Category Archives: An Excellent Cupcake:

5/5 Rating=Storyline, characters, plot, and writing style are superb! I could not put the book down and shared it with everyone I know. I found myself thinking of the characters long after I finished reading the book. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone!!

May16

TLC Book Tour & Review: The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro

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Synopsis:

London, 1955: Grace Monroe is a young newlywed, eager to make a success of her marriage. However, with her intellectual curiosity and her unladylike talent for advanced mathematics, she finds the routine of elegant luncheons and exclusive parties among post-war London’ s social set more tiresome than exciting.

When Grace receives an unexpected inheritance from a woman she’s never met, she finds herself suddenly in Paris, embarking upon a journey to discover not only the identity of her mysterious benefactor but also the hidden secrets of her own past.

In a story that takes us from New York in the 1920s to mid-century Monte Carlo, Paris and London, Grace discovers a world filled with the evocative, intoxicating power of perfume; an obsessive, desperate love between muse and artist; and a trail of dark memories that may mean she isn’ t the person she thinks she is at all.

My Review:

I have not read any of Kathleen Tessaro’s book, prior to this one, so I read this book without any expectations of a particular writing style.  From the beautiful book cover, to the first pages, I was hooked.  I was a little confused at first, so I did have to flip back to the first pages to see who I was reading about.  It starts with Eva and at the tail end of her disease, with the next chapter beginning with Grace-a socialite, who seems quite disconnected from her husband and social circle.  It isn’t until Grace receives an airplane ticket with news of her being the sole beneficiary, that she finally has some direction and decides to embark on an adventure.

While Grace leaves knowing her husband is having an affair, she somehow blames herself because of an unfortunate incident that happens to her.  While there isn’t a lot of interaction and dialogue between her and her husband, the author does a superb job in showing what happens to Grace as she learns who  Eva is.

It is quite obvious that the author did extensive research, prior to writing, but it doesn’t come off with more information and less interaction.  Rather, it enhances the reader’s overall experience with this book.  There is so much detail, and Eva certainly has an extraordinary (while difficult, too) life.  I was mesmerized by the beauty of the story, loved the characters, and admired the way Eva broke all conventions by her role as a maid to later being a shopgirl…with other roles in between!

This is an absolutely fantastic historical book, that readers will love from page 1.  Readers will want to know who Eva is, how she can smoke in the face of death, and how she bypasses barriers men and society place on women…certainly not meant for likes of Eva! My only desire is that the author would have included a little perfume collection to accompany this book :D

*This book was provided by TLC Book Tours, in exchange for an honest review.

 

 About Kathleen Tessaro:

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kathleen attended the University of Pittsburgh before entering the drama program of Carnegie Mellon University. In the middle of her sophomore year, she went to study in London for three months and stayed for the next twenty-three years. She began writing at the suggestion of a friend and was an early member of the Wimpole Street Writer’s Workshop. Her debut novel, Elegance, became a bestseller in hardback and paperback. All of Kathleen’s novels including Innocence, The Flirt, The Debutante, and most recently, The Perfume Collector have been translated into many languages and sold all over the world. She returned to Pittsburgh in 2009, where she now lives with her husband and son.

  For more information about Kathleen Tessaro, please visit her website or find her on Facebook.

 

Follow the rest of the blog tour to read what other bloggers are saying about this book!

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Apr3

Review: She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb

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Product Details

  • Genre: Contemporary Literature/Fiction
  • Print Length: 484 pages
  • Publisher: Atria Books (April 12, 2011)
  • Sold by: Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc

Summary:

In this extraordinary coming-of-age odyssey, Wally Lamb invites us to hitch a wild ride on a journey of love, pain, and renewal with the most heartbreakingly comical heroine to come along in years.“Mine is a story of craving: an unreliable account of lusts and troubles that began, somehow, in 1956 on the day our free television was delivered. . .”Meet Dolores Price. She’s thirteen, wise-mouthed but wounded, having bid her childhood good-bye. Beached like a whale in front of her bedroom TV, she spends the next few years nourishing herself with the Mallomars, potato chips, and Pepsi her anxious mother supplies. When she finally rolls into young womanhood at 257 pounds, Dolores is no stronger and life is no kinder. But this time she’s determined to rise to the occasion and give herself one more chance before really going belly-up.At once a fragile girl and a hard-edged cynic, so tough to love yet so inimitably lovable, Dolores is as poignantly real as our own imperfections. She’s Come Undone includes a promise: you will never forget Dolores Price.
 My Review:
As I write this review, it is quite obvious that I may be the only one that didn’t know who Wally Lamb was prior to reading this book. I was never on the Oprah train…watching her show, buying her endorsed products, and certainly not buying any books recommended for her book club. I have an automatic resistance to giving anyone that much power over what I choose to do, buy, and read.  So, Wally Lamb’s book, She’s Come Undone, was certainly not on my radar of books to read.  For the price of $2.99, I figured I had nothing to lose and perhaps this book would get me out of the funk I’d been in with reading lately.

From page 1, I was drawn in.  Not into the actual story, but Wally’s prologue about what started this writing adventure for him that was over a 9 year span, who he loosely based Dolores after, and his pen pal relationship with David F.  I loved his ease for storytelling and how vulnerable and open he was to this process of novel writing.

Dolores Price.  Wow.  This book goes through her life, as she brings me (the reader) along with her through her sadness, anger, and later, her hope.  Prior to buying the book, I read the reviews on Amazon and also read that people had mentioned the same thing to Wally: why didn’t you kill Dolores? Why doesn’t she die?  Those 2 questions certainly perked my ears and I soon became even more curious to who this character was and why so many people could relate to her.

As I read this book, there were many times I pictured Ruby as Dolores.  You know Ruby….the overweight single woman, who was on Oprah at one time, and later had her own show on tv.  I watched her show, and along with millions, rooted for her to find out why she overate and cheered when the pounds came off.  However, there came a point in her weightloss journey that Ruby didn’t lose weight.  Rather she gained, as she started to address some of her fears from childhood.  While this isn’t about Ruby, again, I couldn’t help but picture Ruby as Dolores, while I read this book.

The story is about 400+ pages, but it’s so worth every bit of it.  Not one page is fluff, as every part of her journey is important to her self discovery and self acceptance.  It was astonishing to see how one single event changed the course of Delores’s innocent life and how it impacted her parents and their relationship with one another and their daughter.  The weight gain is the outward anger she felt, but the book dives into more of the emotional pain she endured.

There were times that I laughed out loud, cried silently, and cheered, too. This book chronicles Dolores’ life and ends with her not dying, as some had hoped, rather finally living.  I loved everything about this book and have not stopped thinking about Dolores.  She gives hope to others…if she can make it, you can too.  She also shows that when demons and fears are faced, they aren’t so big and cannot take control over a person any longer.

I loved the friendships she made along the way, the crazy love she had for Dante and how her relationship paralleled that of her parents, and how family is who you choose to be part of your life: like Roberta and Mr. Pucci.  I can’t forget to mention Dr. Shaw. He reminded me of Virginia Satir, in a video I watched in graduate school.  She was helping this young teenage girl work through her eating addiction, with the family involved.  Then, there is an after tape, where Virginia is working the family after the young girl takes her own life.  I was thankful that Delores didn’t die, didn’t become the whale on the beach, laying lifeless for the world to see.  She had done that already, rather she became the whale that emerges from the ocean and sprays her…giving her renewed hope!

Back to Dr. Shaw.  I loved his relationship with Delores and how he was always trying something different with her, to unlock those chains she had on herself.  I loved the baby to teen progression in the pool, and how he became her mother.  Then, when Delores had the epiphany and unleashed all the truths about her mom and its impact on her life…wow! I was crying with her and cheering for Dr. Shaw because he was brave enough to follow through with her and not give up on her before her monumental breakthrough.  I was just amazed, simply amazed.

While much happens before her breakthrough with Dr. Shaw, there is more to her story afterwards.  So many times, Delores could have fallen back into old patterns of self destructive behavior.  However, she is resilient, outspoken, and learns that in order to be loved, she must first love herself.

If you are like me, and are one of the lone rangers who hasn’t read this book, I suggest you read it.  If you have read it, read it again.  And, if you are feeling exceptionally giving-share this book with others. It’s a great story that uncovers taboos, faces challenges, and gives hope to anyone who feels so lost and alone.

5 plus more

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Mar11

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Romancing Olive by Holly Bush

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Synopsis:

In 1891, spinster librarian, Olive Wilkins, is shocked to learn of her brother’s violent death at a saloon gaming table and her sister-in-law’s subsequent murder, traveling far from her staid life to rescue her niece and nephew, now orphans. She arrives to find the circumstances of her brother’s life deplorable and her long held beliefs of family and tradition, shaken.

Accustomed to the sophistication of Philadelphia, Olive arrives in Spencer, Ohio, a rough and tumble world she is not familiar with, facing two traumatized children. Her niece and nephew, Mary and John, have been living with a neighboring farmer, widower Jacob Butler, the father of three young children of his own and a man still in pain from the recent loss of his wife.

Real danger threatens Olive and Mary and John while Jacob and his own brood battle the day-to-day struggles for survival. Will Olive and Jacob find the strength to fight their battles alone or together? Will love conquer the bitterness of loss and broken dreams?

Review:

I loved this book! Very sweet and well written.  I read this book in about 2 days and enjoyed the storyline and characters. I don’t typically enjoy western type of books, and this reminded me of one with the setting.  However, it is really about a story of second chances, family, and starting over.  Jacob is grieving and angry over the loss of his wife, while Olive leaves the comfort of her routine life in Philadelphia to move to Ohio so that she can take the children of her deceased brother. Upon arriving, Olive slowly strips her spinster persona as Jacob slowly starts to see that beyond Olive’s exterior and slowly falls in love with who Olive is.  I enjoyed the way the story progressed and the simplicity in the story, as it covered a difficult situation: a family losing their mom and a sister losing her brother.  Overall,  I would recommend this story!

Historical Book Tours is providing a free e-book (the format of your choice) to 1 winner! 

1 winner will be selected to win, Romancing Olive, by Holly Bush.

The winner will be contacted and HBT will send an e-book copy!

Giveaway ends March 31, 2013.

Simply enter in the comment area:

your name, email, and what you liked about the synopsis to be entered in the giveaway.

*Historical Book Tours provided a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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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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Feb3

Cup of Tea Books Review: Back on the Market by L.A. Frazier

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Product Details

  • File Size: 402 KB
  • Print Length: 275 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1939403014
  • Publisher: Cup of Tea Books, an imprint of PageSpring Publishing (December 15, 2012)

Synopsis:

Recently divorced, forty-something Vicky Andrews desperately needs a life.

Finding her boss naked and dead at an open house she’s hosting was not what she had in mind.

Wishing she’d spend more time reading Nancy Drew in her formative years, Vicky calls upon her own intuition and various investigative skills to try to find a piece of incriminating evidence the murderer thinks she has–before the murderer finds her.

She might decide that the world has it in for her if not for Detective Nick Carson, who shares frustration, information, and more than a few fantastic kisses as he tries to solve the case.

Throw in a rescued miniature dachshund, a skeleton named Max, and a coven of well-intentioned neighbors, and maybe, just maybe, Vicky has found exactly what she needs.

My Review:

From the moment I read page 1, I loved this book! It is fast paced, a light read, filled with mystery, bat crazy old ladies, and some love.  The author keeps the book light, even though there is this bizarre murder that takes place at a house that is for sale.  I love the charm and quirkiness of Vicky’s character and she is one tough cookie!  It’s a short read, however there is plenty of meat to this book to sink your teeth into.  I would definitely rank this book as one of my top favorites in the genre of “chick-lit”!  Anyone that wants a quick read, filled with some mystery and some speckles of love and chocolate, will certainly enjoy reading this book!

5 rating

*This book was provided by Cup of Tea Books, in exchange for an honest review.

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Nov8

Review: In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin by Erik Larson

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Synopsis:

“Larson is a marvelous writer…superb at creating characters with a few short strokes.”—New York Times Book Review   Erik Larson has been widely acclaimed as a master of narrative non-fiction, and in his new book, the bestselling author of Devil in the White City turns his hand to a remarkable story set during Hitler’s rise to power. The time is 1933, the place, Berlin, when William E. Dodd becomes America’s first ambassador to Hitler’s Germany in a year that proved to be a turning point in history. A mild-mannered professor from Chicago, Dodd brings along his wife, son, and flamboyant daughter, Martha. At first Martha is entranced by the parties and pomp, and the handsome young men of the Third Reich with their infectious enthusiasm for restoring Germany to a position of world prominence. Enamored of the “New Germany,” she has one affair after another, including with the suprisingly honorable first chief of the Gestapo, Rudolf Diels. But as evidence of Jewish persecution mounts, confirmed by chilling first-person testimony, her father telegraphs his concerns to a largely indifferent State Department back home. Dodd watches with alarm as Jews are attacked, the press is censored, and drafts of frightening new laws begin to circulate. As that first year unfolds and the shadows deepen, the Dodds experience days full of excitement, intrigue, romance—and ultimately, horror, when a climactic spasm of violence and murder reveals Hitler’s true character and ruthless ambition. Suffused with the tense atmosphere of the period, and with unforgettable portraits of the bizarre Göring and the expectedly charming–yet wholly sinister–Goebbels, In the Garden of Beasts lends a stunning, eyewitness perspective on events as they unfold in real time, revealing an era of surprising nuance and complexity. The result is a dazzling, addictively readable work that speaks volumes about why the world did not recognize the grave threat posed by Hitler until Berlin, and Europe, were awash in blood and terror.
My Review:
  I’ve heard a lot about this book, as it has been out for some time now. However, I resisted reading the book. I actually didn’t like the title of the book…so it certainly didn’t draw my attention at first.  I had just finished reading a book and was in a book slump for awhile.  Then, I got this notice from my library that the book had come available for me to download.  I had forgotten that I requested it a loooong time ago!  It couldn’t have come at a better time than now!
  This was a rather interesting read. Erick states this is a book of non-fiction. I was amazed at how much research and piecing together facts from various sources he did to make this book. This book has extensive research!! I was surprised at how many people journaled and kept diaries back then, coupled with saved letters, Erik lets the story unfold.  WWII, Jews in concentration camps, and other stories about that era are things I hate to read, but love to read.  Does that make sense?  I really resist reading these kinds of book because the stories stay with me long after the book has been put down.  This book is told through a different side. It’s told from the perspective of the Ambassador to Germany, William Dodd and his daughter, Martha.
While the daily persecutions of the Jewish people wasn’t written in detail, the mass killings of those who followed Hitler was described.  People didn’t trust each other, didn’t know who would turn them in for saying something negative about the government, Hitler, hysteria, and this indescrible amount of fear consumed the people of Germany.  A Jewish banker was rather smart when he offered his extravagant home for very cheap rent to Ambassador Dodd and his family.  The banker knew living with the American Ambassdador would provide protection and immunity from the daily harrassment of Nazis.
Enamored with the Old Germany Ambassador Dodd knew as a college student, and his daughter enamored with the New Germany under Hitler’s regime, both are given a real glimpse into what is happening, that is not being reported to the world: mass killings, tortured Jewish people in concentration camps, passing of laws to make it okay to sterilize people that are not deemed Aryan worth, people being exiled from their homes and businesses, beatings for not giving the Hitler salute or not doing it properly, American tourists being beaten and paid off to not report it back to the states, etc.
Americans were still recovering from the Great Depression, so they didn’t want to accept  immigrants into the States for fear that it would burden the economy, bankers were concerned about the excess money Germany still owed and were afraid if they spoke out against Hitler that the money would not be repaid, Americans were not being told everything that was going on in Germany (including FDR), and so many mistruths were told to pacify Hitler and his regime.  Parties, excess drinking, sex, and bribery were common amongst the supporters of Hitler and only when it was truly too late to do anything about what was happening, did people start speaking out in silent protests….which often resulted in disappearances and death.
  This is an excellent book and one that I took my time reading. There was so much information and people affected during those times, that I didn’t want to rush through the book.  It’s worth reading, it’s a story that should be told to remind us of what can happen, what does happen when someone is given too much power, and how once the wheels starts turning, it truly is too hard to stop the eventual negative impacts of decisions made.
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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!

**********************************************************************************

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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Oct21

Review: Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim

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Synopsis:

In 1837, Lisbeth Wainwright is born to the white mistress of a sprawling Virginia plantation. Seconds later, she is delivered into the arms of her black wet nurse, Mattie. For a field hand like Mattie, her transfer to the big house is supposed to be considered an honor—except that the move tears Mattie away from her beloved grandfather and her infant son, Samuel. But Mattie is a slave, with no say in the matter, and so she devotes herself to her master’s daughter, though she longs to be raising her own child. Growing up under Mattie’s tender care, little Lisbeth adopts the woman’s deep-seated faith in God, her love of music and black-eyed peas, and the tradition of hunting for yellow crocuses in the early days of spring.

As the years pass, Lisbeth is drawn slowly back into her white parents’ world and begins to learn the ins and outs of life for a high-born young lady. Still she retains her connection to Mattie, befriending Samuel and drifting comfortably between the two worlds. She accepts her parents’ assertion that their slaves depend upon them for guidance and protection, yet that notion becomes more and more difficult to believe as she gains awareness of the inequality of life in the big house versus the slave quarters. When, on the threshold of her society wedding to debonair Edward Cunningham, Lisbeth bears witness to a shockingly brutal act, the final vestiges of her naiveté crumble around her. Just twenty-one years old, she is forced to choose between what is socially acceptable and what is right, a decision that will change her life forever.

This compelling historical novel chronicles young Lisbeth Wainwright’s coming-of-age during one of the most difficult chapters of American history. Lisbeth’s powerful bond with Mattie makes her loss of innocence in the face of society’s ugly secrets all the more heartbreaking, and yet it is the courage she learns from her stand in mother that enables Lisbeth to blaze a new path for herself. Yellow Crocus offers moving proof of how the greatest social change often blooms forth from small personal acts of love.

Purchase on Kindle for $3.99

Purchase paperback.

Not available for Nook.

Review:

This is a story that is during times of slavery in the South and the relationship a little girl has with her wet nurse.  It was interesting reading how wealthy women didn’t breastfeed, rather they had a lactating slave girl breastfeed.  This meant that the wet nurse often had to leave her own baby behind to be breastfed by someone in the plantation.  The little girl, Miss Lisbeth, becomes so attached to her Mattie, that she gets severely sick when she is separated from her so that Mattie can breastfeed Mattie’s newborn brother.  Distraught and feeling helpless, Lisbeth’s mom decides to keep Mattie with her daughter and has another wet nurse take care of her newborn son.

As time passes, the relationship between Mattie and Miss. Lisbeth grows into a relationship of mother/daughter, friend, and helper.  Lisbeth breaks conventional rule by walking amongst the others at the slave plantation and teaching Mattie’s son and other plantation children how to read.  When we hear the saying ,” knowledge is power”, there is so much truth to that statement!  In this book, it is evident as slaves learning to read can potentially be a threat to their plantation owners as they run away and buy tickets to move to the North.

Laila Ibrahim shares the societal and cultural expectations Mattie’s family experiences as she is groomed to be a wife and mother.  Mattie is also faced with life/death situations when she decides that she doesn’t want her son to live his last days on the plantation.  She desires freedom for her son and that is always at the back of her mind.  Both Mattie and Lisbeth are faced with these challenges and pressures as they also navigate through their own relationship and determine if they can truly trust each other.

This story is so complex, with characters faced with life changing situations, that the reader will truly love every bit of this story.  It’s a different story from, “The Help”, and one that I actually equally loved!  It’s a great book that sheds light on the way America was at one time and the shameful ways people were slaved and abused.

  *This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No forms of compensation were given.

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Sep22

Review & Book Giveaway: True Love Way by Nancy Scrofano

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Synopsis:

Marlo Spencer relishes all things retro. Old TV shows, classic movies, and even the collectible lunch boxes to go with them. In fact, she’s quite cozy in her Malibu apartment, surrounded by her treasured knick-knacks and vintage memorabilia. It’s her best friend, Nik, who doesn’t get her fascination with all that “old junk,” as he calls it. He especially doesn’t understand why she’s so keen to get back to their hometown of Napa when her high school sweetheart, Josh, suddenly returns after twelve years in Paris and nary a single phone call, eager to reunite with her. So, when Marlo heads up north to wine country to rekindle her relationship with Josh, Nik tags along, claiming he was already planning to visit his sister, Savannah, Marlo’s gal pal. Once they reach Napa, however, dreams of a blissful reunion are shattered as old secrets and past betrayals are revealed, leaving an unsuspecting Marlo to pick up the pieces. Can she forgive and forget, or will true love find a different path to her heart?

 

My Review:

If you ever want to read a chick-lit book, pick this one! It has everything that makes me love chick-lit, which is a new genre for me.  I loved the charm and quirkiness of the characters, the back in time moments with I Love Lucy reruns, and even an old flame from high school.  With just a touch of romance, a whole serving of laughs, and some twists and turns, I was engrossed in the book and couldn’t put it down!!  I loved the way the story flowed, the storyline was interesting and had some real life challenges readers can relate to, and shows how love never truly dies.  This is not a heavy book, there are some unrealistic parts in the storyline, but isn’t that why we love chick-lit? It takes you away for just a moment in time and in the end, you can’t help but smile and feel good about it.  I highly recommend this book!

*This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.  No forms of compensation were given.

About the Author:

Nancy Scrofano grew up watching classic television shows, classic movies, and listening to oldies, all of which she still adores today. Nancy has a penchant for the fifties, mostly because of her favorite show, I Love Lucy. She has seen every episode countless times and will happily share the trivia she knows with anyone who will listen. Nancy worked as an editor and a journalist for her college newspaper, then went on to develop sociology textbooks for an academic publisher. She has a master’s degree in media psychology, as well as undergraduate degrees in communication, radio and television, and liberal arts. Nancy currently writes book reviews for a prestigious book review magazine. Additionally, she is the founder and managing editor of The Chick Lit Bee, a book blog that promotes and celebrates women’s fiction, and Good Humor Girl, a women’s entertainment blog. Nancy lives in southern California where she is at work on her next novel.

Connect With the Author:

http://www.nancyscrofano.com

http://www.twitter.com/writernancy

http://www.facebook.com/nancyscrofano

http://www.pinterest.com/nancyscrofano

WIN THE E-BOOK!

Book giveaway ends October 31, 2012.

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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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