Review: Echoes of Family by Barbara Claypole White

Echoes of Family

by Barbara Claypole White

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Pages: 397

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Sometimes the only way through darkness is to return to where it began.

Marianne Stokes fled England at seventeen, spiraling into the manic depression that would become her shadow. She left behind secrets, memories, and tragedy: one teen dead, and her first love, Gabriel, badly injured. Three decades later she’s finally found peace in the North Carolina recording studio she runs with her husband, Darius, and her almost-daughter, Jade…until another fatality propels her back across the ocean to confront the long-buried past.

In her picturesque childhood village, the first person she meets is the last person she wants to see again: Gabriel. Now the village vicar, he takes her in without question, and ripples ofwhat if reverberate through both their hearts. As Marianne’s mind unravels, Jade and Darius track her down. Tempers clash when everyone tries to help, but only by finding the courage to face her illness can Marianne heal herself and her offbeat family.


Kritters Thoughts:   First let me say that I have not had much personal history with depression in my immediate circle of friends and family, so I am somewhat naive to mental illnesses, but I do believe that if something is broken you do what it takes to get it fixed - from a broken toe to a broken brain.  

I went into this book after reading the synopsis thinking that Marianne had healed from her depression and was excited to read a book about the after of mental illness, this was not the case.  When Marianne returns to England it may be to  heal, but she is far from a place of recovery.  This fact made the book a hard read for me.  It was hard to read her mania, especially before she makes an effort to move towards find a place of peace.  

I absolutely adored hearing from her daughter Jade.  To hear how mental illness affects the whole family was both heart breaking and interesting for me.  I loved that Marianne could use Jade as a reason to fight to find a place of healing.  Jade stood out for me as the character that made this book worth reading.  

I am not sure that this is my favorite book from this author, but it definitely won't keep me from reading her next.  I loved her book The Unfinished Garden, so try that one next if this is your first Barbara Claypole White experience.


Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from TLC Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Hungry Heart by Jennifer Weiner

Hungry Heart

by Jennifer Weiner

Publisher: Atria Books

Pages: 432

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Jennifer Weiner is many things: a #1 New York Times bestselling author, a Twitter phenomenon, and “an unlikely feminist enforcer” (The New Yorker). She’s also a mom, a daughter, and a sister; a former rower and current cyclist; a best friend and a reality TV junkie. In her first foray into nonfiction, she takes the raw stuff of her personal life and spins into a collection of essays on modern womanhood as uproariously funny and moving as the best of Tina Fey, Fran Lebowitz, and Nora Ephron.

Jennifer grew up as an outsider in her picturesque Connecticut hometown (“a Lane Bryant outtake in an Abercrombie & Fitch photo shoot”) and at her Ivy League college, but finally found her people in newsrooms in central Pennsylvania and Philadelphia, and her voice as a novelist, activist, and New York Times columnist.

No subject is off-limits in this intimate and honest essay collection: sex, weight, envy, money, her mom’s newfound lesbianism, and her estranged father’s death. From lonely adolescence to modern childbirth to hearing her six-year-old daughter’s use of the f-word—fat­­—for the first time, Jennifer Weiner goes there, with the wit and candor that have endeared her to readers all over the world.

By turns hilarious and deeply touching, this collection shows that the woman behind treasured novels like Good in Bed and Best Friends Forever is every bit as winning, smart, and honest in real life as she is in her fiction.

Kritters Thoughts:  If you have gone to a signing by Jennifer Weiner then you know that she can talk before her reading or signing and she always has the BEST stories.  This book is a compilation of some of those stories with other tid bits and Dos and Don'ts added in.

I follow Jennifer Weiner on all the social medias and am a fan of how she presents herself - smart, snarky and all about the girl power!  If you enjoy who she is, you will love this book.  I loved hearing about her personal life and maybe a story that she may not be completely comfortable telling a crowd in front of them, but may be easier to share in the written word.  

I hope she does more of these!


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Ebook Challenge 2016: 24 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Edelweiss.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: The Spice Box Letters by Eve Makis

The Spice Box Letters

by Eve Makis

Publisher: Thomas Dunne

Pages: 320

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon 

Goodreads:  Katerina inherits a scented, wooden spice box after her grandmother Mariam dies. It contains letters and a diary, written in Armenian. As she pieces together her family story, Katerina learns that Mariam's childhood was shattered by the Armenian tragedy of 1915.

Mariam was exiled from her home in Turkey and separated from her beloved brother, Gabriel, her life marred by grief and the loss of her first love. Dissatisfied and restless, Katerina tries to find resolution in her own life as she completes Mariam's story – on a journey that takes her across Cyprus and then half a world away to New York.

Miracles, it seems, can happen – for those trapped by the past, and for Katerina herself.


Kritters Thoughts:  I am embarrassed to say that all I know of the Armenian tragedy, I have learned from the Kardashians, so when I was pitched this book to read I knew immediately that I would want to read it and read a fictional tale of what happened to the Armenians.  

Told in three points of view, one is current day and Katerina is mourning the recent death of her grandmother and in going through her things with her mother they find a spice box with letters and a journal, but all written in Armenian.  She decides to take a vacation and escape life a little and on vacation she finds a guy who speaks the language and is willing to read her grandmother's journal to her and she is surprised by what he tells her.  The other viewpoint are the journal entries and they way they flow together just makes the story so hard to put down!  The final viewpoint is a member of the family (don't want to reveal too much!).  

Family was a big part of this book and how much family means even in the midst of major crisis.  I loved reading about the resilience of people and how they would go to any lengths to reconnect with their family and how long they will wish hope and pray for their family members.

I loved this book.  It was a quick slim read, but packed a good punch.  I say this a few times, but if you have read a few historical fiction reads, pick this one next because it takes you to a time and place that isn't covered often.

Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Sourcebooks PR.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It's Monday, What are you Reading?

A weekend full of post season baseball, so not much reading happen!  
A meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. 

Finished this past week:

Good Taste by Jane Green
Devil Sent the Rain by Lisa Turner
The Spice Box Letters by Eve Makis

Currently Reading:

Echoes of Family by Barbara Claypole White

Next on the TBR pile:

Only Daughter by Anna Snoekstra

Review: The Flower Arrangement by Ella Griffin

The Flower Arrangement

by Ella Griffin

Publisher: Berkley NAL

Pages: 384

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Every bouquet tells a story. And every story begins at Blossom & Grow, a tiny flower shop in the heart of Dublin...
 
Among the buckets of fragrant blooms, beneath the flickering candles and lanterns, Lara works her magic, translating feelings into flower arrangements that change hearts and lives. 
 
She is no stranger to the power of flowers herself. They gave her hope when she was a child who lost a mother, and, again when she was a mother who lost a child. 
 
But old wounds take time to heal, and life has more heartbreak in store. What will it take for the woman who can unlock everybody else’s emotions to open up her own heart?

Kritters Thoughts:  Lara has a personal tragedy and decides to open a flower shop.  Some of her family and friends completely back the idea and some think she may be a little crazy.  This book is not only Lara's story but the story of her family and friends.

What I didn't love about this book is it had less to do with Lara working in the flower shop and more to do with the friends, family and customers that entered and were affected by her flower shop.  Each chapter felt like a short story in and of itself and it didn't feel like a complete narrative.  If I had known going into this story that it was almost a collection of short stories, I may have enjoyed it more, but I still wish more of the story revolved around Lara and her shop.

I didn't dislike the writing or the location, so I would read Ella Griffin again, so I don't want to dissuade you from reading it if you know that this book isn't a completely linear storyline.  

Have you read Ella Griffin?  Which one would you recommend I try next?


Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Ebook 2016 Challenge: 30 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Berkley NAL.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Devil Sent the Rain by Lisa Turner

Devil Sent the Rain

by Lisa Turner

Publisher: William Morrow

Pages: 352

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  The heart can be an assassin. Detective Billy Able knows that from experience.

Fresh from solving Memphis’ most sensational murder case, Homicide Detective Billy Able and his ambitious new partner Frankie Malone are called to a bizarre crime scene on the outskirts of town. A high society attorney has been murdered while dressed in a wedding gown. Billy is shocked to discover he has a very personal connection to the victim. When the attorney’s death exposes illegal practices at her family’s prestigious law firm, the scandal is enough to rock the southern city’s social world.

In a tale of the remnants of Old South aristocracy and entitlement, twisted by greed and vengeance, Billy must confront the secrets of his own past to have any chance at solving the murder of the girl he once knew. But as he seeks the truth, he’s drawn closer to an embittered killer bent on revenge—and eliminating the threat Billy poses.

Kritters Thoughts:  The second in a series and I won't spoil the first book, but I would start at book one so you get the foundation of the two main characters - Billy and Frankie.  Ok maybe one spoiler, they are now partners, so they go into the investigation into this book as a team, but this investigation will hit very close to home to Billy.  

Again this book takes place in Memphis and I loved that this book highlighted a different crowd from the first - the old Southern rich and wealthy.  Billy grew up along side this part of the population and although wasn't himself wealthy was friends with a lot of the rich kids.  One who he may have crushed on is found dead in her car in a field and he must dive deep into this family and their past and secrets to solve her murder.

The culprit in this book like the last may have come out of left field a little, less this book than the last, but ultimately I liked how the author got the reader to the conclusion.  I did find it interesting how many people had a motive to kill her, it was actually kind of sad that quite a few people could have been driven to kill her.

I will definitely be continuing this series.  I could do a few more books in the great city of Memphis.


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Sourcebooks PR.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: The Gone Dead Train by Lisa Turner

The Gone Dead Train

by Lisa Turner

Publisher: William Morrow

Pages: 358

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  After time away to recover from the aftermath of a horrible case that left his partner dead, Billy's back in Memphis, drawn into an ever-widening murder mystery that focuses on flawed heroes: a disgraced major league baseball player, two legendary blues musicians on the lam, a straight-arrow lady cop tortured by a guilty conscience, and two iconic civil rights warriors with secrets so dark they'll shock the nation.

Detective Billy Able is at a crossroads. His previous case left him questioning everything he believed about his abilities as a cop and as a friend. Even though he's considering leaving police work behind, he's unable to turn off the instincts he's honed after a decade on the force.

But when he stops a crime from being committed, he finds himself embroiled in a much bigger scandal. A murder that has just taken place has connections to a series of much older crimes dating back to the civil rights movement. As he investigates, Billy uncovers so many layers of secrets he can barely keep the truth from the lies. And he knows the straight-laced cop assigned to the case is hiding something big. But is it connected to the case? This time he's determined to make sure he finds out the truth before anything else can happen. But as the search for truth with the help of a Santeria Priest leads him deeper into the underbelly of Memphis, will Billy make it out alive?

Kritters Thoughts:  The first in a new series that takes place in Memphis and centers around a homicide detective and a lady police officer who would love to join the homicide team.  In this book, they encounter a murder that involves a little voodoo and some of the underground unseen Memphis.  

I have never been to Memphis so first, I enjoyed how descriptive the setting of this story was.  I really felt like I could see Memphis and experience it.  I was intrigued to read about how much it felt like it had in common with New Orleans and the underground religious practices was new to me.  

Of course I also loved the who dun it.  This time I was surprised by the person who ended up being the culprit, but the way Lisa Turner wrote it, I liked the surprise.  

Completely minor and didn't keep me from continuing the series, but having a main character that is a female named Frankie threw me for the longest time and even threw me when I read book 2 right after finishing this one.  Totally minor, just a complete personal preference.

I like series that are like these where the story is self contained but not because you want to get to know the detectives and characters that will move from one book to the other, but the mystery who dun it is completely self contained.


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Review: Good Taste by Jane Green

Good Taste

by Jane Green

Publisher: NAL

Pages: 192

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Jane Green’s life has always revolved around her kitchen...
 
... from inviting over friends for an impromptu brunch; to wowing guests with delicious new recipes; to making sure her ever-on-the-move family makes time to sit down together. For Jane, food is enjoyable because of the people surrounding it and the pleasures of hosting and nourishing those she cares about, body and soul.
 
Now, Jane opens wide the doors of her stunning home to share tips on entertaining, ideas for making any gathering a cozy yet classy affair, and some of her favorite dishes, ranging from tempting hors d’oeuvres like Sweet Corn and Chili Soup, to mouthwatering one-pot mains like Slow-Braised Onion Chicken, to sinfully satisfying desserts like Warm Chocolate and Banana Cake.

Kritters Thoughts:  Jane Green is a women's fiction author that I have loved for a long time, so when I found out she was coming out with a cookbook I was definitely intrigued!  When I received the pitch to get a review copy, I couldn't wait to see what kind of recipes Jane had included.

This cookbook is not for the new chef in the kitchen.  Her recipes aren't extremely complicated, but definitely not for the faint of heart - like me!  I am not the cook in our home, so I enjoyed reading it and may have pointed a few out to my husband, but I am not sure I could tackle some of them.

I did like that her cookbook was centered around entertaining.  I enjoyed that they were meals that were best shared with a home full of people.

I like this cookbook, but it won't be one that stays in my kitchen year round.  I would bring this one out if we were having a group over and needed some inspiration.


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Berkley NAL.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Snowfall on Haven Point by RaeAnne Thayne

Snowfall on Haven Point

by RaeAnne Thayne

Publisher: HQN Books

Pages: 384

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  There's no place like Haven Point for the holidays, where the snow conspires to bring two wary hearts together for a Christmas to remember  

It's been two rough years since Andrea Montgomery lost her husband, and all she wants is for her children to enjoy their first Christmas in Haven Point. But then Andie's friend asks a favor—to keep an eye on her brother, Sheriff Marshall Bailey, who's recovering from a hit and run. Andie will do anything for Wyn, even park her own misgivings to check on her grouchy, wounded bear of a brother.

Marshall hates feeling defenseless and resents the protective impulses that Andie brings out in him. But when a blizzard forces them together for the holidays, something in Marshall begins to thaw. Andie's gentle nature is a salve, and her kids' excitement for the holidays makes him forget why he never wanted a family. If only he and Andie can admit what they really want—each other—their Christmas wishes might come true after all. 

Kritters Thoughts:  The next installment in the Haven Point series.  This one centers around Sheriff Marshall Bailey and one of his neighbors Andrea Montgomery.  Andrea showed up in the end of the last book and is now taking center stage.  She is recovering from a stalker situation and Sheriff Bailey is recovering from a hit and run and trying to find out who did it.  Because Bailey's sister Wynona saved Andrea she feels like she owes her so she accepts the task of taking care of the Sheriff as he heals.  

I loved seeing this side of Andrea Montgomery.  It was great to have her story start after all the drama and although she is still feeling the affects of it, she is now past most of it.  I also loved Sheriff Marshall Bailey.  Being a person who lives his life on the go and now having to take a break and be down for the count for a bit was interesting to read.  I am married to a police officer who had surgery recently and was down for the count for a few weeks and reading Sheriff Bailey's story was almost like reliving it!  

As in all romance books and I have said this a few times, the ending is inevitable, but the story is worth the time to get to the obvious ending!  Start at the beginning of this series, it is worth every minute!


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Little Bird Publicity.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It's Monday, What are you Reading?

It was a hectic week and busy weekend, so not as much reading happened.  The next few weeks will hopefully be full of post season baseball, so maybe not as much reading happening in October.
A meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. 

Finished this past week:

Snowfall on Haven Point by RaeAnne Thayne
The Flower Arrangement by Ella Griffin
The Gone Dead Train by Lisa Turner

Currently Reading:

Devil Sent the Rain by Lisa Turner

Next on the TBR pile:

The Spice Box Letters by Eve Makis

September - beginning of fall

source

September was a good month.  There was great weather, great books and some good weekends.  October should be full of fall things, including post season baseball (go NATS!), all things pumpkin and a new wardrobe of booties and flannel!

1.  Stripped Bare by Shannon Baker
2.  Sunset in Central Park by Sarah Morgan
3. The House of Secrets by Brad Meltzer and Tod Goldberg
4. The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
5. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
6. The Girls in the Garden by Lisa Jewell
7. Marrow by Elizabeth Lesser
8. The Vanishing Year by Kate Moretti
9. The Goodbye Year by Kaira Rouda
10. The Secret Ways of Perfume by Cristina Caboni
11. Boy, 9, Missing by Nic Joseph
12. The Life She Wants by Robyn Carr
13. Brain Storm by Elaine Viets
14. The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter
15. Snowfall on Haven Point by RaeAnne Thayne
16. The Flower Arrangement by Ella Griffin

Total pages read, clicked, and flipped: 5,741

Where Have I Been Reading?:

Nebraska

New York City, NY (2)

Vietnam
Hampton, VA
London
Vermont
California
Paris
Chicago, IL
Sonoma County, CA
St. Louis, MO
Atlanta, GA
Idaho
Dublin, Ireland

Review: Brain Storm by Elaine Viets

Brain Storm

by Elaine Viets

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Pages: 322

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  The ultrawealthy families of Chouteau Forest may look down on a woman like death investigator Angela Richman, but they also rely on her. When a horrific car crash kills a Forest teenager, Angela is among the first on the scene. Her investigation is hardly underway, however, when she suffers a series of crippling strokes. Misdiagnosed by the resident neurologist, Dr. Gravois, and mended by gauche yet brilliant neurosurgeon Dr. Jeb Travis Tritt, Angela faces a harrowing recovery.

It’s a drug-addled, hallucinating Angela who learns that Dr. Gravois has been murdered…and the chief suspect is the surgeon who saved her life. Angela doesn’t believe it, but can she trust her instincts? Her brain trauma brings doubts that she’ll ever recover her investigative skills. But she’s determined to save Dr. Tritt from a death-row sentence—even if her progress is thwarted at every turn by a powerful and insular community poised to protect its own.

Kritters Thoughts:  A medical mystery that was just entertaining.  What started as I thought as just a mystery with the main character being a death investigator who shows up on scene to evaluate the person who died and gives an opinion on how they died.  She heads to the hospital with extreme headaches and the book takes an interesting turn about the drama that can happen in a hospital.

I was surprised by the book, but it ended up being a happy surprise.  I know there is drama in every workplace and what fun to read about extreme politics in the ranks of a hospital.  When it comes to hospitals I always think about the patients not those who work and now I may just think about the infighting and crazy that goes behind saving peoples lives!

I didn't predict the suspect, they came a little of no where and in this instance I was a little frustrated.  Sometimes I LOVE it when they come out of nowhere, but sometimes the surprise is frustrating because I like to think I am picking up on the clues.

Has anyone read Elaine Viets?  This was my first experience and I am intrigued if this is typical of her back list.


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2016 Challenge: 29 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Wunderkind PR.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.