The Cuckoo's Calling

After losing his leg to a land mine in Afghanistan, Cormoran Strike is barely scraping by as a private investigator. Strike is down to one client, and creditors are calling. He has also just broken up with his longtime girlfriend and is living in his office.

Then John Bristow walks through his door with an amazing story: His sister, thelegendary supermodel Lula Landry, known to her friends as the Cuckoo, famously fell to her death a few months earlier. The police ruled it a suicide, but John refuses to believe that. The case plunges Strike into the world of multimillionaire beauties, rock-star boyfriends, and desperate designers, and it introduces him to every variety of pleasure, enticement, seduction, and delusion known to man.

You may think you know detectives, but you've never met one quite like Strike. You may think you know about the wealthy and famous, but you've never seen them under an investigation like this.

Introducing Cormoran Strike, this is the acclaimed first crime novel by J.K. Rowling, writing under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.

*May Contain Spoilers*

J. K. Rowling's latest book, The Cuckoo's Calling, is a mature crime novel that centers around a supermodel's suicide. While Lula Landry is the focal point of the investigation, Strike becomes the main character as he tries to determine if the police missed some key evidence when ruling Lula's death as self-inflicted. 

Cormoran Strike is an experienced war veteran who also served with the military police force. He's always had the knack for close observation and he utilizes his unique skill set by working as a private eye. Strike is intelligent and curious, a former Oxford student. He's pushy, demanding, persuasive, and persistent. These traits, coupled with his attention to detail and ability to sell a lie, make him a damn good detective. While not working on the case, readers also learn that he is loving, thoughtful, and understanding. Readers will revel in his investigative nature but connect with his personality and past. The not-so-lovey side plot will bring readers close while the main story line keeps them reading.

The plot starts off slow, which is odd in a crime novel. The first two parts of the book work to set up the investigation and then the story takes off when readers learn that Strike has a theory - and so far it's spot on. Though, the theory isn't revealed until the end. It isn't an easy conclusion to draw but I think reader's will enjoy the surprise ending. There were a couple of typos in the Kindle edition, but nothing more than instant distractions. I love Rowling's writing style, her ability to apply intent to a description, and the thought process behind the character's actions. Highly recommended novel. 

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

WWW Wednesday (67)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

          

01. Currently Reading:
The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith and J.K. Rowling. A novel surrounding the mysterious death of a supermodel that was ruled a suicide but believed to be a murder by her brother.

02. Recently Finished:
Birth of a Nation by James Butler. Time travel novel in which the outcome of the Civil War is changed after a group of future Americans go back to 1861.

03. Reading Next:
Ever Near by Melissa MacVicar. Book 1 of the Secret Affinity series, blog tour coming up on October 5th.

Teaser Tuesday (80)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! 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!



The Cuckoo's Calling
   - Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling)

It'd be better for John if he'd just accept the facts. She killed herself.

Birth of a Nation

A group of friends create the opportunity to change history. They grab it with both hands, oblivious to what consequences altering time may bring. George Brinton McClellan is ecstatic over his latest promotion. Charged with bringing the rebels in Virginia to heel, he prepares to meet the rabble with a well trained, disciplined army. What he doesn't know is that events of the distant future are about to alter his life in ways he never expected. Birth of a Nation is a story of change, warning of the dangers when one people try to impose their will on others. The year is 1861 and the American Civil War threatens to ravage a continent. Can the band of friends from an uncertain future succeed in their quest, or is history doomed to repeat itself?

*May Contain Spoilers*

James Butler pens a novel where history is being rewritten. In a futuristic setting where the government has control over every aspect of citizen life, including internal thought, one man invents a time machine that opens a portal into the past. Birth of a Nation takes readers back to the Civil War, only this time, with help from the future, the Confederacy will succeed. 

James Butler is also the name of the main character in this book. He's intelligent, hopeful, insightful, and strong in his beliefs. When he transports hundreds of people and supplies to the year 1861, James is determined to alter the destiny of the United States. Readers will connect with him based on his dream to make a difference. 

The plot of the novel is intriguing by itself, even for a non-history buff and someone who can barely make it through war stories. I had trouble with the opening of the novel as it didn't strike me as being fully believable, especially the notion that the government had "Thought Police" and a single internal question could be considered treasonous. After the time travel device had transported the group of travelers back in time, the writing style and events became more understanding. Though the descriptive following of the Civil War was hard to keep a reign on and the characters ended up melding together. But, I kept reading. I enjoyed the time travel and altering history aspects of the book, but I couldn't help but wonder how much of history they were actually destroying because of what they'd taken to the past with them and how they planned on bringing parts of the future to the past. 

Rating: 2.5/5 Cups

WWW Wednesday (67)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

    

01. Currently Reading:
Birth of a Nation by James E Butler. I don't like war novels or history, but I do like time travel so I'm giving this one a shot.

02. Recently Finished:
I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler. When a girl's older sister finds out she has cancer, Tess must stand up and be the strong one for her family.

03. Reading Next:
The Cuckoo's Calling by J. K. Rowling under a pen name (Robert Galbraith) I had heard the Rowling wrote a book under a pen name earlier this year and when I came across it, I knew that I had to read it.

Teaser Tuesday (79)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! 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!



Birth of a Nation (Kindle Loc. 330-31)
   - James Butler

The ball was rolling now, and nothing would stop it until it went one hundred, fifty years back to a better time and place. Or at least, they would make it a better place.

I'm Not Her

Tess is the exact opposite of her beautiful, athletic sister. And that’s okay. Kristina is the sporty one, Tess is the smart one, and they each have their place. Until Kristina is diagnosed with cancer. Suddenly Tess is the center of the popular crowd, everyone eager for updates. There are senior boys flirting with her. Yet the smiles of her picture-perfect family are cracking and her sister could be dying. Now Tess has to fill a new role: the strong one. Because if she doesn’t hold it together, who will?

*May Contain Spoilers*

Janet Gurtler writes a novel brimming with intensity from the first word of I'm Not Her. Tess loves to hate her sister. She's everything a daughter should be, and everything Tess isn't. When Kristina finds out that she has a cancerous tumor growing in her leg and it may result in death or amputation, the world Tess is used to fitting into is destroyed. 

Tess is an incredibly strong character in this novel. It's almost like the ending cycle of her evolution. She emerges from her shell with more bravery and courage than she could ever hope for. Readers will connect with her based on the openness in which she shares her emotions. They'll also relate to the bigger picture of the novel: she's faced with a life-altering situation and must adapt. I love the sarcastic nature of Tess along with her blunt honesty. It's refreshing to have a character that tells it how it is. Not to say she isn't awkward at times, or that I liked her at every point in the novel, but I did relate to her.

The plot of the novel follows Kristina's diagnosis with bone cancer up to what happens after treatment. Looking through the eyes of Tess, the book grows in emotional intensity as the plot climaxes and ends with a heartbreaking death, of a character you don't expect. I enjoyed reading this book. I really did. It was passionate, honest, and consuming. But it was also incredibly depressing. After every reading session my entire mood had changed. I felt like this was happening to me. Maybe it's because I become absorbed in what I'm reading, or the author is just that good at conveying emotion. Either way, though I recommend this novel, it isn't for everyone. Know your emotional limits and if this book is too much for them, then honor that.

Rating: 2.5/5 Cups

Teaser Tuesday (78)

 

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! 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!



I'm Not Her (8% on Kindle)
   - Janet Gurtler


Kristina's top lip quivers a second but then she swallows and looks right into my eyes. A cold feeling runs up my spine and a chill settles on my arms.

The Rockin' Chair

Memories are the ultimate contradiction. They can warm us on our coldest days or they can freeze a loved one out of our lives forever. The McCarthy family has a trove of warm memories. Of innocent first kisses. Of sumptuous family meals. Of wondrous lessons learned at the foot of a rocking chair. But they also have had their share of icy ones. Of words that can never be unsaid. Of choices that can never be unmade. Of actions that can never be undone.

Following the death of his beloved wife, John McCarthy (Grandpa John) calls his family back home. It is time for them to face the memories they have made, both warm and cold. Only then can they move beyond them and into the future.

*May Contain Spoilers*

From secrets hidden behind carefully forged masks to ghosts that haunt their waking lives, every family has problems. This McCarthys are no different. Steven Manchester reveals their heavy hearts and their journey to light in his novel, The Rockin' Chair. 

When Grampa John requested his grandchildren to return to their Montana home, he was only thinking how much it would mean for them to see their grandmother before she passed on. He wasn't expecting to discover that despair had overwhelmed the lives of each of his family members. When he learns how much help his family needs, Grampa John vows to stay on earth long enough to help each member find their way out of darkness. 

The greatest thing about this novel is the variety of characters. Each reader will be able to connect with at least one of the members of the McCarthy family, if not more. Grampa John has just lost his wife and is determined to put the pieces of his family back together. Hank is John's son and has never felt accepted, nor completely loved by his father. Their relationship is estranged, even though they live on the same farm. Hank wants trust and openness with his father, but his stubborn nature threatens to keep the two men apart. 

Elle is Hank's wife and she's always been strong, for other people. She puts everyone ahead of herself and doesn't think twice about it. She takes care of her mother-in-law as she suffers from Alzheimer's while remaining solid in her role as a wife. 

The grandchildren each have their own demons that Grampa John soon recognizes. George is in the military, just returning from an overseas tour where he killed a young boy. He feels nothing but guilt and remorse as he tries to adjust to civilian life. Readers will feel the regret in George's heart and connect with him easily. Evan has just lost the love of his life - or so he thought. With Grampa John's advice and age-old wisdom, Evan learns to live for others and come to terms with the fate of his relationship. Readers  won't have any problem relating to Evan. Though he can be a little too soft-hearted (maybe even corny) at times, his personality comes through stronger in the second half of the novel. Tara dreamed of being an actress but instead fell into alcoholism and drug addiction. Though she's the least explored character in the book, readers will connect with her plight to overcome her ailment. 

The plot of The Rockin' Chair is simple and straight-forward, emphasizing the growth of the characters instead of the events that occur around them. As the McCarthy family heals, the reader/character connection strengthens. The dialogue has an awkward feel at times, and certain situations allow for more fictionalized reactions, but the overall sense of the novel is powerful. It's amazing to see a family pull together after a tragedy and Manchester captures the essence of familial love in this new novel.

 Rating: 3/5 Cups

Canvas Bound - Blog Tour

Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Libby Tanner’s art comes to life. Her painted skies turn from day to night, leaves rustle on trees, and sometimes, a mystery boy appears.

While attending England’s Aldridge Art Academy, Libby meets charming Brent Henderson, a performing arts student who showers her with attention. But his rival, gorgeous Dean James, is the one who occupies her mind, even though he’s very much attached to his current girlfriend.

Libby soon learns there’s more to both Brent and Dean than she ever imagined. In order to save her future and the boy who’s captured her heart, she must unlock the secrets behind her art by entering the most dangerous place of all… the world within her paintings.

But once she steps into the canvas, she risks being trapped forever.

Review:
Laura M. Kolar not only brings art to life, but threatens to bind viewers to the world behind the paint in her new novel, Canvas Bound. When Libby started painting as a young girl, she discovered a stranger traveling through her art. Now as a teenager, she may be able to help him escape.

Libby, an amazingly talented painter, is the main character in this captivating novel. Studying abroad, this art student is psychically creative, overly imaginative, loyal to those she cares about, and just to everyone around her. Readers will enjoy her clumsy demeanor and her ability to lose herself in the art she loves to create. They'll also love the mystery that she finds herself in and find themselves wishing they could help Libby solve the puzzle. Seeing a stranger in her work, cryptic warnings from other students, and a secret family history are only small clues in the grand scheme of Libby's life.

The plot of Canvas Bound is enjoyable for both mature, young readers and adult readers. The mystery of Olivia's adopted past and her artistic ability to paint living images will intrigue readers and set their imaginations into motion. (The love triangle doesn't hurt either.) However, there are adult situation and sections of mature language that aren't suitable for all audiences.

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

Meet the Author:
Laura M. Kolar lives with her husband and daughter in a one-stop-light town in northern-lower Michigan. Though she didn’t discover her love of books until she turned thirty, as a self-declared hopeless romantic, she has spent the past few years reading and writing stories with mostly happy endings.


If she’s not at her day-job or with her family, you will find her sipping a cup of chai latte while sitting in her favorite rocking chair, hunched over her laptop writing or spending entirely too much time on Twitter.





Buy the Book:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

a Rafflecopter giveaway

WWW Wednesday (66)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

01. Currently Reading:
The Rockin' Chair by Steven Manchester. Novel about a wife suffering from Alzheimer's, a husband whose memories help him feel alive, and the family surrounding them.

02. Recently Finished:
Canvas Bound by Laura M. Kolar. Wonderful book about a young painter and why her pieces come to life.

03. Reading Next:
Birth of a Nation by James Butler. A science fiction novel about time travel and the chance to change the past.

Teaser Tuesday (77)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! 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!

The Rockin' Chair (p. 20)
   - Steven Manchester


To Alice, it was truth - all of it. Even the wildest stories that danced between fact and fiction, past and present, were very real to her.

August Wrap-Up

A lot of different genres made up the August reading list. I loved every minute of it. :) The Clock of Life had to be my favorite! It made it on the 5/5 Cups list after all.