Reivew: Mrs. Queen Takes the Train by William Kuhn

Mrs. Queen Takes the Train
Author: William Kuhn
Published: October 16, 2012
Genre: contemporary fiction
Hardcover: 374 pages
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): After decades of service and years of watching her family's troubles splashed across the tabloids, Britain's Queen is beginning to feel her age. She needs some proper cheering up. An unexpected opportunity offers her relief: an impromptu visit to a place that holds happy memories--the former royal yacht, Britannia, now moored near Edinburgh. Hidden beneath a skull-emblazoned hoodie, the limber Elizabeth (thank goodness for yoga) walks out of Buckingham Palace into the freedom of a rainy London day and heads for King's Cross to catch a train to Scotland. But a characterful cast of royal attendants has discovered her missing. In uneasy alliance a lady-in-waiting, a butler, an equerry, a girl from the stables, a dresser, and a clerk from the shop that supplies Her Majesty's cheese set out to find her and bring her back before her absence becomes a national scandal.

Mrs Queen Takes the Train is a clever novel, offering a fresh look at a woman who wonders if she, like Britannia herself, has, too, become a relic of the past. William Kuhn paints a charming yet biting portrait of British social, political, and generational rivalries--between upstairs and downstairs, the monarchy and the government, the old and the young. Comic and poignant, fast paced and clever, this delightful debut tweaks the pomp of the monarchy, going beneath its rigid formality to reveal the human heart of the woman at its center.

My Thoughts: I am a royal watcher. There, I said it and I have no shame in admitting it. There is something about the British royal family that is so intriguing and interesting, especially since as an American, we don't have a family like that which we can look up to (the first family changes every four to eight years). And at the head of that family is the Queen, a private woman who does her duty wonderfully. William Kuhn explores what would happen if the Queen just decided to leave one day. I'm sure it's something that everyone has wondered about ("Do royals wish they were us?" and questions like that), so he went ahead and wrote a novel focused on the Queen leaving Buckingham Palace one day and journeying to Scotland. Now, the only royal who makes an appearance in this novel is the Queen, so if you were expecting some interaction among the royal family, then you are out of luck. But there is quite the cast of characters, mostly comprised of the household staff. So, if you are a fan of Downton Abbey, then this is a book that you would probably love because it reminded me so much of that show.

Kuhn is a nonfiction writer and this is his first foray into the world of fiction. I think that his topic for his first novel was a great one and something that he was able to write knowledgably about. He knows quite a bit about the royal family, and that comes across in his writing. It's also great how he structures the Queen's staff. There is a cast of people working for the Queen and in the palace, but he selects just a few to join the story, ensuring that you are never overwhelmed with the amount of people moving around or their relationship to the Queen. I do think that his writing was a bit stiff, which is a reflection of his background. I hope that if he continues with fiction in the future that the stiffness will lessen, but who knows?!

If you enjoy Downton Abbey, then you will definitely like this book. If you were a fan of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, then you will probably like this book. It's a cute and simple read and one that really engaged my imagination. It's not too rushed, never overwhelming, and a very cute story to get wrapped up in.

Review: Invisible by Carla Buckley

Invisible
Author: Carla Buckley
Published: September 25, 2012
Genre: contemporary fiction
eBook: approx. 400 pages
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): Growing up, Dana Carlson and her older sister, Julie, are inseparable—Dana the impulsive one, Julie calmer and more nurturing. But then a devastating secret compels Dana to flee from home, not to see or speak to her sister for sixteen years.

When she receives the news that Julie is seriously ill, Dana knows that she must return to their hometown of Black Bear, Minnesota, to try and save her sister. Yet she arrives too late, only to discover that Black Bear has changed, and so have the people in it. Julie has left behind a shattered teenage daughter, Peyton, and a mystery—what killed Julie may be killing others, too. Why is no one talking about it? Dana struggles to uncover the truth, but no one wants to hear it, including Peyton, who can’t forgive her aunt’s years-long absence. Dana had left to protect her own secrets, but Black Bear has a secret of its own—one that could tear apart Dana’s life, her family, and the whole town.

My Thoughts: The description of this novel is what really pulled me in (the cover does nothing for me) and I thought that it would be a really good thriller to read. Afterall, doesn't it intrigue you as to why Dana left and what is this secret that could tear apart the whole town? Carla Buckley explores what happens to a woman who returns home after being away for years and years, only to discover that not only have people changed, but something is changing people. There is a higher occurence of kidney failure in this area that is thought to be normal. Julie has just passed because of renal failure, and while she started to investigate, it's now up to her sister Dana to figure out what is hurting the town. The chapters alternate between Dana, who returns home to find that her sister has died and left behind a husband and teenage daughter; and Peyton, Julie's daughter and someone who is now motherless and dealing with an aunt who she just met a few days ago.

I really liked the character of Dana and thought that the chapters told from her persepctive were the best. As an outsider in the town, she does see things differently than the people that never left, and she does find it odd that there is such a high occurence of kidney-related diseases in the area, even when the doctors don't seem to be concerned. Peyton's chapters were sometimes boring and I think it was because she wasn't contributing to solving the mystery of what is affecting this town. I loved her little ocean-facts at the beginning of each chapter, because they definitely played out with humans and it was interesting to see the connections between the way of life in the ocean and that on land.

My biggest problem with this book was that it sounded like it would be more of a thriller than it actually was. Except for about five pages, it wasn't all that gripping. Sure, there was a mystery going on, but it played second fiddle to the return of Dana to Black Bear and all the stress that she must deal with. I just wish that there had been more of a thriller aspect to it, because then I think that this book could have been phenomenal. On that note, I would like to read more of Carla Buckey's work in the future because this was an interesting read, especially with her research into environmental issues. 

Review: The Memory Thief by Emily Colin

The Memory Thief
Author: Emily Colin
Published: August 21, 2012
Genre: contemporary fiction
eBook: approx. 432 pages
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): When Madeleine Kimble’s husband Aiden dies in a mountain climbing accident, Maddie can only think of his earnest promise to return to her and their young son. Aiden’s best friend J.C. feels great remorse over his inability to save him, but J.C.’s grief is also seasoned with the guilt of loving Maddie through the years. Meanwhile, across the country another young man wakes up in a hospital and finds that his memories have been wiped clean, and replaced with haunting dreams of a beautiful woman and a five year old boy whom he feels driven to find. What Nicholas Sullivan discovers upon his journey is utterly unexpected—and it will change all of their lives, especially Maddie’s.

My Thoughts: I was really intrigued by the description of this novel and when comparisons were made between Emily Colin's novel and the work of Kristin Hannah, I decided to give it a try since I love Hannah's work so much. Colin writes a story of loss and grieving, between a husband and wife, father and child, two best friends, and a complete stranger. It's a really good story but something that is hard to describe (this is proving a hard review for me to write because I feel like summarizing the book would give everything away!) The chapters are told from three characters' points of view, alternating between them so that you are able to fully understand what is happening. There is Aidan, the mountain climber who tragically falls to death during an avalanche. There is Maddie, his wife who didn't want to him to go on the trip because she had a feeling that something bad might happen. Then there is Nicholas, a man who lives in North Carolina, has no idea who Aidan or Maddie are, yet has all of Aidan's memories following a horrible motorcycle accident (you keeping up yet?)

There is a lot going on, but Colin doesn't make it seem that way. It would be easy to become bogged down with the details of what is happening, how Nicholas can see Aidan's memories and communicate with him in this weird way. But Colin doesn't let that happen, and instead let's everything unfold naturally. If there is a complaint with this novel, it's that following Aidan's death, everything seems rushed between Maddie and JC. Their relationship goes from 0 to 60 in about three seconds, and all of a sudden, Colin has you focusing on their relationship instead of the loss of Aidan. I didn't like how it played out, but it didn't take away from the novel too much.

Overall, this was a great first novel from a writer and I understand why Colin drew comparisons to Hannah. Both are great writers who understand females and the connections that they form with other people. The relationships were the basis of this novel, not the coming-back-from-the-dead stuff, which is a huge feat for a first time novelist. I cannot wait to read more of Colin's work in the future and see where she goes as a writer.

Review: The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain

The Good Father
Author: Diane Chamberlain
Published: April 24, 2012
Genre: contemporary fiction
eBook: approx. 368 pages
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): Four years ago, nineteen-year-old Travis Brown made a choice: to raise his newborn daughter on his own. While most of his friends were out partying and meeting girls, Travis was at home, changing diapers and worrying about keeping food on the table. But he's never regretted his decision. Bella is the light of his life. The reason behind every move he makes. And so far, she is fed. Cared for. Safe.

But when Travis loses his construction job and his home, the security he's worked so hard to create for Bella begins to crumble...….

Then a miracle. A job in Raleigh has the power to turn their fortunes around. It has to. But when Travis arrives in Raleigh, there is no job, only an offer to participate in a onetime criminal act that promises quick money and no repercussions. With nowhere else to turn, Travis must make another choice for his daughter's sake.Even if it means he might lose her.

My Thoughts: I've been wanting to read Diane Chamberlain for sometime now, but never got around to picking up one of her books. When I saw that this was available for immediate checkout on the OverDrive site (a library lending site), I went ahead and checked it out. The premise sounded promising and like something I would enjoy. As I started reading the book, I wasn't immediately drawn in. It took me about 100 pages to be fully engaged in the book, but once I was, it was hard to put down.

The story is told by three characters: Travis (Bella's father and a man who is down on his luck), Robin (a woman with a secret who is about to be married to a strong political family in North Carolina), and Erin (a woman who has recently lost a child and is finding it hard to cope with her life). Each chapter is told from a different point of view, and it's because of that reason that it takes a little time to get into the story. I love books that are written with multiple narrators, but it wasn't clear how all these people related to one another and how their stories would contribute to the overall plot.

It was an engrossing read once the action started and you didn't know what Travis was going to do in order to provide for his daughter. As the title states, Travis is a good father who has fallen on hard times and doesn't have a way to provide for his child. While I have no children, I could instantly relate to Travis and his struggles. Chamberlain has you rooting for him from the get-go and she really pulls you into the story with Travis and Bella.

The characters were engaging, the story engrossing, and the overall effect was wonderful. I could only give this book 3.5 stars thought because of the beginning (I hate when it takes a long time for me to get into a book), and the end (I just thought it was awkward). I will definitely read more of Diane Chamberlain's work in the future and hope that they are all as riveting as this story.

Review: The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D. by Nichole Bernier

The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D.
Author: Nichole Bernier
Published: June 5, 2012
Genre: contemporary fiction
Hardcover: 309 pages
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 2.5 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): Summer vacation on Great Rock Island was supposed to be a restorative time for Kate, who’d lost her close friend Elizabeth in a sudden accident. But when she inherits a trunk of Elizabeth's journals, they reveal a woman far different than the cheerful wife and mother Kate thought she knew.

The complicated portrait of Elizabeth—her troubled upbringing, and her route to marriage and motherhood—makes Kate question not just their friendship, but her own deepest beliefs about loyalty and honesty at a period of uncertainty in her own marriage.

The more Kate reads, the more she learns the complicated truth of who Elizabeth really was, and rethinks her own choices as a wife, mother, and professional, and the legacy she herself would want to leave behind. When an unfamiliar man’s name appears in the pages, Kate realizes the extent of what she didn’t know about her friend, including where she was really going on the day she died.

Set in the anxious summer after the September 11th attacks, this story of two women—their friendship, their marriages, private ambitions and fears—considers the aspects of ourselves we show and those we conceal, and the repercussions of our choices.

My Thoughts: I was really looking forward to reading this novel. So many people had read it and liked that I couldn't wait to join in and see what was so great about this novel. It has several elements that I like: journal entries (I love when novels have journal/diary entries in them!), a summer at the beach, life in a big city. It had elements that I always enjoy, but the book fell short of my expectations. I felt like there was no real push or drive in the novel to move forward. Kate is a mom of two and questioning her husband on some issues (such as his continuing to smoke, even though she asked him to stop years ago). Throughout this novel, she constantly wonders if she knows her husband, if he was faithful to her, if he honors her wishes. However, all she does is question with no real answers ever given. I felt like we were building up to this huge showdown between the two of them, where she doesn't know who he is and he tells her that he hates her being so nosy and absorbed in those journals. But, that never happened. The end of the book was a little odd to me, because you aren't sure how their marriage will survive or if Kate can get over her constant worrying. Bernier just kind of drops it and walks away, leaving me as a reader feel very empty at the end of the novel, like, "what was the point in reading that."

The journal entries were great and helped us to understand Elizabeth more, but they were placed in the story so awkwardly it was hard to tell if the entries were meant to let us know about Elizabeth or prove that what Kate is feeling in her life right now is vindicated. They were just stuck in the middle of chapters so awkwardly, like when you try on a shoe that's half a size too small for you. You just keep on shoving your foot into the shoe, even though you know that these shoes will never work for you. I think that if Bernier had alternated chapters with Kate's current life and Elizabeth's journals, it would have helped the story immensely. This is Nichole Bernier's first novel, so I'm hesitant to read her next one. I did enjoy her writing style, so I'm hoping her storytelling matures over time.

Review: Aftertaste by Meredith Mileti

Aftertaste
Author: Meredith Mileti
Published: September 1, 2011
Genre: contemporary fiction
Paperback: 384 pages
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): Mira Rinaldi lives life at a rolling boil. Co-owner of Grappa, a chic New York City trattoria, she has an enviable apartment, a brand-new baby, and a frenzied schedule befitting her success.

Everything changes the night she catches her husband, Jake, "wielding his whisk" with Grappa's new M itress d'. Mira's fiery response earns her a court-ordered stint in anger management and the beginning of legal and personal predicaments as she battles to save her restaurant and pick up the pieces of her life. Mira falls back on family and friends in Pittsburgh as she struggles to find a recipe for happiness. But the heat is really on when some surprising developments in New York present her with a high stakes opportunity to win back what she thought she had lost forever. For Mira, cooking isn't just about delicious flavors and textures, but about the pleasure found in filling others' needs. And the time has come to decide where her own fulfillment lies-even if the answers are unexpected.

My Thoughts: Now, I may be biased in this review of the book because I am from Pittsburgh, but I just want to say that I really enjoyed this novel. Following a chef as she leaves her restaurant in New York City after she catches her husband cheating on her, Meredith Mileti takes you on a journey of one woman who must rediscover who she is and what it is that will make her happy. Unsure of what to do after moving back in with her father in Pittsburgh, Mira struggles with being a single mother and being taken away from what she was meant to do with her life, which is to cook. Over the course of the story, you see Mira grow from being an adult who only knows one way to do things, turning into a woman who reinvents herself and realizes that happiness isn't just one set thing, but can result from a variety of circumstances and relationships.

Mira is a complex woman, and as I said above, you are able to see her progress throughout the novel. Her anger at the beginning of the book is understandable and you are on her side immediately, even though you recognize that ripping out another woman's hair may not be the best couse of action. She grows into a woman who realizes that she must make a new path for herself in a new city, all while being a single mother. Seeing her grow throughout the novel and deal with the hardships that face her are great and Mileti does a fabulous job of character development. The other thing that I loved about this book was the descriptions. Mileti is a gifted writer who will have you lost in her descriptions of people, places, and things. The way that she describes the city is wonderful, and like I said before, I may be biased since I'm from Pittsburgh, but she paints the city in such a way that she doesn't make it more than what it is. There is not a large, thriving culinary world here, but there are some really great restaurants and areas of the city. Her descriptions of food are unparalleled and had my mouth watering and wishing that I was able to cook like Mira. Overall, this was a great first book and I look forward to seeing what Mileti will write in the future.

Review: Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead

Seating Arrangements
Author: Maggie Shipstead
Published: June 12, 2012
Genre: contemporary fiction
Hardcover: 302 pages
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): Winn Van Meter is heading for his family’s retreat on the pristine New England island of Waskeke. Normally a haven of calm, for the next three days this sanctuary will be overrun by tipsy revelers as Winn prepares for the marriage of his daughter Daphne to the affable young scion Greyson Duff.  Winn’s wife, Biddy, has planned the wedding with military precision, but arrangements are sideswept by a storm of salacious misbehavior and intractable lust: Daphne’s sister, Livia, who has recently had her heart broken by Teddy Fenn, the son of her father’s oldest rival, is an eager target for the seductive wiles of Greyson’s best man; Winn, instead of reveling in his patriarchal duties, is tormented by his long-standing crush on Daphne’s beguiling bridesmaid Agatha; and the bride and groom find themselves presiding over a spectacle of misplaced desire, marital infidelity, and monumental loss of faith in the rituals of American life. 

Hilarious, keenly intelligent, and commandingly well written, Shipstead’s deceptively frothy first novel is a piercing rumination on desire, on love and its obligations, and on the dangers of leading an inauthentic life, heralding the debut of an exciting new literary voice. 

My Thoughts: This is Maggie Shipstead's first novel, and what a story she manages to tell. Focusing on the Van Meter family during the days leading up to the oldest daughter's wedding, Shipstead tells a tale of social classes, birthrights, relationships, family, and the expectations that we place on the people and things in our lives. Each character is grappling with their own issues, trying to come to grips with their lives while on an island off the New England coast. The patriarch of the family, Winn, is stuggling to comprehend why he hasn't been invited into the prestigious golf club on the island. All his life, where ever he travles, Winn joins clubs. He loves the sense of belonging that they provide and how they clearly state where you are in society. His oldest daughter is getting married while being seven months pregnant. His youngest, Livia, is distraught after her first real relationship ended and she had an abortion. For me, Livia and Winn are the most interesting people in this book.

Winn is just such a stereotypical New England prep-school man. He loves how belonging to different clubs provides not only a physical shelter from the world, where he can go in and drink and read newspapers. He also loves the emotional shelter of it, the identity that one has when they belong to such a place. He doesn't realize this, but it becomes clear as you read the novel that this is a man who needs these exclusive clubs to define who he is and provide him with an identity. Then there is Livia, trying to cope with an abortion and her first relationship ending. She has so many needs, but her need to understand why she is no longer with Teddy (her ex) consumes her. It's a weight bearing down on her, and for someone who has always gotten what they want in life, she feels as if she will also get Teddy back, if for no other reason than just because that's how she wants it to be. 

I could continually sit here and gush about this book (I've already told so many people about it that I'm hoping one of them will read it so we can discuss it!), but I will just implore you to read it. This is not a book to breeze through, not a romantic tale about a New England wedding. If that's what you are expecting, then you will be very disappointed. If you are looking for a great piece of literature, then you need to read this book. Maggie Shipstead may only have one book to her name, but it's an amazing book and one that will leave you thinking for many days after you finish reading it.

Review: Goodbye for Now by Laurie Frankel

Goodbye for Now
Author: Laurie Frankel
Published: August 7, 2012
Genre: contemporary fiction
Hardcover: 304 pages
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): Sam Elling works for an internet dating company, but he still can't get a date. So he creates an algorithm that will match you with your soul mate. Sam meets the love of his life, a coworker named Meredith, but he also gets fired when the company starts losing all their customers to Mr. and Ms. Right.

When Meredith's grandmother, Livvie, dies suddenly, Sam uses his ample free time to create a computer program that will allow Meredith to have one last conversation with her grandmother. Mining from all her correspondence—email, Facebook, Skype, texts—Sam constructs a computer simulation of Livvie who can respond to email or video chat just as if she were still alive. It's not supernatural, it's computer science.

Meredith loves it, and the couple begins to wonder if this is something that could help more people through their grief. And thus, the company RePose is born. The business takes off, but for every person who just wants to say good-bye, there is someone who can't let go. 

In the meantime, Sam and Meredith's affection for one another deepens into the kind of love that once tasted, you can't live without. But what if one of them suddenly had to? This entertaining novel, delivers a charming and bittersweet romance as well as a lump in the throat exploration of the nature of love, loss, and life (both real and computer simulated). Maybe nothing was meant to last forever, but then again, sometimes love takes on a life of its own.

My Thoughts: When I read the description of this book, I was intrigued and just knew that I had to read it. I mean, the premise of being able to communicate with people who have passed on is a unique idea and I wondered how Laurie Frankel would tackle such a big issue. She is a gifted writer, which comes across within the first few pages of the book. She is able to pull you in and feel a connection with Sam Elling immediately. He is a likable guy, someone who you are pulling for and want him to get everything that he deserves. When he creates a computer-generated version of Meredith's dead grandmother, you realize who smart he is and that he deserves to reap the success of coming up with something as groundbreaking as this. For me, Sam is a great character and someone who I was sad to see go when I finished the book. Meredith, his girlfriend, is also likable, but she wasn't on the same level as Sam. She was nice and sweet, but something about her (I guess it was continuing to talk with her grandmother) just rubbed me the wrong way. The cast of characters who comes into RePose to talk to their departed loved ones is diverse and it's amazing how all of these people who have recently lost loved ones, all wish to communicate with the dead for a different reason. For some, it's because they miss them. Some have questions as to where things are kept in their homes, and others wish to let steam off and let the dead know how bad they were to live with. Everyone goes in for something different yet they all reap the satisfaction of having talked to their loved one, one more time.

This is a heavy topic and I recommend that you do not read this book if you are not in the mood to be depressed. Not saying that it's a depressing book, but it will drag you down and make you think about people that you've lost in your own life. I found myself wondering who I would want to communicate with if RePose were actually available in real life. Frankel doesn't make light of how hard this is for people, especially when showing the effects it can have on young children. There were parts of the book that were so sad, I just had to put it down and walk away. She really makes you stop and think about grief and death and loss. It was a heavy read and one that made me think throughout the entire novel.

The only downside for me was the pacing. I felt as if we were sprinting throught the novel, racing to finish it. Everything happens very quickly, from Sam and Meredith's first date to creating their first RePose (Meredith's grandmother) to the start up of a business. It was like the fast forward button was on and I wish it just slowed down a little bit. All in all, it is a good book and I cannot wait to see what Frankel writes in the future.

Top Ten Tuesday (10-16-12)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week, 

they post a different topic, and you get to create your own top ten list. So, this week's 

topic is:

Favorite Authors in Contemporary Fiction

1) Kristin Hannah - I love her books! She is able to take everyday things (friendship, love, loss, heartache, growing pains) and write about them in a way that is so relatable to anyone reading! I have yet to find anybody else with her writing ability.

2) J. Courtney Sullivan - I loved Sullivan's first book, Commenement, because I find it incredibly difficult to find books written about women in their early to mid-20s, let alone someone as gifted and talented as Sullivan.

3) David Nicholls - I have only read One Day, but I loved it and have another one of his books in my TBR pile. There was something about this book that just pulled me in and wouldn't let go. It truly showcases what an amazing storyteller Nicholls is.

4) Jennifer Haigh - I have read two of her books and have fallen head over heels in love with Haigh. She taps into the human experience so perfectly, you almost wonder if she lived some of these experiences. If you haven't read her works, go get one. You will not be disappointed.

5) Wally Lamb - I feel like so few people have heard of Lamb, which is a shame because he is an amazing writer. His novels are quite hefty, but well worth the read (and possible carpal tunnel you get from holding it).

6) Anita Shreve - Shreve is a big hit or miss for me. Sometimes, her books are just such a chore to get through. But other are so amazing, I find myself reading slower so that I won't have to let it end.

7) Laura Harrington - while she may only have one book to her name, what a powerful book it is. Dealing with a teenage girl and the loss of her father while serving his country in Iraq, Harrington nails it in term of emotions and the struggle that all teenage girls face.

8) Chad Harbach - another author who only has one book to their name but one of the best books I have ever read. 

9) Liane Moriarty - she has written several books but I've only managed to read one of them. Her ability to build anticipation and have you rooting for every character in the book, whether good or bad, was just amazing to read and experience.

10) Elin Hilderbrand - while her books are definitely beach reads, they resonate in some way with everyone. They also cover such a wide array of characters that each book is clearly different and not something just is just "for the beach."

Definitely a fun list to make! So, what genre did you choose? Let me know!

Audiobook Review: The Island by Elin Hilderbrand

The Island
Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Published: July 6, 2010
Genre: contemporary fiction
Audiobook: 12 discs
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): Birdie Cousins has thrown herself into the details of her daughter Chess's lavish wedding, from the floating dance floor in her Connecticut back yard to the color of the cocktail napkins. Like any mother of a bride-to-be, she is weathering the storms of excitement and chaos, tears and joy. But Birdie, a woman who prides herself on preparing for every possibility, could never have predicted the late-night phone call from Chess, abruptly announcing that she's cancelled her engagement. 

It's only the first hint of what will be a summer of upheavals and revelations. Before the dust has even begun to settle, far worse news arrives, sending Chess into a tailspin of despair. Reluctantly taking a break from the first new romance she's embarked on since the recent end of her 30-year marriage, Birdie circles the wagons and enlists the help of her younger daughter Tate and her own sister India. Soon all four are headed for beautiful, rustic Tuckernuck Island, off the coast of Nantucket, where their family has summered for generations. No phones, no television, no grocery store - a place without distractions where they can escape their troubles.

But throw sisters, daughters, ex-lovers, and long-kept secrets onto a remote island, and what might sound like a peaceful getaway becomes much more. Before summer has ended, dramatic truths are uncovered, old loves are rekindled, and new loves make themselves known. It's a summertime story only Elin Hilderbrand can tell, filled with the heartache, laughter, and surprises that have made her page-turning, bestselling novels as much a part of summer as a long afternoon on a sunny beach.

My Thoughts: I really enjoy Elin Hilderbrand's novels and decided that I should give her a shot in the form of an audiobook. I tend to get wrapped up in her stories and feel like I am taken away to the island of Nantucket. This book was no different. Following four women from the same family, two grown women who are sisters and one of the women's two daughters, Hilderbrand tells the story of how each of these women deals with love and loss and how it affects them at the various stages of their lives. Each chapter is told from a different character's point of view, so you are able to get inside each woman's head and understand how she feels about certain things.

Birdie, mother to Chess and Tate, divorced her husband a few years ago and is on the rebound, starting to date. She hasn't been to her family's summer home in ages (her ex-husband hated the place), so she decides that it's time to return. She is very motivated and seems to be the perfect mother, but we do realize as the story progresses that she is still a woman, dealing with some insecurities. Then there is her sister, India. She is the wife of a great sculptor, who committed suicide some years ago. She has three boys of her own and is comfortable with who she is and where she is in life, until one student changes what she thought about herself. India is probably the one who shows the most growth without being in your face about it, which I liked a lot. I enjoyed her chapters and hearing about her relationship with Lula. 

Then there are the two girls. Chess is reeling from ending her engagement to a wonderful man, only to have him die shortly there after. She feels guilty for his death and ends up cutting off all her hair and quitting her job as a magazine editor. Chess really made me think about how I would feel in that situation. Even if he was an ex, it's something that is shocking to deal with, but how would I handle it? Then there is Tate. She is plucky and spirited and determined to find love at Tuckernuck. For me, Tate was annoying. She was so emotional and over involved in everything. She also came off as very immature, pouting when things didn't go her way. I also thought it was just too perfect how her relationship with Barrett worked out. It just got to be annoying.

Whie I did enjoy this audiobook, I think I'm going to stick to reading Hilderbrand's book the old-fashioned way in the future. I didn't always feel that connection that I have with her characters, but the story was still great, and perfect for the end of summer.

Review: Exposure by Therese Fowler

Exposure
Author: Therese Fowler
Published: May 3, 2011
Genre: contemporary fiction
Hardcover: 384 pages
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 3.5 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): Amelia Wilkes’s strict father does not allow her to date, but that doesn’t stop the talented, winsome high school senior from carrying on a secret romance with her classmate Anthony Winter. Desperately in love, the two envision a life together and plan to tell Amelia’s parents only after she turns eighteen and is legally an adult. Anthony’s mother, Kim, who teaches at their school, knows—and keeps—their secret. But the couple’s passion is exposed sooner than planned: Amelia’s father, Harlan, is shocked and infuriated to find naked pictures of Anthony on his daughter’s computer. Just hours later, Anthony is arrested.

Despite Amelia’s frantic protests, Harlan uses his wealth and influence with local law enforcement and the media to label Anthony a deviant who preyed on his innocent daughter. Spearheaded by a zealous prosecutor anxious to turn the case into a public crusade against “sexting,” the investigation soon takes an even more disturbing and destructive turn.

As events spiral wildly out of control and the scandalous story makes national news, Amelia and Anthony risk everything in a bold and dangerous attempt to clear their names and end the madness once and for all. 

My Thoughts: I found this book while wandering around my library and, after reading the synopsis, thought that it would be something I really enjoyed. I already felt like it would be a bit like Testimony by Anita Shreve (which happens to be one of my favorite books), and thought that I would probably like this one. I was glad that I did decide to read this book because it was a gripping read and one that made me think about the role technology plays in our lives and how it should be handled.This is a story of young love, starring Amelia and Anthony. They are high school seniors and ready to start their lives together, even though Amelia's parents are against her dating anyone. What unravels is a story of two people who are in love but not yet of age, and parents who believe that they always know what is right for their children.

For me, the best part of this story was the characters. Therese Fowler wrote every character so well, each of them fitting into the story like a puzzle piece, where they might not be right on their own, but when added together, make a complete picture. Amelia and Anthony are so well-written for teenage characters; they are acting like 17 ang 18 year olds, but they are also flawed. Amelia resents her parents involvement in her life but she doesn't over do it with the pouting. Anthony realizes the errors that they have made and tries to determine a way to get them both out of the predicament they are in. Amelia's father, Harlan, is prefectly written. He discovers the pictures and decides to call the cops. When he doesn't feel like enough is being done, he reaches out to the media, granting interviews about how innocent her daughter is. Kim, Anthony's mother, questions her knowledge of the relationship and what she should have done. The only character I wish had a bit more to contribute was Amelia's mother. I thought that she was just sort of shoved into a corner and we never really saw her or learned more about her background.

The topic of this story is so relevant, with social media becoming bigger and bigger everyday and more kids getting into trouble because of what they post online (whether or not it is pornographic or bullying someone). I'm continually amazed at what people post online and how they are surprised by the aftermath of those decisions. While Amelia and Anthony didn't post their pictures online, this novel demonstrates how technology is becoming ever more present and a part of our lives and how we must continually be aware of how we are using it. I thought that Fowler wrote a wonderful novel, showing how technology must be used resposibly or their maybe dire consequences. The only downside of this novel for me was that it reminded me so much of Shreve's novel, Testimony. I do plan to read more of Fowler's work in the future and more novels that center on technology and the downside of overusing it.

Review: The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty

The Hypnotist's Love Story
Author: Liane Moriarty
Published: June 14, 2012
Genre: contemporary fiction
Hardcover: 416 pages
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 3.5 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): From the author of critically acclaimed What Alice Forgot comes a wonderfully fun, insightful novel about the crazy things we do for love.
Ellen O’Farrell is a bit unusual. She’s a hypnotherapist. She’s never met her father. And she can’t seem to keep a relationship going (okay, that’s more normal that we want to admit). When Ellen meets Patrick, she’s hopeful nevertheless. But when he says he needs to tell her something, she fears the worst. However, when Patrick reveals that his ex-girlfriend is stalking him, Ellen thinks, Is that all? Actually, that’s kind of neat. She’s more intrigued than frightened. What makes a supposedly smart, professional woman behave this way? She’d love to meet her. What she doesn’t know is that she already has.

My Thoughts: I haven't read any of Liane Moriarty's work before but have read plenty of glowing reviews for What Alice Forgot. So, I figured that this book would be just as wonderful as her other one. While I still haven't read What Alice Forgot, I have fallen in love with Moriarty's work after reading this novel. Told from two women's points of view, who both happen to be in love with the same man, Moriarty tells a fascinating tale of falling in love and having love break your heart and not being able to deal with the aftermath.

The woman falling in love is Ellen, a hypnotherapist who meets Patrick through an online dating site. After their first few dates, Patrick reveals that he has a stalker, his ex-girlfriend, Saskia. Ellen becomes fascinated with Saskia and what her relationship with Patrick must have been like. As it turns out, Saskia is one of Ellen's patients, making things a bit more complicated. Ellen continues to date Patrick while Saskia continues to stalk them. Moriarty weaves an intricate story where you understand both women and why they do the things that they do. She creates this characters who seem life-like, people who are real and whose actions you could see being done by other women that you know.

The only downside for me was that the novel was a little long. I thing some editing could have been done without sacrificing any of the plot. I also didn't really like the cover (I know, I'm vain!), but other than those two things, I really enjoyed Moriarty's work. I cannot wait to read more of her books in the future.

Review: The Darlings by Cristina Alger

The Darlings
Author: Cristina Alger
Published: February 16, 2012
Genre: contemporary fiction
Hardcover: 352 pages
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 3 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): Now that he's married to Merrill Darling, daughter of billionaire financier Carter Darling, attorney Paul Ross has grown accustomed to New York society and all of its luxuries: a Park Avenue apartment, weekends in the Hamptons, bespoke suits. When Paul loses his job, Carter offers him the chance to head the legal team at his hedge fund. Thrilled with his good fortune in the midst of the worst financial downturn since the Great Depression, Paul accepts the position. But Paul's luck is about to shift: a tragic event catapults the Darling family into the media spotlight, a regulatory investigation, and a red-hot scandal with enormous implications for everyone involved. Suddenly, Paul must decide where his loyalties lie-will he save himself while betraying his wife and in-laws or protect the family business at all costs? Cristina Alger's glittering debut novel interweaves the narratives of the Darling family, two eager SEC attorneys, and a team of journalists all racing to uncover-or cover up-the truth. With echoes of a fictional Too Big to Fail and the novels of Dominick Dunne, The Darlings offers an irresistible glimpse into the highest echelons of New York society-a world seldom seen by outsiders-and a fast-paced thriller of epic proportions.


My Thoughts: I picked up this book for one main reason: the cover. I know, I know, how vain am I? Seriously though, that black and white shot taken in Central Park had me swooning. And I've always wondered about the people who are lucky enough to live in those apartments overlooking the park. So, once I read the description of this book, I thought, "How perfect that I found this book!" It would give me an idea of what these people's lives are, how they live and have little idea of what it's like for those of us who are impacted by their greed. Cristina Alger is a lawyer who worked in New York City and lived through the turmoil that marked the downfall of the financial industry in 2008. She writes this novel as someone who knows how it all happened, and that definitely comes across in her writing. 


This story is told by different characters, with each character getting a chapter to tell us what is going on at that point. Each chapter is a specific date and time, so it might be Paul telling you about how it is the morning after the incident, and then Merill, his wife, telling you how she feels about it a few hours later. It created a rich story when you had so many people contributing their voices to this tale, because circumstances like these had so many people involved. The only characters that I didn't care for were those from the SEC, but I think that their chapters just weren't developed enough. Their stories had to be told, since they are supposed to be investigating this fraud, but they just weren't developed enough.


I found this book to be very interesting. The financial crisis of 2008 was an awful time in our country and this fictional story reads like something that actually happened. Alger is a gifted writer and hopefully, she continues in this vein of stories in the future.

Review: Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult

Picture Perfect
Author: Jodi Picoult
Published: July 2, 2002
Genre: contemporary fiction
Paperback: 369 pages
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 3 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): To the outside world, they seem to have it all. Cassie Barrett, a renowned anthropologist, and Alex Rivers, one of Hollywood's hottest actors, met on the set of a motion picture in Africa. They shared childhood tales, toasted the future, and declared their love in a fairy-tale wedding. But when they return to California, something alters the picture of their perfect marriage. A frightening pattern is taking shape—a cycle of hurt, denial, and promises, thinly veiled by glamour. Torn between fear and something that resembles love, Cassie wrestles with questions she never dreamed she would face: How can she leave? Then again, how can she stay?


My Thoughts: For me, this was a bit of a departure from the other Jodi Picoult books that I've read. Instead of a big court case at the center of the drama, this novel focuses on the abusive relationship between Alex Rivers, a big Holywood star with a troubled past, and Cassie Barrett, an anthropologist who has taken care of people all her life. There is no court case, no big moment that the plot was building to. Instead, Picoult takes you into the world of an abusive relationship, and which also happens to involve one of the hottest Hollywood stars. This is a serious novel (all of her novels are serious, but this one seemed to be a bit darker than her other works). She doesn't sugar coat what is happening and, through Cassie, shows us how a woman in this situation thinks.


Cassie is an interesting character. She is flawed, but the more you learn about her and her background, the more you like her and root for her. You understand why she has made the choices that she has made and where those choices have taken her. Alex Rivers is also an interesting character. I do not believe that physical or emotional abuse is ever okay or acceptable, but you learn about Alex's past, you can see why he has turned out the way that he has. The way that he was treated by his father have shaped him into the person he is today. Then, there is Will Flying Horse. He was just too odd for me. I never really liked him, even as he was helping Cassie escape the abuse. I just thought he was too weird and didn't add anything to the story. This is a departure from Picoult's other novels, but just as good as her other works.

Review: Night Road by Kristin Hannah

Night Road
Author: Kristin Hannah
Published: March 22, 2011
Genre: contemporary fiction
Hardcover: 385 pages
Source: purchased from Barnes & Noble


My Rating: 3.5 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): For eighteen years, Jude Farraday has put her children’s needs above her own, and it shows—her twins, Mia and Zach—are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill moves into their small, close knit community, no one is more welcoming than Jude. Lexi, a former foster child with a dark past, quickly becomes Mia’s best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable. 

Jude does everything to keep her kids safe and on track for college. It has always been easy-- until senior year of high school. Suddenly she is at a loss. Nothing feels safe anymore; every time her kids leave the house, she worries about them. 

On a hot summer’s night her worst fears come true. One decision will change the course of their lives. In the blink of an eye, the Farraday family will be torn apart and Lexi will lose everything. In the years that follow, each must face the consequences of that single night and find a way to forget…or the courage to forgive.

My Thoughts: Kristin Hannah is a truly gifted writer, and this novel proves why she is one of the best. Once again focusing on friendships and family, Hannah tells the tale of the Farraday family and Lexi, a teen that comes from a troubled background but always tries to be a good kid. One night changes all of their lives and the small town that they are from. The novel shows how one choice can change so many people's lives and how to live with the consequences of that choice. I thought that this was a slight departure from the other Kristin Hannah novels that I've read, since it's focused more on the outside choices instead of an itnernal drama. It's still centered around a family, but focuses on something that affected the whole town.

I loved the characters in this story. Lexi was such a beautiful young woman and someone who I loved to read about. Her background is harsh and made her a much more believable character. I thought she was well written and seemed like someone who understands how the world works. I loved the Farraday family. Each of them brought something special to the story. As individuals, they were flawed, but together, they made this beautiful family. To me, that's the mark of a Kristin Hannah novel: a flawed group of individuals that, when brought together, made a beautful family.

To me, the only downside of this book is that I had trouble relating with Jude. I could understand the emotions that she felt, but I am not a mother, so to me, it was difficult to relate to her at times. I enjoyed the story and continue to love Kristin Hannah and her work.