October Wrap-Up

Back to a steady reading pace in October. :) Favorite books of the moth were Divergent and A House in the Sky. 

Marcie

When Kate's mother, Marcie, dies mysteriously she is forever tormented by the many questions surrounding her mother's death. In Marcie's absence Kate clings to her mother's husbands, searching for solace.


As family secrets are revealed Kate works to build her own life and family, but the mystery of her mother's death sidetracks her until she finally gets the answer she's always hoped for.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Marcie, by Carly Duncan, shares the emotional aftermath of one mother's mysterious death from the viewpoint of her daughter, Kate. The story is told on a timeline that jumps from past to present, creating a timeline of struggle and Kate's attempt at understanding her mother.

Kate is an independent young woman. She's never had anyone to rely on, as all of her family members were emotionally and physically unavailable. All but her brother, that is. With a family history of being ignored or kept at a distance, the death of her mother doesn't sit well with Kate. She wishes for another chance for both herself and her mother. As she grows into a woman, becomes a wife, and starts a family of her own, Kate tries to understand her mother through memories, a forgotten journal, and the stories from other family members. Readers will connect with Kate's desires and her attempt to rekindle strained relationships. 

The plot of the novel follows both Marcie's death and Kate's struggle. Each chapter gives the reader bits of information so that they may draw their own conclusions. The end of the novel was a bit abrupt, with the cause of Marcie's death revealed. However, the question of why is left partly unanswered. Duncan writes of a medical complication with Marcie, but readers never find out what the complication was. In a way, Duncan leaves the readers in the exact same spot as Kate, wondering if she'll ever know the whole truth. 

Rating: 3/5 Cups

WWW Wednesday (72)

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:
Marcie by Carly Duncan. When a young woman's mother dies, she struggles to accept the past and present.

02. Recently Finished:
Strong Enough to Love by Victoria Dahl. A romance novella that brings a man from the past into the main character's present.

03. Reading Next:
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Steig Larsson. The second novel in the series. Finally found a used copy in the local book store. Cannot wait to start this one!

Strong Enough to Love

Photographer Eve Hill was completely comfortable being single. Or at the very least, she was completely resigned to it. There was only one man who made every nerve in her body and brain light up when he walked into a room. But Brian Stewart had always been off limits. Hell, she'd never even kissed him!

For Brian, returning to Jackson Hole feels like coming home. But that has nothing to do with the town. It's Eve drawing him back. Eve and the chance to finally see if they have something or if it's all been in his imagination.

Eve doesn't think she can open her heart to Brian again after getting hurt so badly before, though her body still wants him. She offers Brian one night to fulfill their long-denied fantasies, and that's it. No love or promises, just a chance to get their attraction out of their systems. But can one night really be enough?

*May Contain Spoilers*

Victoria Dahl gives readers a steamy novella with Strong Enough to Love. The main character, Eve, remembers how much strength it took to simply survive when Brian left Jackson Hole. And now, it's time to try again. But how much more damage can her scarred heart take?

Eve is a very likeable character. Dahl keeps her simple and understanding. She's a woman who followed her dream of rekindling her photography career and owns her own studio, doing something that she loves and that she excels at. Readers will connect with her based on her emotions and the struggles in her relationship. She fell in love with a man who was unattainable. Eve was completely heartbroken and learned to move on. Now she has another chance and readers will relate with ease. 

The plot of the novella follows a perfect story arc. Eve's learning to open up when Brian suddenly returns to Jackson Hole. And trouble soon follows. Trouble with staying apart, that is. Strong Enough to Love is perfect for a quick, easy, romantic read that really delivers. Though, there are certain scenes that get pretty intense, excluding young readers from the desired audience. 

Rating: 3/5 Cups