Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Reprint edition (April 23, 2013)
ISBN-10: 0062211765
Source: Publisher
While Jackie McMullen is serving her country overseas as a military nurse her husband Jimmy, a fireman, is killed when the floor in a building he is attempting to save from fire collapses. Jackie and her and ten-year-old son, Charlie, are completely devastated. Jimmy was a wonderfully supportive husband and father and their grief seems as though it will never cease. Jackie reluctantly agrees to return to her childhood home on Sullivan’s Island to spend the summer with her mother, Annie.
Jackie and Annie have always had a tumultuous relationship with vastly differing opinions on nearly everything. Growing up, Jackie always assumed the battles her mother forged against her father were done out of spite with some underlying motive at hand. Now, her father is estranged, having walked out on her mother the day after Jackie’s wedding. Still, realizing the healing powers of the beautiful Lowcountry, she is certain the time spent with her mother will be a good change of pace for her and Charlie.
Within a short period of time, Charlie once again begins to resemble the happy and active ten-year-old boy he was before his father died. Jackie is determined to return to their life in Brooklyn once the summer ends but Charlie has other things in mind!
Having read every one of this author’s titles, I can state that she is truly an expert at portraying the lush setting of Lowcountry South Carolina. The beautiful seascapes, the quiet and laid back pace of life feel like home to me. I swear I was a Lowcountry girl in another life!
The addition of incredibly lush characters that one can’t help but love, Benton Frank has once again graced readers with a truly remarkable and heartwarming read. She won me over with quotes from Edgar Allen Poe (who was post in the United States Army at Ft. Moultrie on the tip of Sullivan’s Island in the 19th century) and a character (Annie) who had a vast knowledge of this talented writer.
All in all, if you are looking for an escapist read, one that will transport you to paradise, this is the title for you. Rich with endearing characters, a heartwarming story and a tinge of romance, Porch Lights has it all. Highly recommended.
Thank you to TLC Book Tours for providing me the opportunity to review this title! Be sure to check out the other spots in this tour, which features a read-a-long of four of this author’s books.
Three years ago, Franny Banks gave herself a deadline. By the end of the deadline, if she hadn’t yet made it on Broadway she would go back home. Six months are now left and she has yet to meet this deadline. She waits tables at a comedy club to make ends meet, not really the “important work” she was hoping to do. Her only chance to be “discovered” is during a showcase for her acting class. She has to keep her mind focused, yet when James Franklin, the most talented (and attractive) actor in her class begins to indicate an interest in her, Franny has a hard time keeping her head, staying true to who she really is.
Someday, Someday, Maybe is a heartfelt, and extremely humorous, glimpse of a young woman trying to succeed in one of the post competitive of occupations in the most competitive city. Franny is an incredibly bright and talented young woman with a witty sense of humor, yet unfortunately she doesn’t realize it. Even the most heartbreaking of situations have a humorous spin on them, adding a bit of levity to what has the potential of being a dark and depressing novel. Each chapter starts with images of Franny’s Filofax, following her progress to the deadline with comical notes and drawings.
The secondary characters are rich and well developed. Franny’s best friend and roommate, Jane, has a starring role in Franny’s life, offering her the support and confidence needed to make a future in acting. Danny, their other roommate, is an aspiring sci-fi writer and sees Franny for the smart and talented woman she is. When she begins to stray from her roots, it is Danny that reels her back down to earth.
Admittedly, while I was extremely excited to see that Lauren Graham was writing a novel, I was also a tad bit wary. Some actresses that take the leap and write fiction have tragic outcomes. Thankfully, Graham doesn’t fall in that category! I can’t help but wonder how much of her life is reflected in Franny’s story considering the timing of her acting debut fits that of Franny’s.
A tremendously endearing and heartwarming read, Someday, Someday, Maybe follows Franny through her path of self-discovery, finding a niche that is both respectful and suits her as an individual. Those looking to branch out into acting would truly appreciate this novel as it provides some of the dark side of the trade not obviously evident. If you are looking for a light, heartwarming read, Someday, Someday, Maybe is the book for you. Highly recommended!
Listen to an excerpt of the audiobook of this title, narrated by Lauren herself!
Thanks to Big Honcho Media, I have two copies of Someday, Someday, Maybe to give away! Open to US addresses only. To enter, please fill out the form below. The winners will be contacted via email on Friday, May 17th.
Nineteen-year-old Maya Nidal has grown up in Berkley, living with her grandparents after being deserted by her mother and all but forgotten by her father. Her grandmother, Nidia, is a force to be reckoned with. A strongly independent woman, she rebuilt her life after immigrating to the United States from Chile in the early 1970s. Her grandfather, Popo, is an African American astronomer and professor who brought a sense of calmness and peace to Maya’s tumultuous adolescent life.
When Popo dies of cancer, Maya’s life is upended. Nidia, a normally strong woman, is devastated, forgetting that Maya exists. To deal with the emotional turmoil after her grandfather’s loss, Maya loses control and goes off the deep end. Her addictions to drugs, alcohol and petty crime lead her to Las Vegas where she becomes involved in a deadly underworld that involves run-ins with the police, FBI, and Interpol. Desperate to get her granddaughter on a better track of life and to avoid capture by the authorities, Nidia sends Maya to her homeland, a small remote island off the coast of Chile. Life has a slower pace here and Maya has the opportunity to reflect upon her own life, as well as the secret past of her grandmother, in an incredibly soul-enriching bout of self discovery.
On the island, Maya stays with Manuel Arias, an anthropologist in his seventies not used to sharing his space with anyone, much less a teen girl. Their relationship is rocky at first but eventually evolves into one of mutual respect and appreciation. It is this relationship that allows Maya to take the first steps on her path of growth and rediscovery, aided by a truly tight-knit Chilean community rich with a need to nurture those around them.
Told in Maya’s journal entries from alternating time periods, Maya’s Notebook captures Maya’s incredibly tumultuous youth and eventual regrowth. Maya’s retellings are incredibly dark and gritty, not shying away from the horrific and disturbing situations Maya seemed to find herself in. What I found particularly remarkable about this novel was how Allende portrayed Maya’s life in truly polar opposite settings, from the dark and crime-ridden Las Vegas to the beautiful small island of Chilcote where everyone works hard to create a respectful life.
Allende delves deep into the Chilean culture, one I am not especially familiar with. This portrayal left be fascinated, wanting to learn more. Readers get a glimpse of the nation’s devastating past which served as an influence to the current contemporary hardworking citizens.
While the style of Maya’s Notebook is far different than Allende’s other books, I do believe this title will garner the attention of a whole host of new fans. Destined to be talked about in book clubs around the country, this title is one to leave a resounding feeling of healing and recovery in the hearts of every reader. Recommended.
Thank you to TLC Book Tours for providing me the opportunity to review this title. Please be certain to check out the other stops along the way!
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading This Week? This is a weekly event to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finish this week. It is hosted by Sheila from One Person’s Journey Through a World of Books so stop by and join in!
Happy Star Wars (May the 4th) Day to you! Given that I will be celebrating Zombie Awareness month by showcasing a zombie title each weekend, I thought it fitting that the first one (that just happens to fall on Star Wars Day!) shall be a Star Wars zombie title. Yes…it does exist!
The Purge is an Imperial prison barge filled with five hundred of the galaxy’s worst killers and thieves breaks down in a remote part of the galaxy, their options are limited. They notice an abandoned Star Destroyer in the distance. It appears as though a few life forms are still on board. Never-mind the fact that a ship of this magnitude would have never been left abandoned or the fact that it should have been filled with hundreds of life forms…
When a boarding party goes on a scavenging mission they quickly discover why the ship has been left to rot. Only have of the team returns to The Purge, bringing with them a horrific disease that leaves most of the inhabitants dead. If that isn’t bad enough, the small number of survivors are forced to deal with what happens next: the dead begin to rise and they are hungry!
Ok, so while Star Wars: Death Troopers isn’t the best Star Wars novel nor the best zombie novel, the fact that it is a culmination of the two is what makes this title pretty darned awesome. Throw in some classic Star Wars characters (Han Solo and Chewbacca) to save the day and you have a romping good read.
The intensity of the novel starts within the first few pages of the book. What is lacking in character development and writing skill is made up for with the truly outstanding action scenes that scatter through a majority of this title. I wouldn’t recommend this to a Star Wars aficionado looking for the next great Star Wars novel or to a zombie fan looking forward to a unique piece of zombie fiction. That said, if you are looking for a thrilling, slightly gory and unique spin on zombie fiction, this is the title for you. Recommended.
Like many children her age, Victoria (Vic) McQueen enjoys taking off on her bike, exploring new frontiers. Unlike other children, however, Vic’s bike can transport her to wherever she needs to go…in a matter of seconds. All she has to do is ride her bike through an old, decrepit bridge, coincidentally named the Shorter Way bridge, and she’s transported miles away. These journeys aren’t made without consequence, however, for the act leaves Vic weak and feverish for days.
On one of these adventures, Vic meets a young girl, Maggie Leigh, who has her own special talent. She is able to seek answers by reading Scrabble tiles. Like Vic, Maggie’s “talent” has a side effect. In her case, it is stuttering. She started of speaking normally and without impediment but her talent has caused her speech to deteriorate over time.
It is Maggie who tells Vic about Charles Talent Manx, a man who drives a 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith with a vanity plate that reads “NOS4A2.” Manx is an incredibly evil man. His “talent” is the Wraith. It can transport him, and the children he abducts, to a terrifying place known as Christmasland. Manx uses the energy and essence of the children to stay alive; a soul-sucking vampire of sorts.
He takes children for rides in his car and it does something to them. He uses them up – like a vampire – to stay alive. He drives them into his own inscape, a bad place he dreamed up, and he leaves them there. When they get out of the car, they aren’t children anymore. They aren’t even human. They’re creatures that could only live in the cold s-s-space of the Wraith’s imagination.
Maggie stresses that Vic should avoid Manx and the Wraith at all costs, yet after an argument with her mother, Vic treks out in search of Manx. She finds him but is able to escape, the only child to have done so.
Fast forward a few decades. Vic is now an adult and has a child. Her life has been pretty messed up, largely in part to what happened when faced Manx. She is no longer the young and innocent girl she once was; Substance abuse and mental illness have caused her to spiral downward. All these years, Manx has been incapacitated in a coma-like state. He hasn’t forgotten the child who got away. He’s out to seek revenge, going right to Vic’s weak spot: her son. Aiding Manx is Bing Partridge, a truly sick and demented individual. Bing, affectionately (or not) referred to as the Gasmask Man steals dental-grade anesthesia (which smells coincidentally like gingerbread) from his place of employment and uses it to incapacitate the children Manx abducts.
I’m going to warn you…the paragraphs that proceed contain a great deal of gushing about Hill’s brilliance. Please note this text has been trimmed down considerably. My original review was novella length. Figuring no one would want to read all that, I did a bit of editing.
Joe Hill is absolutely brilliant. I have been an avid follower of his for years, before it was known he was the son of the incredibly talented Stephen King. I have loved everything this man has ever written, but he has really outdone himself with NOS4A2. In it, he not only grants readers with a truly outstanding horror novel but a truly remarkable examination of good vs. evil and the strength of families.
At the heart of Manx’s abductions is the idea that he is rescuing these children from abuse of some sort (whether actual or imagined). In the case of Vic the intensity of one mother’s love for her son is what wins out in the end. Speaking of family, Hill gives a few nods to his father’s work and names a character after his mother. In the past, I have mentioned that King’s talented writing has been passed down to his son. I’m going to take that back. Prepared to be shocked…for I believe that, with NOS4A2, Hill has exceeded his father in horror genius. An “amusement park” with a Christmas theme that serves as a prison of sorts to captured children turned evil monsters. That terrifies me much more than any demonic clown might.
Additionally, it’s the depth Hill has added to the characters that really makes this novel stand out. It’s not only the protagonist that stands out in this case, but also a majority of the secondary characters as well. Hill takes the time to develop each and every one of them individually. The fact that the protagonist is a very, very flawed yet incredibly strong young woman pleases me to no end. Unlike many novels with female protagonists, Vic needs no saving. She’s kicking ass and taking names!
Some might think this novel (and perhaps this review even!) is too long. I disagree; for each and every word, every sentence, Hill puts on the page has value and meaning to the story. He isn’t liberal with his writing; he doesn’t insert a bunch of unnecessary, flowery text just to reach his word count. Each.and.every.word.counts. I’ve read this novel twice (and I’m about to start the audiobook, narrated by Kate Mulgrew ) and each time I just revel in Hill’s truly tremendous talent. So kudos to you, Joe Hill, for gifting your readers with a truly brilliant piece of art. Highly, highly recommended.
Many of us have basic details about the Birmingham Children’s March in 1963 in which 4,000 students boycotted school in a march to protest segregation. Yet never before have we stepped inside the shoes of those students who stepped up to fight for rights which should have been guaranteed but were not.
We’ve Got a Job follows the stories of four children who participated in the march. Nine-year-old Audrey Hendricks was the youngest to participate. Her parents stood behind her decision, as did her teachers and close friends. Washington (Wash) Booker grew up among poverty and a strong fear of the police. It wasn’t uncommon for parents to threaten their children, ordering them to behave or “the police are gonna come and get you.” James Stewart was an excellent student, opting not to let the color of his skin determine how well he did in school. He lived in a large house with a pool, his parents were lucky enough to have successful jobs. Arnetta Streeter had light skin and could have passed as white, but instead went so far as to attend young activist training so she could stand fight to end segregation. She grew up being called names due to the light color of her skin, even by other black children. Her desire for change was so strong that she started a club at school called the Peace Ponies. Among the stories of these young, brave, individuals, readers get a glimpse of other powerful individuals from both sides of the battle lines involved in this fight, from Martin Luther King, Jr to Reverend Shuttlesworth and Bull Connor.
Breaking up the text are large black and white photos that allow readers to visualize the intensity of this battle, from the fear in the eyes of those individuals being attacked by police to the shrouded faces of the Ku Klux Klan. Detailed sidebars heighten the intensity, adding even more information to this detail-rich chronicle of a pivotal time in our nation’s history. Words cannot express how moved I was by this book. This is a title that should be added to curriculum in schools around the country so that it may educate and inspire this generation of children to work for further change not just in our own country but world-wide.
I chose to read this book with my boys. Justin is seven, just two years younger than the youngest student in this march. At this point in his schooling, while he he has learned about the great acts of Martin Luther King, Jr., his curriculum hasn’t delved into the deeper and more dark aspects of that time period. He was shocked and horrified to learn of the treatment of children his own age, the crimes that be committed against blacks without fear of punishment from the authorities (and in some cases, at the hands of authorities). So gracious that he will never have to endure this treatment, I still felt it was important for him to learn at an early age just how far our country has come. John-John is thirteen and well-informed about this pivotal time in our nation’s history. Still, he was unfamiliar with the Children’s March and was devastated to learn about what those young children went through to stand up for what they believed in. Given the fact that we are a biracial family, I felt it was important that the boys understand just how lucky we are and appreciate just how much those before us did in order to guarantee the freedoms we now have.
My audiobook pick of the month is easy: Extinction Machine by Jonathan Maberry. My pick for print book was a bit more challenging. I picked the book that continues to resound within me, a book I have recommended countless times this month: The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope.
Special Events
Last weekend I participated in Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-thon and had a blast!
Publisher: Kensington House Pub Ltd; First Edition edition (April 30, 2013)
ISBN-10: 0758246668
Source: Publisher/Author
John and Ruby are leading a happy life. John’s online gaming business is growing, allowing Ruby to go back to school to become an acupuncturist. John is still recovering from a devastating climbing accident in which he was forced to choose between his life and the life of another. Unfortunately, he’ll have to face this decision again and far too soon…
John notices a strange mark on Ruby’s foot and insists she go to the doctor. The news she receives is unexpected and life-altering. Her condition is treatable, but the generic brand of the drug she must have is unavailable. She’s forced to opt for the name-brand drug, one that is not covered by her insurance. The cost is astronomical, but John won’t let that prevent Ruby from getting the treatment required. Despite maxing out their credit cards and borrowing from friends and family, they still don’t have enough money to fund Ruby’s full treatment. John does the unthinkable; he steals the identity of one of his online gaming customers and files a false claim for her treatment. They move to a new apartment, live under the other person’s name, whatever it takes.
Their plan is running smoothly, Ruby’s condition is improving. Then one day they receive a phone call from the man whose identity they have stolen. He won’t report the fraud one one condition: John and Ruby must take part in a “game” he’s contrived. The point of the game is for John and Ruby to commit real crimes to show they are, in fact, real criminals. The crimes start with armed robbery, then arson. Each time they don’t follow the rules of the game to the specifics demanded, someone is killed. John and Ruby soon learn the individual inflicting this torturous plan on them is not the man whose identity was stolen. Their situation is far worse than they suspected for their life is in the hands of a psychopathic serial killer. They can’t go to the police, the only thing they can do is to follow through with the game to the end. In playing the game, they must figure out a way to outwit this monster before they become his next victims.
Once again, Palmer has created another page-turning techno-thriller. Despite the crime the main characters have committed, Palmer creates in them truly sympathetic characters. Who wouldn’t risk everything to save the one loved? Additionally, Palmer throws in several red herrings, leaving the reader pondering just who is responsible for this vicious game.
While some aspects of this novel are a tad far-fetching and unbelievable, the reader that can suspend disbelief will instantly become immersed in a truly heart-pounding, terrifying thriller. Highly recommended.
Thanks to the publisher, I have a copy of STOLEN to give away. To enter, please fill out the form below. The winner will be contacted by email on Friday, May 10.
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading This Week? This is a weekly event to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finish this week. It is hosted by Sheila from One Person’s Journey Through a World of Books so stop by and join in!
