Julie's Review: Cassidy Lane

Author: Maria Murnane
Series: None
Publication Date: March 4, 2014
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Pages: 342
Obtained: publisher
Genre:  Contemporary, Womens Fiction
Rating: 4/5
Bottom Line: A book to curl up with on a weekend and feel like you are with your friends
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Summary: Bestselling author Cassidy Lane walks into her twentieth high school reunion with several novels under her belt, but no date on her arm, and deep down she still feels like the smart girl no one asked to the prom. Then handsome Brandon Forrester confesses his teenage crush, and soon Cassidy finds herself swept up in a modern-day fairytale romance not unlike the tales she spins for a living. While their relationship blossoms, however, the new book she’s writing isn't going as well, and for the first time in her career she considers crafting an ending that doesn't include a proverbial walk into the sunset. Contemplating the simultaneous reversal of her own romantic fortune and that of her protagonist’s is daunting, but maybe it’s time for both her writing and her personal life to take a new path. Or is it? Filled with Murnane’s trademark wit and optimism, a charming cast of secondary characters, and loads of heart, Cassidy Lane will have you cheering for its heroine down to the very last delightful word. ~amazon.com

Review: Whenever I read one of Maria's books, I always wonder how autobiographical they are. I wondered even more so with Cassidy Lane than I do with the Waverly books. Cassidy Lane is a 38 year old sucessful writer of romance novels who is getting over a break-up, when her 20 year high school reunion comes knocking. Now, Cassidy wasn't the most popular girl in high school so she's pretty much dreading the whole thing and only going because her best friend, Patti is making her.

So when least expecting it, Cassidy begins a long-distance, texting relationship with Brandon. Witty, smart and sexy as hell; she can't wait until her next visit home. However, life being life gets in the way and before their relationship can truly begin to bloom, it begins to unravel. She begins to doubt everything and most of all herself.

What Maria always does well is capturing the feelings of her heroine and in Cassidy Lane it's not different. You are elated when she is and deflated when she is. You root for her and Brandon, even though you wonder if it's truly going to work. As a reader, you want to counsel her and tell her that putting her life on hold for him isn't going to help her. Her relationship begins to consume her and delays the writing on the book she's working on. She needs to focus but she finds herself thinking of Brandon when she has idle time.

There is a nice little twist that Ms. Murnane puts in the book that had me cheering and then booing, but I totally get why she did it. Bravo!

While I didn't find this one as laugh out loud as the Waverly Bryson books, it definitely had funny moments and  is cemented in how relationships work in the 21st century. Also, the host of supporting characters is wonderful and show a different side of Cassidy.

If you haven't read any of Maria Murnane, then you are missing out. Cassidy Lane is a great read on a weekend when you want to curl up on the couch and read a good book.


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Julie's Review: Seducing Ingrid Bergman

Author: Chris Greenlaugh
Series: None
Publication Date: March 18, 2014
Publisher: St. Martins Press
Pages: 272
Obtained: publisher
Genre:  historical fiction
Rating: 3.75/5
Bottom Line: I enjoyed it more as I was reading it than I do now reflecting on it
Grab, Just get it at the library, or Remove from your TBR list? Just get it at the library

Summary: The beautiful Casablanca star, the world's greatest war photographer, and the secret love affair that would change their lives forever . . . in Chris Greenhalgh's Seducing Ingrid Bergman June 1945. When Ingrid Bergman walks into the lobby of the Ritz hotel in Paris, war photographer Robert Capa is enchanted. From the moment he slips a mischievous invitation to dinner under her door, the two find themselves helplessly attracted. Played out against the cafés and nightclubs of post-war Paris and the parties and studios of Hollywood, they pursue an intense and increasingly reckless affair.But the light-hearted Capa, who likes nothing more than to spend his mornings reading in the tub and his afternoons at the racetrack, is not all that he seems. And Ingrid offers the promise of salvation to a man haunted by the horrors of war, his fathers suicide, and the death of a former lover for which he blames himself. Addicted to risk, Capa must wrestle his devils, including gambling and drink, and resist an impulse to go off and photograph yet another war. Meanwhile, Ingrid, trapped in a passionless marriage and with a seven-year-old daughter to bring up, must court scandal and risk compromising her Hollywood career and saintly reputation if their love is to survive. With their happiness and identities at stake, both Capa and Ingrid are presented with terrible choices. ~powells.com  

Review: First of all, let's talk about this cover. It's gorgeous. It evokes the feel of the old movie posters and has a very romantic feel. Seducing Ingrid Bergman pulls you in immediately. I knew nothing of Ingrid Bergman's personal life or had I heard of Robert Capa before reading this book; now I want to know more about their affair.

What Mr. Greenlaugh does beautifully is transport you to Paris towards the end of World War II. He sets the scene and transports you. You can picture the lights, the nightlife, the cafes and feel the mood of the city. He also tells the story from both Ingrid and Robert's POVs, which makes for an interesting peek into an affair. I don't want to say I felt horribly for Ingrid and her marriage to Petter but it seemed more like a business arrangement than a passion filled one. I'm not excusing her behavior but it did make me understand why she might have been infatuated with Capa. I can see why he was beguiled with her because she was a mysterious and glamorous woman.

For me the center of this book was Capa. Bergman was just the object of his affection and she happened to be famous. He had been a war photographer and had his share of heartache. The heartache only exacerbated his need for thrills and danger. He was never going to be able to settle down. I think he knew that and that's why Ingrid being married didn't worry him. He knew it was never going to be long term. He was a wild horse; he couldn't be tamed.

Part of me also wondered if her just calling him Capa instead of Robert made the affair seem less real, less personal. Did it make it more of an affair and love for her? I'm not sure. I have no doubt her feelings for him were real.

Unless you are a fan of either of these people, you might not have an interest in a fictionalized account of their affair.

This is the Hashtag Book Group's book. Join us for our discussion using #SeducingIngrid

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Jenn's Review: Exposure

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FacebookTwitterGoogle+PinterestLinkedInStumbleUponRedditGoogle BookmarksWordPressTumblrDeliciousDiggMySpaceYahoo BookmarksBeboMister-WongApp.netWaneloOrkutXINGBufferEvernoteWhatsAppMendeleyPocketVKPinboardSpringpadFlipboardArtoAIMYahoo MessengerPlurkDiasporaBlogger PostTypePad PostBox.netKindle ItBaiduNetlogCiteULikeJumptagsFunPInstapaperPhoneFavsXerpiNetvouzDiigoBibSonomyBlogMarksStartAidKhabbrMeneameYoolinkBookmarks.frTechnotizieNewsVineFriendFeedProtopage BookmarksBlinklistYiGGWebnewsSegnaloPushaYouMobSlashdotFarkAllvoicesJamespotTwiddlaLinkaGoGoNowPublicLiveJournalLinkatopiaBuddyMarksViadeoWistsSiteJotDZoneCare2 NewsBitty BrowserOdnoklassnikiMail.RuSymbaloo FeedsFolkdNewsTrustAmazon Wish ListPrintFriendlyTuentiEmailRediff MyPage

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Author: Kathy Reichs and Brendan Reichs
Series: Virals #4
Publication Date: March 4, 2014
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Pages: 418
Obtained: purchased
Genre:  mystery
Rating: 4.75
Bottom Line: another fantastic adventure
Grab, Just get it at the library, or Remove from your TBR list? Grab!

Blurb: When twin classmates are abducted from Bolton Prep, Tory and the Virals decide there’s no one better equipped than them to investigate. But the gang has other problems to face. Their powers are growing wilder, and becoming harder to control. Chance Claybourne is investigating the disastrous medical experiment that twisted their DNA. The bonds that unite them are weakening, threatening the future of the pack itself.

The Virals must decipher the clues and track down a ruthless criminal before he strikes again, all while protecting their secret from prying eyes. And everyone seems to be watching.

Review:  This is one of those YA series that I always make time for... and since things were left rather precariously between the Virals at the end of Code, I couldn't help but pick it up as soon as it was released.

I was rather surprised to find that Exposure begins with a trial. The aftermath and legal fallout is something that often gets glossed over in novels, especially YA. It was a fantastic place to start though, as there are definite consequences from their last escapades and it really set the tone and the pace for what is to follow.

Getting beyond the trial, I must admit that I was a little disappointed with the storyline. It seemed uncharacteristically predictable; I had it all figured out and knew where everything was headed... or I thought I did. By now I should know that things are never what they seem in a Virals novel. I wasn't right on a single point --not one-- and I love when that happens. I was completely blown away.

As pack leader, Tory is growing more aware of the problems with their condition, making her more determined than ever to delve into the research.  Her inability to let go of her hurt and move on is complicating things, but she is attempting to rise above it.  However as concientious as she is when it comes to the health of her pack, Tory is equally reckless when it comes to plunging into investigations and jumping to conclusions.  Tory pushing the boundaries as a pack leader seems to be a reactionary reflex to everything that has led up to this point.  The pack is off balance, and the harder she tries to right it, the more off kilter it becomes. I have to remind myself that she's a teenage girl and even the most responsible of which can be impulsive and short sighted.

On top of everything else, Chance is getting more desperate to learn the Virals secret. In his slightly unhinged state, how far will he go?  We have witnessed his darker side before... 

I won't delve into the story anymore than I already have so as not to spoil things.  This is one of those series that I can't recommend strongly enough.  I feel close to these kids and I always feel like my time with them is too short.  I may just have to go back and re-read them while I wait for the next installment.

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Children's Corner: What My Kids Are Reading

So, most nights my 8 year old reads herself to sleep, so I don't have a lot of those reading to her moments anymore, but I'm thrilled that she's reading on her own and it's how she chooses to end her night. She recently had the Scholastic Book Fair where she picked up Shannon Hale's The Storybook of Legends (Ever After High) and Whatever After: Sink or Swim. She was all impressed that I followed Ms. Hale on Twitter. We also went to the library this weekend where she picked up Big Nate: In a Class by Himself.

What I've found with her is that she likes to read multiple books at once and rotate them. That is not like me, but why force my reading style on her, when she'll find her own.

Now my 6 year old is reading at a 2nd grade level, so while he might love Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, I've encourage him to up his choice of books. So he's come home with a couple Star Wars books from the school library. He also has been really into Minecraft the past few months, so his purchase at the book fair was the Minecraft: Essential Handbook from Scholastic. He also got this Minecraft novel for his birthday.

His choices at the the library this weekend were a few of Dave Pilkey's Captain Underpants. Now, they aren't my cup of tea but they definitely appeal to a 6 year old boy's sense of humor. Saying that, again I'm happy he's found something to read that excites him. I'll still read to him when he asks but I am throughly enjoying that both of them are becoming independent readers.

What are your kiddos reading?


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Alice's Review: The Taste of Apple Seeds

Author: Katharina Hagena
Series: No
Publication Date: February 4, 2014
Publisher: William Morrow and Company
Pages: 256
Obtained: Publisher
Genre: Literary Fiction
Rating: 4 
Bottom Line:  Whimsical & romantic with a touch of scandal.
Grab, Just get it at the library, or Remove from your TBR list? Grab  

Summary:  When Iris unexpectedly inherits her grandmother's house in the country, she also inherits the painful memories that live there. Iris gives herself a one-week stay at the old house, after which she'll make a decision: keep it or sell it. The choice is not so simple, though, for her grandmother's cottage is an enchanting place, where currant jam tastes of tears, sparks fly from fingertips, love's embrace makes apple trees blossom, and the darkest family secrets never stay buried. . . .~Powells.com

Review:  The best way to describe this novel is this:

You recently met a woman. She is funny, witty. You are drawn to her. She invites you over for tea and you go because you can’t wait to find out more about her. She pours you a cuppa and as you settle in for your first sip, she begins to tell you about herself. Only it’s not the basic “favorite color” nonsense, it’s the juicy, nitty gritty stuff. She reveals this to you because she is comfortable with her past and with her family's past. She is not ashamed to tell you because she knows she is interesting and her family is interesting. She is proud of what she came from. She doesn’t mind that soon you will be gossiping to your friends about them either. She knows that secretly you will wish for that life instead of the boring one you have. You enjoy every single second you spend with her.

That is how I feel about The Taste of Apple Seeds. It’s a relatively simple story about a young woman who inherits her grandmother’s house upon her death and spends a few days there reminiscing and deciding whether or not to keep the house. What ensues is a slightly whimsical and romantic tale with a little scandal thrown in there too.

The Taste of Apple Seeds is my favorite kind of book, a book for the soul. It satisfies the heart with juicy bits of morsels. Some I wish I could share with you but as I received an ARC I am unable too. It also satisfies that nosey body in us where we get great satisfaction in learning the scandal and secrets of someone else's family. Some secrets were heartbreaking, others laughable. These secrets are told be a reserved young woman named Iris.

I loved Iris. She was odd and awkward and bold. She had a crazy fashion sense and a tendency to swim in the nude and stalking unsuspecting men. I know these are curious facts to share but these very things add to the Tao that is Iris. She truly was fabulous.

The Taste of Apple Seeds didn’t lose anything in the translation from German to English, although I had to keep reminding myself if Frau references a man or a woman. Overall I enjoyed this novel. It was funny and very interesting but not quite a five for me.
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Alice's Review: Safe With Me

Author: Amy Hatvany
Series: None
Publication Date: March 4, 2014
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Pages: 352
Obtained: Publisher via NetGalley
Genre:  Contemporary, Women's Fiction
Rating: 5
Bottom Line: A wonderfully moving story about unexpected bonds.
Grab, Just get it at the library, or Remove from your TBR list? Grab it

Summary:  The screech of tires brought Hannah Scott’s world as she knew it to a devastating end. A year after she signed the papers to donate her daughter’s organs, Hannah is still reeling with grief when she unexpectedly stumbles into the life of the Bell family, whose fifteen-year-old daughter, Maddie, survived only because Hannah’s daughter had died. Mesmerized by this fragile connection to her own daughter and afraid to reveal who she actually is, Hannah develops a surprising friendship with Maddie’s mother, Olivia.  The Bells, however, have problems of their own. Once on the verge of leaving her wealthy but abusive husband, Olivia now finds herself bound to him in the wake of the transplant that saved their daughter’s life. Meanwhile, Maddie, tired of the limits her poor health puts upon her and fearful of her father’s increasing rage, regularly escapes into the one place where she can be anyone she wants: the Internet. But when she is finally healthy enough to return to school, the real world proves to be just as complicated as the isolated bubble she had been so eager to escape. ~ powells.com

Review:  The first few pages of this novel left me with an oddly familiar feeling like I read this before or saw a movie just like this on the Lifetime Channel. Immediately I felt a bit disappointed in the unoriginality. After all, I just loved Heart Like Mine and was expecting the same love for Safe With Me. Thankfully I threw those early judgement aside and kept reading because what I discovered was a deeply moving story about grief, forgiveness and the power of friendship.

This novel has so many hidden gems. It’s not just about coping with the loss of a child or receiving a donor’s organ or finding a way to survive an abusive marriage, it’s so much more. It’s about two women and a teenager on the cusp of finding her true identity. It’s about leaning on others when you can’t stand on your own. It’s about coping with something so heartbreaking, it robs of you all you know. I am so in love with this novel I just want to start reading it again. I don’t want to let these characters go.

Safe With Me is told in alternating chapters from the points of view of Olivia, Maddie and Hannah. I just love that Ms. Hatvany does that. As a reader, it’s a great way to really get to know the inner working of each character. And I simply adored the three of them.

As the victim of domestic abuse, Olivia didn’t come across as someone who was weak or needy. I felt sorrow for her circumstances, oddly proud of what she endured to protect her daughter. With Maddie, I understood her awkwardness and need to find out who she is as a person. I loved watching her take those baby steps into the world, finding her place among a sea of new faces. And Hannah. The thing with grief is everyone does it differently. There is no correct way to grieve. With Hannah, I understood her need for isolation and simplicity.

Ms. Hatvany is so gifted, so wonderful. She took two subjects that were so horrible and wretched and told a story with such compassion I was repeatedly moved to tears. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors ever. If you have not read her before, this is a great time to start. Safe With Me is a must read. Make sure you have a box of hankies nearby. You’ll need them.

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