Review – Page 9 – Book Journey

New Uses For Old Boyfriends by Beth Kendrick

Published on March 6, 2015March 6, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)19 Comments

Lila Alders grew up in a nice home in a wonderful small town and was pretty much the town sweetheart. Moving away and taking on a job as a tv personality was right in the plans and so was marrying the guy who provided Lila with the money she was accustomed to as well as a knock out ring to match. Lila was living the life you see in fairy tales.

Of course….

fairy tales are fiction.

When her marriage falls apart and her job right along with it, Lila picks up what is left of her dignity and bank account and heads back to the comfort of her home town and her mother who still lives in the gorgeous home she grew up in. Yet Lila finds that her mother is in no better shape than she is. Having ignored the warnings of financial advisers, Daphne has continued to live beyond her means since the passing of her husband and Lila’s father. Lila is shocked to find that the money is gone, and it looks like her childhood home must be sold to take her mom out of the dept that she is in.

Perhaps looking up an old boyfriend and trying to rekindle what they once had will help bring a little of the sparkle back to Lila… but time marches on, for everyone.

In a word: Delightful. In another word: Fun. I absolutely enjoyed New Uses For Old Boyfriends. Lila is a great protagonist. She may have grown up used to having things handed to her but she is not afraid of hard work to set things right. And the way she goes about things had me cheering for her and laughing at the same time. It is hard for me to put into words how much I liked this book.

You may think the synopsis sounds familiar, it is true there are many books out there surrounding the “going back home” theme and honestly a lot of them are pretty predictable. I am happy to say this is not a cookie cutter version of the others like it. Beth Kendrick changes things up in New Uses For Old Boyfriends and there are surprises along the way. In the end, I wanted to do what Lila did and in a fictional world I would move to a sweet little seaside town like Black Dog Bay, join my friends at the Winery in the evenings, and build myself a little business. A girl can always dream. 🙂

I found this book refreshing and fun.

*Quick note – this book is a second in a series called Black Dog Bay however do not let that discourage you. I honestly did not know it was a second until after I finished the book and was writing this review. I looked up the information on the first book, Cure For The Common Break Up, and while it has some of the same characters, it is a different story centered around the town. You do not need to read this first book to get the second. In fact, I think I have Cure For The Common Break Up on the shelves and I am going to bump that one up to read soon. I would love to take a trip back to Black Dog Bay.

Series: Black Dog Bay Novel (Book 2)
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: NAL (February 3, 2015)

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Published on March 3, 2015March 3, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)18 Comments

Edgy. ~Sheila

Misfit Theodore Finch just wants to die. Death is a fascination for him and he occupies much of his time thinking about how to do it.

Popular Violet Markey lives with a deep grief in the loss of her sister. While she has much to live for; graduation, a slew of collages that want her, and supportive parents, she sometimes has trouble just taking her next breath.

When Theodore goes to the Bell Tower of the school thinking this may be the moment, he is surprised to find Violet also on the bell tower with similar plans. Suddenly Theodore makes the decision to save her, although really… who saves whom?

When the unlikely pair are assigned a project together to discover the “natural wonders” of their home state, they find a rare friendship while working together. Both Violet and Theodore have something to learn from the other, yet is it enough to save them from the demons that haunt them?

I adored listening to this book. There were magical elements to it that made me think of other books either intentionally, or brilliantly not. The Bell Tower of the school made me think of the Bell Jar of Sylvia Plath (another person who could not escape her own demons). The play of words between the witty Finch and the book smart Violet felt like whispers of John Green and The Fault In Our Stars.

I do not mean to compare this to other books as this is a unique setting all of its own. Both Theodore and Violet narrate this book so you have a first hand perspective of what they are thinking and feeling. While this is a YA read, it deals with very real topics of depression and mental illness, yet never feels heavy.

As author Jennifer Niven titled the book, “All The Bright Places,” this hold true right to the last page. Take this journey. It will not be smooth, it will not be painless, but it will be worth it.

Narrators Kirby Heyborne and Ariadne Meyers do a wonderful job with this audio. I found both of their voices to be spot on.

Fun Fact: All The Bright Places will be a movie! Elle Fanning will play the lead role of Violet. Release date has not been set but watch for it!

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 11 hours and 4 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Listening Library
Audible.com Release Date: January 6, 2015

Last Time We Say Good Bye by Cynthia Hand

Published on March 1, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)6 Comments

It has only been a few months since Lex’s brother Ty committed suicide. Since that time Lex feels as though she has been in a long tunnel trying to reach towards the light and the air that has to better in the light than it is in this darkness. Her mother is deeply depressed and her part-time father doesn’t know how to reach either of them… or perhaps his absence when his son needed him makes him not invited to this level of grief.

As Lex begins to move forward trying to rebuild her broken life she also knows that she will not be able to be complete until she admits to someone…

anyone..

about the text that she received… and how if she could turn back time, maybe; just maybe she could have changed everything.

Drawn into this book by that synopsis, I could not wait to know more. Lex is an excellent protagonist. As a highschooler, Lex has all the exposure of being the girl whose brother committed suicide. She sees the sympathetic sad looks on the other students faces, some are her friends feeling awkward, but many she doesn’t really know and almost resents their grief.

I like how this book goes back and forth. Assigned by her therapist to write down her feelings, Lex remembers her brother through her journal giving us a full view of who Ty was. Raw and emotional this is a good picture of a family dealing with the worst possible scenario and trying to hard to find a way to go on.

In the end there is an important lesson about grief and forgiveness. Seriously the last few chapters made me a pool of tears, but – in a good way. They were tears of awe and maybe on a more personal note… memory. Well written. As I listened to this on audio, the narration of Julia Whelan was just the right voice for this book.

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 9 hours and 19 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Harper Audio
Audible.com Release Date: February 10, 2015

Keep Your Friends Close by Paula Daly

Published on February 26, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments

Natty and Sean have a typical marriage. Their two daughters are now teenagers, and both parents are busy working at the hotel they run together. They are busy people but comfortable in their lives. When their oldest daughter Felicity becomes ill on a school trip to France, Natty goes to be with her and bring her home. Natty’s best friend Eve offers to stay with Sean and their other daughter Alice to help out at the house while Natty is away. Natty is thankful for her friend.

But should she be?

Eve has other plans in mind. Playing the role of the perfect “wife substitute’ she plays right into everything that Natty would not. She cooks and cleans, catering to both Sean and Alice.

When Natty returns home with Felicity she finds that Eve has taken her spot not only in her home, but in her bed. Shell shocked, Natty tries to make sense of how quickly her whole life has crumbled. Every where she turns it seems that Eve is there, driving Shawn’s car, rubbing what she has done in Natty’s face.

Then Natty receives a mysterious note saying

“she has done this before.”

The note awakens Natty at a new level. She knows she needs to find out more about her so-called friend, having no idea that the road she is about to take is a deadly one.

Wow. Wow. Wow. What a great book! With a synopsis like this, it is all too scary real. Eve is a kind of crazy evil. The pace moves along quickly (which I like), and I had to keep listening just to know what was going to happen. It is definitely an engaging read. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.

Natty is a great protagonist and Eve is an excellent villain. There is no middle ground here, the line is clearly drawn and I liked that. It was refreshing.

I listened to this on audio and Colleen Prendergast was an excellent narrator. It seems like I keep finding these audio books lately have heavily accented narrators and I think my head needs a break for that, but that is just me. 😉

Highly recommended.

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 10 hours and 22 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC
Audible.com Release Date: October 8, 2014

Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain

Published on February 25, 2015February 25, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)36 Comments

15 year old Ivy lives on a tobacco farm with her grandmother, older sister and nephew. In most situations, Ivy feels like the adult as her grandmother is growing feeble, her sister struggles with mental illness, and often Ivy is left to care for nephew who is at the age where he gets into everything.

Jane Foster doesn’t need a job. In fact her husband would quite prefer if she would be content doing what other wives of his profession do… have lunch dates, set up hair appointments, and plan dinner parties. Jane however, is bored with that life and wants to do more. She joins Grace County’s Social workers and is assigned to Ivy and her family. Soon Jane finds herself too emotionally involved in Ivy’s case mush to the annoyance of both her boss and her husband. When Jane finds out that Ivy’s sister had been sterilized so she could not have any more children and that the plans were in place to do the same to Ivy, Jane feels she must make a stand for this family.

With what feels like everyone against her, Jane makes hard decisions that affect not only her job, and Ivy’s family, but Jane’s own personal life as well.

Author Diane Chamberlain has never disappointed me. Another mind blowing tale, except this one as I learned, has truth within it. At one time, there were state-mandated sterilizations that were used for those decided to be mentally ill, poor, anyone who the state deemed unable to take care of a child in their opinion. Crazy stuff.

In Necessary Lies, the story is told alternatively from Ivy’s perspective to Jane’s. It makes for an interesting read as these two women speak from their very different backgrounds. As the story progresses both Ivy and Jane find that they are not so different after all.

Very well done book, I listened to this on audio and narrator Alison Elliott set the perfect tone for this book. Fans of Diane Chamberlain, women’s literature, and historical fiction will not want to miss out on this one.

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 10 hours and 51 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Audible.com Release Date: September 3, 2013

Finding Jake by Bryan Reardon

Published on February 24, 2015December 3, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)31 Comments

Jake has always been a little quieter than the other children. He has always preferred to stay at home as a young child, and now at seventeen, Jake has only a few select friends. On the other hand Laney, his younger sister by two years has always been a social butterfly being able to fit in any situation.

Jake’s father Simon who stayed at home with the children writing medical papers while their mother Rachel worked out of the home as a lawyer, has often wondered what he could have done to help Jake fit in more with other children as he grew up. Had he hung on too tight? Too protective?

Now, the unthinkable has happened. There has been a school shooting and Jake along with another boy are the suspected shooters. But where is Jake? While his blood is found on school property, Jake is nowhere to be found. Simon and Rachel can not believe their son would do such a thing and as the press and the parents of the victims press in wanting answers about Jake, Simon wonders again… what could he have done differently – and more importantly, were was their son now?

Finding Jake was a hard but important read. I read this book in two days, devouring the pages and experiencing this tragedy through Jake’s parents eyes. It is always hard to know what to say about books like this. It is well written. Author Bryan Reardon puts you right there and my heart stayed in my throat most of this book wondering who would find Jake – his parents, the police… and when they did, then what?

I highly recommend this read. If you ever read Nineteen Minutes or We Need To Talk About Kevin, you need to read Finding Jake. This is not the book you think it will be.

Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (February 24, 2015)

Doctor Death by Lene Kaaberbol

Published on February 20, 2015February 20, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

Madeleine Karno would like nothing more than to become a pathologist like her father. To Madeleine, autopsies are incredibly scientific and the human body holds many secrets… even after death. However, the year is 1894 and the world that Madeleine knows finds the process of autopsy to be unholy even for a man such as her father… for Madeleine it is unheard of. Instead she must quietly remain as her father’s assistant.

Then a young girl is found murdered and her family will not hear of an autopsy. Madeleine and her father notice some odd things but are not allowed to move forward with an investigation. When the Priest who spoke at the girls funeral is found dead as well, Madeleine finds she must pursue the connects between the two murders… no matter what the cost.

I chose to read this book because I am a sucker for a strong female protagonist and I liked the idea of a father daughter team. I was not disappointed.

Let’s just say it is hard to be a girl with a mind of your own in the 19th century. Madeleine has her work cut our for her not only because she is a woman, but because the body count is growing. I enjoyed Madeleine’s character very much, I liked her strength and her intelligence throughout the book. She never felt over the top.

There are some unusual settings in the book and that is all I am going to say about that. The story itself set as a historical mystery is a good one and a genre I am finding out that I enjoy dabbling in once in a while. While the book started out a little slow to my liking, and there were some questions I do not feel were answered, it was still a fairly good read.

Lene is also the author of The Boy In The Suitcase.

Series: Madeleine Karno Mysteries
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Atria Books (February 17, 2015)

American Sniper by Chris Kyle

Published on February 19, 2015February 19, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)17 Comments

Navy Seal Chris Kyle has recorded the most kills in US history during his time-serving 4 tours between 1999 and 2009. His job was to protect his fellow comrades as they traveled on the ground throughout war-torn areas, and Chris had a bird’s eye view from roof tops. While Americans nicknamed him “Legend”, the enemy called him al-Shaitan (“the devil”) and had a bounty out for his death.

In 2013, after Chris had served his country for tn years and had returned home to be a husband to his wife and a father to his two children, Chris was killed while working with war vets.

This book, written by Chris himself and includes chapters by his wife Taya is their story of a deep love and a war that never ended.

Note – this is not my genre at all. I avoid war books and anything political like the plague. (And the plague is something definitely to avoid!)

However –

If you know Chris’s story… you know there is more to this book than war. It is a passionate story of a man who wanted to protect his country. It is also about his meeting his wife, having children, and her fears every time Chris left to go back into the war. It is a first hand account from Chris himself of what it was like from the rooftops, working to save his team… it is about love and it is about loss.

My husband and I went to see the movie when it came out. Again, not something I would normally do, but I had heard amazing things from people whose opinions I trust – and many of these opinions were female friends of mine who also would not get into a war movie. We went… and it was powerful.

This is what led me to the audio version of this book. I wanted to know more of the story, and the book definitely does that. American Sniper is told mainly first hand by Chris with occasional thoughts and dialogue by his wife Taya. The book I found to be harsher than the movie. While interesting, Chris is very proud of his killings, even to the point of discussing using different ways to kill (rifles, etc…) to see what works best.

It is hard for me, for someone who has never experienced war and is a life long member of the “why can’t we all just get along” club, to understand taking pride and talking in detail of killings. I am not judging, just explaining a feeling.

The audio book is still an impressive take of what it would be like to be in the center of the war. Nearly killed many times during battle, it is a sad ending to know that Chris was killed while back in the states not far from his home, trying to help others. *Note – this is not covered in the book.

Narrated by Jim Defalice who was an excellent voice for Chris. I struggled when he narrated the chapters written by Taya as his voice did not change at all and sometimes it was hard to tell in the audio format when the narration had changed to her. The book would be talking about falling in love with him, and I would have to think, “Chris fell in love with a man? Oh no – this is Taya talking.”

Overall, I recommend this book or audio for anyone who would like to know more as I did. It is a piece of our American history that I like knowing a little more about. I recommend the movie as well.

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishing

Length: 10 hours and 21 minutes

An Appetite For Violets by Martine Bailey (*Best Of 2015)

Published on February 18, 2015February 21, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)43 Comments

It is the late 1700’s and Biddy Leigh, the under cook for Mawton Hall is ready to start her future. Soon her beau, Jem, will be announcing their plans to marry and their dream of opening up their own tavern will begin. Yet other plans are at stake that are out of Biddy’s control. When her master marries the much younger Lady Carinna, Biddy is unwillingly selected to go on a year-long journey to Italy as her new mistresses cook. A book called, The Cooks Jewel, handed down from generation of cooks, is given to Biddy to take on her adventures to document the recipes she learns along the way.

In London Biddy encounters the handsome Kit, her Mistresses brother. He is curious about his sisters travels and asks Biddy to find out more about Carinna’s reason to suddenly pack up for Italy leaving her new husband sickly at home. Charmed by Kit’s attention Biddy starts to pay more attention to what her mistress is up to.

As the secrets unravel, and the real reason that Biddy has been requested to come on this journey unfold, Biddy finds herself in a place that is both frightening and invigorating. As her desire to return back tot he home she once knew starts to fade, a new future appears to be on the horizon. If only Biddy has the courage to take the steps to make it happen.

An Unrivaled Chocolate Ice Cream

Take a pint of good cream, a heaped spoonful of best chocolate scraped, put it in when the cream boils and stir them well together, add the yolks of two eggs and sweeten it to your taste, let the eggs have a boil to thicken it. When cold put it in your freezing pot of pewter and plunge into a wooden pail. Pack about entirely with pounded ice and salt. When the mixture begins to firm about the sides stir it with the spaddle so that all may be equally thick and smooth and frozen.

As made for Biddy Leigh, by Signor Renzo Cellini, Easter 1773

I honestly am gushing over this surprise book. Gushing because it is brilliant and captured my attention from the start. Surprising because I chose to read this book for my interest in the recipes woven within it and was not expecting to find an excellent read as well.

The recipes were not as I expected. They are recipes for the times… the 1700’s and a cook who made do with what she had available to her, while interestingly enough, (a cure for illness is burning a piece of toast in the fire, then running hot water through the blackened toast into a cup for the person to drink. If that does not work, do it again.) I don’t see myself attempting to make any of these recipes soon.

An Appetite For Violets by debut author Martine Bailey is a book I am suggesting you do not miss out on. It is a fun historical read with snooty servants, and upper class people – but mostly… it is about Biddy and how she transforms throughout the book is delightful. As I finished I was still putting pieces together like, “Oh, that is why she ….”

Well written. Highly recommended. Biddy Leigh is a remarkably smart and witty protagonist that I found to be spot on. The author truly has her finger (or her wooden spoon) on the pulse of the 1700’s. I absolutely loved it.

Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books; First Edition edition (January 13, 2015)

Note: I looked on Amazon thinking somehow I was not privy to this amazing book and clearly many others had to be. I was surprised to see it had only 38 reviews. I think this book is a diamond in the rough and honestly, need to read this book.

Adding this post to Weekend Cooking

The Sorcery Code by Dima Zales

Published on February 17, 2015February 17, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)5 Comments

Blaise was once a powerful and respected member of the Sorcerer’s Council. Not agreeing with the council’s need to keep magic only to the select few, Blaise finds himself on his own. Secretly, Blaise has been working on a special project that could chance everything. The result of his hard work was not exactly what he expected…
He made Her.
Gala is amazing. Born of the Spell Realm, she is beautiful, graceful, and intelligent. Neither she nor Blaise know quite what she is capable of, Gala fully invested in learning about the world that Blaise wanting to know more about the Spell Realm.
Augusta, Blaise’s ex-fiancé is a powerful and gorgeous sorceress. When she learns what Blaise has done, what he has brought into their world; she is furious and will stop at nothing to destroy Gala.

I do enjoy a good fantasy style of read and The Sorcery Code was a nice take on fantasy with a new twist. I like a story line that moves along without too much foretelling that leaves me feeling the book is bogged down with TMI. Thankfully, this one moves quickly into the action and I enjoyed the ride.
I enjoyed the strong characters and found them engaging and well flushed out. The story brings with it a lot of action and as the book closes there is still a lot going on. I look forward to the next book in this series.
I listened to this on audio and narrator Emily Durante brought an excellent voice to this listen.