Tag: book review

Book Review | The Beautiful Daughters by Nicole Baart

~ Danielle Olson ~ Leave a comment

BOOK REVIEW | THE BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS

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ABOUT THE BOOK

“Adrienne Vogt and Harper Penny were closer than sisters, until the day a tragedy blew their seemingly idyllic world apart. Afraid that they got away with murder and unable to accept who they had lost—and what they had done—Harper and Adri exiled themselves from small-town Blackhawk, Iowa, and from each other. Adri ran thousands of miles away to Africa while Harper ventured down a more destructive path closer to home.

Now, five years later, both are convinced that nothing could ever coax them out of the worlds in which they’ve been living. But unexpected news from home soon pulls Adri and Harper back together, and the two cannot avoid facing their memories and guilt head-on. As they are pulled back into the tangle of their fractured relationships and the mystery of Piperhall, the sprawling estate where their lives first began to unravel, secrets and lies behind the tragic accident are laid bare. The former best friends are forced to come to terms with their shared past and search for the beauty in each other while mending the brokenness in themselves.” (Description found on Goodreads) 

MY THOUGHTS

Nicole Baart has created a powerful story of two women running from their past and, in some ways, running from what’s right in front of them.  The Beautiful Daughters revolves around Adrienne Vogt and Harper Penny who became close while attending college. Then a tragic accident after graduation tears them apart not just from each other, but also from their families. It’s the same accident that brings them back together to face their demons and reveal their secrets.

Based on what Adrienne went through and what Harper was going through the book’s theme is based on abusive relationships. I think Baart did an excellent job with the theme of the book and didn’t make it too much for the reader.  It could have easily become too hard to read.  I personally can’t relate to abuse, but I feel that Baart really portrayed what might be going through a woman’s head when rationalizing their actions or the actions of others in those types of relationships.

There isn’t a lot of romance in the book, but that’s because both women are trying to patch themselves up. It’s really about them accepting who they are, making themselves better, and then moving forward in their lives.

The Beautiful Daughters is a compelling novel about love, loss, and fear. I would recommend this book to my followers who like to read women’s fiction and can read books with a more sensitive subject matter.

I won an advanced copy of this book through Goodreads courtesy of Atria Books.

FAVORITE QUOTES

“Sometimes he read out loud. He loved the Pslams, and sometimes the cadence of those words washed over Adri as she sliced bread or set the table around him. It was a love song that he sang to her.”

OVERALL RATING

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM

Nicole Baart wants to live in a world filled with handwritten letters, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, and great conversation.

A critically acclaimed novelist, Nicole’s work has been featured as a Midwest Connections book pick, nominated for a Christy Award, and earned a starred and featured review from Publishers Weekly. In 2011 she co-authored a book that debuted at #4 on the New York Times bestseller list.

Nicole is also the co-founder of a non-profit organization, One Body One Hope, that partners with a sisterhood of churches and orphanages in Monrovia, Liberia. An adoption advocate and the mother of four children from four different countries, Nicole speaks on a variety of topics ranging from orphan care to parenthood to books and the writing process.

When Nicole’s not writing, working for One Body One Hope, or carpooling her children from school to hockey to gymnastics to cello lessons, you can usually find her outside. A lover of the great outdoors and a child at heart, Nicole’s favorite pastimes include playing with her kids, gardening, camping, and practicing her many hobbies including running, photography, baking, and re-teaching herself how to play the piano.

Nicole lives with her family in a small town in Iowa, but holds dual American/Canadian citizenship and considers British Columbia her second home. Since Liberia is also home, Nicole likes to think of herself as a global citizen. She and her family love to travel and hope to see the world together–before her kids are too old to consider their parents cool.

Nicole’s eight novels range from romantic to suspenseful, but she is known for her artistic prose and finely drawn characters. Her stories celebrate the triumph of the human spirit and beauty in the midst of brokenness. (About the Author from her website at NicoleBaart.com)

BUY LINKS: AMAZON | B&N | BAM!

PUBLISHING COMPANY: Atria Books

RELEASE DATE: April 28, 2015

GENRE: Women’s Fiction

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Book Review | If You’re Not the One by Jemma Forte

~ Danielle Olson ~ Leave a comment

BOOK REVIEW | IF YOU’RE NOT THE ONE

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ABOUT THE BOOK

“What if you could do it all over again?

Jennifer Wright is pretty sure her husband doesn’t love her anymore. She and Max used to be the perfect couple, but the pressures of work and kids have pulled them in opposite directions. Now , Jen is full of “what if” questions about whether her bland, suburban existence is all she was ever destined for.

When a terrible accident sends Jen into a coma, she is able to see what her life could have been if she had run off to Australia with the handsome, dangerous man she met on vacation, or if she had stayed with her workaholic college boyfriend. Would she ever have loved another child as much as she loves her daughters? Could she have become rich? More than anything, Jen wants to do the right thing for her family. But what she discovers may leave her with even more questions about the choices she made, and no easy answers about what to do next.” (Description from NetGalley.com)

MY THOUGHTS

Have you ever wondered what your life would be like had you stayed with someone else? Do you think you’d have the same friends or live in the same place? Do you think you’d be the same person? If You’re Not the One is a book that explores those possibilities through the character Jennifer Wright after she slips into a coma.

When I realized I’d be following multiple storylines throughout the book I got a little nervous, but Jemma Forte was able to keep the book from becoming confusing which is something I’ve seen in other books that have multiple layers to it.

There are four storylines to follow in If You’re Not the One: 1) Jennifer and her husband Max, 2) Jennifer and her Australian fling, 3) Jennifer and her college boyfriend, and 4) Jennifer and her boyfriend post college.  Each storyline started with how they met then progressed into where their relationship would end up.

One element of the book I enjoyed was Forte’s interpretation of what goes through a person’s mind while in a coma. Nobody truly knows, but I think many people might be thinking about things similar to Jennifer.

The final aspect of the book I want to mention is the ending. I don’t want to give away any details, but I will say that it didn’t end as I expected. Usually I’m not a fan of endings I didn’t see coming, but was pleasantly surprised and happy with what happened.  If you read the book please let me know what you thought of the ending.

If You’re Not the One is about accepting your past, learning from it, and not dwelling on what could have been. It’s about taking a chance on life even when the future looks uncertain.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to my followers who enjoy reading women’s fiction novels and are ok with a more complex story. if you don’t like following multiple storylines this book isn’t for you.

I received a digital copy of If You’re Not the One through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark Publishing.

FAVORITE QUOTES

“I want to get out of this mire. I want to know that I’ve led my life in a positive way and that I haven’t missed out and most of all, when I ask the question ‘Is this it?’ I want to feel like if it is, then that’s ok.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Jemma Forte was a Disney Channel host in the UK for five years, and has gone on to host shows for ITV, BBC1, BBC2, and other channels in the UK. She lives in London with her family.

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON | B&N | BAM | !NDIGO | INDIEBOUND | KINDLE | NOOK

PUBLISHING COMPANY: Sourcebooks Landmark

RELEASE DATE: June 2, 2015

GENRE: Women’s Fiction

OVERALL RATING

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Book Review | Throw Like A Woman by Susan Petrone

~ Danielle Olson ~ Leave a comment

BOOK REVIEW | THROW LIKE A WOMAN

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“Forty years old, divorced, with two sons on the verge of adolescence and an ex-husband who considers visitation to be optional, Brenda Haversham isn’t having a whole lot of fun. She’s also no longer qualified for the work she loves, so she’s toiling away in a cubicle instead, trying to make ends meet. Brenda is short on money, short on connection with her kids, and short on any kind of social life. The only thing Brenda has in abundance is her anger. And that turns out to be her greatest asset.

When she was a kid, Brenda’s father taught her how to throw a good fastball. That wasn’t of much use to a girl, but it is enough to astound onlookers at a “test your speed” pitching cage before a Cleveland Indians game. The more Brenda pictures her ex-husband’s face on the other end, the harder she throws. And when someone tapes her performance and puts it up online, Brenda becomes an Internet sensation and then more than that.

The Indians come calling and Brenda finds her life taking a turn in a new direction. Soon, she’s standing on the mound as the first woman player in Major League history and dealing with everything that comes with it. The money is great and the endorsement deals are even better. The fury of “traditionalists?” Not so much. And the conflicting emotions of her teammates are even harder to manage. Meanwhile, Brenda’s home life is evolving faster than she can keep up, redefining her role as a mother, a friend, and even a lover. As the season winds down Brenda will find out if she has what it takes to be a winner at both baseball and life.” (Description via NetGalley)

MY THOUGHTS

Susan Petrone has created a masterful story of a dream many girls who play softball or baseball have…a chance to play professionally. With every sentence I was imagining myself in Brenda’s shoes putting on the team jersey, tying up my cleats, and holding that ball in my hand in front of thousands of people.

I’ve never read a book, about baseball, that really touched my heart like this book did. Even in today’s society a woman playing professional baseball is unheard of and I think Petrone gave an accurate interpretation of how people might react. There were those who truly supported Brenda, but there were the “haters” who thought it an abomination having a woman play. Petrone also did an excellent job incorporating the emotions a single mother would have when taking on a job that requires a lot of travel in addition to having to deal with her ex-husband. If there was ever a Brenda to grace Major League baseball, she would change everything and be a part of something historical…something that would pave the way for others afterward.

Throw Like a Woman is about perseverance, courage, and strength.  It’s about knowing you’re part of something bigger than yourself and embracing every moment of it.  

I absolutely loved this book and would highly recommend it to those who enjoy reading women’s fiction and are baseball fans like myself.

An advance copy was generously provided through NetGalley for an honest review.

FAVORITE QUOTES

“She started to walk toward the grass then sprinted, just because she could.  Out of breath, she reached her arms up and out and spun around a few times, looking at the perfect blue sky above.  And then she screamed ‘Yeeeeeesss!’ as loudly as she could.”

“For a second, Brenda had an image of her father standing in front of her, holding a beat-up catcher’s mitt, an ancient catcher’s mask on the top of his head.  ‘If you can just make the four-seam fastball fly as it wants to fly, you could be…anything,’ he’d said to her.”

OVERALL RATING

5-gold-star-rating

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

WEBSITE | BLOG | TWITTER

Susan Petrone’s short fiction has been published by Glimmer Train, Featherproof Books, Muse, Conclave, and Whiskey Island. She is the author of the novels Throw Like a Woman (2015, The Story Plant) and A Body at Rest (2009, Drinian Press), which won a bronze medal for regional fiction from the Independent Publishers Book Awards (IPPY). Her short story, “Monster Jones Wants to Creep You Out” (Conclave, 2010) was nominated for a 2011 Pushcart Prize. On the non-fiction side, Susan’s work has appeared on CoolCleveland.com and ESPN.com, and she co-owns the Cleveland Indians blog, ItsPronouncedLajaway.com, for ESPN.com’s SweetSpot network.She holds a master’s degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from Cleveland State University and lives with one husband, one daughter, and far too many dogs in a little house near some medium-sized woods. (About the Author found on Susan’s website)

Buy Links: 

AMAZON | B&N | BAM! | INDIE BOUND | POWELL’S

Publishing Company: The Story Plant

Release Date: March 24, 2015

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Book Review | Pieces of My Mother by Melissa Cistaro

~ Danielle Olson ~ 3 Comments

BOOK REVIEW | PIECES OF MY MOTHER

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ABOUT THE BOOK

“This provocative, poignant memoir of a daughter whose mother left her behind by choice begs the question: Are we destined to make the same mistakes as our parents?

One summer, Melissa Cistaro’s mother drove off without explanation Devastated, Melissa and her brothers were left to pick up the pieces, always tormented by the thought: Why did their mother abandon them?

Thirty-five years later, with children of her own, Melissa finds herself in Olympia, Washington, as her mother is dying. After decades of hiding her painful memories, she has just days to find out what happened that summer and confront the fear she could do the same to her kids. But Melissa never expects to stumble across a cache of letters her mother wrote to her but never sent, which could hold the answers she seeks.

Haunting yet ultimately uplifting, Pieces of My Mother chronicles one woman’s quest to discover what drives a mother to walk away from the children she loves. Alternating between Melissa’s tumultuous coming-of-age and her mother’s final days, this captivating memoir reveals how our parents’ choices impact our own and how we can survive those to forge our own paths.” (NetGalley Description)

MY THOUGHTS

Memoirs are certainly my favorite genre and it’s because of books like Pieces of My Mother by Melissa Cistaro. It’s such a heartbreaking story and shows just how much people are impacted by their parent’s choices. When a parent makes poor choices their children might follow the same path or spend their lives worrying that they might.  That’s exactly what Melissa Cistaro was going through.

The book is formatted in flashbacks. It starts with Melissa as a young child watching her mother leave and then goes to her as an adult flying to be with her dying mother.  The story continues on like this and follows Melissa’s childhood along the way.

Growing up, Melissa had an unusual relationship with her mother. Her mother had left, but was never really gone. She’d visit randomly and Melissa would occasionally take trips with her mother. Reading the book, you can really feel that she never understood why her mother left.

This book really hit home for me. Both Melissa and I had a mother that we didn’t really understand.  We didn’t understand the decisions they made and why they continued doing what they did seeing how it effected their children. While my mother never left us like Melissa’s did, I feel that she left us mentally. I felt a lot of what she was feeling growing up. She asked why her mother wouldn’t stay while I’ve asked why my mother couldn’t stop taking her pills.

It was clear that Melissa kept her feelings bottled up…just like I tend to do. She had so much anger towards her mother, but didn’t want to tell her, fearing that her mother would run away again. I felt that in this paragraph:

“What good would it do me to unravel the anger inside me? I might hurl this heavy ceramic coffee cup across the table. I might stand up and tell her she sucks at being a mom. But that isn’t me. I’ll need to take her as she is right here, right now – fragrant, strip-searched, and full of mystery.”

There was a line in the book that also reminded me of my siblings. “We line up, three across, and stand over the grate with our legs apart until it gets too hot and the metal edge starts to burn the bottoms of our feet.” I laughed when I read this because that’s exactly what my siblings and I did when we’d get ready for school. We’d fight over it just like Melissa did with her brothers.

Pieces of My Mother is about learning to forgive even when you don’t fully understand the decisions that were made. It’s also about learning to forgive yourself and know that the decisions people make are their own.

I would highly recommend this book for those of you that love a good memoir.

FAVORITE QUOTES

“But memory is never linear. It’s as random as the wildflowers that grew behind our yellow house – a purple lupine here, a patch of California poppies there, a circle of yellow buttercups – and hidden among them, the slivers of broken glass that sliced our feet open. I was searching for the memories that could rescue me.”

“She pretends to be reading something on the page but her mind is somewhere else. I feel like she’s trying to show me that she’s okay, that she can still do the thins she’s always done. She is pretending to read and I am pretending that this does not break my heart.”

OVERALL RATING

5-gold-star-rating

PUBLISHING COMPANY: Sourcebooks

RELEASE DATE: May 5, 2015

GENRE: Biographies & Memoirs

BUY LINKS

INDIEBOUND | B&N | AMAZON

ABOUT MELISSA CISTARO

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Author photo © Adam Karsten
author photo © Adam Karsten

Melissa Cistaro’s stories have been published in numerous literary journals, including the New Ohio Review, Anderbo.com, and Brevity as well as the anthologies CHERISHED and LOVE and PROFANITY. She works as a bookseller and event coordinator at Book Passage, the esteemed independent bookstore in Northern California. Melissa graduated with honors from UCLA and followed her literary pursuits through the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program and the Tin House Writer’s Workshop in Portland. Between the years of raising her children, writing, bookselling, teaching horseback riding, and curating a business in equestrian antiques – Melissa completed her first memoir. Pieces of My Mother will be released on May 5th 2015. (Bio from Melissa Cistaro’s website, link above)

Book Review & Giveaway | The One That Got Away by Bethany Chase

~ Danielle Olson ~ Leave a comment

BOOK REVIEW | THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Perfect for fans of Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner, this bright, funny debut from a fresh voice in fiction offers a delicious take on love, family, and what it means to build a home of one’s own.

“Sarina Mahler thinks she has her life all nailed down: a growing architecture practice in Austin, Texas, and an any-day-now proposal from her loving boyfriend, Noah. She’s well on her way to having the family she’s hoped for since her mother’s death ten years ago. But with Noah on a temporary assignment abroad and retired Olympic swimmer—and former flame—Eamon Roy back in town asking her to renovate his new fixer-upper, Sarina’s life takes an unexpected turn. Eamon proves to be Sarina’s dream client, someone who instinctively trusts every one of her choices—and Sarina is reminded of all the reasons she was first drawn to him back in the day. Suddenly her carefully planned future with Noah seems a little less than perfect. And when tragedy strikes, Sarina is left reeling. With her world completely upended, she is forced to question what she truly wants in life—and in love.

Full of both humor and heartbreak, The One That Got Away is the story of one woman’s discovery that, sometimes, life is what happens when you leave the blueprints behind.”

MY THOUGHTS

We all have that one person. The person you thought was the one, but ended up disappointing you. The person that’s always in the back of your mind. This person is the one you don’t truly get over. This person is the one that got away.

Sarina Mahler is a strong woman who knows what she wants…at least career wise, but in the relationship department it’s a different story. While she believes that her future with her boyfriend Noah is set, she’s sorely mistaken when a ghost from her past comes back to town. That ghost comes in the form of a tall, handsome, and charming swimmer named Eamon.

If you’ve ever been in a situation where you had to choose between your head and your heart then you will totally relate to the character Sarina.  She had to figure out what would ultimately make her happy even though each path would cause pain to someone else, but that’s the risk you take with love. You have to decide what’s best for you in the end and know that you won’t look back with regrets. This is what Sarina was going through while she was spending more time with Eamon and her boyfriend was miles away.

I related to Sarina most when it came to her family.  She lost her mother, just like I did, and I felt Sarina’s pain every time she thought of her mom. It’s a pain that never leaves you, but becomes a part of who you are. The smallest reminder could bring you back to the day she left and bring the tears along with it. This is the part of Sarina that I was most fond of while reading.

Chase does an excellent job portraying real world dilemmas when it comes to a woman’s career and finding a man that will understand her dreams and aspirations, but also understands the importance of family. That is the story that Bethany Chase created. She created a character who’s strong willed, family oriented, and full of heart and passion. I think I would get along with Sarina if in some weird universe I was able to jump into the pages myself.  

The One That Got Away is about following your heart and not worrying about what others will think of your decisions. It’s about deciding what’s important in your life.

I’m always open to reading books by new authors. I think they give a fresh take within their genre and Bethany Chase’s debut novel is definitely worth reading.

FAVORITE QUOTES

“It’s funny how, when you only get to spend a very finite amount of time with someone you wanted to know better, you find that certain details have cut deeper tracks in your memory than others-something about the way they looked, or one particular comment that made you laugh, out of hundreds of sentences.”

“Instead, it’s like groundwater. Pooling underneath my skin, seeping to the surface here and there, now and then. Endlessly replenished. Easy to forget about, until it startles me wit the depth of it.”

OVERALL RATING

5-gold-star-rating

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON | B&N | BAM | INDIEBOUND | POWELL’S | WALMART

PUBLISHING COMPANY: Ballantine Books

RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2015

GENRE: Women’s Fiction

ABOUT BETHANY CHASE

Bethany Chase

FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM | BLOG

A native of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Bethany Chase headed to Williams College for an English degree and somehow came out the other side an interior designer. When she’s not writing or designing, you can usually find her in a karaoke bar. She lives with her lovely husband and occasionally psychotic cat in Brooklyn, three flights up. This is her first novel.

GIVEAWAY

Enter to win a copy of The One That Got Away.  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blogiversary | Meredith Out of Darkness by Amanda Gale – Book Review

~ Danielle Olson ~ Leave a comment

BOOK REVIEW | MEREDITH OUT OF DARKNESS

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ABOUT THE BOOK

“Meredith Beck is living the perfect life. She has a thriving career she loves and an apartment in New York City with the man of her dreams. But when she is devastated by tragedy, Meredith must rebuild her life in what she discovers is a shockingly less-than-perfect world.

In Book One, Meredith Out of the Darkness, Meredith stumbles through her day-to-day responsibilities without passion or hope. Her mundane routine is pleasantly interrupted when her brother introduces her to Nick Kelly, a quiet painter from a small town in Maine. Meredith is drawn to Nick’s love of nature and is comforted by his purity of heart. They begin a whirlwind romance, and as they plan their future together, she is delighted to have found peace once again, this time in a simple life far removed from the fast-paced life she’s known. But they are haunted by the past, competing with ghosts and desperate to meet unreachable expectations.

Full of colorful characters and leading the reader on an emotional journey from Philadelphia to Maine, Meredith Out of the Darkness is about two people’s awakening to a world of possibilities. But when their different visions of perfection come between them, the question remains: what is true perfection?”

MY THOUGHTS

Meredith Out of Darkness is the first in a four book series following the love life of Meredith Beck, a high school English teacher.  I instantly fell in love with this series right from the start.  It was easy to relate to Meredith and her longing to find that perfect relationship once again.  That relationship that makes everyday worth while and makes getting out of bed easy.

Doesn’t everyone want to find that special someone that puts a smile on their face and makes their heart beat faster with every touch and every kiss? I found that for myself and Meredith felt she did too.

When Meredith met Nick Kelly she had embraced their passionate relationship and felt like she had finally found someone again.  He made her laugh and she felt safe being with him.  They talked and opened up to each other.

Nick and Meredith had fun together and connected on more than just a physical level. They had grown to trust each other and would eventually fall in love.  Meredith felt she could spend her life with Nick, but Nick didn’t feel like he was good enough.  This put a big strain on their relationship and became the focal point at the end of the book.

This book isn’t just about finding that perfect relationship, it’s also about finding yourself and figuring out what you want.  Meredith had to look into herself once again and figure out what her future would hold.

This book is about finding out what you want and fighting for it. It’s about realizing that there’s still hope even when you feel it’s all been lost.  It’s about pulling yourself out of the darkness to see that there’s still light at the end of the tunnel. 

If you enjoy a great love story Meredith Out of Darkness is a book for you, but you’ll need to read the whole series to get the full Meredith Beck story.  Trust me.  You will want to continue reading to find out who Meredith Beck ends up with.  I highly recommend this book and the rest of the Meredith series.

FAVORITE QUOTES

“She smiled as she relished the quiet of the room and the quiet of her mind.  For the first time in a year, she saw peace and promise in the days ahead; for the first time in a year, she felt alive.”

“Nick had renewed her passion for life.  He had reminded her that there was beauty to be found in every day, that one need not look so far to find it.”

OVERALL RATING

5-gold-star-rating

BUY LINKS: AMAZON | B&N

PUBLISHING COMPANY: Brenda & Cobena Books

RELEASE DATE: July 3, 2014

GENRE: Women’s Fiction, Romance

ABOUT AMANDA

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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)

AMANDA GALE GIVEAWAY

Amanda has generously provided an e-book copy of the entire series. Her giveaway is running from March 22nd-29th.  Today is your last chance to enter.  I will be announcing the Amanda Gale giveaway winner tomorrow.

Enter here: a Rafflecopter giveaway

STORIES UNFOLDED BLOGIVERSARY GIVEAWAY

Don’t forget to enter the Stories Unfolded Blogiversary Giveaway that’s running from March 1st – March 31st.

(1) Grand Prize Winner

  • $25 Amazon Kindle Gift Card
  • (1) Signed physical copy of The End of Feeling by Cindy C Bennett
  • (1) Audiobook of The End of Feeling by Cindy C Bennett
  • (1) Signed physical copy of Family Inheritance by Terri Ann Leidich
  • (1) Signed physical copy of From a Grieving Mother’s Heart by Terri Ann Leidich
  • (1) Signed physical copy of For a Grieving Heart by Terri Ann Leidich
  • (1) Physical copy of Finding Zoe by Brandi Rarus and Gail Harris
  • (1) E-Book copy of the Off The Map Series by Lia Riley (Upside Down, Sideswiped, & Inside Out)
  • (1) E-Book copy of any Ginger Scott book
  • (1) E-Book copy of Cemetery Tours and Between Worlds by Jacqueline Smith
  • (1) E-Book copies of three children’s books by Alva Sachs (Circus Fever, I’m 5, & On Your Mark, Get Set,Go!)

(1) Prize Winner

  • $10 Amazon Kindle Gift Card
  • (1) E-Book copy of any Ginger Scott book
  • (1) E-Pub copy of Family Inheritance by Terri Ann Leidich
  • (1) E-Pub copy of From a Grieving Mother’s Heart by Terri Ann Leidich
  • (1) E-Pub copy of For a Grieving Heart by Terri Ann Leidich
  • (1) E-Book copy of Cemetery Tours and Between Worlds by Jacqueline Smith

(1) Prize Winner

  • $5 Amazon Kindle Gift Card
  • (1) E-Book copy of The End of Feeling by Cindy C. Bennett
  • (1) E-Book copy of any Ginger Scott book
  • (1) E-Book copy of Cemetery Tours and Between Worlds by Jacqueline Smith

(1) Prize Winner

  • $5 Amazon Kindle Gift Card

Enter here: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to Amanda Gale for participating in the Stories Unfolded Blogiversary.

Blogiversary | Cemetery Tours by Jacqueline Smith – Book Review

~ Danielle Olson ~ 7 Comments

BOOK REVIEW | CEMETERY TOURS

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ABOUT THE BOOK

“Some secrets are best kept laid to rest.

At least, that’s as far as Michael Sinclair is concerned. At twenty-seven, he has spent his entire life perfecting the art of pretending that the ghosts he encounters on a daily basis do not exist. Now, if only the dead would let him rest in peace.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem likely, especially after Kate Avery and her ailing brother, Gavin, move in next door. Kate and Gavin are haunted, and not by a dearly departed loved one. This spirit is aggressive, menacing, and harboring a dark resentment toward Gavin. In spite of every instinct advising him to walk away, Michael finds himself seeking to uncover the mysteries of Gavin’s past, and falling for the bright and lovely Kate. Yet competing for her affection is Luke Rainer, television’s hottest celebrity ghost hunter and the only (living) person to know Michael’s secret.

But the dead have secrets, too. Some will go to any length to withhold what should have gone with them to the grave, while others will risk everything to make their voices heard, even if that means putting another’s life at stake. Now, for the sake of friends and strangers alike, Michael must choose between preserving his cherished anonymity and lending his aid to those for whom all hope seems lost.”

MY THOUGHTS

I’m not the type of person who believes in ghosts.  I was telling my fiancé this the other day.  I told him that I would essentially have to see it to believe it, but Kate Avery is the complete opposite.  She believes in ghosts even though she can’t see them and Michael Sinclair can.

I never thought that I would like a book about ghosts, but I throughly enjoyed it.  There were a lot of twists and turns in Cemetery Tours and the way Smith portrayed Michael’s ability reminded me of the movie Sixth Sense (if the boy was older).

While I was reading it, I started thinking about what I would do if I had the ability to see ghosts. Would I use my gift to help ghosts find peace or be like Michael and completely ignore them.  I don’t blame him for ignoring them, especially after what happened to him as a teenager (I won’t give it away).

In Cemetery Tours, ghosts are people who have died and have some sort of unfinished business, at least that’s what I got from the book, but then Michael mentions that he talks to his grandmother and unofficial roommate all the time.  Both seemed like they didn’t have any unfinished business.  These two elements got me thinking, perhaps the ghosts had a choice about whether they stayed on earth or moved on.

I really admired Michael.  He’s essentially keeping a part of himself locked up from everyone and can’t fully be who he is because of it, but I do understand why he would keep his ability to see ghosts a secret.  Considering how cynical I am about ghosts, I personally would think that Michael was crazy and I wouldn’t believe him.  Then Michael meets Kate and everything changes for him.  She makes him want to open up about what he can do, but it takes a little push from a pseudo-celebrity and an angry ghost to finally admit to it.

Now let me tell you a bit about the character Kate Avery.

Kate was in a tragic car accident that left her with a lot of questions and left her feeling like a fragment of herself.  Her family was keeping something important from her and I couldn’t put the book down when I realized what it was.  I just couldn’t wait for that reveal.

Jacqueline Smith really keeps your attention and keeps your imagination flowing throughout the book. Each time I thought the book was ending something else smacked me in the face, but it was tying up loose ends I was questioning.

I honestly don’t want to give away any of the juicy details because I believe this is a great book to read and be surprised by the ending, but I can tell you that I was yearning to find out what happened.  I will admit that there were a few parts that got me wanting to sleep with the lights on, but it wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t sleep (let’s just say I can’t sleep after reading Stephen King books).

Overall, I loved Cemetery Tours and it made me excited to read the sequel, Between Worlds (which I finished in two days).  I would recommend this book to anyone who’s open to reading a story about ghosts.

FAVORITE QUOTES

“It was amazing, the effect that the simplest sentiment from the right guy could have on a girl’s entire day.”

“Illuminated only by the light of the waning moon, the headstones of the graveyard seemed far more sinister and ominous.  If she didn’t know better, she’d have sworn that the eyes of the angels perched atop several graves were following them as they made their way to the center of the cemetery.”

“Michael had always thought that he wouldn’t fear death.  He’d been wrong.  The idea of death didn’t bother him.  The act of dying, however, was a whole different story.”

OVERALL RATING

5-gold-star-rating

BUY LINKS: AMAZON | B&N

PUBLISHING COMPANY: Wind Trail Publishing

RELEASE DATE: September 17, 2013

GENRE: Paranormal Thriller

ABOUT JACQUELINE

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | BLOG | TWITTER | GOODREADS

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Jacqueline E. Smith was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She attended the University of Texas at Dallas, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Art and Performance in 2010. Two years later, she earned her Master’s Degree in Humanities.

Along with writing and publishing, Jacqueline loves photography, traveling, and nature.  (Photo Credit: Kaylynn Krieg)

 

JACQUELINE SMITH GIVEAWAY

Jacqueline has generously provided (3) e-book copies of Cemetery Tours and (3) e-book copies of it’s sequel, Between Worlds.  There will be (3) Winners who will receive one copy of each book.  This is your last chance to enter this giveaway as it ends today.  I will announce the winners tomorrow morning.

Enter here: a Rafflecopter giveaway

STORIES UNFOLDED BLOGIVERSARY GIVEAWAY

Don’t forget to enter the Stories Unfolded Blogiversary Giveaway that’s running from March 1st – March 31st.

(1) Grand Prize Winner

  • $25 Amazon Kindle Gift Card
  • (1) Signed physical copy of The End of Feeling by Cindy C Bennett
  • (1) Audiobook of The End of Feeling by Cindy C Bennett
  • (1) Signed physical copy of Family Inheritance by Terri Ann Leidich
  • (1) Signed physical copy of From a Grieving Mother’s Heart by Terri Ann Leidich
  • (1) Signed physical copy of For a Grieving Heart by Terri Ann Leidich
  • (1) Physical copy of Finding Zoe by Brandi Rarus and Gail Harris
  • (1) E-Book copy of the Off The Map Series by Lia Riley (Upside Down, Sideswiped, & Inside Out)
  • (1) E-Book copy of any Ginger Scott book
  • (1) E-Book copies of three children’s books by Alva Sachs (Circus Fever, I’m 5, & On Your Mark, Get Set,Go!)

(1) Prize Winner

  • $10 Amazon Kindle Gift Card
  • (1) E-Book copy of any Ginger Scott book
  • (1) E-Pub copy of Family Inheritance by Terri Ann Leidich
  • (1) E-Pub copy of From a Grieving Mother’s Heart by Terri Ann Leidich
  • (1) E-Pub copy of For a Grieving Heart by Terri Ann Leidich

(1) Prize Winner

  • $5 Amazon Kindle Gift Card
  • (1) E-Book copy of The End of Feeling by Cindy C. Bennett
  • (1) E-Book copy of any Ginger Scott book

(1) Prize Winner

  • $5 Amazon Kindle Gift Card

Enter here: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to Jacqueline Smith for participating in the Stories Unfolded Blogiversary!

Book Review | The End of Feeling by Cindy C Bennett

~ Danielle Olson ~ 5 Comments

BOOK REVIEW | THE END OF FEELING

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ABOUT THE BOOK

“Eighteen-year-old Benjamin Nefer seems to have it all: great looks, incredible football skills, and smooth moves that have won—and broken—the hearts of countless girls at his high school. But his hellish home life has left him feeling empty inside, unable to experience real feelings. He thinks he’s fine being this way forever…until he meets a beautiful and witty seventeen-year-old girl named Charlotte “Charlie” Austin. She may be new in town, but she’s already been warned about Benjamin’s reputation, so it’s easy for her to shoot down his advances. Like him, she’s happier keeping people at a distance, especially since she, too, has secrets she’s not ready to share with anyone. But as the tentative friendship between the charismatic football captain and the new girl grows, Charlie finds herself feeling closer to Benjamin than she’s ever felt with anyone—and he wonders if he’s really capable of loving after all. Can they drop their guard, or is this so-called romance just another game?”

MY THOUGHTS

Both Benjamin and Charlie are hiding something.  Something they are ashamed of and have no control over.  But in order to love someone you have to open up.  Easier said than done right?

Benjamin Nefer is the stereotypical high school jock.  He’s the star of the football team with college scouts looking his way and he’s the ultimate playboy at school.

He’s trying to secure his future in football so that he can get as far away from home as possible because he never wants to see his father again.

Charlotte “Charlie” Austin is the new girl in school and wants nothing more than to keep her mother hidden.  She doesn’t want anyone to know how she came into this world and she wants to protect her mom from any cruelties that may come.

When Benjamin and Charlie meet it was clear that he was a player.  Charlie wasn’t falling for his charm, but they soon become friends and open up to each other.  From that friendship it’s clear that they are falling for each other.

The End of Feeling contained two very important issues that are still quite prevalent in today’s society.  Child abuse and abuse towards the mentally disabled.  I think Bennett did a great job in putting just enough detail into the two issues to get an emotional response without going over board and making it hard to read.

I believe that having the two issues come from the perspective of teenagers made it much more impactful to read.  And of course I enjoyed the teenage love story aspect of it.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down.  I would recommend this book to those who like to read love stories, as the bulk of it was about a teenage romance.  The book is coming out tomorrow so be sure to get your copy and let me know what you think.

FAVORITE QUOTES

“Charlie, if there’s one thing I know without any shred of doubt, it’s that DNA means nothing. There isn’t anything that says whatever makes our parents do the things they do, that we’ll do the same.”

OVERALL RATING

5-gold-star-rating

Buy Links: B&N

Social Media Links: Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, LinkedIn, Pinterest

Publishing Company: Amazon Publishing

Release Date: January 27, 2015

Genre: New Adult

Book Review | The In Between by Olivia Pierce

~ Danielle Olson ~ Leave a comment

BOOK REVIEW | THE IN BETWEEN BY OLIVIA PIERCE

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Tara Jenkins and Justin Westcroft used to be childhood BFFs. Now in high school, Justin’s a popular, all-star athlete, and Tara spends her days admiring him from afar. But when Tara saves Justin from nearly drowning in a freak accident, he’s unable to get her out of his mind. In no time at all, Tara and Justin fall deeply in love. And even though it’s only high school, they seem destined for a Happily Ever After.

Until tragedy strikes—and this time, Justin’s not so lucky. Tara passes through her days as a shell of her former self: Justin’s dead, but she can still feel his presence, and she can’t seem to let him go.

But there’s a reason for that, and it’s not just grief: Justin is In Between, and he’s still holding on.

They say that when someone saves you, you’re tied to them for life. But what about in the afterlife?

MY THOUGHTS

The In Between is a teen romance novel, but different than others I’ve read.  It combines your typical teenage romance with a bit of fantasy mixed in.  Not something I’m used to reading, but I gave it a shot.

I’m sure every girl has a Justin Westcroft in her life.  A boy that you think could never love you because you don’t fit into his world.  He’s good looking, athletic, and popular.  Everything that you’re not.  That’s how Tara Jenkins felt about Justin.  Even though they were childhood friends, there was something different between them when she moved back to town and were in high school together.  As many of us know, high school really changes you.

It isn’t until Justin nearly drowns and Tara saves him that these two finally start to connect again, but this time on a deeper level.  One filled with love.

The book is split into four parts.  The first follows the beginning of Tara and Justin’s relationship and how they grow as a couple.  As with any high school relatioship, there’s a lot of drama between Tara and Justin’s ex girlfriend.  Part one ends with a terrible accident leaving Tara alone on earth while Justin is stuck in another world.

I was a little skeptical when I started reading Part two and Justin was in some sort of purgatory.  I don’t really believe in things like that, but I kept an open mind with this book.  While Tara is still on earth trying to cope with her grief, Justin is trying to find a way back to her.  He believes that they were meant to be together and nothing was going to keep him from her.

Part three continues much like Part two, but this is when Tara and Justin seem like they might be giving up on finding each other again.  There are many things keeping them from being together and Justin finds himself in hell having to endure his worst fears.  Tara, on the other hand, is starting to think she’s going insane and her actions make other’s think she’s going off the deep end.

The final part brings everything together including Tara and Justin.  It’s a long journey, but they finally find a way back to each other.  I wasn’t really expecting it to happen the way it did, but it was a decent ending.

I think this book provided some great perspective on life and death.  Based on this storyline, life certainly continues after you have left the “human” world.  If you’re lucky you get to spend the rest of your days with the ones you love.

Overall, I believe this was a great book.  It wasn’t the best love story I’ve read, but I certainly felt connected to Tara.  I would recommend this book to readers who love teenage love stories as much as I do.

FAVORITE QUOTES

“It’s love that reunites us beyond the divide of life and death.”

“It’s a burst of adrenaline and then the quietest calm I’ve ever felt. It’s a threshold, and on the other side, my love for him becomes more cemented than ever. That love feels like a tangible part of me now, coiling through neural pathways, pumping in my veins.”

OVERALL RATING

Buy Links: Amazon, iBooks, B&N, Kobo

Social Media Links: Goodreads

Publishing Company: Full Fathom Five

Release Date: November 12, 2014

Genre: Romance, Teens & YA

Book Review & Giveaway | Finding Zoe by Brandi Rarus & Gail Harris

~ Danielle Olson ~ Leave a comment

BOOK REVIEW | FINDING ZOE

BY BRANDI RARUS & GAIL HARRIS

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ABOUT THE BOOK

“Brandi Rarus was just 6 when spinal meningitis took away her hearing. Because she spoke well and easily adjusted to lip reading, she was mainstreamed at school and socialized primarily in the hearing community. Brandi was a popular and happy teen, but communication—and being fully part of every conversation—was an ongoing struggle.

In college, Brandi embraced Deaf Culture along with the joys of complete and effortless communication with her peers. For the first time, being deaf wasn’t a handicap; it was a passport to a new and exciting world. Brandi went on to become Miss Deaf America in 1988 and served as a spokesperson for her community.

It was during her tenure as Miss Deaf America that Brandi met Tim, a leader of the Gallaudet uprising in support of selecting the school’s first deaf president. The two went on to marry and had three hearing boys—the first non-deaf children born in Tim’s family in 125 years.

Brandi was incredibly grateful to have her happy and healthy family, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing from her life. She had always dreamed she would have a daughter. Little did she know that just across the state line, Zoe was waiting for her.

Set against the backdrop of Deaf America, Finding Zoe is an uplifting story of hope, adoption, and everyday miracles.”

MY THOUGHTS

When the publisher, BenBella Books, approached me about receiving a physical copy of the book and reviewing it, I was very excited to accept it.  Finding Zoe gave me a glimpse into a world that I don’t know much about.  It showed me what it’s like to be deaf, but the book is so much more than that.  It’s about never giving up on your dreams.  In this case, Brandi Rarus never gave up on her dream of having a daughter even though the journey was a difficult one.

I couldn’t put Finding Zoe down and kept reading every chance I got.  Not only did the book provide some historical information about the deaf community, but it told the story of what it’s like to be deaf and a woman’s struggle to find the daughter she was meant to have.  Brandi’s dream finally came true when she adopted Zoe.

The book is split up into three parts.  Part one is about Brandi’s journey to accept herself as deaf and being a part of the deaf community.  You find out how she met her husband and how much she wanted a daughter.  She was so close to Zoe, yet so far.

The second part is about Jess and BJ who are the birth parents of Zoe.  Their story seems like a sad one, but they are truly inspirational people. Deciding to give up your child so that she might have a better life is probably the most difficult decision someone can make.  I admired their courage especially when there were many obstacles during the adoption process.

The final part of the book is how Brandi and Zoe were finally brought together as mother and daughter.  It took quite some time for Zoe to finally be a part of a home where she could thrive as a deaf child, but everything she went through brought her to Brandi.

I learned so many things while reading Finding Zoe.  I learned about being deaf and some significant events within the deaf community that helped bring awareness to the inequalities deaf people face.  I learned more about adoption and the difficulties birth parents face.  And finally, I learned not to give up on your dreams no matter what.

I absolutely loved Finding Zoe.  It’s a very inspirational story full of love, hope, and courage.  I would recommend this to all of my readers.

There’s a cute video with Brandi Rarus and her family.  I wanted to share that here.

GIVEAWAY

BenBella Books has generously provided me with a physical copy of Finding Zoe to giveaway to my readers.  Enter here for your chance to win this amazing memoir.  The giveaway will be open until January 8, 2015.

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FAVORITE QUOTES

“He was thinking that all she ever wanted was a good home, a good family, and parents who could give her what she needed, when all of a sudden, she just reached up and grabbed his finger.  His heart melted.  At that moment, she became his daughter, too.”

“Here was a young woman, I realized, who didn’t even know me and who had such painful experiences, yet she found it within herself to choose me – to place her daughter in my care – which was one of the greatest gifts of my entire life.”

OVERALL RATING

5-gold-star-rating

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

pkOOcQJX_400x400Brandi has dabbled and succeeded in whatever she puts her mind to. Brandi is married to Tim Rarus, one of the leaders of the Gallaudet “Deaf President Now!” protest that took place in Washington, DC in 1988. A former Miss Deaf America, she signed the National Anthem at a Chicago Cubs baseball game, has spoken at corporations including AT&T, and federal agencies including the Food and Drug Administration, and the Federal Communications Commission. She has appeared on the Emmy-winning television series,“Deaf Mosaic,” given newspaper interviews, and was on the cover of the October 1988 issue of Deaf Life Magazine.

F8BKPwwV_400x400Gail Harris is an author who specializes in writing books for others. A story-teller at heart, Gail began telling stories for her clients as an award-winning advertising copywriter. She left Madison Ave. and, after a couple of stops along the way, including a stint at a yoga ashram, formed her own writing company. Her first book, entitled, Your Heart Knows the Answer, teaches us how to trust the true voice of our hearts by learning how to distinguish it from the thoughts, emotions and constant inner chatter that is inside our heads. She says that she wrote the book because “we teach what we need to learn.”

Buy Links: Book Page, Amazon, B&N

Brandi Rarus Social Media Links: Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads

Gail Harris Social Media Links: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Goodreads 

Publishing Company: BenBella Books

Release Date: October 7, 2014

Genre: Biographies & Memoirs, Nonfiction