A New Hope (Thunder Point #8)

After losing her child, Ginger Dysart was lost in grief. But since moving to Thunder Point, a small town on the Oregon coast, and with the help of her cousin Ray Anne, Ginger is finally moving forward. Her job at the flower shop is peaceful and fulfilling, and she's excited to start her first big assignment, assisting with the Lacoumette wedding.

In spite of her lasting heartache, Ginger finds herself swept up in the pleasure of the occasion. But the beauty of the Lacoumette farm and the joy of the gregarious family are ruined by an unfortunate encounter with the bride's brother, Matt. Struggling with painful memories of his own recent divorce, Matt makes a drunken spectacle of himself and Ginger when he tries to make a pass at her, forcing Ginger to flee the scene in embarrassment.

But when Matt shows up at the flower shop determined to make amends, what started out as a humiliating first meeting blossoms into something much deeper than either of them expected. Discovering they have a lot in common, they form a solid friendship, though everyone around them worries that Ginger will end up with a broken heart yet again. But if Ginger has the courage to embrace the future, and if Matt can finally learn to let go of the past, there may still be hope for a happy ending.

*May Contain Spoilers*

 

Every once in a while, readers need a book that is just a feel good story. A story that will lighten the mood, bring a smile, maybe even spark a little inspiration. Robyn Carr delivers exactly that in her the eighth installment of the Thunder Point series, A New Hope.

 

Two main characters, two similar stories of heartache, two dreams of moving on to the future. Ginger is the nicest woman you've ever met or will ever meet. She loves helping people whatever it may entail. She made the mistake of marrying the wrong man when she was a bit younger and heartbreakingly lost a baby to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Though she's lived through the darkest of depressions, Ginger is starting to rediscover herself and her hope for the future. Readers will enjoy her honesty, her goodness, and her open-hearted nature. She's a character that is easy to connect to and easy to understand.

 

Matt is a little more difficult to understand but he's still rather relatable. He also married the wrong woman when he was younger. And it was awful. An aspiring model doesn't exactly fit in on the farm and his wife never did, but the main reason he divorced her is a secret. A secret that's eating at him. A secret that he has never told anyone. Matt is a little worse off than Ginger, as she has had a bit more time to let go of her misfortunes. But they both still struggle. They dream of a life full of love and family. A life that seems, at times, unobtainable. Readers will come to care for the brooding farmer as he attempts to sweep Ginger off her feet, but if he can't let go of his anger then there will be no happy future.

 

The story line is a nice and easy tale of falling in love and choosing that love over hate. Matt and Ginger meet at his sister's wedding and when Matt realizes that he made a complete fool out of himself to a beautiful woman, he must track her down and apologize, over dinner. Thus begins a friendship that inspires new hope for the future, together. Readers will certainly be entertained by the couple's banter, decisions to overcome their obstacles, and let go of their darkness. Oh, and a little romance. Wonderful, quick, easy read.

 

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups



Taking Leaps and Finding Ghosts

Dreams aren’t just for the young, and Ginny Lawther is happy to prove that even at the age of fifty-eight she can still brave a leap of faith…she just needs a little prodding from like-minded individuals. Step one: place an ad in the local newspaper inviting other dreamers to form an Ideal Life Club. Step two: see if anyone shows up.

When Ginny meets four hopeful strangers at the first club meeting, she thinks they’re off to a great start.

Now it's only a matter of time before the sixty-something widow Hilda turns her crafting into a full-time career; the twenty-something Jerry becomes a professional musician; and the thirty-something housewife Lydia publishes her cookbook. That is, until the rugged divorcé, Lee, sets a goal to solve his ghost problem—and upends all their lives!

Suddenly the support group isn’t just trying to navigate the ups and downs of pursuing their dreams; they’re also wrestling with a strange cast of spirits who keep interrupting their endeavors. What do these apparitions want? And why have they latched on to the Ideal Lifers?

Haunting, humorous, and hopeful, Taking Leaps and Finding Ghosts sparks the imagination and breathes unexpected life into everyday reality.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Janet DeLee experiments with the inclusion of the supernatural in everyday life, with everyday people, in her novel Taking Leaps and Finding Ghosts. The Ideal Life Club is a way for the main character, Ginny to be inspired, held accountable, and help others do the same. In doing so, each member of the group will potentially see success. This simple idea brings the members of the club together, and it does the same for readers. The book is both inspiring and entertaining, demonstrating how, no matter your age or your dream, success can be achieved.

Ginny, Jerry, Lee, Hilda, and Lydia make up the Ideal Life Club. They each have specific goals and DeLee shares their endeavors with the readers as the six months (the club's set time frame) drifts by. Ginny wants to own her own home, a very relatable goal, but she has no idea of what to do first and that ups her anxiety level. Readers will understand Ginny's anxiousness. Buying a home is a big deal, no matter your age. Through this, readers will easily connect with Ginny. 

Jerry dreams of being a musician but has terrible stage fright. The group helps him take a few baby steps before encouraging him to dive into his passion. His courage and determination are impressive. Readers will be rooting Jerry on from the beginning. 

Hilda hopes that one day she can financially support herself with her love of crafting. Her creative spirit definitely aligned with my own and I felt especially connected to Hilda. She's a loving, open-minded, supportive woman who loves to help others. It's easy to bond with Hilda's character as she works toward her goal. 

Lydia is the chef of the group and wants to create her own cookbook for a fundraising event. She's the only main character that I didn't feel a connection with. Though I thought her dream was a good one, (I can barely cook myself!) I didn't think DeLee went as in-depth with Lydia as she did with the other characters. I would have liked to have seen Lydia and her daughter cooking together and witnessing how the food preparation brought them together. 

Lee is the wrench in this solid group of Ideal Lifers as his goal is uncharted territory. He wants to find a way to make spirits leave him, and his construction business, alone. His grandmother tried to tell Lee that he had the gift, but he refused to accept it. I understand how this situation would be mighty frustrating and I think Lee's brave for acknowledging what could be happening instead of ignoring it. Readers will enjoy the mystery that Lee brings to the table, but I think the synopsis blows it a bit bigger than it is. The whole book is not about ghosts. It is about the Ideal Life Club, ghosts just happen to be a part of it. 

Regardless, I think many readers will enjoy the diverse group of characters and find a connection with at least one of them. The plot is interesting enough as DeLee does a good job eliciting an emotional response when one of the main characters take a step toward their goal. But I did feel like there was a bit left out at the end. A blossoming relationship was hinted at with Lee which was not clearly wrapped up. Neither was his 'gift.' I wanted to know if he really was able to communicate with spirits or if it was a fluke. But I can live with not knowing, it's like not scratching an itch. 

Rating: 3/5 Cups

Red Queen

This is a world divided by blood - red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare's potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance - Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart...

*May Contain Spoilers*

Wowza! I haven't read a book that has impressed, surprised, and entertained without disappointment in a while, but Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard delivered. With just a friend's recommendation (librarian's always give the best), I picked up Red Queen. And subsequently devoured it. Full of practiced liars, this book is dancing with deceit and laced with betrayal, yet behind it all, hope is hiding in the shadows. 

Mare Barrow is the main character in this futuristic, rebellious novel. She's a Red, which means she's a commoner, barely worth the clothes she wears. She has no talent, no job, and is only a year away from being forced into the army. Mare is a pickpocket, stealing from her own people to try to help her family. However, she unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your view point) picks the pockets of the wrong man and lands a job at the castle. Which leads to the biggest scandal in Red Blooded history. Mare isn't a normal Red; she's a mutation, an aberration. And the castle must hide this information. 

Suddenly, Mare's a Silver Lady, pretending her heritage is one of tragedy and strength. She must lie to save her own life and this brings out her true nature. Mare is a powerful girl who can control electricity. She's brave, incredibly loyal, a little naive, courageous beyond a doubt, and knows what she stands for. Mare dares to believe that one day the world will let go of it's war and greed. Readers will thoroughly enjoy watching Mare as she discovers her abilities, fights for her family and all other commoners, all while trying to learn the intricacies of castle life. 

At the beginning of this novel, I felt like I was falling into a retelling of The Heir mixed with magical powers. The story began with Mare and a strong depiction of her normal life labelled as a nothing, a nobody. All of the unfortunate situations in the first hundred pages were thorough examples of a hard life. Then she meets a mysterious man who whisks her away to the castle, giving her a job and a way out of the army. The stranger revealed as the Prince was a bit predictable, and I must say I scoffed at this. Then Mare falls onto an electrical screen and everything, including my view of the book thus far, changed. Suddenly, Mare is the lightning girl and she's joining the rebellion and falling in love and I am completely enchanted. The whole story was incredible after that point and I dare say none of my other predictions came true, which was frustratingly glorious. After all, if I've learned anything from Aveyard, it's that anyone can betray anyone.

Rating: 4.5/5 Cups

Photo Friday

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/229120699768768403/
http://www.buzzfeed.com/summeranne/adorably-tiny-versions-of-normal-sized-things#.mjgjMnQX7

Tiny book collection!

I need this. Or something similar.

Wonder if it's real or just a beautifully handmade craft.

Photo Friday

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/229120699768677387/
http://writerswrite.co.za/reading-comic

Best e-card I've seen yet.

Photo Sharing Friday

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/229120699768515283/
http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/what-to-do-with-all-those-books?sub=2268207_1216905#.unPKl63ma

I do this -- stack books everywhere and let them decorate the otherwise lonely looking nooks. 

When I bake, I even have to move books to let things cool. 

I do not consider this a problem.

Die For Me

Katherine Cole thought her fiance was the perfect man until he turned out to be the perfect killer. He left his victims stabbed through the heart holding a telltale single red rose and was deemed the Valentine Killer. Three years ago he vanished. Now he's back. And he's hunting the one who got away. In New Orleans, Katherine dared to hope she was finally safe, yet somehow he found her. This time, Katherine won't just sit silently by; she'll do anything to stop the monster she once loved, even trust the sexy cop promising to keep her safe?

Detective Dane Black never lets his emotions interfere with the job, even as the Valentine Killer surfaces in New Orleans to stalk his prey. But when Dane agrees to protect the killer's ex-fiance, he can't ignore the passion kindling between them. After a single unforgettable night binds them body and soul, Dane won't rest until Katherine is safe in his arms and the Valentine Killer is dead.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Mystery. Romance. Murder. Die For Me by Cynthia Eden is an exhilarating hunt through the streets of New Orleans for a killer who vanished three years prior. I was hanging on to Eden's every word as the plot became as murky as a Louisiana swamp. 

Katherine and Dane are the two main characters in this novel. Though when the Valentine killer enters the picture, the story becomes a trifecta of fear, love, and survival. Katherine is an unbelievably strong woman. She dated, and was engaged to, a serial killer. She entered the witness protection program and tried to start a new life, but always looking over her shoulder is not the kind of life Katherine wants. Readers will enjoy Katherine and understand why she has become who she is. Afraid to live, afraid to love. Readers will commend her on her fighting attitude. She's ready to take a stand and take her life back. Of course, Katherine could use some help. Perhaps in the form of a sexy police detective named Dane Black. 

Readers will completely love Detective Dane Black. Eden definitely knows how to write a delicious romance and her descriptions of Dane are hard to resist. He's a good cop with a few ghosts in his past. Dane is protective, strong, honest, and intelligent. Readers will come to trust him during the novel and the investigation within. There's something about a fictional man in uniform who vows to take down the bad guy. 

The plot of Die For Me was exceptionally intriguing. One twist, I saw coming quite early. But lucky for me and all readers, there is more than just one surprise. Eden keeps things moving at a nice pace with a new clue or another body ready to be discovered. Her writing style was enjoyable and a perfect fit for the novel. At first I thought the idea of a Valentine killer would be a little bit cliche/corny and annoying but Eden pulls it off quite nicely. 

Rating: 3/5 Cups

All the Butterflies in the World - Blog Tour

Synopsis
With her senior year looming, Tess McKinnon has two goals: hanging out with her best friend, Liz, and avoiding her judgmental, alcoholic mother. Then yummy John Bartley arrives—to tell Mrs. McKinnon that her daughter is dead. Distinctly still alive, Tess is baffled by John’s tales of 1800s time travel, rewritten lives, and love. She knows she’s never seen him before, but her feelings refuse to be denied.

When Tess and John discover an aged newspaper clipping that indicates John’s uncle was hanged for Tess’s murder in 1875, John decides to return to his time to save his uncle’s life, but when Tess checks the article after John’s departure, she is horrified to discover that John has been hanged instead.

Armed with determination and modern ingenuity, Tess must abandon her past and risk her future for a chance to catch her own killer and find her first love for the second time.









Review
After The Sun, the Moon, and Maybe the Trains left readers filled with melancholy and heartbreak, we hoped that wouldn't be the end for our friends John and Tess. All the Butterflies in the World open with John traveling to Tess's Mom's house to deliver the bad news: Tess is dead. But somehow, when John traveled to the year 2009, he arrived earlier than the previous trip. And Tess is alive.

John and Tess are both wonderful characters, and they share the role of main character perfectly. John is the most polite and respectful young man that anyone would expect to come out of 1875. While Tess is the loud and somewhat inappropriate yet strong and brave young woman that she has to be. Readers will enjoy the humor that emits from John and Tess, while also noticing their slow fall into love. While the first book did create initial bonds between readers and our two main characters, this book takes it a step further. Because John travels to an earlier time in 2009, Tess doesn't remember him and thus their relationship restarts at the beginning. Readers witness John's struggle to convince Tess that what he says is the truth, trying, at the same time, to keep from scaring her.

When John goes back into the past to try to set a few things right, all of a sudden his life is on the line. Charged with Tess's murder, John spends countless days in jail praying for a miracle and filled with regret at leaving Tess. Meanwhile, in the 2009, historical documents suddenly change, telling Tess what happens. Though thinking she may have jumped off the deep end, Tess refuses to let John die. Readers will love Tess's problem-solving attitude and understand her fear. The actions that both main characters take are respectable and solidify the bond formed with the readers.

The plot of All the Butterflies in the World is filled with humor, excitement, and surprise. John and Tess reconnect in 2009, a few days before the first book takes place. After the initial shock of Tess being alive and well, John tries to rekindle their friendship. In an attempt to let him prove his claims, Tess takes John to a museum where they learn of his family's fate. And the rest is trying to change history. Readers who enjoy a sweet love story and time travel conundrums will absolutely adore this sequel. I think the best part of the book was the subtle claim that everything had worked out the way it was meant to.

Rating: 4.5/5 Cups

Meet the Author
While a past resident of Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Florida, New York, and Vermont, Rodney now resides in Richmond, Indiana, where he whiles away his days pecking at a laptop, riding his ten-speed up the Cardinal Greenway, taking long walks with his daughter, or backpacking and wilderness camping.

His list of past occupations reads like his list of past residences, though his life-long ambition was to be an artist until he discovered a latent affinity for writing.

“In art,” Rodney says, “I was constantly being asked to explain images constructed from a palette of emotions and ideas, which usually required complex narratives to convey their meaning, if there even was a meaning. In writing, the words are creating the images, images are telling a story, the story is evoking feelings. I like it. There’s nothing to explain.”


Rodney’s interests include: art, science, politics, whiskey and chocolate, music (collecting vinyl records), gardening, and travel.

All the Butterflies in the World Available at:

Amazon/Barnes & Noble/Google Play

Begin Tess and John's story in:

The Sun, the Moon, and Maybe the Trains 

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Photo Friday

Found on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/229120699768038122/
http://pinkheelspinktruck.com/gift-guide-for-book-lovers/

For those of you shopping for fellow book lovers. Another blog came up with a wonderful and impressive list of gifts.

Pink Heels Pink Truck

Photo Friday

http://www.buzzfeed.com/ariellecalderon/things-that-belong-in-every-bookworms-dream-home?sub=2625138_1806676#199cuw
Found on Pinterest 

This is amazing creative craftsmanship. I would very much like a pair, please. :) 

Photo Friday

Spotted this and had to snap a picture. 

Photo Friday

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/229120699767854884/
http://www.someecards.com/usercards/viewcard/MjAxMy04OWJkY2FhYTYxYzQ1YWQ1

How many times have I said this to my husband? 

...

Photo Friday

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/229120699767713736/

Photo Friday

Found on Pinterest, Linked From tressugar.com

Friday Photo

Pinterest Source: thespngames.tumblr.com

Going book shopping today so I thought this was appropriate! :) 

Wrap-Up January 2013

January was a wonderful month full of books that hold promise for the up and coming TBR. =) My favorite book had to be... Beirut. It definitely surprised me with how much I enjoyed the novel and am incredibly glad that I got to review it! =) 

I also got one book under my belt in the Genre Variety Challenge and am looking forward to reading another book in the Fantasy Genre in February. 

Happy Reading everyone! 

Teaser Tuesday (36)

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!

Bone Blind (Kindle Loc. 34-36)
     - Abigail Padgett

Occasionally a muffled sound was generated by the body of the man as one and then another internal organ collapsed. The sound was sporadic murmuring like conversation heard through a wall, curious and incomprehensible.

Should Be Reading @ Wordpress

The 4-Hour Workweek

Forget the old concept of retirement and the rest of the deferred-life plan–there is no need to wait and every reason not to, especially in unpredictable economic times. Whether your dream is escaping the rat race, experiencing high-end world travel, earning a monthly five-figure income with zero management, or just living more and working less, The 4-Hour Workweek is the blueprint.

**

Timothy Ferriss shares his experience of living a richer life by working less with his book, The 4-Hour Workweek. 

His concepts are thought provoking and inspiring as anyone can do them. Work remotely, start a business, spend more time doing what you love. All things are possible. 

The first half of this book explains DEAL. A four step process to working less. Definition. Elimination. Automation. Liberation. While the second half of the book explains how you can move forward in business, life, and traveling the world by using this method. 

The best part about this book is it truly shows the reader how to accomplish everything. Ferriss provides in-depth research and examples of how it all can be achieved. He also includes websites, books, and other businesses that will help you complete more work in less time. The 4-Hour Workweek also includes stories from people around the world who read this book and how it worked! 

An added bonus: his companion website. www.fourhourworkweek.com 

I think everyone should read this and learn that how you live your life is optional! I know that I'm definitely going to apply what I've learned from this book so that I can enjoy life without feeling I have to "work for work's sake." 

Rating: 4.5/5 cups

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich (Expanded and Updated)

Become

Sixteen-year old Desolation Black wants nothing more than to stay in Hell where it’s cold and lonely and totally predictable. Instead, she’s sent back to Earth where she must face the evil she despises and the good she always feared.

When Desi is forced to embrace her inner demon, she assumes her choice has been made—that she has no hope of being anything other than what her father, Lucifer, has created her to be. What she doesn’t count on, is finding a reason to change—something she’s never had before—a friend.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Ali Cross takes Hell to a whole new level with her novel, Become, focusing around Lucifer's daughter -- Desolation. The story line is a question of when Desi will choose to accept her inner demon, in other words: become. But Desi doesn't like being an evil force. Which definitely produces a problem for dear, old dad. 

Desi was an easy character to like but not an easy one to understand or really form a strong connection with. Her thoughts, hopes, and fears were often jumbled together. I had a hard time discerning what Desi was aiming for in her rebellion. She disliked being evil but still wanted to return to Hell? Huh? 

Though readers will form a basic connection with Desi based on her insecurities and honesty as a teenage girl, I'm unsure if the bond will strengthen throughout the rest of the book.  

The plot line itself was interesting, but still very confusing. Desi travels to Earth in order to "train" in her journey to become a demon. But when it seems that she has, it turns out that she hasn't. She actually has a choice to opt out of demon-ness. Then angels get involved and a tornado of misunderstanding swoops in. The worst thing was the word choice by Cross. Throughout the novel, there are several different names for the same thing and when used interchangeably readers can easily get lost. I know that I did. Often. 

Become has a great story idea and wonderful characters to build upon, but it didn't feel like a final version to me. Cross's creativity was fresh and intriguing. (I did finish the entire book) But, sadly, I don't think I'll be going back for book two. 

Rating: 2/5 cups

Become: a novel of Desolation