Book Reviews & Stories by Danielle
TITLE: The Things We Keep
AUTHOR: Sally Hepworth
PUBLISHER: St. Martin’s Press
RELEASE DATE: January 19, 2016
GENRE: Women’s Fiction
BUY LINKS: AMAZON | B&N | !NDIGO | INDIEBOUND | IBOOKS
Anna Forster, in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease at only thirty-eight years old, knows that her family is doing what they believe to be best when they take her to Rosalind House, an assisted living facility. She also knows there’s just one another resident her age, Luke. What she does not expect is the love that blossoms between her and Luke even as she resists her new life at Rosalind House. As her disease steals more and more of her memory, Anna fights to hold on to what she knows, including her relationship with Luke.
When Eve Bennett is suddenly thrust into the role of single mother she finds herself putting her culinary training to use at Rosalind house. When she meets Anna and Luke she is moved by the bond the pair has forged. But when a tragic incident leads Anna’s and Luke’s families to separate them, Eve finds herself questioning what she is willing to risk to help them. (Description found on NetGalley.com)
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Happy Friday everyone! It’s always great when I get to meet new authors. On Dec. 13th I attended (and partially planned) the Women’s National Book Association LA Chapter’s 40th Anniversary Holiday Party Dinner. At this dinner, I met two great authors and am completely intrigued by their books. They even got my husband interested and he doesn’t even read books. So today I want to share the books of these two wonderful women.
TITLE: The Memory Painter
AUTHOR: Gwendolyn Womack
PUBLISHER: Picador
RELEASE DATE: April 28, 2015
GENRE: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance
BUY LINKS: AMAZON | B&N | BAM! | iBOOKS | INDIEBOUND | KOBO | POWELL’S
Bryan Pierce is an internationally famous artist whose paintings have dazzled the world. But there’s a secret to Bryan’s success: Every canvas is inspired by an unusually vivid dream. When Bryan awakes, he possesses extraordinary new skills . . . like the ability to speak obscure languages and an inexplicable genius for chess. All his life, he has wondered if his dreams are recollections—if he is re-experiencing other people’s lives.
Linz Jacobs is a brilliant neurogeneticist, absorbed in decoding genes that help the brain make memories—until she is confronted with an exact rendering of a recurring nightmare at one of Bryan’s shows. She tracks down the elusive artist, and their meeting triggers Bryan’s most powerful dream yet: visions of a team of scientists who, on the verge of discovering a cure for Alzheimer’s, died in a lab explosion decades ago.
As Bryan becomes obsessed with the mysterious circumstances surrounding the scientists’ deaths, his dreams begin to reveal what happened at the lab, as well as a deeper mystery that may lead all the way to ancient Egypt. Together, Bryan and Linz start to discern a pattern. But a deadly enemy watches their every move, and he will stop at nothing to ensure that the past stays buried.
The Memory Painter is a taut thriller and a timeless love story spanning six continents and 10,000 years of history. (Description found on Gwen’s Website)
TITLE: Decanting a Murder, A Sommelier Mystery #1
AUTHOR: Nadine Nettmann
PUBLISHER: Midnight Ink
RELEASE DATE: May 8, 2016
GENRE: Mystery & Thrillers
Katie Stillwell focuses on two things in her life: work and practicing for her Sommelier Certification with her blind tasting group. The exam was supposed to be the hardest part of her week, but that was before a body was found at an exclusive Napa Valley winery party.
When all the evidence points to Katie’s best friend, the outspoken and independent Tessa, Katie drops everything to clear Tessa’s name. Using her deductive wine skills, she tries to track down the real killer. But when repeated attempts are made on her life, Katie discovers that everyone’s secrets must be uncorked—including her own. (Found on Nadine’s Website)
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TITLE: Meredith Against The Wind, Book #2
AUTHOR: Amanda Gale
PUBLISHER: Brenda & Cobena Books
RELEASE DATE: July 3, 2014
GENRE: Women’s Fiction, Romance
“About Book Two, Meredith Against the Wind:
In Meredith Out of the Darkness, Nick showed her the beauty of a simple life in which all her choices were her own. In Book Two, Meredith Against the Wind, Meredith bravely moves forward in her quest for perfection, only her vision of perfection has been forever changed.
In a Washington, DC suburb of Virginia, Meredith meets Wes Bickhart, a charismatic attorney recovering from a divorce. Wes sweeps her off her feet with his wit, charm, and chivalry, and together they enjoy a passion for intellectual banter and for each other. Meredith feels safe with Wes, who having been burned himself, is also seeking the perfect love and wants nothing more than to give her a future of comfort and security. She is tempted by the seemingly perfect life Wes offers her. But in the back of her mind, she wonders if this is what she wants anymore. And the longer she takes to decide, the more she realizes that this life might require her to sacrifice more of herself than she is willing.
In Meredith Against the Wind, Meredith is put to the test as she is forced to stand up for herself, even as she redefines who she really is. Harder now but stronger, and with new perspective, she becomes embroiled in a power struggle as she determines how much is worth surrendering for love.” (Description from Amazon)
MY THOUGHTS
Meredith Against the Wind is the second in a four book series following the love life of Meredith Beck, a high school English teacher. In the first book, Meredith Out of Darkness, her heart has been broken and she feels it will never mend. Now she’s in a new place picking up the pieces and trying to figure out who she is again.
Meredith told herself no more men, but before she knew it she was falling for her neighbor Wes Bickhart. Wes wasn’t like Nick in the sense that he was more successful, more sure of himself, and could give Meredith things Nick couldn’t
This book really shows a strong side of Meredith and you see this when she’s fighting with Wes about his controlling ways. Honestly, I think that Wes was a bit needy and that’s coming from personal experience.
There were so many instances when Wes was making decisions “for” her instead of discussing it with Meredith and seeing how she feels. One of the bigger issues that came up was that Wes felt Meredith didn’t need to work anymore. For those women, including myself, that like to have independence by earning a paycheck, Wes’s insistence would have been a deal breaker for me.
In the second book you get to see Meredith grow in a number of ways and you get to know her a little bit more. You can read this as a stand alone, but I would recommend reading the series in order. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to my followers who enjoy reading Women’s Fiction novels. You will become an instant fan of Amanda Gale after you start reading the Meredith series.
OVERALL RATING
ABOUT AMANDA
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM
A graduate of Vassar College and Boston University, Amanda Gale taught high school English before she began writing women’s fiction. She loves history, classic literature, and quiet nights at home. She lives outside Philadelphia with her family. (Photo Credit: Lisa Schaffer Photography)
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It’s that time of the week again when I participate in WWW Wednesdays hosted by Sam from Taking on a World of Words. Feel free to leave a link to your WWW Wednesday post in the comments.
To participate in WWW Wednesday, you need to answer three questions.
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
TITLE: The Race for Paris
AUTHOR: Meg Waite Clayton
PUBLISHER: Harpor Collins
RELEASE DATE: August 11, 2015
GENRE: Fiction, Historical Fiction
BUY LINKS: AMAZON | B&N | iBOOKS | INDIEBOUND | HARPORCOLLINS
What was it like to be a driven and talented woman journalist in a world restricted by military regulations and gender barriers? Bestselling author Meg Waite Clayton delivers answers in her highly and widely anticipated new novel, The Race for Paris. Opening in Normandy on June 29, 1944, the novel follows two tenacious American female war correspondents on their quest to document—and make—history by covering the liberation of Paris from the center of the action. Inspired by real women like Martha Gellhorn, Margaret Bourke-White, Dot Avery, and Lee Miller, who took bold, grave risks to prove that they could report from the front lines of WWII just as powerfully as men, The Race for Paris firmly reflects historical facts and details, while pulsing with immediate drama—and a chilling, timely sense of wartime danger.
Told from the perspective of Jane Tyler, a young, single, adventure-seeking reporter for the Nashville Banner and the only daughter of an ostracized unwed mother, The Race for Paris is also the story of Olivia “Liv” Harper, an Associated Press photographer with a supportive husband who is the editor-in-chief of the New York Daily Press. While Jane is resigned to making the most of her assignment covering a field hospital, Liv is set on capturing the war—and the jubilant liberation of Paris from Nazi occupation—from the front lines. After failing to win over her CO, Liv goes AWOL. Seizing her shot to make a name for herself, Jane joins her. Enlisting the help of a tentative ally, British military reporter Fletcher Roebuck, the two intrepid women set off across the perilous French countryside on a race to reach Paris and out-scoop formidable male competitors. Along their journey, Jane, Liv, and Fletcher continually confront obstacles, and cross paths with gunfire, carnage, and death. Their mission is further complicated by emotional bonds, romantic tensions, and one woman’s secret—a secret with the power to end her career and, perhaps, her life.
Reflecting the extraordinary courage and determination of pioneering women in journalism—women who paved the way for respected war correspondents such as Christiane Amanpour, Oriana Fallaci, and Lynsey Addario—The Race for Paris is a gripping novel celebrating the power of women, then and now. (Description found on Meg’s Website)
RECENTLY FINISHED READING
TITLE: Strawberry and Sage
AUTHOR: Amanda Gale
PUBLISHER: Brenda & Cobena Books
RELEASE DATE: July 15, 2015
GENRE: Women’s Fiction, Romance
A historical romance novella for readers of the Meredith series and new readers alike.
Set in 1967 in the lush mountains of Vermont, Strawberry and Sage is a tale of friendship, love, and the perfect strawberry pie.
Gabriel Kelly is a hard-working young carpenter carrying the weight of responsibility on his back. With his father injured on the job and his brother fighting in Vietnam, Gabriel struggles to stay positive. And with the possibility of being drafted looming over him, he can focus only on things that matter, like visiting the mountain, where he regains clarity, and cherishing his time with Abigail, the childhood friend with whom he’s always been in love.
Abigail Wheeler is a bright, ambitious college student who just knows she can change the world. Determined to make good use of opportunities her mother never had, she spends her time campaigning for women’s rights and planning for her future. Her own experiences have taught her that the world is full of promise. So when Gabriel confesses his heart, she is torn, unsure whether they’d be compatible even though she secretly loves him too.
In a tumultuous time when change is the only constant, Gabriel and Abigail long to find meaning and to find themselves. As their friendship is tested by wars both inside and out, they discover that the differences that had kept them apart are actually why they need each other most. (Description found on Amazon)
WHAT I MIGHT READ NEXT
TITLE: Decanting a Murder, A Sommelier Mystery #1
AUTHOR: Nadine Nettmann
PUBLISHER: Midnight Ink
RELEASE DATE: May 8, 2016
GENRE: Mystery & Thrillers
Katie Stillwell focuses on two things in her life: work and practicing for her Sommelier Certification with her blind tasting group. The exam was supposed to be the hardest part of her week, but that was before a body was found at an exclusive Napa Valley winery party.
When all the evidence points to Katie’s best friend, the outspoken and independent Tessa, Katie drops everything to clear Tessa’s name. Using her deductive wine skills, she tries to track down the real killer. But when repeated attempts are made on her life, Katie discovers that everyone’s secrets must be uncorked—including her own. (Found on Nadine’s Website)
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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Jenn of A Daily Rhythm. It’s easy to participate. Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
TITLE: The Race for Paris
AUTHOR: Meg Waite Clayton
PUBLISHER: Harpor Collins
RELEASE DATE: August 11, 2015
GENRE: Fiction, Historical Fiction
BUY LINKS: AMAZON | B&N | iBOOKS | INDIEBOUND | HARPORCOLLINS
What was it like to be a driven and talented woman journalist in a world restricted by military regulations and gender barriers? Bestselling author Meg Waite Clayton delivers answers in her highly and widely anticipated new novel, The Race for Paris. Opening in Normandy on June 29, 1944, the novel follows two tenacious American female war correspondents on their quest to document—and make—history by covering the liberation of Paris from the center of the action. Inspired by real women like Martha Gellhorn, Margaret Bourke-White, Dot Avery, and Lee Miller, who took bold, grave risks to prove that they could report from the front lines of WWII just as powerfully as men, The Race for Paris firmly reflects historical facts and details, while pulsing with immediate drama—and a chilling, timely sense of wartime danger.
Told from the perspective of Jane Tyler, a young, single, adventure-seeking reporter for the Nashville Banner and the only daughter of an ostracized unwed mother, The Race for Paris is also the story of Olivia “Liv” Harper, an Associated Press photographer with a supportive husband who is the editor-in-chief of the New York Daily Press. While Jane is resigned to making the most of her assignment covering a field hospital, Liv is set on capturing the war—and the jubilant liberation of Paris from Nazi occupation—from the front lines. After failing to win over her CO, Liv goes AWOL. Seizing her shot to make a name for herself, Jane joins her. Enlisting the help of a tentative ally, British military reporter Fletcher Roebuck, the two intrepid women set off across the perilous French countryside on a race to reach Paris and out-scoop formidable male competitors. Along their journey, Jane, Liv, and Fletcher continually confront obstacles, and cross paths with gunfire, carnage, and death. Their mission is further complicated by emotional bonds, romantic tensions, and one woman’s secret—a secret with the power to end her career and, perhaps, her life.
Reflecting the extraordinary courage and determination of pioneering women in journalism—women who paved the way for respected war correspondents such as Christiane Amanpour, Oriana Fallaci, and Lynsey Addario—The Race for Paris is a gripping novel celebrating the power of women, then and now. (Description found on Meg’s Website)
“Liv and I ducked into the nearest building, an empty school-house, and sank into little chairs in the first room we came into. The seats were hard, the smell of eraser dust stifling. The room had been used as some type of command post: There were lists written in German on the chalkboard. Maps and elevations taped to the walls marked the locations of troops, planned lines of attack, points of the earth seeded with mines. I went outside again, but that was worse: the bright sunlight, the dark curls blowing across the square.” (pg. 126)
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TITLE: The Last Dreamer
AUTHOR: Barbara Solomon Josselsohn
PUBLISHER: Lake Union Publishing
RELEASE DATE: December 15, 2015
GENRE: Women’s Fiction, General Fiction
PRE-ORDER LINKS: AMAZON
Iliana Passing—wife, mother, and former acclaimed journalist—gave up her career to start a family. Almost fifteen years later, despite how much she loves her husband and kids, she can’t help wondering how she ended up with a life spent carpooling and running errands.
Ready to get back into the journalism game, Iliana searches for an exciting lead. When she discovers that Jeff Downs, the heartthrob star of an old TV show and her girlhood crush, now owns a nearby textile company, she thinks she’s found her story: teen celebrity and its aftermath. But as Iliana gets to know Jeff, the two grow closer than she ever could’ve imagined. Now that her teenage dream has walked into her present-day reality, how far will she go to entertain an old fantasy? (Description found on NetGalley.com)
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TITLE: Loving Eleanor
AUTHOR: Susan Wittig Albert
PUBLISHER: Independent Book Publisher’s Association (IBPA), Member’s Titles
RELEASE DATE: February 1, 2016
GENRE: Women’s Fiction, General Fiction
PRE-ORDER LINKS: AMAZON
When AP political reporter Lorena Hickok—Hick—is assigned to cover Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1932 presidential campaign, the two women become deeply involved. Their relationship begins with mutual romantic passion, matures through stormy periods of enforced separation and competing interests, and warms into an enduring, encompassing friendship documented by 3300 letters.
Set during the chaotic years of the Great Depression, the New Deal, and the Second World War, Loving Eleanor reveals Eleanor Roosevelt as a complex, contradictory, and entirely human woman who is pulled in many directions by her obligations to her husband and family and her role as the nation’s First Lady. Hick is an accomplished journalist, who, at the pinnacle of her career, gives it all up for the woman she loves. Then, as Eleanor is transformed into Eleanor Everywhere, First Lady of the World, Hick must create her own independent, productive life. Loving Eleanor is a profoundly moving novel that illuminates a relationship we are seldom privileged to see, celebrating the depth and durability of women’s love. (Description found on NetGalley.com)
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Here are the upcoming December releases I’m excited about and have added to my TBR list.
TITLE: With Every Breath
AUTHOR: Lia Riley
PUBLISHER: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
RELEASE DATE: December 29, 2015
GENRE: New Adult, Romance
PRE-ORDER LINKS: AMAZON | B&N | iBOOKS | KOBO
BREATHE DEEP . . . AND JUMP IN
At the ends of the earth, Patagonia is a land where ambition trumps reason and the savage summit of La Aguja lures the most determined climbers. It’s also the last spot a “play-it-safe girl” like Auden Woods expects to find herself. But she’ll lace up her brand-new hiking boots and do whatever it takes to secure a dream job at an adventure magazine . . . even if it kills her. And it just might. When disaster strikes, her only chance at survival comes in the form of the surliest, sexiest mountaineer ever to come out of Scotland.
After a climbing accident cost him his brother, professional mountaineer Rhys MacAskill is at the end of his rope. Redemption is not in his future. That is, until a terrifying storm blows a budding journalist into his tent and it’s up to him to make sure they both survive until morning. Despite the demons weighing on him, Rhys can’t resist the temptation of the charming American and one wild night just isn’t enough.
Auden and Rhys soon learn there are no shortcuts as they navigate their way between life, death, and atonement, and discover something they never expected-love. (Description by Netgelly.com)
What new releases are you excited about this month?
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Stories Unfolded 