The Gates of Evangeline

The Gates of Evangeline by Hester Young

Blurb:

"When New York journalist and recently bereaved mother Charlotte "Charlie" Cates begins to experience vivid dreams about children in danger, she's sure that she's lost her mind. Yet these are not the nightmares of a grieving parent. They are warnings that will help her and the children she sees, if only she can make sense of them. After a little boy in a boat appears in Charlie's dreams, asking for her help, she finds herself entangled in a world-famous thirty-year-old missing-child case that has never ceased to haunt Louisiana's prestigious Deveau family. Armed with an invitation to Evangeline, the family's sprawling estate, Charlie heads south, where new friendships and an unlikely romance bring healing. But as she uncovers long-buried secrets of love, money, betrayal, and murder, the facts begin to implicate those she most wants to trust--and her visions reveal an evil closer than she could have imagined."

My Review:

This book is one of the SheReads.org books of winter. I'm so glad I was able to review this book! I love the writing in this book. I was captivated from the beginning. I love the descriptions, the flow of the story, the language of the book, and the writing style. This book grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go. Of course, I'm not sure if any mom, anywhere, could read about the children in Charlie's dreams and not get involved. It's heart wrenching. If I suddenly start seeing children in my dreams, I hope it's not because they're in danger; I hope it's because they're happy and thankful I was their teacher, or something. I like Charlie's voice. I like her personality, and I feel for her after her loss. The characters in this book are well developed and realistic. They come to life on the page. The story of young Gabriel is compelling and draws the reader in.  The description of what Charlie feels at the boat dock is so well done that it had my skin crawling.

Rating: R (This book is not for younger readers. There is profanity in the book; not a ton, but enough to up my rating, including a couple of "f" words. There is also "intimacy"-there are scenes and talk of it as well. There is also some violence; there are descriptions of some not nice things that happen to children.)

Recommendation: Adult

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Last September

The Last September by Nina de Gramont 

Blurb:

"Brett has been in love with Charlie ever since he took her skiing on a lovely Colorado night fourteen years ago. And now, living in a seaside cottage on Cape Cod with their young daughter, it looks as if they have settled into the life they desired. However, Brett and Charlie's marriage has been tenuous for quite some time. When Charlie's unstable younger brother plans to move in with them, the tension simmering under the surface of their marriage boils over. But what happened to Charlie next was unfathomable. Charlie was the golden boy so charismatic that he charmed everyone who crossed his path; who never shied away from a challenge; who saw life as one big adventure; who could always rescue his troubled brother, no matter how unpredictable the situation. So who is to blame for the tragic turn of events? And why does Brett feel responsible?"

My Review:

This book is one of the shereads.org books of fall. I was excited to read this book because the ladies at shereads usually pick great books to read. I was not disappointed! I loved the writing style of this book; I got sucked in right from the beginning. I liked how the author incorporated the life and poetry of Emily Dickinson in her story. I have always enjoyed her poetry, and I liked how it was woven into the story of Brett and Charlie. The characters were well developed, real, and interesting. There were times I liked Brett and times I didn't. I felt the same way about Charlie and Eli too. That is what made the characters life-like, I thought, was that they weren't perfect. They made mistakes, like we all do, and how they learned from or reacted to those mistakes told you a lot about their character. The relationship between Brett and Charlie made me crazy at first because it was so one-sided. However, I came to see how they fit together and complimented each other. I didn't like how they treated each other at times, but no one is perfect, right? The relationship between Brett and Eli was fascinating. Eli's character was well done. I'm not going to give it away, but he was written well, and with everything going on, it would be hard to accurately describe a character with those characteristics. I've never been around someone with his diagnosis, but as an uninformed reader, it seemed accurate. The transitions between the flashbacks and reality were seamlessly done, and I never got confused. You all know me, I do not read to figure out what's going on, I just read. So I didn't see the surprise at the end coming. It was a good and bad twist. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the twist: Did it make you feel better or worse about the situation? I enjoyed this book! I thought it had some great lessons on marriage and never letting your guard down. Marriage is something you constantly need to work on and work for--together. It's also something you should not take for granted. You aren't ever going to change someone, so you need to love what you have, even with idiosyncrasies and shortcomings. Forgiveness in marriage is a necessity. Life is short, so live life to the fullest each day, and love those around you with all you have because you never know what tomorrow brings. Wow. That's a little deep, but that's what I got out of this book. Also, mental illness is real, and those with mental illnesses need love, support, and good doctors. We've come a long way with mental illness in the past few years, but I think it is something that still needs more research, and a change in how we view people that struggle with it. So anyway, it's a good book. :)

There is some profanity in this book. I was excited because there wasn't a lot at all, and then when you get to about page 120ish, there are several "f" words all at once. Ugh.....I hate that. And then, that was it. Once you get through those few pages it's fine. Weird. I hate it when authors just throw them in to throw them in. It's irritating. There is some violence as well. There's some domestic violence and death. Some of the scenes are graphic. There is some "intimacy," but it doesn't go into a lot of detail. You know it happens, but it isn't described in detail. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it with the above warnings. 

Rating: R (This book is not appropriate for younger readers. Profanity, including a few "f" words; violence, including domestic violence and death; "intimacy" scenes and innuendos. They aren't too graphic or descriptive, but you know it happens.)

Recommendation: Adult

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Secret Keeper

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

Blurb:

"During a party at the family farm in the English countryside, sixteen-year-old Laurel Nicolson has escaped to her childhood tree house and is dreaming of the future when she sees her mother speak to a stranger. Before the afternoon is over, Laurel will witness a shocking crime that challenges everything she knows about her family and especially her mother, Dorothy. Now, fifty years later, Laurel is a successful and well-regarded actress, living in London. She returns to the family farm for Dorothy's ninetieth birthday and finds herself overwhelmed by questions she has not thought about for decades. From pre-WWII England through the Blitz, to the fifties and beyond, she begins to unearth the secret history of three strangers from vastly different worlds--Dorothy, Vivien, and Jimmy--who meet by chance in wartime London and whose lives are forever entwined. The Secret Keeper explores longings and dreams, the lengths people go to fulfill them, and the consequences they can have. It is a spellbinding mix of mystery, thievery, murder, and enduring love told in Morton's signature style."

My Review:

I loved The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, and so I've been excited to read something else by her. Needless to say, I was really happy when my book group decided to read The Secret Keeper this month. I had high expectations, so I hoped this book would live up. Did it? Ummmm....yes, mostly. How's that? Maybe it's because I was reading a large print edition (it's the only copy the library had), but it took me awhile to get into this book. However, as I read it I became more and more intrigued by this story. The characters were well developed and were real. They all had something in their past or present that made them imperfect, and more real-to-life. Each one had a story, and it was fascinating how the story unfolded and their lives became intertwined. Some of it was a little predictable, but there were some surprises and some "Aha!!" moments. I think the character I had the most difficult time relating to was the young Dorothy. Wow. She drove me crazy most of the time; with her fantasies, her vengeance, and her belief that she was so exceptional, I had a hard time with her. The older Dorothy, however, I understood. I can understand the devoted and happy wife and mother. Ms. Morton did a great job of tying it all together, and bringing it to life. Even though it was not a happy time in England, I did enjoy learning a little about WWII England. I wish I could see some of Jimmy's photographs. I didn't love the title of this book. I thought it was bland and could have been a little more creative. Overall, I enjoyed it. I didn't like it as much as I liked The Forgotten Garden, but I enjoyed it and am glad that I read it.

There is some profanity in this book, but not a lot, really. There is some minor war violence, and some characters do die; there is a murder. There is also some domestic violence, and a brutal scene with that. There is an "intimacy" scene, along with some talk about it, and a few innuendos. The scene is a little detailed, but not overly so. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it with the above warnings.

Rating: R (This book is not appropriate for younger readers. There is war violence, with a murder and the death some characters, along with a domestic violence scene. There is some minor profanity. There is also an "intimacy" scene along with some talk about it and a few innuendos.)

Recommendation: 18 years-old and up

That Night

THAT NIGHT by Chevy Stevens

*This post was originally written on 7/9/14. I'm reposting it because it is now out in paperback AND.....I have a copy to give away! The first person that comments below saying they would like it, gets it!) 

(Summary taken from shereads.org)

"They said she was a murderer.

They said she killed her sister.

But they lied.

As a teenager, Toni Murphy had a life full of typical adolescent complications: a boyfriend she adored, a younger sister she couldn’t relate to, a strained relationship with her parents, and classmates who seemed hell-bent on making her life miserable. Things weren’t easy, but Toni could never have predicted how horrific they would become until her younger sister was brutally murdered one summer night.

Toni and her boyfriend, Ryan, were convicted of the murder and sent to prison.

Now thirty-four, Toni is out on parole and back in her hometown, struggling to adjust to a new life on the outside. Prison changed her, hardened her, and she’s doing everything in her power to avoid violating her parole and going back. This means having absolutely no contact with Ryan, avoiding fellow parolees looking to pick fights, and steering clear of trouble in all its forms. But nothing is making that easy—not Ryan, who is convinced he can figure out the truth; not her mother, who doubts Toni’s innocence; and certainly not the group of women who made Toni’s life hell in high school and may have darker secrets than anyone realizes. No matter how hard she tries, ignoring her old life to start a new one is impossible. Before Toni can truly move on, she must risk everything to find out what really happened that night.

But the truth might be the most terrifying thing of all."

July's SheReads selection is "That Night" by Chevy Stevens. This is the first time SheReads has selected a suspense, murder mystery, and I was excited to read it. Chapter One intrigued me. There is this woman who is getting out of prison after what sounds like a very long sentence. I wondered what she had done to be imprisoned for so long. I wondered why she didn't have any family to pick her up or get her new clothes to wear. I wanted to know more of the story. And then I got to Chapter Two. Chapter Two flashes back to this same woman when she was in high school. Her name is Toni, as you later figure out. And that is where I lost interest. Seriously. I've read a bunch of the SheReads reviews of this book, and so far I'm the only one who didn't enjoy it. I think this is why: I am 100% opposite of Toni. I'm opposite in every way. I could not relate to her at all. Yep, I'm the one who was called "good-goody" and "teacher's pet" in school. I'm the one who would study rather than go to a party. I've never done drugs, smoked, or tasted alcohol. Those things never interested me in school, and they don't now. I know I'm in the minority in this so others may feel differently, but I just couldn't relate to her. I found her extremely unlikable and disagreeable. I cringed at all the things she did and started praying that my kids won't do those things. I didn't relate to Ryan either. Or Nicole. Or the friends. Or her parents. Ok, Toni's dad is probably the one person I kind of liked. But he wasn't that great either. It's not that I judge her, or anyone, for choosing those things, I don't, I just do not do them myself, and therefore can't relate to those experiences. The writing style was ok; there were some twists and turns that I hadn't anticipated. The character development was good. Even though it flashed back and forth between the present and the past it was fairly easy to follow, so that wasn't the problem. The problem was that I didn't like Toni or Ryan or really anyone. I couldn't find a way to like them or care about them. I also felt like Toni being bullied in high school, prison, the half-way house, and after was unrealistic. I didn't like her victim mentality. It just kept going and going. I did feel bad that they had been in prison if they were innocent, like they claimed, but that's as far as it went. And if she were that worried about being bullied, why would she go back there? Why not move somewhere completely different and get a fresh start? The other problem for me was the language. There is so much profanity in this book that I found it distracting. And it's not that easy to skip words, it's them plus dozens of the "f' word. And the teen-age intimacy, drug use, smoking. All of it put together just made this book completely unappealing to me. 

There is a gruesome murder, lots of teen-age intimacy, smoking, drug use, stealing, lying, fighting, and way too much profanity. There are dozens of "f" words and lots of the other words. I guess it did do a few things for me: if I had ever thought of wanting to go to prison (which I haven't)--I FOR SURE don't want to now! Also, Toni does realize that her drug use was a problem and she ends up quitting. So that was a positive.

Rating: R (Murder, teen-age intimacy, smoking, drug use, stealing, lying, fighting, lots of profanity, including many "f" words)

Recommendation: Adult (This book is NOT appropriate for YA or anyone younger than an adult.)

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Book Review] The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book 

by 

Neil Gaiman

Summary:

"It takes a graveyard to raise a child. Nobody Owens, known as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a graveyard, being raised by ghosts, with a guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor the dead. There are adventures in the graveyard for a boy--an ancient Indigo Man, a gateway to the abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible Sleer. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, he will be in danger from the man Jack--who has already killed Bod's family."

My Review:

I had never heard of this book until my book group decided to read it this month. I really didn't know what to expect, and you know me, I do NOT read the backs of the books or summaries about the books I read, before I read them. I like to be surprised and I like to be taken on a journey. Well, this book did both. It definitely surprised me, and I was definitely taken an an incredible journey. I was a little hesitant about reading it when a family is murdered on the first page. The descriptions of the murders and the murderer have enough detail that you know it's awful and you know you never want to meet the man Jack, but thank goodness it doesn't go into too many gory and gruesome details. It's bad, don't get me wrong, but this is a middle-grader book, so it could be worse. From a mother's point of view, this part was horrible to read. Thinking about that baby made me sick to my stomach. And then even when he was out of immediate danger, really thinking about the logistics of what was happening still made me sick to my stomach. Luckily, the characters in this book save the day. As the reader you know that the baby is safe and that he will somehow be taken care of, and that is enough to immerse you in this world that Mr. Gaiman has created. The characters are so well developed. There is a hint of mystery to all of them, especially Silas, and it is just enough to make you wonder......Mr. and Mrs. Owens, Josiah Worthington, Caius Pompeius, Mother Slaughter, Scarlett, Mr. Pennyworth, Liza Hempstock, and Miss Lupescu each have their own places in this story, and they fit perfectly. This book is written and crafted very well. It does kind of jump from one random situation to another sometimes, but it doesn't take away too much from the story and it's not difficult to figure out what is going on. I really enjoyed this book. It's so different and unique, and so well crafted, that it's hard to put down. The graveyard becomes a well known and familiar place, and I will definitely think about graveyards differently when I pass by them now. The cemeteries around me are a little different because they aren't too old or creepy, but I went to Boston years ago and went to a graveyard that had a couple of the Founding Fathers' gravestones in it, and it was a little more spooky.

There isn't any language or "intimacy" in this book, but there is a family that is murdered, and there is a murderer on the loose that wants to murder again. It is a graveyard, so there are ghouls and ancient scary guys. There are a few situations that may be scary to some readers. I love how Mr. Gaiman puts all the different elements and characters together; his use of language is very creative.

Rating: PG+ (A family is murdered and the murderer is on the loose, graveyard characters and situations that could be scary to some readers.)

Recommendation: 6th grade and up (I would not go younger than 11 years-old)

Katrin's Chronicles: The Canon of Jacquelene Dyanne Vol. 1

Katrin's Chronicles: The Canon of Jacquelene Dyanne Vol. 1

  by Valerie C. Woods

Blurb:

"'If you don't write your own history, somebody else will make it up for you.' And so, after enduring three years of mystery-solving adventures, 13 year-old Katrin DuBois decided it was time to write her autobiography. Who else could set the record straight about the outrageous rumors about her family? It all began when Katrin was in 6th grade. Her elder sister, 8th grader Jacquelene Dyanne, began exhibiting extraordinary, even paranormal, detecting abilities. Katrin's Chronicles take place long before laptops, the Internet, cell phones, and text messaging--Chicago, 1968, Although the time was technologically simple, the tangle of human relationships was as complex as ever. I'm sure you can relate:

     If you relate to the idea that life is filled with mystery.....

     If you recognize that everyone has talents waiting to be mastered.....Or,

     If you understand that awakening to your hidden power is not always easy, but is the only way to         truly live...

Then I welcome you to the Canon of Jacquelene Dyanne, Vol. 1, as chronicled by Katrin the Youngest.     ~V.C. Woods"

My Review: 

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book when I received it. Unfortunately, the cover is a bit of a turn-off, but I decided not to judge it by it's cover, and I started to read. The characters are realistic and mostly believable. They are fairly well developed, especially Katrin and Jacquelene Dyanne. I think their parents and grandmother could have been developed a bit more, but they were ok. Katrin seems to act a bit old for her age, but each child is different, and it did take place in 1968, so maybe children acted older then? Katrin has a good voice for a narrator, and she uses a lot of good vocabulary words and descriptions. She even uses a few Latin phrases. J. Dyanne is an interesting character. You can tell that she has a talent but doesn't want to use it because she hates the attention that comes with it. What is her talent, you ask? Well, she is very good at deciphering clues (she's kind of like a young-girl Sherlock Holmes) and noticing details, and she puts them together quicker than most people do. Her talent even stretches into the paranormal when she is able to see and talk to ghosts. She thinks she is alone in her talent until she learns that some of the people around her have the same talent. Some of those people have hidden their talent, and some still use it frequently. J. Dyanne and Katrin are surprised when they learn these secrets. It's a clever idea and story, and I liked it. I like that it is different. Thank goodness there are no vampires or werewolves! 

I liked when J. Dyanne showed Katrin how she was able to solve the mystery by noticing the clues and putting them together into a solution. There is a time when her talent goes a little farther, though, and it gets into tarot cards, Wisdom cards, voodoo (*See comments below*), and physic readings.  I didn't like that part as much, and wish they had left it at her just being a good sleuth. Some parents may be uncomfortable with their children reading about that. I did like the book. I'm not sure if my 13 and 11 year-old boys will like it, but girls of that age should. The language and vocabulary words used are at a much higher level than most middle-grade book are, which is great. 

Rating: PG+ (It's clean--no profanity, violence, or "intimacy," but the subject matter is geared more toward an older middle-grader. They do use Wisdom Cards to do readings, and that may make some parents uncomfortable.)

Recommendation: 5th grade-6th grade and up.

Disclosure: I did receive a free book in exchange for my honest review.

**I have to apologize to Ms. Woods!!! I was supposed to review this book on Aug. 24th. What's today? Oh, only October 15th. Yep, I'm just a little late!! I'm so sorry! Somehow this book fell threw the cracks. I try really hard, but sometimes I can't keep everything straight!**

The Wife, The Maid, and the Mistress

The Wife, The Maid, and The Mistress by Ariel Lawhon

(Summary taken from the inside of the book jacket.) "Stella Crater, the judge's wife, is the picture of propriety draped in long pearls and the latest Chanel. Ritzi, a leggy showgirl with Broadway aspirations, thinks moonlighting in the judge's bed is the quickest way off the chorus line. Maria Simon, the dutiful maid, has Judge Crater to thank for her husband's recent promotion to detective for the NYPD. Meanwhile, Judge Crater is equally indebted to Tammany Hall leaders and the city's most notorious gangster, Owney "The Killer" Madden. Then, on a sultry summer night, as rumors circulated about the judge's involvement in wide-scale political corruption, Judge Crater stepped into a cab and disappeared without a trace. Or did he? After thirty-nine years of necessary duplicity, Stella Crater is finally ready to reveal what she knows. Sliding into a corner booth at Club Abbey, the site of many absinthe-soaked affairs and the judge's favorite watering hole back in the day, Stella begins to tell a tale--of greed, lust, and deceit. As the story unfolds, Stella, Ritzi, and Maria slyly break out of their prescribed roles, and it becomes clear that these three women know a lot more than they'd initially let on."

I found it interesting that this fictional story is based on the actual disappearance of the real Judge Crater back in 1930. He was a New York State Supreme Court Justice. Many of the people in this story actually existed, along with some of the situations. Ms. Lawhon simply took those people and situations, and created her version of what happened. I liked the history in this story, and found it interesting how things really haven't changed a whole lot in 80+ years. We still have corruption in government, and we still have women who silently have to put up with their husband's antics. I think Maria was my favorite character. I related to her a little more than I related to Stella or Ritzi. The main women characters were well developed, along with a few of the men characters. Judge Crater and Owney Madden were well done, along with Shorty and Stan. I thought Jude was well developed, and liked his character. I loved Maria and Jude together. I liked their love story, and felt so bad for what they endured. I didn't like the lies that existed in their marriage, though. 

This book was not an easy read for me. There are so many characters, time periods, places, and things going on all at once that I found it choppy and confusing. There were some chapters that had two or three times and places involved in it; sometimes the times would be times would be previous to the current situation, and sometimes they would be later. I relied heavily on the chapter headings, and had to go back a few times to make sure I knew where I was. The more I read the easier it got, but even at the end there were characters I couldn't remember. I wasn't a huge fan of the subject matter in the book either. Scandals, illicit love affairs, murders, abortions, smoking, corruption, and gangsters aren't really my thing. However, if you like the subject matter then you may really enjoy this book. It did have some good tension, mystery, and suspense. There was a lot of language, including at least one "f" word. There was a lot of smoking and drinking. There was quite a bit of "intimacy," and an illicit love affair. There were a few violent murders (gangster-style) and violence against women. One of the women goes to get an abortion. I can see how this was quite the scandal back in 1930....it would be quite the scandal now! And with the 24 hour news cycle, it would probably be even bigger news. It's sad that there have been a few situations similar to this in recent years. 

Rating: R (This book is not appropriate for younger readers) Profanity, nudity, murder, "intimacy," smoking, drinking, abortion, and violence against women. 

Recommendation: Adult

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Also, Ariel Lawhon is one of the main gals at shereads.org.

The Legend of Diamond Lil: A J.J. Tully Mystery

The Legend of Diamond Lil: A J.J. Tully Mystery by Doreen Cronin

(Summary taken from the back cover of the book) "After his last run-in with Vince the Funnel and the mystery of the missing chicks, J.J. the search-and-rescue dog is ready for some much needed R & R. But just when he thinks he has everything under control, there's a new problem to worry about: Diamond Lil, a shiny new dog who's taken up residence next door. Suddenly Moosh and her chicks are spending an awful lot of time with their fancy friend, talking about weird things like fluffy feathers and good posture. And Lil's not the only new kid cramping J.J.'s style. There's a possum loose, and it's up to J.J. to keep everyone safe. But the questions keep piling up. Is Lil all that she seems? And how does the possum keep finding her way to the chicken coop?"

I hate to admit it, but it took me quite awhile to figure out what was going on in this story, who all the characters were, and what in the world was happening. I seriously had to read the first few chapters a couple of times before I finally figured it out. I know, dumb, right? I can read Charles Dickens no problem, but this?? My daughter's second grade teacher picked this book for this month's book group, and so I sat her down and we started reading. At first we were taking turns reading chapters, but it was a little difficult for her, so I ended up just reading it to her. Once I started reading consistently I think we both understood it a little better. When I read that summary above I realized that this is not the first book; maybe it would have been easier if I had read the first book already.  For example, he mentions a  "Barb" and I had no idea who that was until later in the story when I finally figured out that was his owner. The voice of J.J. the search-and-rescue dog is a little sarcastic, and that threw me off in a children's book. So anyway, as the story continued I figured it all out and I actually began to enjoy it. I enjoyed the ending and how it all came together. Once I figured out that Moosh was the mom chicken and her babies were Dirt, Sugar, Poppy, and Sweetie, and that J.J. lives in the same backyard and watches over them, it all became much more clear. So anyway, I liked it, and I think my daughter did to. I did have to stop and explain things to her like what cornstarch is, that Roberta is a girl's name, and what "you look like the back side of bad weather" means. There are quite a few phrases like that, and a second grader has no idea what they mean. Overall I liked it and think it is a good read for second/third graders. It's clean except for some potty talk. I think it's a really good read-aloud so you can stop and explain things the children don't understand. It is a mystery, so it would be a good pick for kids who like the mystery genre.

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Second grade and up. It may be too difficult for the second grader to read and understand on her own, but makes a good read-aloud. A third grader would understand more of it, I think.

The Tulip Eaters

The Tulip Eaters by Antoinette van Heugten

(Summary taken from the inside book cover) "It's the stuff of nightmares: Nora de Jong returns home from work one ordinary day to find her mother has been murdered. Her infant daughter is missing. And the only clue is the body of an unknown man on the living-room floor, clutching a Luger in his cold, dead hand. Frantic to find Rose, Nora puts aside her grief and frustration with the local police to start her own search. But the contents of a locked metal box she finds in her parents' attic leave her with as many questions as answers--and suggest the killer was not a stranger. Saving her daughter means delving deeper into her family's darkest history, leading Nora half a world away to Amsterdam, where her own unsettled past and memories of painful heartbreak rush back to haunt her. As Nora feverishly pieces together the truth from an old family diary, she's drawn back to a city under Nazi occupation, where her mother's alliances may have long ago sealed her own--and Rose's--fate."

I'm not going to lie. The first few chapters in this book are gruesome and gory. I almost couldn't handle it. I almost stopped reading. Fortunately, I kept reading. I had to. As a mom I had to know what had happened to Rose and if Nora was able to find her. This is seriously a nightmare scenario. It is every mom's worst fear come true. And every daughter's as well, because that is not what any of us want for our mothers. So on I read and read and read. I couldn't put it down. Some of the characters are well done and compelling, and some of them are over-the-top and not realistic (Amarisa). Nora's reactions seem to be a little extreme, although since I've never been in her position I can't judge. I know I would go crazy. Seriously. I don't think I could sit around and wait. I'm not sure I would go as far as she did, either, though, because I'm too much of a rule follower. Having a missing child may change that though. Momma Bear would most likely come out in ways I wouldn't expect. I felt bad for Nora too. Learning that your life and parents were nothing that you thought they were would be extremely difficult. I really liked Nora's friend Marijke. She was a voice of calm and reason, and supported Nora through all of the craziness. I also liked Richards, although he is only in about half of the book. The Rosen family creeped me out. All of them. Okay, all of them except for Henny. I do not understand their thinking or reasoning, and definitely did not like their justification for doing what they did. I'm not one to hold a grudge for over 30 years, so I had a hard time understanding their mentality. I was especially disappointed with Leah. Their actions were a bit much. 

I liked the pacing of the story and thought it was captivating. I don't know any Dutch, so when the characters started speaking in Dutch I just had to guess. It would have been nice to have a translation on some of it. I enjoyed learning the history of the Dutch during World War II. It wasn't a happy one, but was anything during that time period happy? I liked the title, but I thought the story would be more about the people living during that time; more about the actual people who had to eat the tulips. It wasn't, so I'm not quite sure why it is titled that way. There is a lot of language in this book. There are a lot of "f'" words and lots of others as well. There is an attempted rape, murder, attempted murder, assault, kidnapping, and lots of action. But don't worry, there is also a little romance. I really did enjoy this book. It may have a lot of coincidences and be a little unrealistic, but, like I said, I couldn't put it down until I knew that Nora had Rose safe in her hands. Did that happen even at the end? Oh, you'll have to read it to find out! Once you start, hang on and be prepared for a wild ride! 

Rating: R (This does not follow the moving ratings exactly, it is just my way of saying that it is not appropriate for younger readers.) A gruesome murder, murder, attempted murder, assault, kidnapping, attempted rape, and a lot of language, especially the "f" word.

Recommendation: Adult

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Perfume Collector

The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro

(Summary taken from the inside book jacket) "London, 1955: Grace Monroe is a fortunate young woman. Despite her sheltered upbringing in Oxford, her recent marriage has thrust her into the heart of London's most refined and ambitious social circles. However, playing the role of the sophisticated socialite her husband would like her to be doesn't come easily to her--and perhaps never will. Then one evening a letter arrives from France that will change everything. Grace has received an inheritance. There's only one problem: she has never heard of her benefactor, the mysterious Eva d'Orsey. So begins a journey that takes Grace to Paris in search of Eva. There, in a long-abandoned perfume shop on the Left Bank, she discovers the seductive world of perfumers and their muses, and a surprising, complex love story. Told by invoking the three distinctive perfumes she inspired, Eva d'Orsey's story weaves through the decades, from 1920's New York to Monte Carlo, Paris, and London. But these perfumes hold secrets. And as Eva's past and Grace's future intersect, Grace realizes she must choose between the life she thinks she should live and the person she is truly meant to be."

This book fascinated me. The characters were very well developed and complex. Grace seemed like your typical 1950's wife, but she actually had dreams for herself beyond being a socialite. It reminded me of some of the women in A Woman's Place. She didn't care about the parties or the big events, she wanted to go back to school and feel more important. Her husband seemed like the typical 1950's husband who wanted his wife to be in her place and didn't want her to be too smart or think for herself. I did not like him, and it made me very grateful for my husband, and that I live right now, not back then. I really felt for Grace. She was in a very difficult position. When she went to France and began learning about Eva, I got completely lost in the story. It is written very well. I loved Ms. Tessaro's writing style. I enjoyed reading about Eva's experiences as a child and the people she met. Some of the ladies at the hotel like Sis and Rita seemed like hard working, great women who took care their own. I liked them. I didn't like Vanessa or Mr. Lambert from the first time I saw them, and I wish Eva had made different choices with both of them. However, something about Madame Zed and Andre Valmont intrigued me from the start. Neither one of them were wholesome or perfect, but they were fun characters because they had a little bit of mystery and drama surrounding them. The story line had so many interesting twists and turns, and I couldn't stop thinking of the characters, even when I put the book down, which wasn't very often. I enjoyed learning about the art of making perfume, and thought it fascinating how the ingredients came together. It was just like Eva's life: so many different people and experiences shaping her into who she became. Just like the different perfumes that had layers and depth, so did her life. 

There is some language in this book, including one "f" word at the very end. There are a lot of innuendos in this book. "Intimacy" is laced throughout. There isn't necessarily a big scene or anything, but it is a theme that runs throughout. There is a scene where two men are in bed together, but you don't see anything happen. You also know that a girl was raped, but it isn't described. Relationships are described, and you know that "intimacy" is there, but it is more just hinted at and talked about, rather than described. I didn't love the choice that Grace made at the end. I understand where she was coming from and why she did it, but I didn't love the choice. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I loved the glamour and glitz, the characters, and mystery of this book.

Rated: R (This doesn't follow the movie ratings exactly, it is my way of saying that it is inappropriate for younger readers.) Language, including one "f" word, and a definite theme of "intimacy" laced throughout. There is a rape and a scene with two men asleep in a bed.

Recommendation: 18 and up, at least. 

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Return to the Aegean

Return to the Aegean by E.J. Russell

Thalia grew up on Katafigio, a small island in Greece. She left years ago and has not returned, until now. She has her reasons for not returning all these years, and is now hoping to find some answers and some peace. Will she find them?

Haha....that is my lame excuse of a summary. Now you know why I usually copy the summary from the book or other sources. Unfortunately I couldn't find a summary for this book so you have to suffer through mine.

Moving on....I enjoyed this book! It has mystery, romance, and betrayal. What more could you ask for, right? How about beautiful descriptions of Greece's scenery? Ms. Russell's descriptions put you right on the island. They are very well written and definitely make me want to visit Greece. I could almost smell the ocean and feel the breeze. Ms. Russell also has very good character development. I don't really relate to Thalia at all, but it didn't matter because I could find enough of a connection that I felt for her and wanted her to find the truth. I liked a lot of the people around her. For example, I really liked her friend Irini and her step-mom Sophia. They helped to ground Thalia, and I related to them more than I did to Thalia. They were a good connection for me. I also liked Petros, Villi, and Manolis. They all helped Thalia in some way or another, and with each of these people around her she was able to begin the process of healing. And that is how it is in real life. The people we surround ourselves with are the people that ground us, love us, help us, and help make us who we are. It's the relationships in our lives that bring us the most fulfillment.

I liked Ms. Russell's writing style and thought it was easy to read and it flowed well for the most part. There were a few typos, and there were also some sentences I read twice and still wasn't sure where she was going with them, but it wasn't enough to deter me from continuing. There were also some Greek words I didn't know the meanings of, but there is an index in the back so I could look them up. I did have some unanswered questions, one of which still bothers me. I can't go into too much detail without giving it away, but someone knew the whole time what had happened. Why doesn't this person just tell Thalia when she sees her? She knows Thalia is looking for the truth. It would have saved a lot of trouble. It also would have taken away half of the book, which is probably why. But this is a trusted person. I still don't get it. And Thalia was never upset with her for not telling her the truth from the get-go. My only explanation would be that she wanted Thalia to find out on her own, and that maybe it would help her move on easier. I still enjoyed the book, but this point is still a little frustrating for me.

This is definitely a book for adults. There is quite a bit of language, including a few "f" words. They caught me by surprise and I didn't really think they needed to be there. There is also a lot of "physical intimacy." Some scenes have more details than others, but it is a prevalent part of Thalia's lifestyle. There is also an attempted rape scene and a murder, which is difficult to read because of how it happened and the people involved. I do recommend this book, with the previous warnings, and for the correct age group.

Rating: R (This does not follow the movie ratings exactly, it is just my way of saying that it is NOT appropriate for younger readers.) Language, "physical intimacy," attempted rape, and a murder scene.

Recommendation: College and up

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, and I thank Ms. Russell for the opportunity to read and review her book.

Lemon Tart

Lemon Tart by Josi Kilpack

(Summary from the back of the book) "...Cooking aficionado-turned-amateur detective, Sadie Hoffmiller, tries to solve the murder of Anne Lemmon, her beautiful young neighbor--a single mother who was mysteriously killed while a lemon tart was baking in her oven. At the heart of Sadie's search is Anne's missing two-year-old son, Trevor. Whoever took the child must be the murderer, but Sadie is certain that the police are looking at all the wrong suspects--including her! Armed with a handful of her very best culinary masterpieces, Sadie is determined to bake her way to proving her innocence, rescuing Trevor, and finding out exactly who had a motive for murder."

Okay, let me start out by saying that I was very skeptical. Any fiction book you can buy at "Seagull Book" scares me. I don't like cheesy Mormony fiction, usually. This book surprised me. There are a few cheesy moments, for example, when it starts out Sadie is canning applesauce. Overall, though, it is good. There were some twists and turns, it held my attention, and I enjoyed it. I don't know if I'll run out for the next one, but if I get my hands on it then I'll read it. There are some yummy recipes in it also. I've had the brownies and they are delicious! I'm going to try the rest of them. One thing I didn't like was that it almost marginalized the murder because of the cutsy-ness of it all.

Rated: PG-13 (It is a murder, after all.)

Recommended for: High School and up.