Category Archives: A Great Cupcake:

4/5 Rating=The plot is original, interesting, and fully developed. I connected with the characters and could understand their personal struggles/experiences because of the author’s wonderful writing style. It is one of those books that I really liked and would recommend to others.

May22

TLC Review: He’s Gone by Deb Caletti

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Synopsis (taken from Deb Caletti’s site):

“What do you think happened to your husband, Mrs. Keller?”

 

The Sunday morning starts like any other, aside from the slight hangover. Dani Keller wakes up on her Seattle houseboat, a headache building behind her eyes from the wine she drank at a party the night before. But on this particular Sunday morning, she’s surprised to see that her husband, Ian, is not home. As the hours pass, Dani fills her day with small things. But still, Ian does not return. Irritation shifts to worry, worry slides almost imperceptibly into panic. And then, like a relentless blackness, the terrible realization hits Dani: He’s gone.

 

As the police work methodically through all the logical explanations—he’s hurt, he’s run off, he’s been killed—Dani searches frantically for a clue as to whether Ian is in fact dead or alive. And, slowly, she unpacks their relationship, holding each moment up to the light: from its intense, adulterous beginning, to the grandeur of their new love, to the difficulties of forever. She examines all the sins she can—and cannot—remember. As the days pass, Dani will plumb the depths of her conscience, turning over and revealing the darkest of her secrets in order to discover the hard truth—about herself, her husband, and their lives together.

 

Click for an excerpt

My Review:

I love a great character study book, especially when it comes to marriages, family, and lots of reflections.  This book delivers that, with a little mystery sprinkled in….because we don’t know what happened to Ian, until the end.  I would have liked a chapter or two of the “before” the party.  Rather, the book starts with Dani waking up from a crazy night of partying and not remembering much.

If  you don’t live in a bubble, or in an igloo at the North Pole, chances are you know someone who has had an affair or been the victim of an affair.  I liked the exploration Dani opens herself up to, as she evaluates her relationship with her first husband, falling in love with Ian, her children, his children, and in the process-trying to figure out what happened to Ian.

I’ve read reviews where this book is being compared to another book (won’t say which one),and I think it’s a shame. Sure, we compare books-but this book shouldn’t be measured against the merits of another book.  This is a great read and anyone that reads this with an open mind, will enjoy and appreciate the raw feelings and thoughts Dani shares throughout this story.

*This book was provided though TLC, in exchange for an honest review.

About Deb Caletti

 

Deb Caletti is an award-winning author and a National Book Award finalist whose books—Honey, Baby, Sweetheart; The Queen of Everything; The Secret Life of Prince Charming—are published and translated worldwide. She lives with her family in Seattle.

 

For more about Deb Caletti and her work, “Like” her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter, or visit her website at debcaletti.com.

Deb Caletti’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

 

Monday, May 13th:  Books a la Mode - guest post/giveaway

 

Monday, May 20th:  No More Grumpy Bookseller

 

Tuesday, May 21st:  Peppermint Ph.D.

 

Wednesday, May 22nd:  Books in the Burbs

 

Thursday, May 23rd:  WV Stitcher

 

Friday, May 24th:  The Betty and Boo Chronicles

 

Tuesdya, May 28th:  Patricia’s Wisdom

 

Wednesday, May 29th:  Literally Jen

 

Thursday, May 30th:  Knowing the Difference

 

Monday, June 3rd:  Kritter’s Ramblings

 

Wednesday, June 5th:  Life, Love, & Books

 

Thursday, June 6th:  A Bookish Way of Life

 

Monday, June 10th:  Sara’s Organized Chaos

 

Tuesday, June 11th:  Book Chatter

 

Wednesday, June 12th:  A Novel Review

 

Thursday, June 13th:  Sweet Southern Home

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Apr17

Being Esther by Miriam Karmel

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Book Details:

  • Print Length: 202 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1571310967
  • Publisher: Milkweed Editions (April 2, 2013)
  • Genre:  Women’s Literature/Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

A wonderful fiction debut, Being Esther gives voice to Esther Lustig, an extraordinary woman who has lived a conventional life, in this touching exploration of aging and its accompanied search for meaning.

In spare, refreshingly unsentimental prose, Miriam Karmel has given us one of literature’s finest portraits of the last months of a woman’s life. At once sad and amusing, unpretentious and ambitious, Karmel’s fiction debut brings understanding and tremendous empathy to the character of Esther Lustig, a woman readers will recognize and embrace.

Born to parents who fled the shtetl, Esther Lustig has led a seemingly conventional life—marriage, two children, a life in suburban Chicago. Now, at the age of eighty-five, her husband is deceased, her children have families of their own, and most of her friends are gone. Even in this diminished condition, life has its moments of richness, as well as its memorable characters. Being Esther is an exploration of aging, a search for meaning, and about the need, as Esther puts it, for better roadmaps for growing old.

My Review:

I’ve read books like, “Still Alice”, where an adult woman experiences the onset of alzheimer’s and how her mind slowly betrays her.  However, this is a new twist.  This is a story about Esther, an elderly Jewish woman, who is quite coherent and present.  After losing her husband and friends, she and her dear friend call each other every day to make sure they never die without someone knowing.  The way it works, is they each take turns calling each other everyday. They both agree that if one doesn’t answer one day, then to make sure their family knows and to fulfill their wishes.

What truly is sad and heartwarming at the same time, is how time does fly by and how quickly one ages.  What happens when you are alone, have a poor relationship with your child, have a life filled with special moments and some regrets?  Through Esther’s journey, you will see how the simple acts of doing something each day and normal routine are still remarkable moments in life.  Most importantly, that everyone has a story, deserves a listening ear, and a little bit of your time.

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Mar19

Review: Reinventing Rachel by Alison Strobel

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Synopsis:

God let Rachel Westing down. For twenty-six years she’s done everything by the book; she figures He should have her back. But then she learns her fiancé is cheating on her. Her parents are getting a divorce. And her Christian mentor has a pill addiction. Where is God in all this? Nowhere, as far as Rachel can see. Wounded, bitter, and with a shattered faith, she quits her job and moves across the country to live with Daphne—her childhood best friend whose soul Rachel once thought she was meant to save.

Confident, successful, fun-loving Daphne sets about helping Rachel reinvent herself, and for a while it’s exciting. But when another tragedy shakes Rachel to the core, what little bit of self-possession she has left begins to unravel. A true-to-life story that will draw you in and keep you biting your nails until the end.

My Review:

This is a Christian fiction book, definitely geared towards a YA audience.  However, as someone a smidge beyond young adult, I also enjoyed the storyline.  There are quite a few issues Rachel faces and it’s through her eyes, we read her struggles and her anger towards God.  I thought this book could definitely help those facing similar issues and how inspite of ourselves, God does not abandon us.  While I would have liked a little more storyline after Daphne’s hospitalization and aftermath, the author did a nice wrap up and bring closure to issues Rachel was still faced with.  I highly recommend this book to those who love a great Christian fiction read with some real life issues many people face today.

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Feb20

Review: The Bracelet by Roberta Gately

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Newly heartbroken and searching for purpose in her life, Abby Monroe is determined to make her mark as a UN worker in one of the world’s most unstable cities: Peshawar, Pakistan. But after witnessing the brutal murder of a woman thrown from a building, she is haunted by the memory of an intricate and sparkling bracelet that adorned the victim’s wrist.

At a local women’s shelter, Abby meets former sex slaves who have miraculously escaped their captors. As she gains the girls’ trust and documents their horrifying accounts of unspeakable pain and betrayal, she joins forces with a dashing New York Times reporter who believes he can incriminate the shadowy leader of the vicious human trafficking ring. Inspired by the women’s remarkable bravery—and the mysterious reappearance of the bracelet— the duo traces evidence that spreads from remote villages of South Asia to the most powerful corners of the West, risking their lives to offer a voice to the countless innocents in bondage.

My Review:

This is a fast paced story that takes Abby to the streets of Geneva, where she witnesses a murder.  One of the things that stands out most for Abby is a piece of jewelry the victim has on: a bracelet with sparkling gems.  Abby contacts authorities, but the scene of the crime is clean and Abby begins to doubt what she saw, blaming it on the side effects of a medication she is taking for sleep.  Abby then travels to Peshawar, Pakistan as a UN nurse.  Leaving behind a broken heart and wanting to find herself again, she takes on this very dangerous job assignment, considering how tumultous the environment is.

Abby is housed with a Pakistani hostess, where she oversees reports on immunizations for women and children.  She then decides to visit the clinic and begins to put a name with each number assigned to those getting vaccinated and learns about sexual trafficking.  While she delves deeper into the stories of those at the clinic, she begins to question all those she meets and soon finds herself running for her life.  With the help of a New York Times newsreporter, both try to escape the dark world and bring light to the 3rd largest export business in the world: human trafficking.

The stories of the different women rescued from that dark world are given a voice through their talks with Abby and Nick.  Soon, the bracelet, the world of human smuggling, and everyone’s role in that horrid life become apparent, with secrets uncovered and fraud at the highest level is discovered.

Roberta’s writing is very elaborate and raises awareness on such an important human rights issue: human trafficking for sexual purposes.  The story is very fast paced and told with such detail, that the reader will connect with the characters.  I would have wanted to learn more about the bracelet and its significance, as well as Najeela’s role with her uncle and fiance.  However, it was still an overall great book!

4 rating

*This book was provided through Netgalley.

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Feb18

2 Memoirs-One from Someone Who Escaped a Cult and Another Who Part of a New Culture: Real Housewives of BH

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Product Details

  • Print Length: 416 pages
  • Publisher: William Morrow (February 5, 2013)
  • Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers

Synopsis:

Jenna Miscavige Hill, niece of Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige, was raised as a Scientologist but left the controversial religion in 2005. In Beyond Belief, she shares her true story of life inside the upper ranks of the sect, details her experiences as a member Sea Org—the church’s highest ministry, speaks of her “disconnection” from family outside of the organization, and tells the story of her ultimate escape.
In this tell-all memoir, complete with family photographs from her time in the Church, Jenna Miscavige Hill, a prominent critic of Scientology who now helps others leave the organization, offers an insider’s profile of the beliefs, rituals, and secrets of the religion that has captured the fascination of millions, including some of Hollywood’s brightest stars such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

My Review: 
Wow!  This book is detailed into the life of Jenna Miscavige Hill, niece to David Miscaige (CBO).  Jenna is so brave as she delves into the darkest and most corrupt system that claims to be a church.  It is harrowing to read that at the age of 2 she was raised at a camp of sorts for children, whose parents had dedicated their lives to the Sea Org.  With Jenna’s parents away, somewhere within the organization, Jenna is indoctrinated into the beliefs and different levels within Scientology.  There are so many moments that Jenna truly wants to embrace the lifestyle and sacrifice she has made as a Sea Org member (signing the billion year contract), however she soon can’t ignore or excuse the red flags that keep popping up.  Over time, Jenna loses family members who are classified as “SP’s”, and she is alone with only the guidance of her Aunt Shelley and a few other higher-ups.  However, there comes a point where Jenna truly wants her life, her independence, and sees the organization’s corruptions, abuse of power, and leaves the organization.
There were many times I was just shocked by the depravity and isolation Jenna and others like her, experienced.  Scientology isn’t a religion, it’s a way to gain higher power based on the money you give and who you are (star power).  The sheer torture of working non-stop for little to no pay, the separation from family and friends, the cut-offs from those who dont’ support Scientology, and the paranoia surrounded by those in higher ups who fear that the organization’s image will be tarnished, motivates those in upper positions to abuse their power, demote people from their level, and really becomes more man based than God based.  While Scientology doesn’t believe in God, they really look to LRH as the man with the plan.  With some basic psychology 101 and e-meter readings, individuals are coerced through fear, removal of benefits ( like making a phone call), and falling behind a level (even if you already reached a level, you can possibly be stripped of it to start all over).  Education is primarily centered around the teachings and not formal education (traditional schooling).  So, there is a catch.  If a person moves through all the levels, which costs thousands of dollars, by the time the highest level is reached to Clear-the person may feel rather stupid learning about the aliens and Xenu that they stick with it b/c of all the money invested.  Likewise, with education-if a child is raised in Scientology, he/she will be behind educationally and may not feel useful in the outside world.  So, in many ways this religion does cause a sense of learned helplessness and a person becomes dependent on someone in higher position to be validated.  With so many secrets and trying to keep people in control, those in the Sea Org don’t want tv, interact too much with the outside world, and become truly dependent on the organization.
Reading all the Jenna endured, I am amazed and inspired by her courage, tenacity, and willingness to ask questions-even when others didn’t want her to.  Jenna brought great points to the forefront and one can only hope that people will look more deeper into the secrets and abuse that Scientology has done to its members.
Overall, this was an incredible read and Jenna wrote this book in terms that non-Scientologists could understand, but that Scientologists would also understand and know that her experience is true.  I hope that her book opens eyes and creates changes within the organization and the individuals that make up the “religion”.
4-cupcake1

Product Details

  • Print Length: 258 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1476707626
  • Publisher: Gallery Books (February 12, 2013)
  • Sold by: Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc
Synopsis:
She’s the brutally honest breath of fresh air on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, known for her dramatic divorce, her barely-there clothing, and her inability to keep her mouth shut. So why should she change now? Brandi Glanville tells all in this hilarious, no-holds-barred memoir.Fans have been waiting for Brandi’s scoop on one of the biggest divorces of the decade, since her husband of eight years abandoned her and their two sons to marry country singer LeAnn Rimes. Not only does Brandi spill the beans about her side of the split, the lovable housewife shares the incredible wild ride that took her from a life in the ghetto to Hollywood’s most elite circles. For the first time, Brandi talks about how she escaped a rough neighborhood on the outskirts of Sacramento and stumbled into a successful modeling career that swept her into a world of Paris Fashion Weeks, private jets, and uncircumcised penises. Before she knew it, Brandi was the perfect Hollywood trophy wife—at least until her marriage exploded.Today, the refreshingly filter-free housewife and unapologetic mom is the newest full-time cast member of Bravo’s juggernaut franchise, where she often elicits raised eyebrows and gossip from her costars for her refusal to be the scorned ex-wife, to be bullied, to change her sarcastic sense of humor, or—on most occasions—to wear a bra. Sassy, raunchy, and compulsively readable, Drinking and Tweeting perfectly captures Brandi’s open-book attitude, as she dishes about everything from her DUI, her cheating ex, her one-night stands, and the secret plastic surgery that made her “seventeen” again. You’re sure to enjoy every page of this funny, upbeat, honest tale. Clear your schedule for an afternoon and grab your favorite cocktail, a comfy seat . . . and maybe a Xanax. But that’s for later.
My Review:I love Brandi’s crude sense of humor and she is so smart.  So, put together beauty, talent, smart, and wit, and mix it with an ugly divorce, and you’ve got this great book.  Brandi is quite honest and very brutal at times.  There were moments I cringed, but just as quickly, her wit shines through.  If anyone reads this book, they will forever remember these two words: Vaginal Rejuvenation.  Her ex lost some jobs, got a woman that is trying to morph into his Brandi, and Brandi got a new vjayjay and a book!  Love that.  While she is quite honest about the heartache, postpartum depression, anxiety attacks, and life rebuilding, I would have loved more detail on how she overcame PPD and about her post divorce.  She has admitted that this book was written shortly after her divorce, so her emotions were raw and she was filled with anger, however it would be better had she added some chapters on her “happily ever after”.  It would have also been so much more personal had she included some photos of her early modeling years, her married life, and her life post divorce. All in all, this is a great book and one that many will enjoy, especially if you love RHOBH like me!4 rating
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Jan30

Wuthering Heights Retelling

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Product Details

  • Print Length: 321 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0316196924
  • Publisher: Poppy (January 1, 2013)

Synopsis:

A forbidden romance. A modern mystery. Wuthering Heights as you’ve never seen it before.Catherine is tired of struggling musicians befriending her just so they can get a gig at her Dad’s famous Manhattan club, The Underground. Then she meets mysterious Hence, an unbelievably passionate and talented musician on the brink of success. As their relationship grows, both are swept away in a fiery romance. But when their love is tested by a cruel whim of fate, will pride keep them apart?

Chelsea has always believed that her mom died of a sudden illness, until she finds a letter her dad has kept from her for years — a letter from her mom, Catherine, who didn’t die: She disappeared. Driven by unanswered questions, Chelsea sets out to look for her — starting with the return address on the letter: The Underground.Told in two voices, twenty years apart, Catherine interweaves a timeless forbidden romance with a compelling modern mystery.
My Review:

After reading April Lindner’s book, “Jane”, I knew I wanted to read this book.  I remember reading “Wuthering Heights” in high school and I loved it.  I haven’t reread it in a long time, but thought it would be interested in reading a retelling of Jane Eyre’s classic book of all time.  “Catherine” is a modern spin on “Wuthering Heights” and April truly captures the essence of the characters.  Catherine’s point of view is told through her diary that she leaves hidden on a bookshelf in her old room.  Chelsea, her daughter, finds it and believes her mom is somewhere waiting for her.  Told through alternating point of views: Chelsea and Catherine, the story flows quite nicely.  Through reading the diary, April gives her readers a better view of who Hence is and the relationship he and Catherine had.  I didn’t feel as connected with Catherine as I would have liked, and I do wish there had been more “appearances” made by Catherine in that eery way Jane Eyre was able to do.  However, this is an excellent story and April Lindner creatively built this story as a modern day romance that many will be able to relate to.

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Nov12

Review: Tangled Ashes by Michele Phoenix

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Synopsis:

When Marshall Becker arrives in Lamorlaye, France, to begin the massive renovation of a Renaissance-era castle, he unearths a dark World War II history few in the village remember. The project that was meant to provide an escape for Becker instead becomes a gripping glimpse into the human drama that unfolded during the Nazi occupation and seems to live on in midnight disturbances and bizarre acts of vandalism.
My Review:
What’s in the Bowl?
I was drawn to the name of the book because “ashes” just has this image of past issues, past hurts, and you can either squash them or have them consume you.  So, I immediately agreed to review this book and am glad I did.
 Mixing the Ingredients: Plot, Character, Storyline:
The story is told through two viewpoints: one is a voice from the past and the second is the voice of Becker, a man confronting his own demons and ghosts of the past.  In France, Bexter travels to help in the restoration of a 200 year old castle.  While there, he meets Jade, who is some ways becomes his conscience.  Jade is a no holds barred woman, who is a nanny/chef to the family that owns the castle.  The plot is quite intriguing, especially knowing the castle does actually exist.  While there was great detail in the life of Becker and Marie’s life, I was hoping there would have been more indepth character development to some of the sub-characters: Terese’, JoJo, Jade, and Elise’s relationship with her beau.  The storyline moves rather slowly in the beginning, but quickly moves along, connecting the relationships, filling the gaps in memories, and confronting the ghosts that seem to never be too far behind some of the characters.  During the renovation of the castle, it is Jade and Becker that seem to have the most evolvement in their character development.  While there was a lot of detail that went into the description of the castle, it did not take away from the storyline.  Rather, it helped give a visual aide to the reader and comes in handly at the end of the book, too!
My Overall Thoughts:
 I found myself having a difficult time concentrating, during certain parts of the story.  Then, there were times, that the story moves quite nicely and flowed really well.  I would have liked to have had more background information about JoJo and Terese, what happened to Marie and Elise in better detail, and the relationship between Jade and Becker.  Overall, this was a great story and I loved knowing that the author actually lived near the castle and created this beautiful story based on her own ideas and hopes that come from the magic of being in a castle.  I would recommend this book to those who love a great mystery, a book with great questions and thoughts about God, inner battles people experience, and who love a great book that brings hope and forgiveness.
This is a story about confronting ghosts of the past and restoring one’s self.
*This book was provided for review by NetGalley and CGrant&Company.  No forms of compensation were given.
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Enter the current giveway,which has been extended to November 30,2012.  Click the link below:
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Nov4

Mini-Reviews

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My Review:

I was first drawn to this book because the title grabbed my attention. I was at Barnes & Noble, and the books were on a table for sale. I then, read the synopsis and immediately knew this was a book that I would love to read.

The book has everything to keep the reader hooked from the beginning. Mixed with mystery, kidnapping, murder, suicide, family secrets, and memories, this book pulled me in from the very beginning.  I couldn’t imagine the guilt, sadness, and anger Janet felt when her little brother was kidnapped from the park.  She has a daughter that reminds me of Nancy Drew. She wants to find out what happened to her Uncle Justin.  Janet is interviewed on the 25th anniversary of the kidnapping and death of her brother, which brings a whole lot of unresolved issues, unanswered questions, and even questions if perhaps Justin is somewhere out there living in anonymity.  It is a book that will keep you guessing up until the very end, and even then, you will be left wanting more.

I loved everything about this book.  The plot was well developed, the characters each had their own set of issues to overcome, and the storyline flowed mixed with mystery.  It is a book that I loved and highly recommend!

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My Review:

I was first drawn to this book because of the title. I am definitely a visual person and with the cover and title of the book, it just stood out amongst all the other titles on Net Galley.

This book is a sequel to, “Learning to Swim”, however I did not feel that there was a huge chunk of information I was missing.  The main character, Troy, is a news reporter and helps the police and her neighbor piece the information together after finding a frozen body underneath the ice.  It starts off pretty intense, but then there were times in the middle of the book that too many characters were introduced, which overloaded me with information.  I also felt that the the ending was trying to tie loose ends from the first book, which would have been fine if the book was longer.  Nonetheless, I did enjoy reading the book.


Overall, the book was mixed with mystery, possible murder or suicide, and a great storyline.  I did at times feel the book could have flowed better without being introduced to characters too late in the storyline, however understand their importance to the ending.  I would consider reading the first book, as I may have had a different reading experience completely.

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Oct14

Review and Questions: Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult

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Synopsis

Somewhere between belief and doubt lies faith. For the second time in her marriage, Mariah White catches her husband with another woman and Faith, their seven year old daughter, witnesses every painful minute. In the aftermath of a sudden divorce, Mariah struggles with depression and Faith seeks solace in a new friend… a friend who may or may not be imaginary.

Faith talks to her “Guard”constantly; begins to recite passages from the Bible— a book she’s never read. Fearful for her daughter’s sanity, Mariah sends her to several psychiatrists. Yet when Faith develops stigmata and begins to perform miraculous healings, Mariah wonders if her daughter– a girl with no religious background– might indeed be seeing God. As word spreads and controversy heightens, Mariah and Faith are besieged by believers and disbelievers alike, caught in a media circus that threatens what little stability they have left.

What are you willing to believe? Is Faith a prophet or a troubled little girl? Is Mariah a good mother facing an impossible crisis— or a charlatan using her daughter to reclaim the attention her unfaithful husband withheld? As the story builds to a climactic battle for custody, Mariah must discover that spirit is not necessarily something that comes from religion, but from inside oneself.

Fascinating, thoughtful, and suspenseful, Keeping Faith explores a family plagued by the media, the medical profession, and organized religion in a world where everyone has an opinion but no one knows the truth. At her controversial and compelling best, Jodi Picoult masterfully explores the moment when boundaries break down, when illusions become reality, and when the only step left to take is a leap of faith.

Warning!! This review will have SPOILERS!!! 

Read at your own risk of knowing the ending without having read the book.

My Review:

I purchased this book on my Nook Glowlight.  I don’t like reading books about stigmata and was a little leery about this book, but because it was from Jodi Picoult and was only $2.99, I knew I could trust the book would be written with balance and integrity within a ficionalized book.  Jodi Picoult does not disappoint!

The story starts with Mariah and her daughter, Faith having a very normal, typical life.  En route to dance class, Faith reminds her mom that her leotard was left at home.  U-turning home, Faith and Mariah notice Colin is back from his work trip and little Faith runs inside the house to embrace her daddy that she loves and adores.  However, Faith and Mariah walk in on Colin and his mistress, Jessica.  From there, the story truly begins.

Mariah spirals into a depression, however she is able to rely on her mom to take care of Faith while she is basically comatose from the shock of finding out about the affair.  Faith stops talking and is basically catatonic from walking in on her dad and the mistress and feeling it’s her fault that her family split up.

The debate of God’s existence, religion and non-religion, family, spirituality, science, and mental illness are some of the topics that Jodi addresses in this book.  There are so many layers to this storyline, with complex characters, that I found myself immersed in this book quite quickly.  I’ve read House Rules by Jodi Picoult and didn’t like the way the chapters were broken down by character’s viewpoints.  This story is written primarily through Mariah’s point of view,with different characters at times sharing from their viewpoint, however it is only done when it will enhance the storyline…not confuse it.

Because Mariah is a non-practicing Jew and Colin is a non-practicing Episcopalian, Catholic priests and Rabbi’s start showing up at the house to question Faith.  The primary issues are: is God female, does Faith have stigmata, and can God perform miracles through a girl who doesn’t follow a religion nor know anything about the Bible.  Then, there is Ian, an atheist that is as famous as Billy Graham and is on tour.  His tour takes him to Faith, where he is determined to show that Faith is a hoax and her mother is behind it all.  However, he starts to know the family, falls in love with Mariah, and his faith is questioned as he witnesses a miracle.  While he tries to figure out how to run his show, please the producers, and keep the trust he has with Mariah and Faith, he has his own challenges to go through in this book.

Again, there are just so many issues that each character is faced with overcoming that you will engaged throughout the whole book!

In the end, readers will finish the book knowing that God is real, Jesus is the son of God, and miracles do happen today.  While there is a lot that happens in the book, I don’t want to share too much because I highly recommend this book to everyone.  However, I will add that I was quite confused with the ending of the book.  While the book does overall end with questions answered, I was quite perplexed by the last scene in the book.  I realize that the author is showing that God moved on to another person who needed Him more and also to show that it was God performing the miracles and not Faith, but what was the deal with Mariah’s “knife” smile????  Why did Jodi use that particular word in the book?  I can understand that Faith is scared when she realizes that she is now alone and God (Guard) is no longer with her, and even that she carries a private conversation (meant to be heard by Mom) because she was in some ways scared Mom would start ignoring her again and/or Faith would no longer be important to her (of course, this is through a child’s perspective), but the knife smile is what really confused me.  Is it that mom could see through Faith and realized that God’s spirit was around either and the knife smile was her cutting through the B.S. or that Mariah was angry to leave Ian and check on her (so in some ways regressing to old patterns)?  In the end, it is quite clear that both will need counseling as is suggested by Kenzie, psychiatrists, and the lawyers.  This end scene just confirms that.  What are your thoughts?

To read what more about Keeping Faith, check out Jodi’s website! 

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Sep17

Mini-Reviews- Cupcake with a Little Icing, Cupcake with Sprinkles, Cupcake with Cherry on Top Ratings!

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Synopsis:

Adelia has no one to blame for her heartache. She’d been cautioned, many times and by many people. Everyone except her mother had told her it was folly to marry an elf, citing a host of reasons. Adelia knew their warnings were not unfounded. She knew he was very different from her and her kind, he was much older, and he’d had five other wives before her. She didn’t care. She had chosen her path.

The Sixth Wife is a novella of approximately 7,300 words (35 pages).

Review:

This is a short story that took me about 2 hours to read. It was a rather interesting storyline and one that I think many can relate to….aging and loving someone.  I would have loved for the story to have been longer because the author would have had more time to explain some of the history behind the elves and humans, how they live, and how their worlds merge.  Nonetheless, it was a good story.

*This book was provided for free through Library Thing by author, Laura Lond, in exchange for an honest review.  To purchase the book for your Kindle, please click on the picture and you will be directed to the purchase link.

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Synopsis:

A CASE FOR SOLOMON: BOBBY DUNBAR AND THE KIDNAPPING THAT HAUNTED A NATION chronicles one of the most celebrated—and most misunderstood—kidnapping cases in American history. In 1912, four-year-old Bobby Dunbar, the son of an upper-middle-class Louisiana family, went missing in the swamps. After an eight-month search that electrified the country and destroyed Bobby’s parents, the boy was found, filthy and hardly recognizable, in the pinewoods of southern Mississippi. A wandering piano tuner who had been shuttling the child throughout the region by wagon for months was arrested and charged with kidnapping—a crime that was punishable by death at the time. But when a destitute single mother came forward from North Carolina to claim the boy as her son, not Bobby Dunbar, the case became a high-pitched battle over custody—and identity—that divided the South.Amid an ever-thickening tangle of suspicion and doubt, two mothers and a father struggled to assert their rightful parenthood over the child, both to the public and to themselves. For two years, lawyers dissected and newspapers sensationalized every aspect of the story. Psychiatrists, physicians, criminologists, and private detectives debated the piano tuner’s guilt and the boy’s identity. And all the while the boy himself remained peculiarly guarded on the question of who he was. It took nearly a century, a curiosity that had been passed down through generations, and the science of DNA to discover the truth.A Case for Solomon is a gripping historical mystery, distilled from a trove of personal and archival research. The story of Bobby Dunbar, fought over by competing New Orleans tabloids, the courts, and the citizenry of two states, offers a case study in yellow journalism, emergent forensic science, and criminal justice in the turn-of-the-century American South. It is a drama of raw poverty and power and an exposÉ of how that era defined and defended motherhood, childhood, and community. First told in a stunning episode of National Public Radio’s This American Life, A Case for Solomon chronicles the epic struggle to determine one child’s identity, along the way probing unsettling questions about the formation of memory, family, and self.Review:I received this book to read and review by Simon & Schuster.  I felt like a reporter reading this book, because at times it read like a report or case study.  I had to actually remind myself that it read that way because it is a real story that happened in America!!  I was amazed at how many people were willing to lie to themselves because the alternative was too painful. As a family therapist, I was mesmerized and would have loved to have met the family.  There were so many family patterns and issues that weren’t dealt with, but with anything, a lie will slowly rip apart the seams of a very intact family.  It was a great book that I enjoyed reading.

*This book was provided for by Simon & Schuster for an honest review.  To purchase the book for your Kindle, please click on the picture and to be directed to the book.

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  Synopsis:

When Christine Blacksworth’s larger-than-life father is killed on an icy road in Magdalena, New York, a hundred miles from the ‘getaway’ cabin he visited every month, she discovers a secret that threatens everything she’s always held to be true. Her father has another family which includes a mistress and a daughter. Determined to uncover the truth behind her father’s secret life, Christine heads to Magdalena, prepared to hate the people who have caused her to question everything she thought she knew about her father. But what she finds is a woman who understands her, a half sister who cherishes her, and a man who could love her if she’ll let him. The longer she’s around them, the more she questions which family is the real one. . .

Included in the Kindle edition are 2 Chapters of PULLING HOME – She’ll risk anything to save her child…even the truth.

Review:

This was a great book!  This is the first book I’ve read from the author, and I love her writing. The characters are developed very well and it was interesting to read how Mary balances the characters with the plot, without making the book too bogged down with details.  While there are moments where the storyline is unrealistic, the issues of family secrets, alliances, and expectations, readers will certainly understand those family dynamics.  The story is about 500+ pages, but it sure does go fast!

 

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