Book Review + Giveaway: Dark Hope by Monica McGurk - New YA Trilogy

I have a confession. I'm 39 years old and I love YA.

What's YA, you might be asking? YA stands for Young Adult, as in the book genre meant for young adults. They're typically fast moving, exciting, easy to read books, and feature teenagers as the main characters. Lots of stuff is vying for real estate in my mind these days, so uncomplicated reads work best for me. Many YA books are good, really good; can't put it down-stay up all night reading kind of good. Plus I am now the mother of a teenager myself, so it's beneficial to keep current on the intricate workings of the teenage brain.

The latest YA gem I've come across? Dark Hope, by Monica McGurk.

Book 1 of the Angel Prophecies

Dark Hope is the first book in McGurk's Archangel Prophecies Trilogy. Which is a good thing, because I definitely want more!

A brief synopsis:

Hope Carmichael was raised by her hyper-protective, uber-religious, survivalist father for most of her childhood. But no one could blame him for being so cautious, after Hope's enigmatic abduction as a young child. Now that she's a teenager, Hope has the opportunity to live a more normal life with her mother, and is suddenly given more freedom than she has ever had. Life just gets more and more curious for Hope as she makes a mysterious friend at her new high school and becomes personally invested in the crusade against human trafficking, which is rampant in her new hometown of Atlanta. She is about to embark on an epic adventure of a lifetime.

The name of the trilogy - Archangel Prophecies - gives you a clue that Dark Hope is celestial in nature and involves angels. Beyond that, I would rather you read for yourself to discover Hope's mystifying characteristics, friendships, and life experiences!

While Dark Hope really is fun to read, with all its magic and adventure, it is much more than the latest teenage supernatural fad. McGurk brings attention to an issue that often goes unnoticed and under-reported: human trafficking, specifically right here in the United States. Many people do not realize how prevalent modern slavery truly is. It is a terrifying issue that deserves much more attention in the media, and I'm glad to see it getting some in a book that is sure to become a huge success.

I would recommend this book, which melds together romance, mystery, supernatural topics, teenage angst, adventure, and current events, to:

• Anyone who loves YA
• Anyone looking for a new, quick paced series to start
• Fans of supernatural/mystical/angel novels
• Readers interested in modern day slavery
• Eclectic readers like myself, who love books of all kinds!

Once you finish Dark Hope, you won't be able to wait to read the next book in the series (which is already complete, publishing date TBA), so make sure to keep up with author Monica McGurk on social media:

• Twitter: @monicamcgurk
• Facebook
• Pinterest

I have no doubt that you would LOVE to get your hands on your own copy of Dark Hope! Just enter the Rafflecopter form below, and maybe it will be your lucky day!


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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Book Review and Giveaway: Ripley's Believe It or Not! Reality Shock!

There is just something about Ripley's Believe It or Not! that captures the imagination. I remember watching the older television show, back in the '80's, and finding all the featured oddities fascinating. Several years ago, when we were in Niagara Falls, we went to a Ripley's museum, and even before that we visited the Ripley's aquarium in Gatlinburg. Both brought the unbelievable to life.

But I have to admit, there was always a little part of me that wondered if all the crazy stuff featured by Ripley's was truly real. (Not the fish - they were very much alive!). I didn't know the history of Ripley's Believe It or Not!

Recently I received a glossy, hardbound copy of the latest edition of the Ripley's Believe It or Not! bestselling series, Reality Shock. And I learned some interesting facts within the first few pages.

Robert Ripley, the founder of Ripley's Believe It or Not!, was a cartoonist at The New York Globe, a radio show host, and a renowned world traveler. He went places no one had ever even heard of way back in the early to mid-twentieth century. He went everywhere, looking for anything strange and unusual.

Then I read this paragraph:

Here at Ripley's we pride ourselves that everything in this book is definitely true - no picture is doctored, no story exaggerated, and nothing is ever invented.

Nothing is included without proof. That is pretty impressive, because if you've ever browsed through a Ripley's book, you know there is some pretty unbelievable stuff in them!

Reality Shock is chock full of colorful pictures of real people, real animals, real places, and real things that might seem like fiction, but they're not.

My kids and I have been enjoying looking through this book over and over, because every time we find something we missed before. It is a fun book to share as a family, although I will warn you that there are some images that might not be suitable for the squeamish. This is all relative of course, but you might want to go through it on your own before you show it to your kids, in case you come across anything that might upset them. Nothing is gory or violent - but some might be bothered, for example, by an image of a man who can pop his eye almost entirely out of its socket.

I have an exclusive offer for my readers! Follow this link to purchase Reality Shock! for just $14.99. This is a really nice hardcover book that would make a great addition to your family's book collection, and help make reading fun for your kids.
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I am also offering one copy of Ripley's Believe It or Not! Reality Shock! to ONE lucky reader! Just use the Rafflecopter form to enter.

Disclaimer: MichiGal received a complimentary copy of Ripley's Believe It or Not! Reality Shock for review purposes. All opinions are those of MichiGal.


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Book Review: The Good Wife, by Jane Porter

The Brennan sisters are back again in Jane Porter's third novel in the series, The Good Wife. I enjoyed reading about this lively Irish family in both The Good Woman and The Good Daughter. I knew I couldn't pass up the latest installment of these inter-connected stories.

Each book focuses on one sister; the eldest, Meg, in The Good Woman; Kit, in The Good Daughter; and now the youngest sister, Sarah, in The Good Wife. There is still another sister, as well as a sister-in-law, who haven't been highlighted yet, and I hope Porter plans on continuing the series with both of them. Although the characters are better and more deeply understood when all the books have been read, it is not necessary to have read them all to enjoy each one individually.

There is a lot going on in The Good Wife, including an ancillary story about a friend of one of the sisters. The Brennan family is in turmoil, reeling from loss and dealing with disappointments, fears, and major changes. But Sarah is the focus, and she has her own problems to deal with - on top of those with which her entire family is struggling.

After an ultimate betrayal, Sarah works hard for three years to maintain her family and her marriage. But when her life is knocked off balance by tragedy, Sarah's world begins to teeter on the brink of disaster. She doesn't know if she can continue pretending that everything is fine. She doesn't know if her marriage can survive. But her relationship with herself might be suffering the most.

Throughout the book, the Brennan family rallies together with varying degrees of success. Will they be able to help Sarah make the right decisions to once again set her life on a positive path?  They are a real family, loving and supportive, yet not without fault. Some things may be crumbling, but the Brennans are ever determined to set things right and come out on top.

I keep coming back to these books for the richly developed characters. They are more than one dimensional; they feel real. Like I could be having lunch in the Bay area and spot them at a table across the restaurant; laughing and crying together, having each other's backs, yet also causing one another to bristle with spoken harsh truths and perceived judgments. Like a real family.

I look forward to the next book and can't wait to get personal with another Brennan sister. Hopefully Porter complies!

Book Review: Dark Dawn By Melissa Brodsky and Nicole Andrews Moore

Have you entered the Dark Dawn giveaway I recently posted? It ends Sunday night at midnight!

When I was given the opportunity to help support local author Melissa Brodsky and her co-author Nicole Andrews Moore, I jumped at it! Someday maybe I'll write a book of my own, and in the meantime I'm happy to help other local bloggers promote theirs.

Dark Dawn is the first book in the Dark Redemption Series, about a group of angels sent to Earth to save mankind from the evil Fae. After thousands of years of what feels like a fruitless battle, the group of Guardians begins to tire of the constant struggles associated with their lifestyle. They go against God's direct orders and begin forming close relationships with mortals, jeopardizing the long followed edict to put the needs of many over the needs of a few. Like a house of cards, their fellowship begins to collapse as well. All at once, everything changes. Will their choices lead to God's complete abandonment? And what exactly happens when an angel falls?

This novella is a fairly short introduction to the series' characters and story line. There is Salathiel, the original angel and assumed leader, Caim, Eli, Anna, Zoey, and Gus. I will be anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series!

There are two versions of the book available, one with very adult content, and a milder version.

Check out this video/book trailer that was created by a fan!

Dark Dawn is available for purchase on Amazon:

Adult Version

Non-Adult Version 

Book Review: Crumble by Fleur Philips

Interracial relationships are now so common that they barely register on my radar. Several years ago, they may have been pretty scandalous, but nowadays I thought we could all agree that there are more important issues we can worry about rather than obsessing about skin color and personal relationships. Reading Crumble, by Fleur Philips, reminded me that not everyone is as open minded and accepting as the people in my life, and that in some areas of the United States, interracial relationships are still very much a big deal. Where I live, my perception is that most folks don't even look twice when they see a biracial couple. Now that I've read this book, I realize that might not be the case.

Crumble is a story of young, forbidden love. In the mountain tourist town of Kalispell, Montana, Sarah and David are two teenagers who are anxious to start a new life together in Los Angeles. All they need to do is make it through high school without Sarah's father finding out about their relationship. Sarah is sure her father will never accept that she is in love with a black man, but she has no idea just how passionately he would object, and the lengths he would be willing to go to in order to put an end to their love affair. She begins to realize that she doesn't know her father as well as she thought she did, and that his past holds dark secrets she cannot possibly imagine.

Reading about a couple's relationship struggles, due to nothing more than race, is sad and disheartening. Close minded hatred is so difficult to understand, and witnessing it, even at a fictional level, is disturbing and frustrating. Nonetheless, Crumble has an important message that everyone should remember. Struggles exist, whether we see them in our everyday lives or not. Hatred is sometimes deep rooted, and often based on misunderstanding and misplaced emotions. The book is fairly short, at 166 pages, which makes it a very quick read. The story is extremely compelling, so once I got started I was done with the book in no time at all. The characters are realistic, making me feel like I knew them. Although Crumble is a romance, its larger picture involves increased social awareness. I won't promise a light read, but it is a page turner that won't take long to get through.

I received a complimentary copy of Crumble in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: The Repeat Year by Andrea Lochen

Everyone makes mistakes and has regrets, but have you ever fantasized about getting a real "do-over"? Something worthy of The Twilight Zone? Would you seize the opportunity, or feel compelled to accept your fate?

Andrea Lochen's novel, The Repeat Year, is about the fantasy of second chances becoming a reality. When Olive wakes up on New Year's day, it takes her a moment to  comprehend that she has been hurled 365 days backward in time. She already lived through the year 2011, and it was a difficult, painful time in her life that at first she is not anxious to experience all over again. But once Olive is convinced she's not crazy, and the possibilities of a repeat year begin to formulate, she wonders if she can possibly turn 2011 into a wonderful, successful year, instead of a sad, lonely year filled with regret. Can she do it, or will she make the same mistakes all over again, despite her best intentions and her insider's knowledge?

While the basic premise of this plot line has been done before, The Repeat Year is definitely its own unique story.  Yes, it's true that some aspects are similar to a few films I can think of - a second chance at love, gaining understanding that was missed the first time around, and becoming right with the universe by changing something important. But this book is about more of an all-encompassing second chance - an entire year to live over and really learn to make better choices. With the help of a mentor who is going through a repeat year of her own, Olive seems to be going down the right track, but her future is uncertain until the very end.

If you're looking for a fun, easy going summer read, The Repeat Year would be a great choice.  It's a little mystical, it's a little romantic, and it's a little maddening to think about what you might do if you were in Olive's shoes.

Book Review: The Love Wars By L. Alison Heller

 
To make it at Bacon Payne, Manhattan's foremost law firm, associates have to take dedication to a whole new level. The incentives are impressive, but the price is high. All-nighters, dinners at the office, lack of a social life...those are just the tip of the iceberg. Playing the game is required to succeed, and that comes with an understanding that the firm comes first.

Molly Grant, matrimonial attorney at Bacon Payne, has her reasons for sticking around. But how long can she continue to burn the candle at both ends while simultaneously ignoring the nagging voice in her head telling her that the choices she is making in the name of career advancement do not align with her personal beliefs and character? When she starts listening to her heart, everything starts to change. An old flame is reignited, but who at Bacon Payne really has time to invest in relationships? And perhaps it is best to leave the past in the past. A colleague becomes a mentor and confidante, but could he possibly become more?

As Molly secretly attempts to retain a sense of self she can comfortably live with, the reader is left turning each page in stressful anticipation of what will happen next. Can Molly pull it off, or will her double life catch up with her? There were literally times I had to take a deep breath and put the book down because I couldn't stand the suspense. But I couldn't stay away for long, because I had to find out what happened next!

L. Alison Heller's novel, The Love Wars, is a book about lawyers behind the scenes, without focusing too much on courtroom drama. It's a romance, but it's also a book about staying true to yourself, and having the courage to recognize when it might be time to re-evaluate what you thought were your dreams and goals in life. I'm sure many can commiserate with Molly, as they trudge through life trying to please parents and bosses, and struggling to chase after dreams that are no longer relevant.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of The Love Wars in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Jade and the Tooth Fairy by Jacinta Zechariah

Lucy has been obsessed with fairies lately. She is so absolutely certain she is going to lure one into her bedroom and convince her to stay and live with us forever. Her bait is fairy food (Cheerios), hand drawn pictures of fairies, and little blankets made out of paper. She has a wiggly tooth and is confident that once the tooth comes out, her wished-for fairy friend is a sure thing. Hence, Jade and the Tooth Fairy by Jacinta Zechariah was a timely bedtime story this week.

In this charmingly illustrated children's book, a little girl named Jade is anxious to meet the tooth fairy and visit fairy land. The prose is poetic and sweet, and Mathilda and Lucy both liked the story. Although the book is about 30 pages cover to cover, there are not many words and it takes only a few minutes to read, making it a perfect bedtime story.

Although the story was cute, what really struck me were the whimsical illustrations. They are quite lovely and a little bit vintage looking, reminding me of another era. The details, bits of sparkle, and old-fashioned qualities set them apart from other children's books illustrations. I read an e-version of the book, and I bet the pictures are even more beautiful to see in a real paper book. Jade and the Tooth Fairy would make a cute little tooth fairy gift, left in lieu of money for a little girl who has just lost a tooth.


I received a complimentary ebook version of this book for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: The Good Daughter, By Jane Porter

A few months ago, I published a review of The Good Woman, also by Jane Porter. The Good Daughter picks up where The Good Woman left off.

Since I really enjoyed reading Jane Porter's The Good Woman,  I was looking forward to delving deeper into the Brennan family's affairs. To offer a brief re-cap, the Brennans are a large Irish Catholic family living in the San Fransisco area. The close knit clan consists of four sisters and a brother, along with their parents, spouses, and children. While The Good Woman was written from the perspective of the oldest sibling, Meg, The Good Daughter is the story of Kit.

Kit Brennan is a born people pleaser and peace maker. Likeable and smart, she sees the best in others, even if that means that she doesn't take her own needs into account as often as she should. The expectations of others, including her parents and siblings, somehow end up taking precedence over what Kit wants out of life. She is so busy trying to make everyone else happy, that she hesitates to do what could give her life the fulfillment she desperately craves. Kit is the dependable one, the giver of sound advice, the reliable set of listening ears, and the one to always step up and offer help where it's needed. While her family loves her and wants the best for her, they also tend to take her for granted.

Everyone has a breaking point. Kit finds hers and begins to admit to herself  that some of her choices in life are in direct conflict with her deepest desires. Little by little, she gains courage and begins making choices that facilitate, rather than hinder, the fulfillment of her life goals. Kit's set backs and conflicts are sure to resonate with many readers who work hard making life great for everyone else, while consistently putting themselves at the bottom of their own priority lists. Every time Kit made a choice for her own personal happiness, without taking into consideration how it would affect everyone else and their opinion of her, I silently cheered her on. I saw some of my own struggles in Kit's story, because I, too, tend to grapple with becoming my own person while worrying what my loved ones will think or how they'll react.

Although I fully recommend reading The Good Woman before beginning The Good Daughter, the second book in the Brennan family saga works as a stand alone as well. My fingers are crossed that Porter will continue with more books about this delightful family.

 Are you reading anything good right now? Tell  me about it in the comments!

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I received a complimentary copy of The Good Daughter for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: The Girls' Guide to Love and Supper Clubs, by Dana Bate

The real or imagined pressure that parents put on their children - even grown children - is an incredibly influential force. Many, if not most, people have an innate need to strive to please their parents, and this often leads to making choices for the benefit of the parent instead of the individual. Kids want to make Mom and Dad happy, whether they're five years old or 35 years old. They want acceptance and approval, and if they feel that they're not getting it by pursuing their own dreams, they very well might change focus and let themselves be guided by good-intentioned parental opinion. However, just because someone has good intentions doesn't mean you should follow his advice, not even if that someone happens to be your parent. Sometimes it takes a whole lot of courage to chart your own course, but that is the only way to find fulfillment on your own terms. In Dana Bate's novel, The Girls' Guide to Love and Supper Clubs, the main character, Hannah Sugarman learns this lesson the hard way.

Hannah is living the life her parents want her to live, but she is bored and unhappy. Yet, despite her discontent, she still can't manage to be honest about her personal hopes, dreams, and goals in life, largely because they are so different from what her parents want for her. When a break-up adds to her misery, Hannah is gently urged down a different path, one that leads to a life she never thought possible. It all starts with a secret supper club, but will Hannah's journey end in disaster, or will it have a happy ending?

I tore through The Girls' Guide to Love and Supper Clubs because the suspense was killing me. No, it's not a suspense novel. It actually fits more in the category of chick lit. But Hannah's questionable choices made me so tense, I could hardly wait to read about the solutions to all of her resultant dilemmas. As a main character, she is likeable...and yet there were times I wanted to reach through the book, grab her by the shoulders, and shake some sense into her. All in all it was a nice easy-breezy read, even if it did stress me out a little bit. 


I received a complimentary copy of The Girls' Guide to Love and Supper Clubs for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review: What Daddy Did Today by Walter Wally

We read so much around here. Right now I have several books going. One I read on my Kindle while I'm at the gym, a couple other self-improvement type books that I'm in the process of, one I'm reading for an upcoming review, yet another I'm reading to Bethany and Connor, and also one that I'm reading to Lucy and Mathilda. On top of those, I usually read several books to Mathilda and Lucy daily. We have tons of books at our house, even taking into consideration the three big boxes full of children's books that I recently donated. Plus we go to the library often, and typically  have a couple dozen library books hanging around too. I will be so sad when the day comes that my kids don't want me to read to them anymore. I love kids' books! I can't imagine a day when I don't have an excuse to read them on a daily basis.

I was thrilled when author Walter Wally asked me to review his book, What Daddy Did Today: A Father's Bedtime Story. He sent me a beautiful hardcover edition, and I read it to my little girls at bedtime last night. It occurred to me that maybe Chris should read it to them, but he wasn't home and I had to get on with things. So I will suggest he read it to them another night this week.

What Daddy Did Today is a fun book about what dad does when he leaves for work in the morning. I love that it's written from the dad's perspective, because that's not all that common. The book is silly and whimsical, with colorful illustrations on every page. The prose is simple and rhythmical, and had Lucy and Mattie giggling and engrossed. I don't know if Walter is a daddy, but if he is, I bet his kids are treated to awesome bedtime stories on a nightly basis!

This book will be staying on the book shelf next to Lucy's bed, where our bedtime books reside for easy access. Mattie is looking at it right now and asking me to read it to her again...duty calls!


I received a copy of What Daddy Did Today for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney

I have been harping quite a bit about Jeff Kinney and the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series lately, pretty much because I feel awfully cool that I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to meet him a couple weeks ago. You can read about that experience HERE and HERE. And then come back and read my review of book #7 in the Wimpy Kid series, The Third Wheel.

Connor started reading the Wimpy Kid books back in first grade. He's in fourth grade now, and still into them. Bethany is in sixth grade, and she enjoys them too. Connor has read most of them multiple times. These are books that have the rare power to transcend age groups, enjoying great popularity with both elementary school and middle school kids. In case you're unfamiliar with the series, the books are basically a combination of comic book and regular book. They are funny in that particular way that certain things are hilarious to kids, and meanwhile the parents are scratching their heads and saying, "Huh? What did I miss?" That's because most of us have forgotten what it's like to be young, laughing about diarrhea jokes and utterly convinced that urban legends are the real deal. Not that I don't find the Wimpy Kid books to be funny, because I absolutely do. But not quite in the same snorting laugh sort of way that my 9-year old does.

When I met Jeff, I told him that he had an obvious rapport with 12-year old kids. I said 12 because Greg, the main character in the series, is 12 years old. (Actually, don't quote me on that; he is in middle school, so he's got to be 12-ish.) But what I really meant was more like kids ages 5-13, because that's the approximate age-range of Jeff's core audience*. They get his humor because he gets them. What an awesome gift. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid books got Connor interested in reading. If you have a kid who just doesn't care much about reading, I highly recommend any of these to help spark an interest. I'm a reader, always have been, and I consider that to be quite an endorsement. I truly believe Jeff's work has encouraged many a kid to get into reading. Like Judy Blume, Jeff has the uncanny ability to authentically relate to his readers.

I read The Third Wheel in one sitting, start to finish. Connor read it in a day. It's fun, compelling, and peppered with many illustrations, which make it a quick read. This book was highly anticipated, as were the other books in the series. We ordered it ahead of time from Scholastic, and Connor received it at school the day it came out. The parents I've talked to about it say their kids read it in just a day or two also. I love that kids get so into these books. It's not a video game or an Apple product. It requires sitting quietly with no electronic distractions. And they get so excited about it!

As far as the story...well, I always hate to give away too much. Let's just say Greg Heffley is up to more of his awkward middle school shenanigans. I laughed out loud. Poor Greg. All he wants is a date for the Valentine's Day dance. When your kid is done reading this book, read it for yourself. Or read it together. Laughter is good for the soul, and you'll have something to discuss at the dinner table that won't involve cheerful pleading on your part. (Can't you remember anything you did at school today? Anything at all?)

*I have no stats to back this up, it's just me making assumptions based on what I've observed personally and what I hear from teachers.

I received a copy of The Third Wheel for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Paternity Test by Michael Lowenthal

I love when I start a book and don't really know what I'm about to get myself into. Somehow it happened that I skipped the description and was happily clueless when I first cracked open The Paternity Test, by Michael Lowenthal, and dove in. I never do that, which must be a testament to my exhaustion of late, however I'm glad I deviated from my norm. Obviously, the title offers a clue. But it's not what you might think.

There is a love triangle, but an unconventional one to say the least. The story is about becoming parents, but the real focus is on the relationship between the parents, and not on parenting or babies. I hate to give away too much, because it was fun to read without knowing the basis of the story. In fact, I may have already said too much.

Written ever so poetically, The Paternity Test delves into the complexities of long term relationships; what makes them tick and what has the power to make them implode. Anyone who has ever made a conscious decision to become a parent probably recalls that heady feeling of ohmyGOD I'm doing this, I'm doing this, I'm doing this, and the associated, overwhelming euphoria, coupled with can't-turn-back-now panic. Lowenthal captures that with his beautifully, realistically flawed characters. But he goes much further. And then, what comes next? Now that the decision is made, what becomes of the couple? Is it possible for them to remain essentially the same, or are they inevitable drawn into the tide of change? Furthermore, what happens when procreating isn't as simple as A+B=C? There are so many variables, so many possibilities.

I recommend The Paternity Test, as an off the beaten track love story, a humanistic view of how people connect to one another when they are unexpectedly tossed into the flow of life together, a recounting of how people stay together and break apart...change and stay the same.

Book Review: The Good Woman by Jane Porter

Best-selling author Jane Porter's* latest novel, The Good Woman, follows the Brennan sisters and family, a big Irish-Catholic clan living in the San Fransisco area. Meg Brennan Roberts is the eldest child, and now as a married mother of two, she is still the one looking out for her younger siblings, even while attempting to keep up the facade of the perfect family with her own husband and kids. Her entire life, Meg has prided herself for having a good head on her shoulders, for being responsible, and for making good choices. She is the voice of reason, always ready with good advice, and always knowing what is best for her family.

But is everything as perfect in Meg's world as she would have everyone believe? She begins to realize that her life is not satisfying, and that while she is busy worrying about everyone else and taking care of her loved ones, no one is looking out for her best interests - not even Meg herself. When a business trip with her boss, vineyard owner Chad Hallahan, turns a little too personal, Meg begins to realize what is missing in her life. From this point on, she begins a downward spiral of doubt, remorse and self-discovery, but where will she wind up in the end?

I love stories about big families, and The Good Woman was no exception. Although I personally grew up as an only child, I always had my large extended family surrounding me, and from my mom (one of seven kids) learned glimpses of what it might have been like to live in a home crawling with people. Maybe that's partly why I wanted a big family of my very own. I can imagine Meg's frustrations as she tries to set an impeccable example at all times, yet suddenly feels she is under everyone's scrutiny when she begins to question her place in the world. While she has her large family to support her, she also has to deal with the sometimes too-close-for comfort opinionated voices of all of them as well. I enjoyed the characters and the story of The Good Woman. What 21st century mother can't relate to the expectations to be and do everything at once, and the panic of feeling that all the balls you're juggling are in danger of crashing down around your feet at any moment? I look forward to the next Brennan Sisters novel, The Good Daughter, which will be coming out in February, so I can get to know this literary family even better.


* Porter is the author of She's Gone Country, Easy on the Eyes, and Flirting with Forty, the basis of a Lifetime movie.

I received a copy of The Good Woman for review purposes. All opinion are my own.

Book Review: Perfect Bait by Michael Fowlkes

One of the reasons I love reading is because it gives me the opportunity to be in situations and environments that I'm not familiar with in real life. In the case of Perfect Bait, by Michael Fowlkes, the setting starts out in the world of Seattle's commercial fishing industry, and ends up in the laid-back sun and surf community of Ocean Beach. Much of the book takes place on boats. Since I haven't spent all that much time on boats, I have few preconceived notions about the lifestyle of boaters, and as a reader, I could just sit back and enjoy the ride.

When main character Corey Phillips leaves Seattle, looking for a fresh start, he blindly stumbles into a sea-side oasis in southern California and makes the decision to call it home. Little by little, his new life begins to take shape, beginning with a dog and ending up with a serious relationship and the development of a dream. He and his girlfriend, Jennifer, spontaneously decide to buy a boat and begin a new career running charter fishing trips. They have no idea what they are getting themselves into.

As they work to restore their boat and start their business, Corey and Jennifer discover new friendships as their own relationship strengthens. They love the boating life, and the charters are off to a good start. Soon, however, a frightening mystery presents itself, and suddenly it becomes clear that there is a  lot more than fishing going on in the charter community.

Although the story seemed to move along at a snail's pace at times, Perfect Bait consistently kept my attention. Sometimes it took awhile to see where we were headed in the scheme of things, and the main gist of the story wasn't presented until pretty late in the book. However, I enjoyed the journey, so this wasn't much of an issue for me. Maybe some of the relationships seemed a little too perfect, but this is fiction after all. Throughout the book, there are some pretty descriptive intimate scenes, but nothing that I would personally deem offensive. Then again, I wasn't offended by Fifty Shades of Grey, so maybe I'm not the right person to ask. In this book, though, the love scenes are done tastefully and sweetly. And they are not the primary focus of the story. From beginning to end, I liked Perfect Bait; and its short but sweet cast of characters and easy to follow story line made it a good work-out companion for this multi-tasking mama.

Thanks to BookSparksPR, I received a copy of Perfect Bait for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Finding Emma by Steena Holmes

As a parent, my biggest fear is Something Bad happening to my kids. The ambiguous Something could be anything...sickness, disease, injury, the d-word, kidnapping, or anything else that would be painful and horrifying to them and prevent them from fully living a good, long life.. I'm going to make an assumption here that there are not many parents who would disagree with me. It's the stuff of nightmares, without a doubt. Before I had children, I couldn't have imagined the things that I now envision happening to my kids during my darkest moments.

Steena Holmes' novel, Finding Emma, explores what happens to one family when their young daughter mysteriously disappears. After two years, Emma's mom, Megan, is (as I see it) still naturally obsessed with finding her child, while her dad, Peter, feels the need to move on, find closure, and turn the focus of their lives to their two other daughters. While in theory I can see his point, I think the unknown would drive me to the brink of insanity. I'm not sure I could ever stop looking for my child.

Megan is faced with a brutal decision: move forward with Peter and stop her urgent search for Emma, or risk losing her family. Megan isn't sure she can go on without the love and support of Peter, but has too much damage been done to save their marriage?

After reading this book, I truly can't imagine what I would do in a similar situation. I would have three other children who would still need me and depend upon me, but I would undoubtedly always feel like I was letting my missing child down if I wasn't searching ceaselessly. I can only pray I'm never faced with such a reality. I try to avoid even thinking about things like kidnapping, so it was a little tough for me to read Finding Emma at first. But once I got into it, I had to know how it ended. I finished the whole book in less than 24 hours, which meant a little sleep deprivation, but it was worth it. The ending wasn't my favorite, but nonetheless I would recommend this book. Right now the Kindle version is only $2.99 (click the picture above to take you right to it), so I suggest you get right on it!

I was provided a complimentary copy of Finding Emma for review purposes, but all opinions are my own. Please note that 50% of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the Missing Children's Society of Canada.

Book Review: The Dark Monk by Oliver Potzsch

Last month, I reviewed The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Potzsch. This month I'm reviewing the next book in the series, The Dark Monk. 

As I've mentioned, I'm a fan of historical fiction, so this series of books, set in 17th century Bavaria, is right up my alley. I love the dark element - one of the main characters is the town hangman, after all. Besides being realistically historical, both books are mysteries, with a little romance thrown in for good measure.

In The Dark Monk, the mystery involves the Knights Templar (You know, King Arthur? Knights of the Round Table?). The hangman Jakob Kuisl, his daughter Magdalena, and Simon the physician are on the trail again, putting their heads together to solve crimes around their little German town of Schongau. This time they learn that first impressions can be deceiving. As they each head off on their separate adventures and missions, each of them is in for more than he (or she) has bargained for!

Potzsch includes a cast of characters at the beginning of the book, which I didn't realize until I was done with it. But it would have been really helpful in keeping everyone straight, considering that there are quite a few characters, most with names I can't pronounce. I love when authors are so considerate of their readers.

Many of the characters and locations in The Dark Monk are based on real people and places. Potzsch is an actual descendant of the real life hangman Jakob Kuisl. This just makes the book even more fun to read, knowing some of the events may have really happened, even if they are written with generous artistic license. Potzsch also includes a travel guide at the end of the book for anyone who might want to hunt down the locations that helped inspire the book. I thought that was a really thoughtful addition, and one readers don't find very often.

I'm hooked on this series, and I look forward to reading the next, The Beggar King: A Hangman's Daughter Tale. I'm almost afraid to read the excerpt of the new book that is included at the end of The Dark Monk because I know I'll have to wait to read the book in its entirety!

The Dark Monk and The Hangman's Daughter are both available on Amazon.

I received a complimentary Kindle copy of The Hangman's Daughter thanks to BzzAgent. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Hell or High Water by Joy Castro

When Hurricane Katrina hit back in 2005, I remember being mesmerized by the television coverage. I was sickened and wished I could be there to help the victims. I was sad and frustrated that something like that could happen in our own country, and that red tape and incompetence were permitted to keep people from getting life-saving assistance in a timely manner. I had the TV on so much to watch for news updates, that when Lucy was born over a year later, Bethany suggested we name her Katrina.

The novel Hell or High Water, by Joy Castro, explores an issue in post-Katrina New Orleans that never crossed my mind until I read the book. The storm and mass exodus of the city provided the perfect opportunity for convicted sex offenders to go off the grid, and possibly never get back on it. When Times-Picayune reporter Nola Cespedes is given an assignment to investigate this problem and write a feature story about it, she hopes it will earn her a transfer and beef up her reputation at the paper.

At first glance, Nola is a tough, confident and independent party girl with a full social life. She is determined and driven. But as her research gets more and more intense, pieces of Nola are pushed to the surface, despite her best efforts to keep them buried. The complexity of her character is intriguing and keeps the story interesting. Bit by bit, the reader realizes there is quite a bit more to Nola than meets the eye.

Hell or High Water is full of surprises. It hooked me early and kept me curious and interested right up through the end.

For more information, visit the author's website at http://www.joycastro.com/ 

I received a complimentary copy of Hell of High Water. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Clean Break by David Klein

My latest summer read, Clean Break by David Klein, takes place in cold, wintry New York. When Celeste finds out her husband has a gambling problem, and the violent tendencies that he's kept hidden from her throughout their entire relationship suddenly burst to the surface, she knows their marriage cannot be saved. Then a stranger, Jake, witnesses an incident between Celeste and her estranged husband, Adam, and he ends up becoming entangled in their lives far more than he bargained for.

Jake is involved in a complicated, failing relationship himself, and that relationship ends up playing a role in his involvement with Celeste and Adam. All of these characters make questionable judgement calls, make decisions that could be considered unethical, and are forever changed by the end of the book.

What struck me most about Clean Break is that it portrays, in a realistic way, how just about anyone could find themselves in the right situation to make choices that they normally wouldn't think themselves capable of. If push came to shove, would you be able to do the "right" thing, even in the most desperate situations? And is the "wrong" thing sometimes actually the "right" thing after all? Life is complicated, and the big decisions are often tempered by a million shades of murky grey. It's easy to judge how others live their lives, but no one can ever know the internal, personal battles people are fighting when they make what could seem like horribly wrong decisions. Would you...pull the trigger? Call the police? Hide the evidence? Tell the truth? Stray from your marriage? Hurt someone you love? It's easy to give the "correct" answer when you're not standing in the midst of disaster and conflict, torn in many directions.

At 373 pages, Clean Break is a pretty quick read with a compelling story line and a thought provoking story.  There are also some good discussion questions at the end, which I really appreciate now that I've been involved in a book club!

To learn more about David Klein:

Visit his website: http://www.bydavidklein.comLike him on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Klein-Author/165778386237Follow him on Twitter:https://twitter.com/#!/byDavidKlein 

I received a complimentary copy of Clean Break. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Potzsch

I am a big fan of historical fiction, because I like to learn about different periods in history in an interesting and engaging way. I had never heard of The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Potzsch until I was offered the chance to read it, and its sequel, The Dark Monk, via BzzAgent.

Centered around a town executioner in 17th century Bavaria, The Hangman's Daughter is a mystery set in a time when women were still commonly burned at the stake for suspicion of witchcraft. When orphans start turning up dead with strange markings on their skin, the local midwife becomes the scapegoat, in the hopes of avoiding a huge scandal and mass hysteria that could very well end tragically with a widespread witch hunt. But the hangman takes up her cause and, together with an accomplice, works to find the true answers to the mysterious events happening in their town.

At times this was a very frustrating read, because the world was simply not very just, to put it mildly, during the 17th century. Dangerous prejudices abounded and often lead to unfounded accusations and, ultimately, torture and execution. Anything that was not understood by most people was immediately under suspicion. For example, midwives knew of herbal remedies to help with many different ailments. Although others commonly sought these remedies and advice from the midwife, they also felt scared and confused by her abilities and knowledge. Even children were not safe from wild speculations, especially if they associated with the midwife, as they did in The Hangman's Daughter.

The dichotomous hangman is probably my favorite of the richly portrayed characters in the book. He is lethal, but also one of the most compassionate, caring, intelligent, and clear thinking citizens of the town. Although they are considered to be social outcasts, the hangman and his daughter are clearly ahead of their time.

I love that Potzsch is a descendent of a long line of Bavarian executioners, the Kuisl family (same as in the story), and that he was inspired by genealogy and family lore to write The Hangman's Daughter. I look forward to reading The Dark Monk to see what mystery befalls the hangman and his family next.

Right now, The Hangman's Daughter is only $3.99 for the Kindle edition or $7.20 in paperback on Amazon. I enjoyed the book, even if I was a bit tense throughout most of it!

I received a complimentary Kindle copy of The Hangman's Daughter thanks to BzzAgent. All opinions are my own.