Category: book review

February 14, 2017

Let’s Try This Again Book Review

In Let’s Try This Again we have one girl and two guys. It’s complicated. And hot.

About Let’s Try This Again

First there is Isaac, the ex-boyfriend who threatens her move to a sunny new life on the west coast when he suddenly comes back into the picture. The chemistry is intoxicating and Josie starts eating, breathing, and sleeping with him again until the move. Things are hard enough saying goodbye to her childhood home and very best friends, but when Isaac makes it seem like he might actually want her to stay, Josie wonders if she’s giving up on him too quickly.

Josie takes the plunge and moves to California.

Then comes Carter. Sweet, doting – and, oh my god! – former boy band heartthrob, Carter. Josie’s new life falls into place, with new friends and a job working as the personal assistant for Carter as he plans the re-launch of his career. When it seems like there might be something between Josie and her new boss, she can’t help but hold back in fear of crossing a line and, worse yet, getting her heart crushed. Once again.

What spirals into a complicated, heart wrenching, unexpected love triangle forces Josie to face a decision that she is not sure she can make. Carter or Isaac. Or – who knows?

It’s Sex in the City meets Bridget Jones Diary under the Hollywood sign. A masterful debut novel of love, sex and rock & roll in the New Adult genre.

My Thoughts

Oh my goodness – Let’s Try This Again is hilarious, honest, emotional and full of hope. We have Josie, who is like your best friend. The one you love with all your heart but who makes the same bad decisions over and over again. You want nothing more than the absolute best for her but can’t help her when she makes the same decisions over and over again (like going back to the bad ex-boyfriend who makes her feel used and unloved). You just have to be there for them with the ice cream and wine. And that’s what her friends do in this hilarious novel.

Just when you think she can’t make any more bad decisions when it comes to her ex, Josie decides to move to California. Some of this was to make him jealous and another part for a fresh start for her. This is when it gets really steamy (and a tad bit confusing and fun!). She meets her teenage crush, Carter, and actually begins to work for him. This slowly becomes a little bit more until a romance emerges. A huge part of me kept rooting for her and Carter – he seemed so perfect for her! But she feels conflicted every step of the way. Carter and Isaac. And then back again.

This novel was awesome – fun, sexy and felt like a conversation with your best friend. Hearing it described as Sex in the City meets Bridget Jones Diary is the exact way I would describe it. If you are a huge fan of those movies, you will love Josie and the adventure she gets herself in. A definite great read that you will fall in love with over and over again.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo books and iTunes.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Jordyn Woodtke is an exceedingly gifted new author who is destined to take the New Adult genre by storm with her debut novel entitled Let’s Try This Again.

A graduate of NYU, she majored in screenwriting with a minor in bottomless brunching, skills she took with her when she moved to Los Angeles to follow her dream of becoming a writer. Jordyn started writing poetry and plays in high school, garnering prestigious awards and accolades from the Hartford Stage, Drexel University, the Waterbury Young Playwrights Festival and the national Scholastic Art & Writing awards, among others.

Now, on any given afternoon you are likely to find Jordyn petting random dogs on her street, noshing at any of the numerous brunch spots in LA, or bingeing Netflix on her couch. She’s grateful and dedicated to the art of storytelling because it lets her say all the things she wished she’d said when she had the chance.

And if Let’s Try This Again is any indicator of future success, Jordyn will get to keep saying them for a long, long time.

Connect with Jordyn on her website, Twitter and Instagram.

Cinematic Scene

Book Trailer

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Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

February 13, 2017

Restoring Love Book Review

Restoring Love, part of New Hope Publishers’ line of contemporary missional fiction, demonstrates how God can turn our greatest tragedies and failures into beautiful acts of love and grace that can impact the lives of others.

About Restoring Love

Mitch, a contractor and house-flipper, is restoring a beautiful old house in an idyllic Midwestern neighborhood. Angela, a woman filled with regrets and recently transplanted to his area, is anything but idyllic. She’s almost his worst nightmare, and she’s also working on restoring something herself. As he struggles to keep his business afloat and she works to overcome mistakes of her past, these two unlikely friends soon discover they have something unexpected in common, a young mom who is fighting to give her children a better life after her husband’s incarceration. While both Mitch and Angela are drawn to help this young mother survive, they also find themselves drawn to each other. Will a lifetime of regrets hold them back or unite them and bring redemption along with true love?

My Thoughts

A truly lovely story about starting over, believing in one’s self and hope for the future. Both of our main characters, Mitch and Angela have had difficult lives. They have tried over and over again but they always seem to be faced with just one more obstacle. Angela is a beautiful woman on the inside and out but is sometimes viewed as odd for her style of clothing, carefree spirit and sometimes bad cooking! She has also made some pretty bad mistakes in her past, these mistakes are what she lets guide her and sometimes stop her from stepping forward in life. Mitch has had a different type of difficult times more so with his son and ex-wife. Both have been scarred and changed by these moments in life and can sometimes stop them from moving forward.

They are drawn together by a young mother who is doing everything she can to survive. They make it their mission to help her and her children see that they are loved and that there are people in this world that truly want to help others. Their hopes for this young family draw them together in many ways, and at times they both want to let go of their past but find it hard to do so. They both have so many things about each other that they love and respect but are afraid to let go of their past and move forward.

Restoring Love is a well written, thought out novel of hope, faith and moving forward in life. We all mistakes that feel like they haunt us but we shouldn’t let them stop us from seeking happiness. We are loved by the people around us, by God and our community and it is so important to recognize and accept this love. It is even more important to forgive ourselves and move forward. We watch as our main characters learn to forgive themselves, learn to let love in and find happiness again. A truly beautiful story!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating:5/5

About the Author

Jennifer Slattery, author of Breaking Free, Beyond I Do, Intertwined, and When Dawn Breaks, is an inspiring contemporary novelist whose stories of hope, love, and grace resonate with real people. She also writes Christian Living articles for Crosswalk.com and devotions for her personal blog, JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com; Internet Cafe Devotions; and oversees the blog and social media accounts for Takin’ It To The Streets, a ministry serving Omaha Metro’s working poor and homeless. When not writing, she enjoys hanging out with her teenage daughter and real-life hero husband, as well as serving in her church.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

February 12, 2017

Show Your Love with Books from Raincoast Books

There is no better way to show your love for your children and the special person in your life then with a book. Books take your children on an adventure, teach them a moral lesson and give them a chance to learn and explore. You can literally find a book for every occasion, whether it be birthdays, holidays or special occasions. As you prepare your gifts for your loved ones, think about adding a book in with the chocolates, flowers, gift card or toy – they make lasting memories for your child.

This Valentine’s Day, Raincoast books has rounded up their top four picks of special books that showcase love, strength, believing in yourself and grace.

The Fox Wish

This story follows two children who go looking for their jump rope and discover that a group of foxes have claimed it as an answer to their wish. With classic illustrations and lyrical text, here is a subtle, sensitive piece of magic that proves to sisters, brothers, and foxes alike that the trusted familiar often lives right next to the truly extraordinary-if only you have the eyes to see it.

Kimiko Aman is one of Japan’s leading children’s book authors and her fantasy tales are loved by all generations. Her books have won awards such as the Noma Children’s Literature Award, the Shogakukan Literature Award, and-for this book-the Japan Picture Book Award. She lives in Kyoto, Japan.

Komako Sakai has illustrated numerous award-winning books for children, many of which have been published in the United States, including Emily’s Balloon . Her illustrations have garnered such awards as the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava Golden Apple and the Nati per Leggere. She lives in Tokyo, Japan.

Love Is

Perfect for Valentine’s Day or any tender moment, this story of a girl and a duckling who share a touching year together will melt the hearts of old and young a like. In this tenderly funny book, a girl and a duckling grow in their understanding of what it is to care for each other, discovering that love is as much about letting go as it is about holding on tight. Children and parents together will adore this fond exploration of growing up while learning about the joys of love offered and love returned.

Diane Adams is the author of Two Hands to Love You, among other picture books. She lives in California.

Claire Keane is the author and illustrator of Once Upon A Cloud and is also known for her development art for the movies Tangled and Frozen . She lives in Venice Beach, California, with her husband and kids.

Leave Me Alone!

A 2017 Caldecott Honor Book that The New York Times calls both classic and ultra contemporary,” Leave Me Alone! is an epic tale about one grandmother, a giant sack of yarn, and her ultimate quest to finish her knitting.

One day, a grandmother shouts, “LEAVE ME ALONE!” and leaves her tiny home and her very big family to journey to the moon and beyond to find peace and quiet to finish her knitting. Along the way, she encounters ravenous bears, obnoxious goats, and even hordes of aliens! But nothing stops grandma from accomplishing her goal – knitting sweaters for her many grandchildren to keep them warm and toasty for the coming winter.

Vera Brosgol’s slyly clever and unexpectedly funny modern folktale is certain to warm even the coldest of hearts.

Vera Brosgol was born in Moscow, Russia, in 1984 and moved to the United States when she was five. Her first graphic novel, Anya’s Ghost, was published in 2011 by First Second. Her picture book Leave Me Alone! was a 2017 Caldecott Honor book. She drew storyboards for the animated films Coraline, ParaNorman, and The Boxtrolls . She lives in Portland, Oregon, and at last count has knit twenty-two sweaters. Vera Brosgol was born in Moscow, Russia, in 1984 and moved to the United States when she was five. Her first graphic novel, Anya’s Ghost, was published in 2011 by First Second. Her picture book Leave Me Alone! was a 2017 Caldecott Honor book. She drew storyboards for the animated films Coraline, ParaNorman, and The Boxtrolls . She lives in Portland, Oregon, and at last count has knit twenty-two sweaters.

Gracious

From New York Times bestselling author of Adulting: How to Become a Grown-Up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps Kelly Williams Brown comes a funny, charming guide to modern civility.

Graciousness is practicing the arts of kindness, thoughtfulness, good manners, humanity, and basic decency. As a bonus, it makes your life and even the world much lovelier.

It’s not about memorizing every rule of traditional etiquette to a T (though there is so much there to explore!) or spending all your time maintaining a spotless house. It’s about approaching the world with compassion, conviction, self-confidence, and whole-heartedness, whether you’re at the Met Gala or saying good morning to a convenience store clerk.

Throughout the book, she provides tips on how to deal with the people and circumstances that challenge even the most socially graceful among us, advice on how to practice graciousness in everyday life, and thoughtful discussions on being kind to those around you without ever losing your sense of self. With the wisdom of gracious folk ranging from celebrities to the author’s mother-in-law, this book explains the perspective, actions – and, sometimes, inaction – that help us move smoothly and effectively through whatever life tosses at us.

So as you finish up your Valentine’s day shopping, it’s not too late to pick up a great story of love, inspiration and strength to add to your gift and to show your love for the special person in your life. Make the gift even more personalized with a special note written on the inside cover that they can cherish for years to come.

Wishing you all the best this Valentine’s Day!

February 6, 2017

Grimm Woods Book Review

A remote summer camp becomes a lurid crime scene when the bodies of two teenagers are found in a bloody, real-life rendering of a classic Grimm’s fairy tale.

About Grimm Woods

A remote summer camp becomes a lurid crime scene when the bodies of two teenagers are found in a bloody, real-life rendering of a classic Grimm’s fairy tale. Trapped in the wilderness, the remaining counselors must follow a trail of dark children’s fables in order to outwit a psychopath and save the dwindling survivors before falling prey to their own gruesome endings.

Drawing on the grisly, uncensored details of history’s most famous fairy tales, Grimm Woods is a heart-pounding thriller about a deranged killer who uses traditional children’s stories as tropes in elaborate murders. Set against the backdrop of modern-day Michigan, it’s a journey through the mind of a dangerous zealot and a shocking glimpse into the bedtime stories you thought you knew.

My Thoughts

A horrifying, suspenseful novel that has some of the most famous fairy tales at the heart of the story. I knew most fairy tales have a more twisted and scary original version but I never realized how much so! I actually had to look some of them up after this novel and I was a bit shocked. He wove these fairy tales so well into the story with just enough history and just enough explanation on how each fairy tale related to the murder. You can fully appreciate the amount of research and planning that this must have taken to work out the plot in this novel. He did an amazing job.

The story itself is well thought out – the ending was not at all even remotely what I thought was coming. The murderer was someone I did not even see coming and it was a curveball that I loved. Each chapter had something new and I could not stop reading this novel. You just had to know what was happening next.

While it is a horror and there is a some graphic murders, it is actually not as gruesome and descriptive in the deaths as some horror novels that I have read. There is also a good balance between the intense moments with calmer moments as we get to learn more about the characters. Grimm Woods is a fantastic read for horror fans! Happy reading.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 4/5

About the Author

D. Melhoff was born in a prairie ghost town that few people have heard of and even fewer have visited. While most of his stories are for adults, he also enjoys terrifying younger audiences from time to time, as seen in his series of twisted picture books for children. He credits King, Poe, Hitchcock, Harris, Stoker, and his second grade school teacher, Mrs. Lake, for turning him to horror. For more information, visit www.dmelhoff.com.

The Giveaway!

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Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

January 27, 2017

The Plague and I Audio Book Review

From the author of The Egg and I, comes the story of The Plague and I – looking at how Betty battled tuberculosis.

About The Plague and I

“The Plague and I” recounts MacDonald’s experiences in a Seattle sanitarium, where the author spent almost a year (1938-39) battling tuberculosis. The White Plague was no laughing matter, but MacDonald nonetheless makes a sprightly tale of her brush with something deadly.

“Anybody Can Do Anything” is a high-spirited, hilarious celebration of how “the warmth and loyalty and laughter of a big family” brightened their weathering of the Great Depression.

In “Onions in the Stew”, MacDonald is in unbuttonedly frolicsome form as she describes how, with husband and daughters, she set to work making a life on a rough-and-tumble island in Puget Sound, a ferry ride from Seattle.

My Thoughts

I absolutely fell in love with the Plague and I! I wasn’t too sure about the story when the audiobook began but as her story went on, I felt outrage, sympathy and the need to learn more about tuberculosis during the time period she was living in.

Betty had a rough childhood from today’s standards – her Father kept her following the latest health regiments to ensure she had optimal health (some of which I can’t even begin to imagine doing myself especially in the cold). Despite all of this, she still managed to develop tuberculosis as an adult with her own children. I was shocked at the way patients were treated with tuberculosis, the way society treated them and the actual treatment plans that were developed. The nurses sounded horrendous and the patient care was disgusting – I felt that no wonder so many died at the time. But I do believe they were doing the best with what they had. This story actually had me looking up and researching tuberculosis during this time period just to learn more.

Throughout all that she went through, Betty remained herself – the happy, go lucky, funny Mother who always tried to smile through it all. I think that is why I loved this audiobook so much. She really helps to give perspective on life and what we think may be the end of the world, may actually be a blessing in disguise.

If you are looking for a good laugh, an important and well worth lesson on life then this audiobook is for you. The story is well written and the narration is excellent. Heather has an excellent voice that draws you in to the story – not to mention she made me laugh with her voices of some of the characters in the story (especially the Southern belle!). This audiobook was an excellent way to unwind, learn and gain a new perspective.

You can purchase a copy of this audiobook on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Betty Bard MacDonald (1907–1958), the best-selling author of The Egg and I and the classic Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle children’s books, burst onto the literary scene shortly after the end of World War II. Readers embraced her memoir of her years as a young bride operating a chicken ranch on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, andThe Egg and I sold its first million copies in less than a year. The public was drawn to MacDonald’s vivacity, her offbeat humor, and her irreverent take on life. In 1947, the book was made into a movie starring Fred MacMurray and Claudette Colbert, and spawned a series of films featuring MacDonald’s Ma and Pa Kettle characters.

MacDonald followed up the success of The Egg and I with the creation of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, a magical woman who cures children of their bad habits, and with three additional memoirs: The Plague and I (chronicling her time in a tuberculosis sanitarium just outside Seattle), Anybody Can Do Anything (recounting her madcap attempts to find work during the Great Depression), and Onions in the Stew (about her life raising two teenage daughters on Vashon Island).

Author Paula Becker was granted full access to Betty MacDonald’s archives, including materials never before seen by any researcher. Looking for Betty MacDonald, the first official biography of this endearing Northwest storyteller, reveals the story behind the memoirs and the difference between the real Betty MacDonald and her literary persona.

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About the Narrator

Heather Henderson is a voice actress and audiobook narrator with a 20-year career in literary and performing arts. Her narrations include the NYT bestseller (now also a feature film) Brain on Fire; and Sharon Creech’s The Boy on the Porch, which won her an Earphones award and was named one of the Best Children’s Audiobooks for 2013 by Audiofile Magazine. She earned her Doctor of Fine Arts degree at the Yale School of Drama, and is co-curator of AudioEloquence.com, a pronunciation research site for the audiobook industry. In 2015, Heather was a finalist for a Voice Arts Award (Outstanding Narration, Audiobook Classics), for her narration of Betty MacDonald’s The Egg and I.

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The Giveaway!

GRAND PRIZE: $100 credit for the Post Hypnotic Press Website

The Plague and I Runner Up

$60 credit for the Post Hypnotic Press Website

The Plague and I 3rd Runner Up

Disclosure: I received an audiobook of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.