between loyalty and betrayal can become blurred, happy endings aren't always clear-cut, and sometimes you have to risk everything to gain the life you deserve.

My Thoughts:

Waverly Brown is thirty-five years old and is the proud owner of Maggie's, a bakery. She and boyfriend Larry have been together for ten years, all of which have been very happy. But even so, Waverly is still dealing with many issues. The death of her parents fifteen years before and the dramatic loss in business. In fact, things are getting worse by the day and for some reason she just can't seem to ask for help. Nobody knows that her business is in trouble, not even Larry. At first I wasn't sure what to make of her. I couldn't understand why she didn't just tell Larry what was going on and see if he could help her. But as I learned more and more about her, I began to understand. She felt like a loser not being able to take care of everything in her life on her own, something she thought was a sign of success, and being successful meant being happy. Even so, she was still a very strong character. Loyal and honest in the kind of way we all wish our friends were. She put the needs of her friends before her own, even when they didn't exactly deserve it.

Those friends, Kate and Amy, couldn't be more different from each other. Kate was born to a very wealthy, important family and her husband was the top choice to become the governor of Virginia. She is stunningly gorgeous, and has somewhat of a poor attitude. To be honest, I didn't much care for her. I wasn't even sure how Waverly could be friends with someone who did nothing but complain and constantly treat her like crap. Amy, on the other hand, was everything Kate wasn't. Perky, caring and the kind of person that wakes up in the morning with a smile on their face just because they are happy to be alive. A little irritating, sure, but she was a reliable friend that Waverly could always count on.

The author does an exceptional job of reeling you in from the very beginning. We are immediately shoved into an uncomfortable situation and slowly led through the character's lives to bring out every small secret that had led up to that moment. The pacing is perfect and the character's lives are completely believable and relevant.

I'll be honest and tell you that the events in this book were hard to read at times. But that is the sign of a great story, one that makes you feel many different emotions while reading it and keeps your heart racing. There were times in this book that I wanted to jump into the pages and smack around a few people. But there is also something very important to learn from this story. No matter what may happen to your friendship, if you know someone is in trouble, sometimes going against their wishes and getting help is the only thing you can do to save them. Being a friend means more than being a sympathetic ear. It means being there to help when that person may not even want your help. To never give up on that friendship even though you know they may never want to see you again.

How Lucky You Are is an incredible story about friendship, love and loyalty. I highly recommend it to all lovers of Chick Lit, female or not, and to anyone who has ever risked the loss of a friend in order to help save them.


For more about Kristyn Kusek Lewis or How Lucky You Are, visit her website here.

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*I received this book for free in exchange of my honest review. This did not influence my opinion in any way and all views and opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Review: A Girl Like You by Maria Geraci

Title: A Girl Like You
Author: Maria Geraci
Publication Date: August 7, 2012

From Goodreads:

What if you found out you were the ugly friend?

Emma Frazier is smart, hardworking, and loves her job as a journalist for a Florida lifestyle magazine. Emma knows she’s no great beauty, but she’s pretty certain she has a shot with her handsome new boss, Ben Gallagher—until Emma overhears a mutual acquaintance refer to her as the “ugly friend.” In an effort to reclaim her battered self-esteem, Emma decides to impress Ben at work by promising an exclusive interview with NASCAR legend, Trip Monroe.

Emma and Trip went to high school together and although it’s been fourteen years since they’ve spoken, Emma is certain she can score an interview with the elusive super star. But connecting with Trip turns out to be harder than Emma imagined. Her quest for the interview leads her back to her tiny hometown of Catfish Cove, where old secrets and a new romantic interest shake up Emma’s views on life and teach her that maybe the key to finding true love is as simple as accepting yourself for the person you were always meant to be.

My Thoughts:

Every once in a while, a book comes along that completely surprises you. While you know it is probably going to be a good read, it turns out to be so much more. The last time this happened to me was last year when I read Domestic Violets by Matthew Norman, I don't get surprised easily. But A Girl Like You totally caught me off guard.

Emma Frazier is smart, funny and has that self-deprecating humor that I find in myself. Even though she is not "big" by normal standards (size 10/12 is average, as in healthy), she still feels out of shape next to her beautiful, size two friends. She knows she isn't as stunning as them, but when she over hears one call her "the ugly friend", the little ounce of remaining self esteem goes out the window. I remember having a conversation with someone a year or so ago, and they said to me "When I was the fat funny one..." which really made me angry. Yes, I am a big girl. But does that make me any less important or diminish my worth? Of course not. I kept thinking about this when reading Emma's story. I liked her right away, and some part of me felt like I actually knew this girl. We had a lot in common: low self esteem, big dreams and we both use humor as a self defense mechanism. I know her kind, I am her kind.

Emma has a serious crush on her new boss, Ben, and sometimes she thinks she might actually have a chance with him. But that is another one of Emma's traits, she over-analyzes everything. She can't help but look at things from every possible angle, never satisfied to just let it be what it is. This is what causes her to try and impress Ben with the exclusive interview with her old high school classmate, Trip Monroe. Only getting that interview is a lot harder than she realized it would be. This leads her back to her home town of Catfish Cover, Florida where she runs into her old high school crush. Nick Alfonso is that boy. You know the one. The one so dreamy and out of your league that you spend weeks, months, and sometimes even years pining for. Nick is recently divorced from his high school sweetheart and he and Emma immediately click. She can't believe that she is finally getting her chance after all of these years and is still holding onto one horribly embarrassing memory of their first dance. When it comes out that Emma is now in a relationship, people start to see her in a new way. Or maybe it is Emma that is finally starting to see things the way they have been all along.

Emma is not the only lovable character in this story though. She is surrounded by well developed, in depth friends and coworkers that keep you on laughing. Especially Richard, Emma's somewhat of a pervert coworker who loves to taunt Emma and keep her day full of sexual innuendos.

Besides the fantastic characters, the author's writing style really just dragged me straight into the story from the first page. You don't feel like you are reading a book. It feels more like you are hanging out with this girl (Emma) that you just recently met and she is telling you all about her life. You just want her to keep going and tell you everything because her story is not only funny, but she has an exceptional way of sharing it with you. This makes A Girl Like You a breeze to read through and I'll admit that I was pretty bummed that it had to end. Once again I was left wishing that I knew these people in real life and could somehow make my way into their group.

Overall, A Girl Like You is a remarkable read. Emma Frazier is a genuine heroine with nothing but warmth, charm and one hell of a sense of humor. I recommend A Girl Like You to everyone, no matter what your choice of genre is. Whether you are a long time fan of Chick Lit or you are just in the mood for something fun and quick paced.

I also recommend this book to any girl who has ever felt out of place, uncomfortable in her own skin, or who had an undying love for that one boy who just never noticed that you existed. I know I've been there. Get your hands on a copy of this book ASAP and follow Emma along as she gets her second chance with that one boy, ultimately getting a second chance with herself as well.


For more about Maria Geraci or A Girl Like You, visit her website here.

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*I received a copy of this book for free in exchange of my honest review. This did not influence my opinion in any way and all views and opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Review: India's Summer by Thérèse

Title: India's Summer
Author: Thérèse
Publication Date: January 18, 2012

Synopsis:

INDIA’S SUMMER by Thérèse is the story of India Butler, single and about to turn forty, who travels from London to LA to reinvent herself. In a world illuminated by the flashbulbs of the paparazzi, she discovers the true meaning of “having it all’ while spending the summer with her sister Annabelle, a famous Hollywood actress, and her brother -in -law, a legendary rock musician.
They welcome India into their opulent, fast-paced lifestyle, whisking her from fabulous fundraisers to parties each more opulent than the last. This does nothing for India’s confidence and she maintains a wry detachment until she begins dating Adam, a gorgeous A- list actor. In an attempt to appear more successful she lies to him about her career.
Disaster strikes and India is drawn behind the veneer of Hollywood glitz and glamor and into Hollywood’s private lives. As her illusions about the perfection of their LA lifestyle fade away, India has an epiphany about her own real talents. .
India is in her element until her new life in LA unravels.

My Thoughts:

India Butler is a likable character. She is very smart, funny and has a great sense of humor. Even though she may have been a little dishonest about her career to Adam, her love interest, and her sister Annie's friends, she was still very honest when it came to their relationships. She was there for everyone when they needed her and she genuinely cared about what was happening in their lives. She didn't take anyone for granted, which was really important especially since she was surrounded by celebrities with far better means than her own. She worked hard and did her best.

As for the other characters, I enjoyed them for the most part. The author did a fantastic job of creating believable characters who came off as very real and human. Just about all of them, India's best friend Sarah being the only exception, were celebrities and the author did a fantastic job showing the readers that even though they may have more money than most of the world, they can still struggle just like the rest of us. Their struggles were just as real as ours and something that everyone can relate to.

Most of this story took place in L.A. and the surrounding area, and although I've never been, I could still picture it quite clearly in my mind. The beaches, the parties and the houses were all expertly detailed so I had no trouble following India or Annie as they made their way through town and from scene to scene. The author also did an excellent job relaying smaller details, such as body language and clothing, without weighing down the story and giving you everything you need to know to create the scene.

As much as I loved the book, I still had a small issue with it. The story itself is wonderful, but there were many typos. I couldn't look past the many exclamation points that seemed to be out of place. Sometimes they would appear in the middle of a sentence, only to appear again at the end, or sometimes they just didn't appear at all. Most of the time I was able to ignore them, but it did make reading a little hard at times because I wasn't sure if India was actually saying these things or just thinking them. Thankfully though, most of these typos seemed to take place in one specific area of the book and was mostly cleared by the next chapter.

Overall, I really enjoyed India's Summer. I think everyone, at least us ladies, imagines what it would be like to be famous and fall in love with that dreamy actor, or to just see what it would be like to live like a celebrity for just a few months. India's Summer is a fun story of love, life and taking that big chance to become everything you always wanted to be. I recommend this to anyone who loves Chick Lit or who is looking for that perfect, fun and quick paced end of summer read.  


For more about Thérèse or India's Summer, check out her website.

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Review: After the Fog by Kathleen Shoop

Title: After the Fog
Author: Kathleen Stoop
Publication Date: May 8, 2012

From Goodreads:

The sins of the mother... In the steel mill town of Donora, Pennsylvania, site of the infamous 1948 "killing smog," headstrong nurse Rose Pavlesic tends to her family and neighbors. Controlling and demanding, she's created a life that reflects everything she missed growing up as an orphan. She's even managed to keep her painful secrets hidden from her loving husband, dutiful children, and large extended family.When a stagnant weather pattern traps poisonous mill gasses in the valley, neighbors grow sicker and Rose's nursing obligations thrust her into conflict she never could have fathomed. Consequences from her past collide with her present life, making her once clear decisions as gray as the suffocating smog. As pressure mounts, Rose finds she's not the only one harboring lies. When the deadly fog finally clears, the loss of trust and faith leaves the Pavlesic family-and the whole town-splintered and shocked. With her new perspective, can Rose finally forgive herself and let her family's healing begin?

My Thoughts:

After the Fog takes place in 1948 and is the story of Rose, a community nurse who is not only trying to better the lives of her patients, but also her family's. She lives in the steel mill town of Donora, Pennsylvania, where half of the town's population works in the mills. Her husband, Henry, and gambling brother-in-law, Buzzy, work in the mills at night while rose does her nursing during the day. When weather forces all of the mill's gasses to fill the valley, Rose has to work harder than ever before. Unfortunately, this also happens to be the same week that Rose's past comes back to haunt her. She has been keeping secrets her entire marriage and now they are threatening to come to light. Henry and the children also seem to be holding onto some secrets of their own, and when all is revealed, Rose's life will never be the same.

Rose Pavlesic was a very strong character. She worked hard, took care of herself and others and didn't take drama from her patients. As much as I wanted to connect with her, I just couldn't at first. It took me a long time to feel something other than annoyance with her. Perhaps it was because her life takes place in a different time than my own and living was much different then. She put up with things that I would never stand for. For example: she lives in a home with her husband, two children, aunt, uncle, brother and sister-in-law and nephew. The brother-in-law is a chronic gambler and Rose and Henry constantly have to bail him out of trouble. I found it hard to believe that she would allow this to continuously happen, especially when she is trying to save for a house and not even sure if she will have a job in the very near future. I personally would have told him to leave and if I had to, I'd give my husband an ultimatum. But as I said before, I think the reason I had trouble with this was because things were much different back in 1948 and making a living was harder.

Aside from Rose's nursing, she worked very hard to make sure her children, Johnny and Magdalena, had every opportunity that she didn't. Growing up in an orphanage, life was very difficult and it took a lot of hard work for Rose to get where she was today. She insists that both children go to college and become strong and independent. Because of her background, perhaps she pushed the children a little too hard and they start to retaliate. They love their mother, but they want to make their own lives. I could understand this, of course, but I also understood where Rose was coming from. She just wanted them to be successful and not struggle like she had.

What I found most interesting about this book was that parts of this story actually happened. Donora is a real place and the "killing smog" unfortunately did get trapped in the town in 1948. The author clearly did her research into these events and it gave the story an eerie quality. Even though Rose and the other characters were fictional, I still couldn't help thinking about what it must have been like for the real citizens who lived through such a scary event.

There was definitely not a lack of drama in this story. There are many secrets just aching to be told and every time you think you have this story figured out, something new comes to light that puts you right back in the guessing game. The author does a fantastic job of keeping the pace and fusing fact with fiction. The slow accumulation of smog is the perfect backdrop for Rose's story and the dramatic events about to unfold.

I recommend After the Fog for all historical fiction fans, lovers of Chick Lit and even those looking for something new and interesting to curl up with.


For more about Kathleen Shoop or After the Fog, check out her website here.

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Review: Game of Secrets by Dawn Tripp

Title: Game of Secrets
Author: Dawn Tripp
Publication Date: July 5, 2011 

From Goodreads:

Jane Weld was eleven years old when her father, Luce, disappeared in 1957. His skiff was found drifting near a marsh, empty except for his hunting coat and a box of shotgun shells. No one in their small New England town knew for sure what happened until, three years later, Luce’s skull rolled out of a gravel pit, a bullet hole in the temple. Rumors sprang up that he had been murdered by the jealous husband of his mistress, Ada Varick. 
 
Now, half a century later, Jane is still searching for the truth of her father’s death, a mystery made more urgent by the unexpected romance that her willful daughter, Marne, has struck up with one of Ada’s sons. As the love affair intensifies, Jane and Ada meet for their weekly Friday game of Scrabble, a pastime that soon transforms into a cat-and-mouse game of words long left unspoken, and dark secrets best left untold.

My Thoughts:

Game of Secrets is the story of small town life and how one act can influence many generations. While the main story in the book is of Jane Weld, there are many other smaller stories happening at the same time that all come together. Jane was eleven years old when her father disappeared. Three years later, his skull was found with a bullet wound. While nobody knew for sure and nothing could ever be proven, it was believed that he was murdered by the angry husband of his mistress, Ada Varick.

Now many years later, Jane and Ada have formed a somewhat strange relationship. They meet every Friday for Scrabble and have bonded over their combined loss. At the same time, Jane's daughter, Marne, has started dating Ada's son, Ray. While Marne has loved Ray for years, things done in the past and family secrets are hard to forget and their relationship is strained and tested almost immediately. The story alternates between time and characters. We hear from Jane, past and present, as well as other members of her family and of Ada's. The story works back and forth to bring out the truth about Jane's father and the repercussions the two families have lived with since his death.

I'll be honest and tell you I had a hard time getting into this book. While it was somewhat short, less than 300 pages, it still took me a long time to get through it. I think this was due to the author's writing style. It was heavy, the words very deliberate and almost every sentence a clue with double meaning. Sometimes I had to go back and read them again to make sure I was getting every bit of information the author was trying to tell me. Because of this, the beginning seemed to really drag. It took me days to get through just seventy pages. I kept at it though, and things really started to take off in a much better direction. I got used to the style of writing and started picking up on the small clues hidden in those words that ultimately led up to a satisfying read.

Each character we hear from in this book had their own story to tell, each struggling with something they so desperately want to change or forget. Jane wants to know what really happened to her father all those years ago and she wants to know what Ada knows. Marne, Jane's daughter, is struggling with her feelings for Ray and the way she distances herself from her family. Her relationship with her mother is strained and she is unable to move past it.

Of all the characters, the one I found myself most intrigued by was Huck, Ray's brother and another of Ada's sons. He was just a young boy when Jane's father went missing, but he remembers the fighting between his parents and even his secret love for Jane, someone who doesn't even notice him. Marne seems to hold a deep hatred for Huck, although it isn't immediately clear why. As the story progresses, we hear more from Huck as a teenager and learn more about his life growing up in a difficult household. I felt sorry for him and wanted better for him even though I knew where his life was going.

Game of Secrets is not a book to breeze through. It is one that needs to be digested slowly, giving you time to connect those clues and really take in all those things left unsaid but somehow still known. There are many secrets hidden in these pages, secrets that have been buried deep for years and just may shock you once they come to light.

I recommend Game of Secrets to anyone who is in the mood for a good mystery, putting the puzzle together piece by piece until all is revealed.



To learn more about Game of Secrets or Dawn Tripp, check out her website here.

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*I received a copy of this book for free in exchange of my honest review. This did not influence my opinion in any way and all views and opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Review: So Far Away by Meg Mitchell Moore

Title: So Far Away
Author: Meg Mitchell Moore
Publication Date: May 29, 2012

From Goodreads: 

Thirteen-year-old Natalie Gallagher is trying to escape: from her parents' ugly divorce, and from the vicious cyber-bullying of her former best friend. Adrift, confused, she is a girl trying to find her way in a world that seems to either neglect or despise her. Her salvation arrives in an unlikely form: Bridget O'Connell, an Irish maid working for a wealthy Boston family. The catch? Bridget lives only in the pages of a dusty old 1920s diary Natalie unearthed in her mother's basement. But the life she describes is as troubling - and mysterious - as the one Natalie is trying to navigate herself, almost a century later. 

I am writing this down because this is my story. There were only ever two people who knew my secret, and both are gone before me.

Who was Bridget, and what became of her? 

Natalie escapes into the diary, eager to unlock its secrets, and reluctantly accepts the help of library archivist Kathleen Lynch, a widow with her own painful secret: she's estranged from her only daughter. Kathleen sees in Natalie traces of the daughter she has lost, and in Bridget, another spirited young woman at risk. 

What could an Irish immigrant domestic servant from the 1920s teach them both? As the troubles of a very modern world close in around them, and Natalie's torments at school escalate, the faded pages of Bridget's journal unite the lonely girl and the unhappy widow - and might even change their lives forever.

My Thoughts:

So Far Away was a beautiful read. It is the story of Natalie Gallagher, a thirteen-year-old girl who is trying to cope with her parents' divorce and the surprising new hatred from her former best friend, and Kathleen Lynch, a widow who works at the library and who hasn't heard from her only daughter in years.

When Natalie goes to the library for help researching her family tree, Kathleen is drawn to her. Natalie reminds her of her daughter, Susannah, a heroine addict who ran away from home years earlier. She learns part of Natalie's story: her "dead" mother, the bullying. She wants to help but ultimately makes things worse.

When Natalie discovers and old diary in her basement, she and Kathleen are both intrigued. There is something written inside. Bridget O'Connell has written her story in this diary so that people can one day learn the truth about what really happened all those years ago when she had just arrived in America and took on as a maid for a doctor and his family. The discovery of the diary not only brings to light a terrible tragedy, but it also brings Natalie and Kathleen closer together.

The characters in this story were so endearing. Natalie is a smart girl, tall for her age and feels completely out of place in her body. As if this isn't hard enough to deal with, her parents are getting divorced and she has become the target of intense bullying at the hands of her best friend. She is confused and struggling. Nothing she does seems to stop the bullying and the adults in her life either don't notice or don't care. I felt for her. None of these situations are easy to deal with, but having them all happen at once is devastating. Even though it has been quite some time since I was her age, I still remember what it was like to go through this part of life and it helped me connect with Natalie immediately.

Kathleen Lynch, on the other hand, was the opposite of Natalie. She seemed lost in life and lonely. Still living with regrets over the mistakes she made with her own daughter Kathleen seemed to be barely getting by. Even though she worked hard and loved her job, it just didn't seem like enough. Her sorrow ran very deep and she didn't know how to forgive herself and move on. Even though she seemed a little nosy at times, I still liked her. I felt sorry for her and was desperately hoping that her daughter would somehow show up on her doorstep and Kathleen would get a second chance. I was thankful that she was able to bond with Natalie and start the healing process over her own life.

What I loved most about this book was that there was so much going on, yet it blended beautifully. Natalie and Kathleen's stories are interesting enough that they probably could have each had their own book, but then there was also Bridget's story, which was fantastic just the same. These three stories about completely different lives connect to give you a sense of hope that was most certainly needed for each woman. The writing was also strong and flowed elegantly throughout the pages. After reading this, I'll be moving Mitchell's first book, The Arrivals, towards the top of my reading pile and buying every other release to come. It is a blessing to come across an author who can not only tell you an amazing story but can write it just as beautifully.

I highly recommend So Far Away. The stories of Natalie, Kathleen and Bridget are compelling and leave you filled with a new sense of hope long after you turn the last page.

To learn more about Meg Mitchell Moore and her books, visit her website here.

Purchase:

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Review: Hell or High Water by Joy Castro

Title: Hell or High Water
Author: Joy Castro
Publication Date: July 17, 2012

From Goodreads:

Nola Céspedes, an ambitious young reporter at the Times-Picayune, finally catches a break: an assignment to write her first full-length feature. While investigating her story, she also becomes fixated on the search for a missing tourist in the French Quarter. As Nola’s work leads her into a violent criminal underworld, she’s forced to face disturbing truths from her own past and is confronted with the question: In the aftermath of devastation, who is responsible for rebuilding what's been broken?

Vividly rendered in razor-sharp prose, this haunting thriller is a riveting journey of trust betrayed—and the courageous struggle to rebuild. Fast-paced, atmospheric, and with a knockout twist, Hell or High Water features an unforgettable heroine as fascinating and multilayered as New Orleans itself.

My Thoughts:

When a beautiful tourist is kidnapped in the middle of the day, all of New Orleans is on edge. She is the third woman to have gone missing and everyone fears the worst, including Nola Cèspedes, a journalist who has just been given her first important feature at her newspaper. Writing about convicted sex offenders, Nola has to research their crimes and also meet with some who have committed horrible offenses. Not only does this put her in many dangerous situations, but she is also forced to examine her own life and come to terms with dark secrets of her own.

Hell or High Water as a fascinating read. For someone who is a little obsessed with true crime, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. As if Nola's story wasn't interesting enough, the author did an incredible job of blending facts, statistics and even New Orleans culture into the pages. We learn a lot about New Orleans' history and before the story ends you will feel like you have been walking the streets yourself, soaking in each and every detail. Beyond that, there is much to learn about sexual offenders, rape and child molestation along with the after effects caused by such trauma.

The heroine in this story is Nola. She is in her late twenties, single and trying to make a name for herself as a journalist. She is strong and smart, but she also has a few personal issues. She doesn't handle authority well and she first comes off as a little brazen and quite promiscuous. Honestly, I didn't really care for her at first. I found it hard to connect to a character who would do things that I personally found a little disgusting. But as the story progressed, my views on Nola started to change. I realized there was a reason for Nola's behavior and everything started to make sense. I like to think that had I come across her in real life, we might actually make great friends.

Besides the rough start with Nola, I had a few other small concerns throughout the book. There was a lot of information to take in regarding the sex offenders. A lot. So much so that at times I felt like I was reading a report on crime instead of a novel. Like I said before, the author did do a great job blending facts with fiction, but there were still a few times where it was just too much at once. I was also left with an unanswered question and I hate when that is the case. But since there will be a second novel featuring Nola, I am hoping that this question will finally be answered.

Overall, I enjoyed Hell or High Water quite a bit. It is a much heavier read than I originally thought: very dark, gritty and even comes with a fantastic twist at the end that will leave you staring at the pages with your jaw hanging on the floor. The heroine is strong and spunky and flawed just like the rest of us, someone we can all relate to. If you are looking for a deeper read that gets your heart pumping, this is it.

To learn more about Joy Castro and her books, visit her website here.

Purchase:

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*I received a copy of this book for free in exchange of my honest review. This did not influence my opinion in any way and all views and opinions expressed are 100% my own

Review: The Song Remains The Same by Allison Winn Scotch

Title: The Song Remains The Same
Author: Allison Winn Scotch
Publication Date: April 12, 2012

From Goodreads:

One of only two survivors of a plane crash, Nell Slattery wakes in the hospital with no memory of the horrific experience-or who she is, or was. Now she must piece together both body and mind, with the help of family and friends, who have their own agendas. She filters through photos, art, music, and stories, hoping something will jog her memory, and soon, in tiny bits and pieces, Nell starts remembering. . . .
It isn't long before she learns to question the stories presented by her mother, her sister and business partner, and her husband. In the end, she will discover that forgiving betrayals small and large will be the only true path to healing herself-and to finding happiness.

My Thoughts:

Nell Slattery has just woken up after surviving a terrible plane crash. Not only does she not remember the crash, she can't remember anything at all. In fact, she has no clue who she is or who these people are at her bedside. She only knows what she has been told: she is one of only two survivors of the crash, she is married to a man named Peter and she has a famous father who disappeared years ago.

With the help of her mother, sister, husband and friends both new and old, Nell sets out to remember her life before the crash. There's only one problem: no one seems to want to help her remember everything. Even her mother and sister seem to be keeping secrets from her. Dead set on finding out these secrets, Nell finds her own way to dig up the past, although it might not be at all what she was expecting.

I don't think I'm going to be able to accurately put into words how much I loved this book. I loved Nell. Even though she was going through probably one of the hardest situations ever imaginable, she still seemed to have an amazing sense of humor. I loved that she was a little obsessed with Friends, which happens to be my most favorite show ever, and was trying to invent a new self while still trying to figure out her old one.

While the story was fun in a way, there was also quite a bit of drama. The obvious being the amnesia Nell suffers from, but also quite a bit of family drama. While Nell's mother, sister and husband are all trying to save her from reliving their indiscretions before needed, they don't understand that the more they keep from her the harder it is for her to recover. Nell was far from an easy person to live with before the accident and maybe now they have a chance to fix their broken relationships. While I didn't agree with the way they went about it, I certainly understood.

The author has a spectacular way of infusing just enough drama and wit to keep this story flowing at a perfect pace. We aren't given too much information at once which keeps you turning those pages at an intense speed. Her writing is prompt, with no unnecessary filler, and even though the subject matter is a hard one, she covers it with style. I think this story says a lot about family interaction and how people can create a very large, even if unintentional, impact on others, especially children. How people deal with illness and loss can shape a child's life perspective in an unimaginable way. Mental illness plays an important role in this story and it's lesson is not lost on its readers.

 The Song Remains The Same has been one of my favorites reads so far this year. When I was finished and closed the cover, I felt nothing but hope for Nell, for her new perspective on life and her belief that maybe it was possible that people are capable of change after all. Isn't there a time in all our lives where we hope for change? I think so, and this story keeps that belief alive.

To find out more about Allison Winn Scotch and her books, check out her website HERE.

Purchase:

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*I received a copy of this book for free in exchange of my honest review. This did not influence my opinion in any way and all views and opinions expressed are 100% my own

Review: Clean Break by David Klein

Title: Clean Break
Author: David Klein
Publication Date: June 5, 2012

From Goodreads:


Lured by the hope of a better life for herself and her son, Celeste Vanek must deal with the emotional and physical resistance of her compulsive gambler husband when she asks for a divorce. Though she hopes she is on the verge of making a clean break, her husband demands his family back, and things get
violent. Jake Atwood, who witnesses the shocking scene between Celeste and her husband, struggles with his own emotional and ethical issues while attempting to help Celeste escape her marriage. At the same time, Jake is involved with Sara, a
married and childless police detective who has a private agenda to pursue when a crime is committed that links all of these characters together and changes their lives forever. 

My Thoughts:

I'm going to jump right into my thoughts on this one because I know that if I say too much about the plot I will give it away. Just about all I can tell you is already said in the synopsis. So I'm just going to go ahead and tell you what I liked or didn't like.

I'll admit that the story started out a little slow for me. I like a lot of dialogue and there was little at the beginning. I wasn't sure how this was to affect me in the long run but it did pick up after a short time and I really got sucked into this book. The relationship between Celeste and Adam is very difficult. He is an abusive gambler trying to go straight and Celeste is trying to keep her and her son, Spencer, safe by moving out. Adam, however, insists that she take him back and grows even more frightening by the day. At first, I felt a little sorry for Adam. I thought maybe Celeste could have helped him some more but as the story progressed and Adam's true colors began to show, I was increasingly worried for her. She is a strong woman and loves her son deeply. I admired her for the fact that as soon as things got bad, she left. She isn't one of those women who stays and lets her spouse beat her and her children. She took action immediately, something that I think more women should do. I really liked her and I was completely on her side throughout the rest of the book.

Aside from Adam and Celeste's relationship, we also see Jake and Sara. Jake is a bachelor who bounces around and seems to have a fear of commitment. He meets Sara, who is married, and they begin an affair. Although I didn't particularly care for Sara, I really loved Jake. Although he was struggling with some of his own issues, he knew they were there and I think he really tried his best to conquer them. 

What I liked most about this book was the author's writing style. Since there are a few main characters, the story is not told in first person and we get to hear from everyone. We can watch their interactions with one another and hear each of their thoughts at the same time. This really made a difference when it came to Adam. He may have been saying one thing, but he was definitely thinking another. The author does an exceptional job at keeping you glued to the pages and wanting to drink in every last detail.

Overall, this was an excellent book. A lot of times I find it hard to connect with a female character that has been written by a male author, but this was far from the case here. The story was fascinating and the relationship between Celeste and Adam was like a train wreck: you know where it's going and that nothing good is going to come of it but you can't help but stay the course and watch it implode. The characters in this story were so believable. They could be you or me or our neighbors next door. Things like this happen every day and this gave the story a human quality to it.  

If you are looking for a deeper read with some edge to it, this is the book for you!

Review and Giveaway: Finding Emma by Steena Holmes

Title: Finding Emma
Author: Steena Holmes
Publication Date: April 1, 2012

From Goodreads:


Megan sees her daughter Emma everywhere. She's the little girl standing in the supermarket, the child waiting for the swings at the playground, the girl with ice cream dripping down her face. But it's never Emma.

Emma's been missing for two years.

Unable to handle the constant heartache of all the false sightings, Megan's husband threatens to walk away unless Megan can agree to accept Emma is gone. Megan's life and marriage is crumbling all around her and she realizes she may have to do the thing she dreads most: move on.

When Megan takes a photo of a little girl with an elderly couple at the town fair, she believes it to be her missing daughter. Unable to let go, she sets in motion a sequence of events that could destroy both families lives.

My Thoughts:

Megan and Peter are living every parent's worst nightmare. Their three-year-old daughter, Emma, has disappeared. It has been two years without Emma and it has taken a massive toll on their family. Megan thinks she sees Emma constantly and Peter is pulling away from her. Their other two daughters, Alexis and Hannah, are also struggling in their own way. The whole family is in danger of coming apart and Peter has given Megan an ultimatum: either finally put this behind them and concentrate on the now, or he is leaving.

Struggling with Peter's demands, Megan knows she has to make the right choice and be there for her family, all the way there. She needs to be an active parent and be there for the two girls she has left. And she is going to, but then she comes across a small girl at a fair and believes beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is Emma.  Now Megan has to make a choice: let it go and move on, or go against Peter and find out the truth.

Finding Emma is an emotional, heart wrenching story. I started it while sitting in the waiting room at an appointment and only made it about twenty pages in. I couldn't wait to finally get home and pick it back up. In fact, I was so hooked even after those few pages that when I did sit back down, I didn't get back up until I had finished the whole book.

Each character in this story was so believable and engaging, especially Megan and Jack, an old man struggling with his wife's onset of dementia and trying to raise his granddaughter. I could feel their pain through the pages and I wanted desperately to ease it for them. The author did an incredible job of making each character feel human and their struggles real.

The story is told from three different angles and because of this, the author does an incredible job of keeping you in suspense. Just when you think you are about to figure something out, the next chapter starts from a different point of view. Although alternating points of views can sometimes turn readers off, it is done expertly in Finding Emma. The pacing of the story is perfect and each smaller story is just as interesting as the main plot.

The only issue I had with Finding Emma was the God talk. I am not a religious person and although I don't mind reading about semi-religious characters, I like to know ahead of time if there is going to be a lot of time spent on church or God. There was no mention of either in the synopsis or in any reviews I had read. In fact, for the first half of the book there was little none at all. But about halfway through it took a turn and I feared that the book was becoming too preachy for me and that I was going to have to put it down. Thankfully though, the story quickly picked back up without it and I was able to move past it. Although it did continue, it was not enough to disconnect me from the story. Once again, these are just my own personal feelings and it has nothing to do with the author or story, just me.

Overall, I truly enjoyed Finding Emma. It is a story that we unfortunately hear all too often around the world, but unless you are living it, no one can really understand just what the disappearance of a child can do to your family. But not only is this the story of one family's crisis, we also meet another couple who are struggling just the same. Their story is also one not to be missed.

Because I had been desperate to get my hands on this story and hadn't heard back about receiving a review copy, I bought my own. Well to my surprise, a review copy landed on my door at the same time as the one I bought. So since I enjoyed this book so much and I have an extra copy, I thought I would share it with you! Unfortunately, this will be open to the US only since I am paying for shipping myself. Just fill out the handy dandy Rafflecopter below!
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