Holiday Reads

dear readers,

I was given two novels from an independent publisher, Publerati....

DANCING IN THE KITCHEN
written by Susan Sterling
genre: literature, fiction

4 STARS 

After Rob and Annie's father died their mother is trying to cope with being alone.  Rob stays with his mother for a bit and then returns to England where he is researching his book.  His live-in girlfriend, Jess is trying to find a job as a dancer but is not making great headway.  Rob meets a stranger and starts to wonder if his life as it is is what he wants in the end. 

Annie thinks her mother is not grieving as much as she should be, and then finds out her father may not have loved her mother as much as he should have.  She discovers secrets from the past that are haunting her future. Her husband is rarely home so she looks to their mutual friend for comfort.  Soon she is whirling in secrets, passion and love.

This is not a novel about a family but secrets of a family.  These three characters have a completely different lives apart from one another and do not look to each other for any answers. This novel had be start to finish even when I was shaking my head at their decisions. Set in the Eastern part of the States the novel reminds me of Shreve, Irving and Russo.

Dancing in the Kitchen was published May 2012.


THANKSGIVING
written by Ellen Cooney
genre: literature, fiction

3 STARS 

In Thanksgiving we see the Morely family celebrating the holiday from the Colonial times to present day.

This novel has a great premise of seeing a family evolve through vignettes of Thanksgiving.  Yet, there seems to be something lacking in the cohesion of the stories.  These are not stories you could read on their own as even on a whole you are left wondering more than you should.  Not a bad novel just feels like you are only getting part of the picture.

Thanksgiving was published September 2013.

For more information on Publerati please visit  http://www.publerati.com/

Publerati is a novel concept, quite literally. We only publish excellent new fiction. When you read any of our ebooks, available from leading e-sellers at the links below each book, we donate no less than 15% of our net proceeds to help the Worldreader Organization spread literacy using technology.  It's a good thing. Please help us change lives simply by reading one of our books.

love, 
kris  

*I was given an advance copy of Thanksgiving (from NetGalley)and Dancing in the Kitchen (Publerati) in exchange for an honest review.

Fear Nothing...or Everything!

dear readers,

Two nights ago I stayed up till 1 am to finish FEAR NOTHING as I could not go to sleep until I knew the identity of the murderer.  Then when I did finished I was a bit creeped out...

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

FEAR NOTHING
(D.D. Warren: Book Seven)
Written by Lisa Gardner
genre: mystery, suspense, thriller, serial killers 

4 STARS 

D.D. Warren has been injured quite badly on the job and lives in pain every moment of the day.  As she goes forth with personal therapy she also tries to remember what happened that night she fell down the stairs.  Her superior suggests she should try Dr. Adeline Glen to manage her pain.

Adeline Glen has a rare condition where she is unable to feel pain.  She must constantly

monitor her actions in order to be aware of danger as her body cannot let her know.  Adeline's life has been rare - her father was a serial killer who killed himself once the police were on to him, her mother died in an institution, she was adopted by a doctor who wanted to keep her alive and an older sister that is in prison for killing a boy when she was fourteen.  Decades later she, Shana is still in prison for murdering guards in prison.  Shana's only monthly visitor is Adeline.  

30 years after Shana's first murder women are being murdered and skin flayed like their father had done and Shana herself.  One is dead and the other in prison so who is killer?  

D.D. gets involved in solving the crime despite her injury and starts looking at Day family and their secrets.  Can she discover the killer before she or another woman is murdered?

I was intrigued with this novel for so many reasons.  Adeline's condition was so interesting and how she had to live her day to day life.  Adeline was a hard character to completely like as she had some odd activities she liked to engage in.  Yet, I found myself feeling sorry for her too, as she is alone and her past seems to always be so present.  Shana is a perfect character to dissect and dislike at the same time.  She is hostile and a killer but her upbringing makes you wonder if she could have been any other way.  Poor D.D. is injured and is almost sidelined but yay she pushes her way into the case.  

The suspense in this novel was crazy...I was constantly trying to figure it all out but then gave up when the twists kept turning me around to the point I was getting dizzy.  A great suspense mystery thriller that will have you up all night trying to finish the novel to reveal the killer!

Fear Nothing is published January 7, 2014.  

love, 
kris 

Novella of a Good Time: Reviews

dear readers,

I am still not feeling to great but am getting better.  Tomorrow I might even get out of p.j.s - baby steps. I am a bit quarantined right now so I don't spread this to my loved ones.  I am missing my love but have had more time to read. As I was napping here and there I decided to read some novellas I have lined up on my TBR.  For me novellas are hit or miss - but with the explosion of novellas coming out for series as a sample of what is to come - I have been liking them a bit more.  I still would prefer the full-length novel but novellas are starting to tied me over.  Fortunately, this round of novellas were great...

Looking for a stand alone contemporary romance novella...

THE BRIDESMAID 
written by Julia London
genre: novella, short fiction, contemporary romance, romantic comedy

4 STARS

 Kate Preston loves her job as an assistant editor in New York even if it does not pay well.  What she does not like is the hideous maid of honour dress her cousin and best friend has picked out for her to wear.  As she wrestles the dress on the plane to Seattle nothing from then on seems to go right.  First her seat meat hogs the seat rest, then there is turbulance is on the plane causing them to land followed by the air-controllers going on strike. When the last of the cars are taken, Kate is forced to carpool with Joe her plane seat mate.  As they race across the country to make it to Seattle love seems to be in the air.

Julia London's new novella is a fun romantic comedy.  It is short but has all the ingredients for a great contemporary romance.  I loved the romance between Joe and Kate and the banter they have on the trip. I strongly recommend this short fiction to all romance readers.

*BRIDESMAID was released October 1, 2013

Looking for a contemporary romance part of a series novella...

A December Bride

(A Year of Weddings: One)*

Written by Denise Hunter

genre: novella, short fiction, contemporary romance

4 STARS

Five hours till Layla's cousin's wedding her date comes down with strep throat.  Normally she would not mind attending a wedding on her own but not when her cousin is marrying her ex-finace.  Out of options Layla asks Murphy their mutual friend, and the person she blames for her cousin and fiance getting together.  Murphy in a moment of anger tells Layla's spoiled cousin, Jessica that he has asked Layla to marry him on Christmas eve.   Layla angry wants Murphy to retract but then she is given an opportunity for a job offer because of her relationship with him.  While they try to pretend to be love Murphy hopes that it can become a reality.

A cute romantic story.  I hate when a friend or family member thinks is okay to steal a boyfriend.  It makes me a bit anxious for the heroine as they usually have to still be apart of that cheater's life.  I do get a nice glowing feeling knowing that Layla's ex will have to live with Jessica all his life.  Murphy is the kind of guy romance readers long for and does not disappoint.

*A Year of Weddings are novellas for each month and are written by different authors.  Right now I am reading, A January Bride.

**This novella is part of Denise Hunter's Chapel Springs series - Layla's brother, Beckett's story.
*** A December Bride was released November 26, 2013

Looking for a suspense mystery part of a series novella...

The 7th Month

(D.D. Warren: Book 5.5)

Written by Lisa Gardner

genre: novella, short fiction, contemporary, suspense, mystery

4 STARS

At seven months pregnant D.D. Warren has been taken out of the field to man the office.  When a movie producer asks for her help on consulting on a movie she says yes just to get out of the station.  But the moment she hits the set she finds out the former police consultant has been found murdered.  Now she has to go to the set and figure out why he's dead and who did it.

This short fiction is rather good with suspense and mystery.  D.D. is her ornery observant self.  Pregnancy does not slow her down.  On the romance front D.D. has to decide whether she will move in with Alex.

* The 7th Month was published in January 2012.

** I will be reviewing Lisa Gardner's Fear Nothing (Book 7) in the D.D. Warren series tomorrow 

Looking for a stand alone paranormal romance/holiday novella...

A VAMPIRE'S CHRISTMAS CAROL

written by Cynthia Eden

genre: novella, short fiction, contemporary, paranormal romance

4 STARS 

 

Ben Prescott, a vampire, hates Christmas and the joyous season that comes with it.  SInce losing his love he stalks in the shadow offer his own sense of vengeance.  His latest kill brings about three spirits that ask Ben to look at his life and change before his soul is gone forever.

A great retelling of Dickens' Christmas Carol with a lovelorn vampire as scrooge.  Eden takes a story known by all and gives it a twist to engage her Paranormal Romance readers.  It is a short tale certain to please. 

A Vampire's Christmas Carol was published November 5, 2013.

*I was given an advance copy of Bridesmaid, A December Bride and A Vampire's Christmas Carol (from NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

love, 
kris 

Sick Day

dear readers,

I have the ever so fun stomach flu and feel like I am slowly dying :( I am hoping to get some rest today and will post some reviews tomorrow.  I read a few fun novellas and cannot wait to share my thoughts.

love,
kris 

More Great Canadian Fiction!

dear readers,

It has been a rainy day in Vancouver, BC and I have been feeling a bit under the weather so it has been a great day to read :) I continued to enjoy Alice Munro: My Best Stories (also called Alice Munro's Best: Selected Stories) - some stories were new to me and some were like revisiting old friends...

Alice Munro: My Best Stories
written by Alice Munro
genre: short stories, fiction, canadian literature


5 STARS 

This collection of short fiction includes her works from the 1970s to present day. All of the stories have been published before in other volumes. This collection also has an introduction written by another Canadian author, Margaret Atwood.

As the title states these are Alice Munro's best short fiction.  The Canadian author recently won the Pulitizer for her writing and hopefully this will increase her readership and gain more fans.  I have been reading Munro since I was in my early teens and have been in love with her work for years.  She has the ability to take a story and that most authors would need a novel to tell and condense it to size of a novella.  She is able to pack so much into them without it being overwhelming.  A great collection to introduce or revisit Munro.

Alice Munro: My Best was published October 2009.

Off to choose my next read :)

love,
kris 

Lauren B. Davis Novels Reviewed

dear readers,

Lauren B. Davis has been on my TBR (to be read) list since 2005 after picking up The Stubborn Season on sale at the local bookstore.  The cover drew me in and the depression era storyline sounded intriguing.  Sadly it took me eight years to read Davis and that has been my loss for sure.  For our November book club selection we decided to try Davis's Our Daily Bread - published in 2011.  I started this novel knowing only that it has been described as "backwoods noir".  And, the result...

OUR DAILY BREAD
written by Lauren B. Davis
genre: canadian literature, literary fiction, noir, suspense

4.5 STARS


Inspired by true events - In Davis's haunting story we meet Albert Erskine, a smart 21 year old who sells weed to make money.  He and his family are shunned by the town of Gideon and are called the "Mountain People".  Living among his clan Albert has seen and been through many horrors and it has caused him to become more frustrated and angry.

Soon Albert becomes a mentor to a young boy in town names Bobby Evans.  Bobby and his family also do not fit in among the religious town people.  His father, Tom is well-liked but is ridiculed for his younger wife's unfaithfulness.  Ivy, his sister, is brilliant but bullied by girls in her class.  Her only friend is Dorothy, the 60-something widow who owns the antique shop.  Dorothy sees the righteousness attitude in her peers and tries to stay away from them.  

As we get to know these characters that are considered the "others" in Gideon Davis also shows what can happen when we let some people int our life.

After dinner one night I sat down to start Our Daily Bread, hoping that I could finish the novel in the next few days, in time for my book cub meeting.  The next time I came up for air was when the novel finished.  The way Davis grabs you from the beginning with her characters and plot is amazing.  Even if you cannot relate to the characters personally you can empathize and feel for them.  These are not good or bad people but normal people with every day flaws.  I found myself attached to all the characters - loving and hating them or their actions.

The story, even if it was not based on true events, still lingers in my mind and i think about it time to time.  It was a book we all liked in my book club and it provided us with a great conversation. I recommend this novel to everyone who appreciates a good novel.  



My book club and I enjoyed this novel so much and were greatly impressed with Lauren B. Davis's writing we selected The Empty Room as our December pick.  We have read multiple books by an author in our book club but never back to back...

THE EMPTY ROOM
written by Lauren B. Davis
genre: canadian literature, literary fiction

4 STARS

Colleen wakes up hungover and only has flashes of the night before. As the day progresses her alcoholism comes to the forefront. Colleen thinks back of her family and how drinking and other drugs were the ruination of many of her relatives. Drinking themselves to suicide, accidents,etc. As people bring her drinking to her attention this only causes Colleen to get defensive and retreat. At the end of the day will Colleen admit her problem and seek help? 

I was impressed with the way Davis was able to make Colleen's life and alcoholism work within a day. We were able to see Colleen's past through flashbacks and interactions with her mother, father and lovers. I like that the chapters were broken up into smaller sections so that the flashbacks were able to flow better. While Colleen is not an overly sympathetic character you still want to follow her story and want her to get sober. The secondary characters help the tension in the story and give Colleen further dimension. I am sold on Davis's novels!


In 2014 I am looking forward to finally reading The Stubborn Season!

love, 

kris 

For more information on Lauren and her books visit her at:
http://laurenbdavis.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Laurenbdaviswriter

Happy New Year!

dear readers,

I hope everyone had a safe and happy night ringing in the 2014!!! I had a fabulous night with my love going out for sushi, watching a mini-marathon of Mike & Molly and toasting with a kiss and champagne at midnight.  I also started Alice Munro's Best Selected Stories and remember why I love Munro's short fiction.  Stay tuned for a review in the near future...

love, 
kris