Review: Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Jenn

  • Hardcover: 336 pages
  • Publisher: William Morrow (July 9, 2013)
  • ISBN-10: 0062224840
  • Source: Publisher

Holly is a thirty-two year old widow. After her husband’s death, food was her only source of comfort. She didn’t plan on getting as large but without anyone to stop her, she frequently binge-eats rather than dealing with her loss. Logan Montgomery is a professional trainer catering to many of the big name athletes. Logan and Holly are forced together on a small flight, both would have preferred first class but were relegated to coach instead.

Holly certainly isn’t the sort of woman Logan would normally find attractive, but her sharp wit and sense of humor intrigues him. During the short flight, Holly frequently makes jokes about her own weight, but also lets Logan see a more vulnerable side of her. Against his better judgement, Logan offers to work with Holly on improving her physical fitness.

Holly turns out to be a natural in the gym, the pounds pouring off quite easily. Simultaneously, Logan sees a newer, more confidant side to Holly. She’s a relief to the perfectly toned, high-maintenance models he usually dates. As Holly transforms, so does Logan, and the two find themselves moving their relationship to a more intimate (and quite steamy) level.  Watching this transformation are Chase and Amanda Walker, Logan’s closest friends and confidants. They see the relationship is more serious than Holly and Logan will let on. Logan needs something more stable and genuine in his life, but once Holly’s new-and-improved body starts turning the heads of other men, Logan finds he has some competition.  Is Logan truly ready to give up his carefree life in order to be with a woman who goes against his typical mold for a partner? Is Holly ready to settle down again, just as her life is reawakening?

After meeting the author at BEA (Book Expo America), I was beyond thrilled to read her novel. Stephanie, much like Holly, is confidant, witty with a sharp sense of humor. What I valued the most is that she, like Holly, is a true, genuine woman. Stephanie has dealt with her weight all of her life and that thereby makes her an author I can trust due to her ability to share her own experiences through Holly’s characters.

Admittedly, going in, I was fearful that Big Girl Panties was a fluffy, chick-lit sort of novel that typically turn me off. Boy, was I wrong!  There is a huge message blended in this truly fantastic debut novel. True, Holly did lose weight in order to be happy, but in doing so she didn’t lose her own identity. And while Logan did aid her in this journey, she didn’t rely on him to make this transformation.  She took off on her own, not relying on anyone but herself to complete this journey of personal growth.

Holly and Logan as a couple…I admit it took me a little while to accept this. I was fearful Evanovich was embarking upon a formulaic path in which the ugly duckling falls for the gorgeous prince. That said, since itwasn’t a a forced or synthetic relationship but one that certainly broke all molds. Oh…and the sex. Whew! Let’s just say the steaminess went beyond the gym and the work-out routines!  Holly and Logan were one hot couple, to say the least!  What makes these scenes different than all others was the fact that Logan found most attractive in Holly the very things she thought would turn him off. He appreciated her natural beauty and found sensuality in aspects of her physique that she believed were her faults.

Ultimately, I was completely taken aback by how much I truly valued and appreciated this novel.  And, unlike many of the books I read and review, I was able to share my experiences with fellow readers almost immediately.  I was fortunate enough to be a winner of one of the Big Girl Panties House parties. Sponsored by the publisher, we received party favors, decorations, etc. During this discussion, we chatted about Logan’s revelations about the definition of true beauty reminded us of the interview in which Dustin Hoffman shares the sudden realization he experienced while preparing for his role in Tootsie. Finally, we were also given the opportunity to as questions of Stephanie live through a Spreecast chat. A truly wonderful and memorable experience overall!

If you are looking for a beach read that is full of genuine characters and a bit of steam, this is the novel for you. Highly, highly recommended!

 

Posted in General Fiction, Review, William Morrow | 5 Comments

Frightful Friday: World War Z: The Complete Edition: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Jenn

Frightful Friday is a weekly meme in which I feature a particularly scary or chilling book that I’ve read that week.This week’s featured title is the audiobook production of World War Z by Max Brooks:

 

  • Audio CD
  • Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins
  • Publisher: Random House Audio
  • ISBN-10: 0804165734
  • Source: Personal copy

The Zombie War came frighteningly close to decimating mankind. In this documentary-style oral history, survivors (including men, women, and children) look back on the tumultuous time immediately following the outbreak. While sharing their experiences, it isn’t hard to grasp the social and political commentary that follows, how our nation responded to the “attack” and the aftermath. The interviewed include soldiers forced to fight a losing battle, individuals who were just children at the time, now adults reflecting on a horrific past.

While obviously a fictional piece of writing, one could easily take the Zombie War and replace it with any major military insurgence the United States has participated in. The results, the impact, are virtually the same. Lessons learned, inadvisable and rash decisions, are easily transferable.

The interviews are what make this novel truly impactful.  Granted, since there are so many victim statements it is hard to get connected to any character. It wasn’t Brooks’ intent for his readers to relate to any of the characters, but instead focus on the story they are sharing. The story, the memories, the testimony: that should be, and is, the focus of this truly outstanding audio book production. Unlike many other zombie novels, Brooks doesn’t try to explain how or why the zombies came to be, instead focusing on how their existence forever altered society as we know it.

This particular audiobook is an “update” to the original previously released five years ago.  The release of the World War Z motion picture inspired this update, including over five hours of additional content. The previous audio book was abridged, honestly a disappointment. While this update is technically an abridged version as well, to me, the parts removed are not noticeable. Honestly, I was incredibly impressed with the additional content, specifically the additional narrators.  These include New narrators include Martin Scorsese, Alfred Molina (Spiderman), Frank Darabont (the creator ofThe Walking Dead), Nathan Fillion many, many more.

While I haven’t seen the movie yet, I cannot even begin to contemplate how a novel (and audiobook) so brilliant could be transferred to the big screen.  Perhaps a mini-series, but definitely not a full-length film. Instead, I chose to stick to the original, the true brilliance of World War Z. This production definitely tops my list of best of the year. While there are still a few months in the year, it’s going to be hard to top this one. So, in my opinion, skip the movie and stick to the audiobook. Highly, highly recommended.

Posted in Audiobook, Frightful Friday, Horror, Random House, Review, Thriller | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Review: The Never List by Koethi Zan

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Jenn

  • Hardcover: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books (July 16, 2013)
  • ISBN-10: 0670026514
  • Source: Publisher

Sarah and Jennifer have been best friends for years. Together, they kept a list of actions and behaviors to avoid at all risks, the most risky and dangerous situations to become involved in. One night, however, they go against everything they’ve sworn by and accept a ride from a cab driver.  For the next three years, they are held captive in a basement dungeon with several other girls. Sarah escaped, but Jennifer did not.

Ten years later, Sarah is now in her early thirties and living in New York City. She rarely leaves her apartment despite the pleas from her therapist and the police officer assigned to the case. She lives under another name, desperate to forget her previous life. She can’t get over the guilt of knowing Jennifer’s horrible fate. To make matters worse, her abductor is up for parole.  His letters over the years continue to haunt her. Now, fearful that he will be released, Sarah has to face her biggest fear.

She contacts the other survivors and begins a cross-country journey that leads her directly into the dark world of BDSM, secret cults, and torture. The reader learns early on that the other survivors have a grudge against Sarah. Slowly, methodically, the impetus for their feelings is slowly revealed. The full truth, finally uncovered, is far more unbelievable and horrifying than Sarah and the other survivors could have ever imagined.

The Never List is an incredibly intense and chilling foray into the deepest and darkest human fears. Zan delves deep into the lasting psychological ramifications to torture and abduction.  Captivating from the first pages, this debut novel exposes readers to true evil in its most fearful form: a dark and callous man. I found myself holding my breath as I turned the pages, given only a matter of seconds to recover before the next twist or turn was revealed.

I hope this stunning debut novel is just the first of many to come from Koethi Zan.  It’s difficult to find a psychological thriller that sends chills down the spine of this reader. Yet, I found myself reading with the doors locked, lights turned on, wary of every sound around me.  If you are looking for an incredibly captivating psychological thriller, this is the title for you. Highly, highly recommended.

Posted in Mystery/Suspense, Pamela Dorman Books, Review, Thriller | 8 Comments

Review: Countdown City by Ben H. Winters

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Jenn

  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Quirk Books (July 16, 2013)
  • ISBN-10: 1594746265
  • Source: Publisher

In this second volume of the Last Policeman trilogy, only 77 days remain before a asteroid collides with Earth. The Concord police now report to the U.S. Justice Department leaving Detective Hank Palace without a job. Still, every day he dons his suit and tie, working “cases” to keep himself busy.  Then, out of the blue, he is contacted by his childhood babysitter, Martha, begging for help in finding her missing husband.

Considering the current state of things, people disappear quite regularly, going “bucket list” to accomplish things before the world ends. They abandon their lives, including spouses and families in order to take advantage of their last days on Earth. Or, they simply disappear. If it was anyone else asking for help, Palace would have declined. Yet something about the passion and intensity in this woman’s request gives Palace the initiative to do a bit of investigating. Besides, how else is he going to spend his remaining days on Earth?

Palace’s investigation soon leads him straight to his sister, Nico, involved in an underground group set on putting a stop to the asteroid themselves. Palace was always reluctant to believe anything this group had to say, yet given information he uncovers in his investigation, he is beginning to wonder if they might be on to something. Could the government be involved in the deaths of hundreds of citizens?

Readers of the first book in this series, The Last Policeman, will appreciate the return of some of the original characters, including those Palace worked with on the force.  Solving crimes and locating missing persons has drastically changed as of late, forcing Palace to rely on some pretty unlikely characters to learn more about the fate of Martha’s husband.

Countdown City is a tremendous second novel in this trilogy, devoid of any “sophomore slump,” avoiding issues that many “middle child” books in a trilogy seem to be threatened with. Winters expertly blends a pre-apocalyptic “drama” with a detective story, really honing in on how people respond and react to a crumbling society.  Each chapter has the intensity to keep the attention and anticipation alive, aided by truly compelling characters.  Additionally, readers get a glimpse into a more philosophical side of Hank Palace, adding an entirely new dimension to his character.

Countdown City will appeal to both fans of mystery and science fiction.  I do recommend that you start at the beginning of the series for it is imperative to learn a bit of history about each character in order to understand their motivations.  While Winters does dish out a bit of back story, it is only an abridged version of what transpires in the first novel.

I am anxiously awaiting the final book in the trilogy. Is it horrible that I am counting down to the day the asteroid hits, if only it means that I get to read more from Winters and his incredibly endearing and likeable character in Hank Palace?  Bottom line: if you are looking for a truly outstanding story with rich and dynamic characters, this is the trilogy for you. Highly, highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher, I have a pretty outstanding giveaway lined up!  Three winners will receive the first two books in The Last Policeman trilogy and a poster as well.  To enter, simply answer the question: If you had 77 days left on Earth, what would you do?

Open to U.S. & Canadian residents only.  Please be certain to complete the email address field (it won’t appear publicly) or enter your twitter handle so I can contact you if are a winner!  Winners will be contacted on Friday, July 26th.

Posted in Mystery/Suspense, Quirk Books, Review | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Review: The Exiles by Allison Lynn

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Jenn

  • Hardcover: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Little A / New Harvest (July 2, 2013)
  • ISBN-10: 054410210X
  • Source: Publisher

After realizing their Manhattan lifestyle was far more than they could afford, Nate Bedecker, Emily Latham, and their ten-month-old son Trevor, leave the city and head to Newport, Rhode Island.  Nate was “the only pauper on Wall Street” and Emily worked in advertising. The quiet, relaxed, and more affordable way of life in Newport was just what they needed.

Unfortunately, within hours of their arrival, their Jeep containing all of their valuables was stolen. Forced to cancel all their credit cards, the only money they had was the small amount of cash in their wallets. Despite having the keys to an empty house they now owned, the couple opts to retreat to a hotel and treat their first few days living as tourists.  The recent lost of their vehicle and all their prized possessions is just one of the many things tormenting this young, unmarried couple.

Nate never had what one would refer to as a healthy relationship with his father. The two hadn’t spoken in years, yet the one thing that connects the two is a genetic condition that plagued Nate’s grandfather, one that was likely passed on to his father and Nate himself as well. The disease, which Nate recalls his mother calling “hunting sons” (Huntington’s). Nate almost obsessively monitors his own health and fitness, certain that any changes are an indication of the disease. Still, he shares none of this with Emily.

Emily is host to her own secrets. An act of theft before they left Manhattan torments her; repercussions for her actions may shatter whatever dreams she and Nate had for building a new life in Newport. Like Nate, she keeps her fears and anxiety hidden, the secrets the two keep from one another adding additional stress to an already tumultuous new beginning.

Meanwhile, Nate’s father embarks on his own journey, attempting to return to his family’s old home in Newport to tie up loose ends before the disease takes him as its next victim.

The Exiles is a novel that focuses on many complex issues including honesty, family, trust and more. Emily and Nate aren’t appealing characters because of the lies they keep from one another. Still, readers can’t help feel compassion for these genuine and flawed characters, forced to deal with a reality that fate has dealt them. Lynn’s raw and emotional prose captivates readers, tethering them to this couple as they embark on a journey that is both physical and emotional. While aspects of the story are quite bleak and depressing, a current of positive and hopeful vibes flows beneath the surface, showing that even in the darkest of situations a bit of light shines through.  Highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher, I have one copy of The Exiles to to give away. To enter, please fill out the form below.  The winner will be notified on Friday, July 26th.  Open to US & Canadian residents only.

Thank to you TLC Book tours for providing me the opportunity to review this title. Be certain to check out the other stops in this tour and increase your chances of winning a copy of the book!

 

 

Posted in General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Little A / New Harvest, Review | 2 Comments

Review: Close My Eyes by Sophie McKenzie

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Jenn

  • Hardcover: 400 pgs
  • Publisher: St. Martin’s Press (July 9, 2013)
  • ISBN: 9781250033895
  • Source: Publisher

Geniver Loxley’s world ended when her daughter died at birth eight years ago. Formerly a successful writer, her career has now evolved into a teaching career.  She and her husband, Art, have tried to conceive with medical assistance for years to no avail. Their marriage is in a rut, the stress at their inability to conceive taking all semblance of romance out of their relationship. Despite Geniver’s reluctance to continue the treatments Art continues to pressure her to continue, almost obsessed with conceiving another child.

One day, a stranger shows up at her doorstep and delivers the most unfathomable news: Geniver’s daughter Beth did not die, but was taken away and is still alive out there somewhere. Unable to accept this information as false, Geniver begins a lengthy investigation into that fateful day eight years ago, despite warnings from Art and her close friends, all of whom assume she’s spiraling into a pit of mental illness and depression.  She must delve deep into the past, unveiling a host of dark secrets kept hidden from her. Soon, she doesn’t know who she can trust and must rely on the most unlikely of advocates to assist her in her trek to find her child.

With slow, yet steady pacing, McKenzie has crafted a chilling psychological thriller. Anyone who is a parent can sympathize with the loss Geniver must be experiencing. Quickly, however, the reader begins to question her reliability and sanity.  The journey the reader takes to learn to trust Geniver as a character parallels Geniver’s own journey to discover who she can trust.

The “big revelation” is one that I do not believe anyone could have predicted. Completely shocking and slightly disturbing, this climax served as quite the intense leap in the pacing of this novel. The usual cliches are unavoidable with this novel, for it is truly an intense, heart-pounding, thrill ride of a read. Highly recommended.

Sophie McKenzie, award-winning, bestselling author of numerous children’s and teen novels, discusses her motivations and inspirations behind writing her first psychological thriller for adult readers.

Posted in Review, St. Martin's Press, Thriller | Tagged | 4 Comments

Review: Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Jenn

  • Hardcover: 320 pgs.
  • Publisher: Gallery Books (July 2, 2013)
  • ISBN-10: 1476707723
  • Source: Publisher

My daddy says that when you do somethin’ to distract you from your worstest fears, it’s like whistlin’ past the graveyard. You know, making a racket to keep the scaredness and the ghosts away. He says that’s how we get by sometimes. But it’s not weak, like hiding’…it’s strong. It means you’re able to go on..

Mississippi, 1963: Nine-year-old Starla Claudelle hasn’t seen her mother in six years.  When Starla was just three years old, Lulu left for Nashville to become a famous singer.  Starla’s father works on an oil-rig in the Gulf, so she is under the watchful eye of her grandmother, Mamie. As is quite typical for her age, Starla has a streak of defiance in her and, despite being put on restriction due to mouthing off, she sneaks out to watch the Fourth of July parade. After she is discovered, Starla is fearful for the punishment Mamie is certain to invoke, so she begins walking. Even after she reaches the outskirts of town, she continues to walk. If she can only reach her mother in Nashville, surely she will find salvation.  Once her father learns of her actions, he too will move to Nashville and they will be one big happy family again.

As she is walking down a desolate country road, Starla accepts a ride from a black woman with a white baby. It is this decision that alters her life forever, shedding light on the world outside Starla’s quiet, safe home.  Despite her young age, by the time Starla reaches the end of her long and harrowing journey she has discovered and experienced more than most adults do in a lifetime.

One can’t help but fall for ginger-hair, spitfire Starla Claudelle. She has no qualms with speaking her mind and standing up for what she believes in. Unfortunately, this tends to get her in a great deal of trouble. Raised by her father’s mother, a woman not prepared or meant to raise a young girl, Starla often feels as though she is a forgotten child, a burden to those around her. So certain that her mother has made a life for herself living as a famous singer in Nashville, Starla abandons what is actually a safe and protected home and journeys out into the unknown and unfamiliar South in 1963.  This historical setting plays a key an active role in what transpires with Starla, a white child traveling with a young black woman. Crandall details life in the South without holding back any of the darker, harsher realities of segregation and racial tension.

A harrowing coming-of-age story filled to the brim with tense and terrifying moments, as well as uplifting points of hope and proof of an undying human spirit. Rich with vibrant, memorable characters, Whistling Past the Graveyard is a novel certain to pull at your heartstrings, rooting for young Starla in hopes that the life she imagined, while unrealistic, is in some way attainable. Highly, highly recommended.

Posted in Gallery Books, General Fiction | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading This Week?

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Jenn

a1

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!

Books Completed Last Week


I had the best of intentions last week.  We were going out of town, driving to Ohio to visit my parents, siblings, and meeting my niece for the first time. Throw those intentions out the door! As you can see, I didn’t read nearly as much as I had hoped!

Close My Eyes by Sophie Mckenzie

Currently Reading

The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley
World War Z: The Complete Edition (Movie Tie-In Edition): An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks (audio)

Books to Complete This Week

Kiss Me First by Lottie Moggach
Countdown City: The Last Policeman Book II by Ben H. Winters

What are you reading this week?

Posted in It's Monday What Are you Reading This Week | 10 Comments

Review: Tampa by Alissa Nutting

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Jenn

  • Hardcover: 272 Pages
  • Publisher: Ecco (July 2, 2013)
  • ISBN-10: 0062280546
  • Source: Publisher

Celeste Price is a middle-school teacher in Tampa, FL.  She chose this career so she could have what she desired most right at her fingertips: young boys in their early teens. Starting in her own teen years, Celeste realized that she had a sexual desire that was more intense than most others. She married a police officer who came from money so she could afford to keep her body looking young by using expensive beauty products and undergoing a number of skin treatments.  She had no attraction to her husband; their sex life was nearly nonexistent. His shift at work prevented them from spending much time together.  When he was home, she drugged him so he would fall asleep, preventing any sort of intimate contact.

As the school year begins, Celeste begins hunting for her prey.  She needs someone that is sort of a loner, too modest to share their indiscretions with anyone, one who has parents that won’t pick up on what is transpiring.  This year, her victim is 14 year-old Jack Patrick, an attractive and modest student in her English class.  It takes some time for her to transform their relationship into more than it is, more than it should be.  When it begins, however, the intensity of their tryst is off the charts. Don’t let Celeste force you to believe she is in this for a romantic relationship for that is far from her intent.  She is in it for the sex, manipulating those around her in a terrifyingly psychopathic manner.  She takes numerous risks, always with an excuse planned in her mind should they ever get caught. Yet what she didn’t take into consideration is how Jack felt about her and what he would do to protect their relationship.

Tampa is by far one of the hardest books I have ever reviewed. The whole premise of this book is vile to me, a mother of a teen boy. The author does not hold back with the explicitness of Jack and Celeste’s sexual exploits. Doing so would diminish Celeste’s obvious sickness. One might ask why I opted to continue to read this book after learning the presence.  Frankly, because the writing is brilliant.  Nutting builds such an elaborate and atypical female protagonist. In most cases, when we read of such sexual behavior the main character is a male.  Not necessarily in the same circumstance as this novel, but when we do read about it, we don’t attribute any feelings of disgust or shock to that character.  What Nutting has done is put a female protagonist in this role, giving readers a unique female perspective on sexual addiction.

It is impossible to review this title without talking about the book’s cover as well. It is dark and simple, covered in a black velvet that at first feels lush, making you want to touch and stroke the book. As you read, however, that soft fabric begins to feel quite vile and disgusting. Much like Celeste’s character (a woman that is incredibly beautiful on the surface, a woman any man would desire), the reader’s opinion quickly shifts as more is revealed.  It is certainly the most interesting (and successful!) bit of book marketing I have ever experienced.

This is not a book that I can recommend to just anyone. It does require a strong stomach and an ability to look beyond the story on the surface to get through to the message the author is trying to relay.  I tend to think I have a pretty strong stomach. I’m a fan of horror movies and books and in most cases, I can stomach anything.  This novel, however, was my true nemesis, one of the biggest challenges I have ever accomplished. It took me several breaks, putting the book completely out of my line of sight for several days, before I was able to pick it up again. Therefore, this (I hesitate to say positive) review comes with a big bright warning label with flashing lights: While this is a book that everyone will be talking about, if you don’t think you can stomach it, do not attempt it. This is a book that lingers with you, you will be unable to unsee (or unread) what transpires within its pages.  However, if you are able to separate the incredibly explicit actions in this book from the true intent of this story, I promise you will see through the dark and the vile and will appreciate this novel for its brilliance.

Posted in Literary Fiction, Review | 10 Comments

A Month in Review: June 2013

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Jenn


Books Reviewed

Total books reviewed: 11

*picks of the month

Special Events

Upcoming Events!

While October is still several months away, I’ve already begun planning for my October horror/thriller feature: Murder, Monsters & Mayhem, affectionately known as Mx3. For the next several months, I will be researching thriller and horror titles to feature. I welcome any recommendations you may have!

Posted in Month in Review | 3 Comments