War for the Waking World

Wayne Thomas Batson has been a favorite author of mine since he started writing.  He writes books that capture readers and are instant hits!  When I saw he had a new title coming out, War for the Waking World, I couldn't have been more intrigued.  It is the third and final title in his Dreamtreaders series and continues in true Batson tradition!

This is the story of Archer Keaton, a 15 year old, who has the power to enter and explore his own dreams.  Every generation, three people are chosen to be Dreamtreaders, and Archer is one of them.  I love the whole idea that these three Dreamtreaders are trying to protect the waking world from the Nightmare Lord.  Archer's life overlaps when his dreams become dangerous and then, so does his waking life.  This one is action-packed and teens and adults will love it!



*I was sent a review copy by the publisher for an honest review on my blog.

Don't Go

Don't Go by Lisa Scottoline - 
Although I felt that this one started slower and made it more difficult to stay involved - it ended strong! I came away surprised and shocked - and it felt resolved....great read! Scottoline has the ability to keep you on your toes while you read and take you for a great ride. This is the story of Mike, an army doctor serving in Afghanistan, who comes home to find his wife, Chloe, dead. His life and baby daughter are almost too much for him to bear. He is on a mission to find out how his wife died and becomes even more entrenched in the mystery when his wife's best friend is killed. It is at this point that his sister and brother-in-law try to get full custody of his baby daughter, Emily which becomes a large court case. Mike has to come to terms with the loss of an arm and, seemingly, his entire life as he knows it as he deals with the challenges in his life.

 

The Snow Child

Eowyn Ivey has written a novel, The Snow Child, that is sure to be a gem for many readers.  This is based loosely on the children's novel, The Snow Child, by Freya Littledale.  And maybe that's what caught me - I loved it that it was based on a child's fairytale and yet turned itself into a novel that had me riveted from very early on.  I was drawn right into the story of Jack and Mabel and their life on the Alaskan frontier.  I felt for them when they lost their first child, and I was so excited for them when they had a little girl show up on their property - it just seemed perfect.  However, the story takes quite a twist when their little Faina grows up.  It was pure fabulousness on the part of Ivey to take the story in the direction she did - she follows the premise of the fairytale, but takes you in a round-about way.  I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.

Blackberry Winter

I finished another of Sarah Jio’s books – Blackberry Winter. Jio is a writer that gives you a fabulous story from page one! You are drawn in immediately – and she takes you full circle until you hit the last page and are left wondering if you really wanted it to end! This novel is one of my favorites of hers so far – it ties in the stories of two women – Vera Ray, who lived in Seattle in 1933, and Claire Aldridge, also a mom that lives in Seattle during present day. The moving story shows the loss of children and the impact it had on these two women’s lives. Their stories are profoundly different and yet SO much alike. It is well told – the characters are real and become people you care about as you read. Jio has done it again – another enthralling read!

Love Anthony

Love Anthony is the latest novel by Lisa Genova. You may remember Genova has written Still Alice and Left Neglected, both intriguing novels that showcase Genova’s expertise in neuroscience. Love Anthony is much the same in nature – a novel that focuses on autism from the mind of the autistic child. I thought just getting into the mind of the autistic child was fascinating. When we observe autistic children, we often wonder how much they are relating to our world. According to Genova, they are VERY MUCH involved and have strong feelings about how they are treated. I thought that aspect of the novel was riveting – in fact, I could have used more of those thoughts/feelings throughout the novel. The other story lines, family-related issues, were good, but, I didn’t think they were as strong as those of her other novels. I think it’s worth a read – just maybe not one of my “top-of-the-list” of Genova’s novels.

Afterwards

When I first started, Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton, I thought for sure I would not like it - it was just too odd.  I could hardly get past the fact that two dead people were talking to each other - but when I figured out that it was a mother and daughter, both of which went through a fire and are near-death, who are talking with each other - learning about each other - trying to put together pieces to the mystery of the fire - it was enough to keep me going.  I loved that this book is told unlike any other I have read - a mom and daughter - hovering on the brink of life and death - learning how to really love each other.  I thought it was a great read - a super mystery and a strong novel that delves into family relationships as well.

Love what Amazon's review says:

The school is on fire. Her children are inside.
   Grace runs toward the burning building, desperate to reach them.
   In the aftermath of the devastating fire which tears her family apart, Grace embarks on a mission to find the person responsible and protect her children from further harm.  This fire was not an accident, and her daughter Jenny may still be in grave danger. Grace is the only one who can discover the culprit, and she will do whatever it takes to save her family and find out who committed the crime that rocked their lives.  While unearthing truths about her life that may help her find answers, Grace learns more about everyone around her -- and finds she has courage she never knew she possessed.
   Powerful and beautiful, with a riveting story and Lupton’s trademark elegant style that made Sister such a sweeping success, Afterwards explores the depths of a mother’s unswerving love.

The Homecoming of Samuel Lake

Jenny Wingfield's debut novel, The Homecoming of Samuel Lake, is a book that is guaranteed to keep you reading.  I was taken in immediately by the intricacy of her characters and the plot that unfolds simply as you read.  It is the tender story of the Moses clan - Willadee, Moses' daughter, and her husband, Samuel Lake, and their three children, that head back to Arkansas every June for the Moses family reunion.  This year, the reunion starts out like any other but tragically takes a turn as they lose an important family member.  What unfolds after the loss, becomes the major crux of the story - and it revolves around Swan, Willadee and Samuel's eleven year old daughter.  She is a fabulous character that you will love from the start.  I was drawn to her simple and yet very complex line of thinking - she is a wonderful eleven-year-old.

There were some tough parts to the novel - abuse of animals and children - but it wasn't drawn out so much that I couldn't get through it - and the end is redemptive.  The novel left me in tears - I would highly recommend this one!  I agree with this review:

“It’s all here. Faith. Honesty. Sin. Redemption. . . . Anyone who loves Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird will delight in Swan, the Lakes' eleven-year-old daughter.”—USA Today 

 

The Age of Miracles

I had heard lots of talk about Karen Thompson Walker's The Age of Miracles.  That is what prompted me to pick it up when I saw it sitting on the shelf.  It is in interesting premise - Julia, a teenager, wakes up to find that the world is changing - drastically, in fact.  The earth is slowing - days and nights are growing longer, gravity is also being affected, and it affects every part of her life.  Even her mother, already not coping with the change well, contracts a disease related to the slowing of the earth.  I have to say that it kept me intrigued - great idea for a book.  But I have to admit that it didn't draw me in as much as I had hoped.  The characters didn't grab me - even though the storyline is a great idea.  Give it a whirl and let me know what you think - I love to hear what others think!

An Unmarked Grave

My first encounter with Charles Todd as an author was a hit!  An Unmarked Grave is a "Bess Crawford Mystery" which means almost nothing to me as I've never read a Bess Crawford Mystery nor have I ever heard of them.  But now I have and you can be sure I am on the lookout!  This is a wonderful mystery set in 1918 - I loved the history AND the plot.  Bess Crawford is a battlefield nurse that is drawn into a baffling mystery because people she worked closely with are now dying or being killed - she has to decide which.  Because of Bess' family background and inability to leave a mystery alone, she is determined to get to the bottom of this rash of deaths.  It was suspenseful and well-written - great World War I intrigue and history to boot!!

Gold

Chris Cleave hit it out of the ballpark with Little Bee and now, I am again reminded of what a fabulous writer he is with Gold.  When I first started this book, I thought racing bicyclists - hmm, maybe not.  But I was drawn in right away and caught up to the very end of the book.  The book does not bog down with bicycling details, but is very interesting to see the life of a professional Olympic bicyclist.  It follows the story of three Olympic bicyclists - Kate, Jack and Zoe - and how their lives intertwine to tell their stories.  Their lives certainly intertwine - Kate and Zoe train together and race together but also compete together.  Jack and Zoe have a history but Jack and Kate are now married - hmmm - need I say more - the characters are pretty tangled in this one!  A story of 8 year old Sophie and her battle with leukemia - a story of the hopelessness of life for a character that seemingly "has it all" - and a story of devotion and sacrifice of parents.  I loved this book - I could feel for each character and I was riveted to the very end!  (And it's oh-so-timely here in the days of our current Olympics - don't miss it!)

Turn of Mind

Alice LaPlante's Turn of Mind is a riveting read.  It is the incredibly sad story of Dr. Jennifer White, a 64 year old retired orthopedic surgeon, who is learning to live with dementia.  The story is told from Jennifer's perspective and can be so hard to read at times - how she can not even remember her son or daughter must be a challenge for the whole family - but seeing it all from Jennifer's side is almost worse.  What makes this book even more appealing is the murder storyline.  Jennifer's best friend has recently been murdered and the police suspect her as the murderer.  This book is one that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final pages - I could not believe how it ended - I had no idea and DID NOT see it coming.  It is just gives some great insight into dementia patients and what they live with, and what their families and friends live with - all from an insider's perspective.  I would highly recommend this book - it was a fabulous read!

Hope Springs

Kim Cash Tate really hit the nail on the head in her latest novel, Hope Springs.  In a simple and yet clear way, she shows that change is NEVER easy - and I think many can relate to that - but change in the church can often be even more challenging.  I appreciate the way she tackles this topic and delicately points out just exactly how hard the politics of church can be.   I love the characters in her novel - they are well-developed and you are drawn into the storyline almost immediately. 

Here is what the publisher says about the book:

In a small community where everyone is holding tight to something, the biggest challenge may be learning to let go. Hope Springs, North Carolina, is the epitome of small town life-a place filled with quiet streets, a place where there's not a lot of change. Until three women suddenly find themselves planted there for a season. Janelle hasn't gone back to Hope Springs for family reunions since losing her husband. But when she arrives for Christmas and learns that her grandmother is gravely ill, she decides to extend the stay. It isn't long before she runs into her first love, and feelings that have been dormant for more than a decade are reawakened. Becca is finally on the trajectory she's longed for. Having been in the ministry trenches for years, she's been recruited as the newest speaker of a large Christian women's conference. But her husband feels called to become the pastor of his late father's church in Hope Springs. And Stephanie has the ideal life-married to a doctor in St. Louis with absolutely nothing she has to do. When her cousin Janelle volunteers to stay in Hope Springs and care for their grandmother, she feels strangely compelled to do the same. It's a decision that will forever change her. As these women come together, they soon recognize that healing is needed in their hearts, their families, and their churches. God's plan for them in Hope Springs-is bigger than they ever imagined. Thomas Nelson 2012.

And about the author:

Kim Cash Tate is the author of Cherished, Faithful, Heavenly Places, and the memoir More Christian than African American. A former practicing attorney, she is also the founder of Colored in Christ Ministries. She and Her husband have two children. Connect with Kim: Twitter @KimCashTate and Facebook.

Do not miss this wonderful novel - it would be a super summer beach read!

*I was sent a copy by the publisher for review purposes.

The Kitchen House

I LOVED The Help and I thoroughly enjoyed Their Eyes Were Watching God.  I enjoy books set in the slavery era - that just intrigues me and I enjoy reading about that time period.  So when I saw The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom, I knew I had to add this to my reading list.  I thought the story was strong although it wasn't always easy to read.  I will never get over how horribly these women were treated - that is very hard to read.  However, the story is powerful.  What I loved about this story is how the author ties in slavery issues but also slavery of another kind - a small girl, Lavinia, orphaned during her passage from Ireland.  She ends up on the plantation and becomes part of the servants' family - a little white girl in a black family.  They don't see the color - they just love each other because they are all they have.  It is just so hard to read how these women have no choices - no options - they are forced to live lives they would never choose for themselves.  I was drawn into Lavinia's story - which also ties into many other slave's lives as well - you see their good choices and you cheer them on.  You see their poor choices and you cringe inside knowing this can not end well.  This was a book that kept me thinking.  It is also a story of deep sadness, secrets, family, and maybe foremost - dignity.  It is WELL worth your time.

Lucy Come Home

I have loved Dave and Neta Jackson's work for YEARS!!  I enjoyed them as a young reader - I have enjoyed them with  my children and now am enjoying new ones as an adult!  Lucy Come Home is their latest novel.  As usual, their books have a lot of intrigue - tying history with mystery and exciting adventures!  My boys have enjoyed their work right along with our girls - I love that  - their books appeal to all genders and many ages. 

This is the story of 15 year old Cindy - she lives in Michigan and lives a hard life - she works hard and becomes enamored with a traveling carnival fellow.  He adds a whole new side to her life and that excites her.  But their future becomes quite  twisted as they flee for their lives together.  I love Lucy, the old lady that the two meet up with, she is a gem and leads Cindy on finding all new meaning to her life. 

Here is what the publisher says:
Lucy Come Home
Dave and Neta Jackson
Fifteen-year-old Cindy worked long days beside her migrant worker family in Michigan's sugar beet fields in the early 1940s -- the "war years" -- until she met a dashing young man from a traveling carnival, bringing some joy and fun into her hard-scrabble life. But a tragic twist of fate -- and a dead field boss-- sent the two young people on the run, leaving behind family and everything she'd ever known. Lucy Tucker, the crotchety old bag lady from the popular Yada Yada House of Hope series, is a veteran of Chicago streets and not about to give up her independence, even as she approaches her 80th birthday. Until, that is, a young displaced woman with her gentle aging mother and a dog named Dandy seem to need her -- unsettling the secretive Lucy, who doesn't let anyone get too close. But just when it seems her past is catching up with her to bring her in out of the cold... Lucy disappears again. How these two tales intersect and intertwine between past and present gradually shines light into the dark corners of Lucy's murky past. But... why won't Lucy come home?

Dave and Neta Jackson are award-winning authors living in the Chicago area where their parallel novels from the Yada Yada House of Hope and Harry Bentley series are set. As a husband/wife writing team, Dave and Neta Jackson are enthusiastic about books, kids, walking with God, gospel music, and each other! Together they are the authors or coauthors of over 100 books. Visit http://www.daveneta.com for more info.

If you would like to read others' reviews on this blog tour - visit HERE.  This is a great new book - if you want a book that will make you think AND provide some suspense and mystery - this one will do it!!  And when you read it - let me know what you think!


*I was provided a review copy by the publisher.

Room

Emma Donoghue has written Room, a haunting fiction tale that is like nothing I have ever read.  It is the story of Jack, a five year old boy, that is being kept in an 11 x 11 foot room with his mother - against their wills.  Their captor has created this tiny room for them and just gives them weekly rations of food and necessary clothes, etc.  Wow - does this ever make you think - not only how you would survive - how they DID survive - but it broaches questions like "What would you be like when you did get out?"  or "What is ok to survive?"  I thought the book was very readable - I could hardly put it down and that's saying something since we were even on vacation!  I thought the characters were strong - you honestly feel sometimes like you are right inside Jack's little 5-year-old mind.  And yet you feel so strongly for his mom as well - she is all Jack has and she does the best she can with her limited resources.  It is quite a psychological read - I would highly recommend it!

The Lifeboat

The cover is what caught me on this one - Charlotte Rogan's The Lifeboat is Rogan's debut fiction.  I had read fabulous reviews and although I thought it was good - it did not ever "catch" me.  HOWEVER, I did keep reading until I conquered it!  And I am glad I did - the story is quite different from anything I've read - 40 some people on a lifeboat after their ocean liner has an explosion in the summer of 1914.  It is quite a study in psychology and personalities - very intriguing.  You see personalities and conflicts explode on this small lifeboat - as well as the overall goodness of man.  It culminates with the trial that Grace Winter has to go through after they are rescued as she is charged with murder.  Again - an interesting twist on a very different storyline!  I just felt it got a little long - although I enjoyed seeing the characters develop, it just didn't do enough to keep me glued to the pages.  I would love to hear what others thought though - so if you've read it - leave a comment - maybe I can be convinced otherwise!!

Defending Jacob

Previous to this, I had not read anything by William Landay.  But I picked up his latest book, Defending Jacob, and I do believe my jaw is STILL wide open - even finishing a week ago!  This book was not my typical read - I tend to not go to trial/lawyer stuff - it usually gets too deep into law for me.  But this one was a riveting read - kept me going right from the start!  It is the story of Jacob, a 14 year old boy, charged with murder of a school mate - BUT Jacob is also the son of Andy Barber, the assistant district attorney for more than 20 years.  There are twists all throughout this novel - and you really get involved as you can relate to the narrator, Andy, as he battles the doubt, fear, and worries that any parent would encounter going through a court case like this.  I truly enjoyed this novel - it was tough but real.  What leaves my jaw sagging is the ending - NO SPOILERS HERE - but if you read it - please leave a comment - I mean really, that's the end!?!?!?  I demand a sequel!!!

Pick it up - it is well worth the read!  It is a murder/thriller that is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat!

Dancing on Broken Glass

Dancing on Broken Glass by Ka Hancock is a book that is my recent rant.  I am telling everyone how much I enjoyed this book.  It is not an easy or happy read, but it is real - and captured my attention from the very beginning.  It is the tough story of Lucy Houston and Mickey Chandler - two people that fell in love and knew from the beginning that their marriage was going to be a fight.  And what a fight it was!  Lucy battled breast cancer early on in the marriage which was a huge stresser.  Not to mention Mickey is bipolar and struggles to keep himself out of the hospital almost on a monthly basis.  The pair come together and fight through these issues - which only makes them stronger.  But when Lucy becomes pregnant - that is when the real story begins.  They made a promise to each other that they would not have any children because of their situations and health - now it all seems to come crashing down when this baby is on the way.  There are tough decisions ahead for both of them as they battle a pregnancy that may ruin their marriage AND other health decisions that seek to ruin them both.  This is a tear jerker - I was sobbing - literally sobbing at parts of this book - it is heavy and it hurts.  But what an amazing story and amazing characters.  Truly a book that stays with you long after you have turned the last page!

The Quaker State Affair

The Quaker State Affair by Dan Romain is quite the book - I loved it!  (And I will say right off the top that it is not my typical read!!)  It was intriguing, suspenseful, and fascinating - and centers around government - I know SHOCKING for me!!  It is the story of nuclear secrets being stolen from Los Alamos - it is China and America racing in a battle of technology and what happens to each of their nations as they are racing forward technologically.  And it all centers around Patrick "Mac" McDaniels - a physicist who wants only to study science - he wants to stay far away from the government - but he seems to be the only answer to America's problems - or is he!?!?!?  This is a ride - fast-paced and intense.  I loved the aspects of government and espionage it opened as I read and the ideas and thoughts that presented themselves on a topic I don't give much thought!  This is a well-written, futuristic novel that really brings up some important ideas.

More about the author:

Dan Romain is a nationally recognized business consultant who built one of the most successful insurance firms in the country. A graduate of the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a member of the Omicron Delta Epsilon International Economics Society, he currently resides in Seattle, Washington, with his wife, Lori, their two children, Danielle and Brian, and their black Labrador, Kona. He has been widely credited as one of the few who accurately predicted the economic melt down.

To see other stops on this blog tour - go HERE.


* I was sent a copy for review purposes.

Lone Wolf

Yes, I do think Jodi Picoult is a wonderful writer and yes, I do wait expectantly for her upcoming novels - so might this be a bit biased??  Maybe!  Once again, her latest novel, Lone Wolf, was a story that was told marvelously and was a topic that created conflicting emotions.  It is a tough story of a brother and sister torn apart as to what to do with their dying father - should they discontinue life support or continue to let him stay on support and see if his body takes over.  I love how Picoult tells her stories from all different narrators - it gives such a unique aspect to her novels.  And you come to feel for each character as you hear their stories from their viewpoint.  I thought the novel was also interesting as it centers around their father's lifelong love of wolves.  He actually has lived with wolves and so much of the story tells how wolves behave and live - intriguing, I thought, and such an interesting fit with the novel's ups and downs as well.

What I didn't like about the book?  Usually with a Picoult book, I'd say NOTHING!  But with this one I was really disappointed in the ending - I felt it was anti-climactic.  Usually when she ends - I am blown away and thinking, "I never saw this coming!"  But I did not feel that way in this novel - it seemed predictable to me and in that - I was maybe just disappointed.  I thought the ending was ok - it resolved itself and was a fine ending - but not the Picoult kick I am used to!