Better in the Morning

Veronica Buccino has a plan: marry John DelMonico and quit her soul-sucking job as a lawyer. And when he tells her he has big news, she’s certain he’ll pop the question. But instead of proposing, John informs her that he’s moving to London.

Heartbroken, Veronica feels lost. Salvatore and Antoinette, her dead grandparents, begin to visit her dreams in an attempt to steer her in the right direction. At their suggestion, Veronica takes a news reporting class, which leads to a challenging freelance assignment covering a conspiracy trial. She also begins dating an unlikely suitor: creative Syd Blackman.

Just when her love life and career are looking up, Veronica is tossed back to square one by an event that makes her question all her new choices.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Another girl who listens to her dreams! Better in the Morning by Fern Ronay was a beautiful story about a woman who's stuck in a job she hates with a boyfriend who doesn't really get her. But things are about to change. Really change. With the help of her deceased grandparents, who speak to her in her dreams, Veronica's life is about to undergo a serious make-over for the better. The process may not be easy but it is definitely entertaining. 

Veronica is ready for real love that lasts a lifetime and she thinks that John will give that to her. But suddenly, he's moving across the globe and she's left with nothing but a job where she is treated like crap. Given, she doesn't love the job so she doesn't really put in the work it would take to succeed. Regardless, her boss and co-worker are a combination of cruel and cold. Veronica is a woman who believes. She has an abundant amount of faith that guides her through life. She may be a little judgmental but she's loving and hopeful. Readers will relate to her career struggles, her fear, and her hopes. She has bills to pay and it's hard to take a leap changing job fields, but she hopes for the best. With humor and dream sequences, Veronica will make it through this. 

My favorite parts of the book were the dream chapters. In these, Veronica gets to hang out with her deceased grandparents who are full of love and laughter. I think these sequences are where readers will really connect with Veronica. They get to read her thoughts by living her dreams with her. The dreams are intimate and important situations that lead Veronica to happiness while helping her leap over the obstacles. 

The plot of Better in the Morning begins with Veronica and her boyfriend breaking up because he's moving to London. She thought he was going to propose and is absolutely heartbroken. Not all readers have been in that exact situation but the experience of a relationship ending is easy to relate to. However, this loss turns into a little push for Veronica. She starts a news-reporting class and even goes on a few dates. Things are looking up until they all fall apart again. Veronica has to fight for her happy ending and readers will enjoy watching her climb out of the chaos. 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

Seeking the Star

One December night, in the sleepy Cotswold village of Chilton Crosse, a drifter named Ben collapses on George and Mary Cartwright’s snow-covered doorstep. As Christmas cheer spreads throughout the village with a Dickens-themed festival, Mary nurses Ben back to health, but she becomes curious about the secrets he seems to carry.

On Christmas Eve, one of Ben’s secrets accidentally comes to light, forcing him to confront the darkness of his past and to rediscover the faith he once knew.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Looking for a book to help you into the holiday spirit? Traci Borum introduces a new face to the Chilton Crosse community in her latest book, Seeking the Star. A man who has lost everything he ever wanted stumbles into the Chilton Crosse village and collapses on the doorstep of George and Mary Cartwright. They take him in, determined to save a young man's life, but they do so much more than that. 

Ben, George, and Mary are the three main characters of this novel. Ben Granger crawls into Chilton Crosse, barely hanging on to life. He couldn't guess the date or say when he ate his last meal. In fact, it's more like life is hanging on to him. All Ben knows is that there's a chance that if he never stops running, then maybe his memories won't catch up to him. He's wrong of course, but Ben is a man who has been beaten down and you can't blame someone for trying. He's at his lowest point. And for a very understandable reason, though I'll let Ben tell you himself after you get your hands on this book. Readers will be intrigued by the mystery surrounding Ben and it will form the initial connection. Once their curiosity is piqued, readers won't be able to stop until all hidden pasts have been revealed. I read this entire novel in less than a day. The emotional bond I felt with each of the main characters was substantial and I couldn't relax until I knew every detail. 

George and Mary form a different, yet similar connection with the reader. They're an elderly couple who have lived in Chilton Crosse for some time. Though they help and support Ben, they are living with their own tragedy, the loss of their son. Readers will sympathize with George and Mary while also feeling an overwhelming sense of pride and deep respect for them. Their struggle for happiness is a tough one, but they reach for it all the same. I can't imagine putting the pieces back together after the loss of a child, but George and Mary's story is that trial and, at times, that triumph. 

The plot of Seeking the Star is focused on the emotional journey of Ben, George, and Mary. Though it's obvious from the beginning that Ben needs the Cartwright's help, they come to need him too. The good qualities of each character make them all easy to like as readers witness their attempt at living life after tragedy. 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

The Disillusioned

A mother's suicide threatens to destroy a family legacy. Her sons, Sam and Daniel, are forced to leave their comfortable worlds behind and search for a woman they believe can unlock the secrets that have remained hidden. They are propelled into separate journeys from Los Angeles to the heart of the Zambezi, where they are forced to confront a man known as Die Duiwel, the Devil.

On their adventures they will find themselves in a place where death is one breath away, where thousands of children are disappearing into the darkness, and where the woman they are searching for is on the hunt for revenge. When they stand face-to-face with the forgotten slaves of Africa, they will fight to redeem what has been lost.

*May Contain Spoilers*

D.J. Williams explores family legacy, loyalty, and love with his novel The Disillusioned. Facing a newly discovered family secret may be the key to bringing two brothers back together after their mother's suicide. Daniel and Sam share the main character role as they try to move on and accept what happened to their mom though the will of their mother has other plans for the two men. 

Daniel is a man who has lost his way. He's unsure of himself, embarrassed by his lack of faith, and has lost his will. Readers will connect with Daniel's nature and his attempt to change the path he's on by obeying his mother's last wishes - to find a woman named Stella who was raised an orphan in Africa. As he flies across the world to track down this woman, he uncovers a family secret that threatens to destroy the family name.

Sam is the black sheep of the family and he's been running away since he was old enough to be called an adult. But when his brother goes missing in the heart of Africa, he has no choice but to put away his ill-willed feelings and save Daniel. Readers will bond with Sam based on his loyalty and respect him for his bravery, instincts, and sacrifice. 

The plot of the novel focuses on human trafficking in Africa and how it influences politics. Some of the places and political terminology was a bit confusing, but with some close reading I believe any reader could enjoy this book. The character connections stay strong throughout the entire novel though the names of the political leaders do seem to jumble together at times. The Disillusioned is a quick start thriller that takes readers into a realm where survival is key. Recommended for mature audiences. 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

The Disillusioned

Eat Pray Love

In her early thirties, Elizabeth Gilbert had everything a modern American woman was supposed to want--husband, country home, successful career--but instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she felt consumed by panic and confusion. This wise and rapturous book is the story of how she left behind all these outward marks of success, and of what she found in their place. Following a divorce and a crushing depression, Gilbert set out to examine three different aspects of her nature, set against the backdrop of three different cultures: pleasure in Italy, devotion in India, and on the Indonesian island of Bali, a balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence.

**

A collection of 108 short pieces combine to form Eat Pray Love, the nonfiction bestseller by Elizabeth Gilbert. Faced with unhappiness and an overwhelming depression, Elizabeth begins a journey to become closer to God and pull herself out of the darkness that has consumed her life. 

Each short essay is a puzzle piece that creates a world where Elizabeth can be devout in her faith and in herself. She bares all in this novel, throwing down the gauntlet and astoundingly admitting her every fault. Gilbert connects with readers through her admission of guilt, shortcomings, and life experiences. Each life experience may not resonate with every reader, but every reader will definitely recognize at least one common denominator between themselves and Gilbert. 

The journey that she faces is one of erratic ups and downs. As she travels through India, Indonesia, and Italy, Gilbert documents her feelings of love and loss. Both which let her find God, moving away from the past and into the present. 

Though some of the essays are tedious to read and hard to connect with, the writing style of Gilbert brings life to the death of her depression. She gives readers an account on how she discovered a path out of her personal hell. I found Eat Pray Love to be a lovely book of expanding hope and would recommend it happily.

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

Blue Like Jazz

In Donald Miller's early years, he was vaguely familiar with a distant God. But when he came to know Jesus Christ, he pursued the Christian life with great zeal. Within a few years he had a successful ministry that ultimately left him feeling empty, burned out, and, once again, far away from God. In this intimate, soul-searching account, Miller describes his remarkable journey back to a culturally relevant, infinitely loving God.

**

I picked up this book after reading the recommendation over at Should Be Reading and seeing that the movie was coming out soon (Aug 7th). It sounded like it was going to be a great read. "Non-religious thoughts on christian spirituality?" Very enticing... And very rewarding. 

Donald Miller's book, Blue Like Jazz, is different from the books I normally read. Instead of being a novel that follows a specific plot arc focusing on character development and story line, it is a collection of essays. 

Each essay focuses on a different aspect of religion: faith, love, grace, redemption, etc. I loved how Miller broke down his thoughts on Christianity into small, understandable essays that focused on various parts of his life. 

The way Miller wrote Blue Like Jazz doesn't just tell readers what they need to know, it shows them how certain aspects of religion evolved in his own life. How they came out of the wood work and revealed themselves. How he faced many, many obstacles in order to truly be proud of himself as a Christian and come to know Jesus. 

And honestly, this book isn't just for Christians. I was a bit worried that it would be solely focused on recruiting the masses, but it isn't. It's one man's journey to find belief. Faith. Miller even admits that he doesn't like Christian writers who only write to create propaganda. 

The one flaw in the book that I found was the repetition of statements and sometimes Miller seemed to fail at reaching his point. I think the fact these essay were stand-alone-pieces created the repetition. I would have liked the entire book much more if it had flowed better. At times it seemed choppy and uneven, especially at the beginning of a new essay. 

The way Miller writes is very conversational. It's easy to read and easy to understand. But I found myself reading in circles, wondering if Miller meant to write in circles. He would swim around the main point of his topic, but sometimes run out of breath before he got there. Leaving us readers to draw our own conclusions. Which can, of course, be good. Sometimes. But when I'm reading about a man's thoughts on his religious beliefs, I want him to make the statement. Boldly. 

I have to say, though I did have a few issues, I highly recommend this book. My dad read a chapter, and he was laughing at the end of it. Miller brings humor and reality into the realm of religion, stating his doubts and questioning his evolution through spirituality, all while letting readers glimpse the process. 

rating: 3/5 cups