Review: Year of No Clutter by Eve Schaub

Title:  Year of No Clutter: A Memoir
Author:  Eve Schaub   (Author Website) (Facebook)
Genre:  Memoir
Publisher:  Sourcebooks (March 7, 2017)
Length:   320 pages
Source:   Netgalley.com

 

Everyone eats. Everyone sleeps. Everyone accumulates stuff.

The hilarious author of Year of No Sugar, Eve Schaub, returns with her new memoir, Year of No Clutter, to tackle the issue of “things.” Specifically, the 576-square-foot room in her house that is overflowing with stuff she can’t bring herself to throw away, like her fifth grade report card and pieces of plaster wall stuffed in a box.

Year of No Clutter is more than the tale of how one woman organized an entire room in her house that had been filled with pointless items, it’s a deeply inspiring, and frequently hilarious, examination of why we keep stuff in the first place, and how to let it all go.

My Review/Rating: Year of No Clutter by Eve Schaub is a very interesting read.  Eve sheds light on her inner thoughts regarding her internal drive to save things.  Some items Eve save seem to have no purpose. The need to save these items are entirely unconceivable to me. I am not a saver or collector.  I don’t even keep books once I have read them. 

It is interesting, that while Eve has family members that are collectors/saver to a great degree she can not understand their reasoning for keeping items.  Year of No Clutter shows that the thought processes that lead to someone becoming a saver/hoarder is very personal to their life story.  As a social worker for the last 20 years, I have been in many homes where people have difficulty with saving.  I found it very helpful to understand Eve’s inner thought process and walk with her as she works to regain control of her “Hell Room”.  Eve is very cognizant of her behavior/tendencies and how they are being handed down to her daughters.   Will Eve end this family cycle of collecting after this year of working through her relationship with clutter?

“Periodically I would stop whatever it was I was doing to register the thought: the very fact that I have a Hell Room – much less the leisure to write an entire book about it – is one heck of a First World problem if I ever heard one. “  Eve Schaub

Year of No Clutter by Eve Schaub is a 3.5 read for me!  I was very interested in understanding Eve’s inner thought process that led to her having having a “Hell Room”.

 

Year of No Clutter available March 7 at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound and Books-A-Million.

Year of No Clutter by Eve Schaub was also reviewed by Fresh Fiction, Newberry and Beyond, and BookwormMummy

My Rating Scale: 1 – didn’t like it; 2 – it was ok; 3 – liked it; 4 – really liked it; 5 – it was amazing

 

Sign up to receive a daily e-newsletter with tips, advice and videos from Eve Schaub on how to start conquering clutter this spring during the Week of No Clutter, March 7-14. Sign up now! http://books.sourcebooks.com/year-of-no-clutter/

Contest Starts: Monday March 6th!  Come back to enter tomorrow!

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Happy Reading!

*Note – if you would like to keep up with book reviews on Reading in White Bear Lake, please take a moment to like us on facebook! 
**Disclosure – Year with No Clutter by Eve Schaub was received from NetGalley.com reviewer program and Sourcebooks in exchange for a fair review. All opinions are my own. #WeekOfNoClutter

Review: All of Us and Everything by



Title: All of Us and Everything
Author: Bridget Asher (Author Website) (Facebook)
Narrators: Cassandra Campbell
Publisher:  Blackstone Audio, Inc.;
Source: Audiobook Jukebox‘s reviewer program





About the Book: (from Goodreads.com)The Rockwell women are nothing if not . . . Well, it’s complicated. When the sisters—Esme, Liv, and Ru—were young, their eccentric mother, Augusta, silenced all talk of their absent father with the wild story that he was an international spy, always away on top-secret missions. But the consequences of such an unconventional upbringing are neither small nor subtle: Esme is navigating a failing marriage while trying to keep her precocious fifteen-year-old daughter from live-tweeting every detail. Liv finds herself in between relationships and rehabs, and Ru has run away from enough people and problems to earn her frequent flier miles. So when a hurricane hits the family home on the Jersey Shore, the Rockwells reunite to assess the damage—only to discover that the storm has unearthed a long-buried box. In a candid moment, Augusta reveals a startling secret that will blow the sisters’ concept of family to smithereens—and send them on an adventure to reconnect with a lost past . . . and one another.

About the Author:  (from author website)
Critically acclaimed, bestselling author Julianna Baggott also writes under the pen names Bridget Asher and N.E. Bode. hundred foreign editions of Julianna’s novels published or forthcoming overseas.
Julianna began publishing short stories when she was twenty-two and sold her first novel while still in her twenties.

Her Bridget Asher novels include All of Us and Everything, The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted, The Pretend Wife, and My Husband’s Sweethearts. Asher’s novels are widely published overseas.

She has also published award-winning novels for younger readers under the pen name N.E. Bode as well as under Julianna Baggott.

About the Narrators: Cassandra Campbell is very experienced narrator.  Campbell has narrated more than 100 audiobooks and has directed nearly twice that many.  She is very talented at giving each character their own voice and finding a nice cadence and rhythm to her narration.

My Review: The Rockwell sisters Esme, Liv and Ru had an unusual upbringing living with their mother, Augusta.  The three sisters are very  different, but after hurricane Sandy they are once again all at home with their mother.  They are a family of women and it is hard for any man to really be a part of the group.

A father they had not met returns to the family.  A father who was on the outskirts of their lives the entire time, trying to a part of their lives without them knowing.   How do you put a family back together after all this time??

While I found parts of the story interesting and entertaining, there were a number of parts in the story where I felt the plot just fell flat for me.  Without spoiling the plot, I will say it felt contrived and unrealistic at times.    

My Rating: 3/5 – it was ok - the characters in All of Us and Everything by Bridget Asher are quirky and interesting to an extent.  I had a hard time being pulled into this story.   It is a lighter read. I found the characters hard to connect to and found parts of the story unrealistic.

My Rating Scale: 1 – didn’t like it; 2 – it was ok; 3 – liked it; 4 – really liked it; 5 – it was amazing

 

All of Us and Everything by Bridget Asher was also reviewed on the following blogs:  Karma for Life Chick, and Bookish Devices,



**Disclosure – All of Us and Everything by Bridget Asher was received from Audiobook Jukebox’s reviewer program and Blackstone Audio in exchange for a fair review.

Review: Missing PIeces - Heather Gudenkauf

Title: Missing Pieces
Author: Heather  Gudenkauf (Author Website) (Facebook)
Genre: Literature/Fiction
Publisher:  MIRA (February 2, 2016)
Length:  288 pages
Source:  Netgalley.com

ABOUT THE BOOK: (from Goodreads.com)

Sarah Quinlan's husband, Jack, has been haunted for decades by the untimely death of his mother when he was just a teenager, her body found in the cellar of their family farm, the circumstances a mystery. The case rocked the small farm town of Penny Gate, Iowa, where Jack was raised, and for years Jack avoided returning home. But when his beloved aunt Julia is in an accident, hospitalized in a coma, Jack and Sarah are forced to confront the past that they have long evaded.

Upon arriving in Penny Gate, Sarah and Jack are welcomed by the family Jack left behind all those years ago—barely a trace of the wounds that had once devastated them all. But as facts about Julia's accident begin to surface, Sarah realizes that nothing about the Quinlans is what it seems. Caught in a flurry of unanswered questions, Sarah dives deep into the puzzling rabbit hole of Jack's past. But the farther in she climbs, the harder it is for her to get out. And soon she is faced with a deadly truth she may not be prepared for.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  (from Author’s website)

Heather was born in Wagner, South Dakota, the youngest of six children. At one month of age, her family returned to the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota where her father was employed as a guidance counselor and her mother as a school nurse. At the age of three, her family moved to Iowa, where she grew up. Having been born with a profound unilateral hearing impairment (there were many evenings when Heather and her father made a trip to the bus barn to look around the school bus for her hearing aids that she often conveniently would forget on the seat beside her), Heather tended to use books as a retreat, would climb into the toy box that her father’s students from Rosebud made for the family with a pillow, blanket, and flashlight, close the lid, and escape the world around her. Heather became a voracious reader and the seed of becoming a writer was planted.

Heather Gudenkauf graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in elementary education, has spent her career working with students of all ages and continues to work in education as a Title I Reading Coordinator.

Heather lives in Iowa with her husband, three children, and a very spoiled German Shorthaired Pointer named Maxine.

MY REVIEW:   Sarah Quilan was an investigative reporter before her marriage and having her daughters.  She and her husband, Jack head to Penny Gate, Iowa after Jack's Aunt Julia fall down the steps.   Jack and his sister Amy were raised by their Aunt Julie and Uncle Hal after the death of their mother.  Jack hasn't been entirely honest with his wife about the circumstances of his parents' death, but that will all start unraveling once they are in Penny Gate.
The relationship between Sarah and Jack is strained due Jack's dishonestly.   Sarah puts her investigative skills to work to look into the death of Jack's mother as well as the death of Jack's Aunt Julie.  The characters are well developed and you get a good feel for them.  I was surprised though at how quickly Sarah began to question or distrust her husband. After that many years of marriage I would hope my trust of my spouse could not waiver so quickly.

I loved the quaintness of the small town described in the Missing Pieces by Heather Gudenkauf.  Because, of course someone would help you out and have you back because they used to babysit your husband, Jack.  

Dean and Celia, Jack's cousin and his wife are an interesting couple.   Throughout the book, you wonder about Dean and the relationship between him and Celia.  This is put to rest quickly in the conclusion of Missing Pieces.    

MY RATING: 4/5 - I was quickly sucked into Missing Pieces by Heather Gudenkauf, which is fraught with tension and suspense.  Heather  Gudenkauf is one of my favorite authors, so I knew I wouldn't be disappointed.   I love her descriptions of small town life.   Growing up in South Dakota myself, I can tell you she is right on with life in a small town. 

Gudenkauf never disappoints. Missing Pieces is a murder mystery/thriller, which had me guessing throughout.  When the final reveal came, that person wasn't even on my suspect list.  I read Missing Pieces by Heather Gudenkauf within 2 days.  The missing pieces are revealed at a nice pace that keeps you guessing and engaged in the story.  Well done once again, Heather Gudenkauf. 

My Rating Scale: 1 – didn’t like it; 2 – it was ok; 3 – liked it; 4 – really liked it; 5 – it was amazing

Missing Pieces by Heather Gudenkauf is available in book stores on February 2nd.


Missing Pieces by Heather Gudenkauf was also reviewed by Second Run Reviews, Jenn's Bookshelves, and Debbish dotcom 

Happy Reading!



**Disclosure – Missing Pieces by Heather Gudenkauf was received from NetGalley.com reviewer program and MIRA in exchange for a fair review. All opinions are my own.
     

Review: One More Day by Kelly Simmons (Blog Tour)

 

Title: One More Day
Author: Kelly  Simmons (Author Website) (Facebook)
Genre: Literature/Fiction
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Landmark (February 2, 2016)
Length:  320 pages
Source:  Netgalley.com

ABOUT THE BOOK: (from Goodreads.com)
Don't look away

No one wants to be the mother whose child disappears. It's unthinkable, the stuff of nightmares. But when she turns her back to pay a parking meter, Carrie Morgan becomes that mother. Ben is gone, and more than a year later, it's clear that he is never coming back.

Until he does...for just twenty-four hours, before once again vanishing from his crib without a trace. Rumors start to circulate through Carrie's small town. Whispers that she's seeing things. That her alibi doesn't quite add up.

Her husband and friends start to think she's crazy. The police start to think she's guilty. As the investigation heats up, Carrie must decide what to share, and why. Because the crime is about to be solved... and her secret revealed.

BOOK TRAILER:


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  (from Author’s website)
Kelly Simmons is a former journalist and creative advertising director who started writing fiction over fifteen years ago, while studying creative writing and screenwriting at Temple University and University of Pennsylvania. In addition to her critically acclaimed novels {STANDING STILL, THE BIRD HOUSE and ONE MORE DAY} she is developing a TV series and has been writing a memoir for what seems like her entire life.

MY REVIEW:   When reading the description of One more Day by Kelly Simmons,  I was drawn to the book.  I don't know why I am drawn to child abduction stories as they are my worst nightmare and could not imagine living through such an experience regarding my sons.  Haven't we all wished for just One More Day with a loved one? Carrie and John  Morgan were granted that wish, just one more day with their child who had been abducted 15 months earlier.  After the one day, their son Ben is missing again.  The reader then embarks on a suspenseful, fast paced journey to discover what happened to Ben?

I love books that you think are going one way and you find yourself heading in a different direction.    The story is more about the characters and psychology of grief and how people each handle it differently.   I found the character's emotions well portrayed and strong.  I understood Carrie's past, it's effect on the present, her pain and confusion.

One More Day by Kelly Simmons is psychological suspense about parenthood, family, relationships, loyalty, faith, and hidden secrets with a paranormal twist. While other reviewers disliked the twist, I enjoy a book that takes me on a different journey than I was expecting. 

MY RATING: 4/5 - One More Day by Kelly Simmons is a fast paced story about my worst nightmare,  a lost child.  This is a story you need to come to with an open mind.  I read One More Day in nearly one sitting.  Even though I questioned some elements of the story, I just had to find out what happens.  I will admit, that at one point in the story I got actual goosebumps.  That has never happened to me when reading a book.

I don't want to give too much of the storyline away, but there is a twist which left me wondering was this paranormal or a psychological reaction to grief, guilt and stress.   One More Day is definitely worth the experience and read.  Make sure you set some time aside to read One More Day as once you start, it is hard to put down.  Yes, my house and family were neglect until I could finish.  

My Rating Scale: 1 – didn’t like it; 2 – it was ok; 3 – liked it; 4 – really liked it; 5 – it was amazing

One More Day by Kelly Simmons is available in book stores in paperback as of February 2nd, or you can enter the book giveaway below from the publisher for a chance to win a copy of One More Day by Kelly Simmons.

 

GIVEAWAY

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One More Day by Kelly Simmons was also reviewed by Ashley LaMar,  The Three R's Blog, and Brilliant Bookshelf.  

Happy Reading!



**Disclosure – One More Day by Kelly Simmons was received from NetGalley.com reviewer program and Sourcebooks in exchange for a fair review. All opinions are my own.

Review: The Children’s Crusade by Ann Packer

Title: The Children’s Crusade Author: Ann Packer (Author Website) (Facebook) Narrators: Cotter Smith, Frederick Weller, Thomas Sadoski, Marin Ireland and Santino Fontana Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Audio Unabridged edition (April , 2015) Length:  12 CDs Source: Audiobook Jukebox‘s reviewer program

About the Book: (from Goodreads.com)

From the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of The Dive From Clausen's Pier, a sweeping, masterful new novel that explores the secrets and desires, the remnant wounds and saving graces of one California family, over the course of five decades.

Bill Blair finds the land by accident, three wooded acres in a rustic community south of San Francisco. The year is 1954, long before anyone will call this area Silicon Valley. Struck by a vision of the family he has yet to create, Bill buys the property on a whim. In Penny Greenway he finds a suitable wife, a woman whose yearning attitude toward life seems compelling and answerable, and they marry and have four children. Yet Penny is a mercurial housewife, at a time when women chafed at the conventions imposed on them. She finds salvation in art, but the cost is high.

Thirty years later, the three oldest Blair children, adults now and still living near the family home, are disrupted by the return of the youngest, whose sudden presence and all-too-familiar troubles force a reckoning with who they are, separately and together, and set off a struggle over the family's future. One by one, the siblings take turns telling the story--Robert, a doctor like their father; Rebecca, a psychiatrist; Ryan, a schoolteacher; and James, the malcontent, the problem child, the only one who hasn't settled down-their narratives interwoven with portraits of the family at crucial points in their history.

About the Author:  (from author website)

Ann Packer was born in Stanford, California, in 1959, and grew up near Stanford University, where her parents were professors. She attended Yale University and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and has received fellowships from the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing, the Michener-Copernicus Society, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

She is the acclaimed author of two collections of short fiction, Swim Back to Me and Mendocino and Other Stories, and two bestselling novels, Songs Without Words and The Dive from Clausen’s Pier, which received the Kate Chopin Literary Award, among many other prizes and honors. Her short fiction has appeared in The New Yorker and in the O. Henry Prize Stories anthologies, and her novels have been published around the world.

Ann returned to her native Bay Area in 1995. She lives in San Carlos with her family.

About the Narrators:

Cotter Smith -  is an American actor of stage, film, and television. As an audiobook narrator, he has won two Earphones Awards and was a finalist in 1997 for the prestigious Audie Award. Audiobooks also include:  Millionaire Next Door, Millionaire Mind, Citizen Soldiers and Victors by Stephen E Ambrose.

Frederick Weller - Frederick Weller's films include Four Lane Highway, The Shape of Things, When Will I Be Loved, Coyote Ugly, Basquiat and Armageddon. Television series include In Plain Sight (debut USA), The Jury, Law & Order: SVU & Criminal Intent, Pastor's Wife, and Missing Persons. On Broadway he starred in Seascape, Glengarry Glen Ross, Take Me Out, The Rehearsal, and Six Degrees of Separation. Audiobooks also include: Twisted by Jeffery Deaver, Nocturne by Jeffery Deaver and Blind Fall by Christopher Rice.

Thomas Sadoski - Thomas Sadoski was born on 1st July 1976 in Bethany, Connecticut. In 1980 he moved with his family to College Station, Texas. He has been in numerous plays Off-Broadway, and many regional theatres including the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Made his Broadway debut in 2004 playing Mary-Louise Parker's husband in the critically acclaimed production of "Reckless". Audiobooks also include: Mile 81 by Stephen King.

Marin Ireland - Marin Ireland is an actress, known for Side Effects (2013), I Am Legend (2007) and Revolutionary Road (2008). Audiobooks also include: XO by Jeffery Deaver

Santino Fontana - Santino Fontana is an actor, known for Frozen (2013), Frozen Fever (2015) and Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014). Audiobooks also include: You by Caroline Kepnes and The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman.

My Review: The Children’s Crusade by Ann Packer is a family drama spanning from 1950 to present day.  Bill Blair is a pediatrician and veteran of war.   Bill  meets Penny and they marry.  Penny has dreams of her family, 3 children would be perfect.  The first child born is Robert than Rebecca and Ryan, the three R’s, perfect.   Later James is born and Penny is unhappy about this, three children was the plan.  James is a rambunctious little boy and just too much for Penny.   She withdraws  from parenting him and the other children and Bill and the older children really parent James.  This really shows the impact that childhood experiences can have on someone into adulthood.  James always feels like the odd man out, not an “R” name. 

Children’s Crusade is really a coming of age story of a family.  A real family drama with complicated relationships.  There is a strong character story of each individual.  You really feel like you understand the characters, except for Penny.  Penny is very self-centered and removed from her family physically and emotionally.   I would have like to know more about her thought process regarding her decisions.  With Penny being the exception I felt like I knew the characters equally, but didn’t like them equally.  

The audio book of Children’s Crusade was performed by a cast of narrators, which allowed for great distinction between the characters.   I really felt the different voices fit the characters well and were easily distinguishable.  The pace of the narration went well this the story and plot.  Listening to Children’s Crusade did not have a huge impact on me…I wasn’t driving around the block to listen to more.  This had more to do with the actual story than the narration. 

My Rating: 3/5 – liked it- Children’s Crusade had me wishing for more throughout the book.  When was something of significance  going to happen??   I struggle with stories that don’t have a real pivotal point in the story.  The family overall, left me wondering how Bill could let this situation continue.  He often said “children need care”, but that was something his children were missing, at least from their mother.  This had a lasting effect on the children, especially James.  Good reminder that our actions as parents stay with our children much longer than we think. 

Children’s Crusade is really a character study of the Blair family.  Children’s Crusade is a family drama which touches on the themes such as healing, hope, innocence and forgiveness.   In all honestly, if this wasn’t a review book, I would have most likely not finished the book. 

The other item that was difficult for me was the ending of Children’s Crusade by Ann Packer, I was very disappointed in the ending.  It didn’t feel like much of an ending, I felt that as a reader I was left wishing for more once again. 

This was not the first book I have read by Ann Packer. My book group read The Dive from Clausen’s Pier which I enjoyed.  So don’t let this review discourage your from giving Ann Packer a try.

My Rating Scale: 1 – didn’t like it; 2 – it was ok; 3 – liked it; 4 – really liked it; 5 – it was amazing

Children’s Crusade by Ann Packer was also reviewed on the following blogs:  BookChatter,  West Metro Mommy Reads, and Adventures with Words.

**Disclosure – Children’s Crusade by Ann Packer was received from Audiobook Jukebox’s reviewer program and Simon & Schuster Audio in exchange for a fair review.

Posted by Jen C at 7:45 AM 0 comments

Review: Little Mercies by Heather Gunderkauf

Title: Little Mercies Author: Heather Gunderkauf (author website) Publisher: Harlequin MIRA (June 24, 2014) ISBN-10: 0778316335 Pages: 320 Source:  Netgalley.com

About the Book: (from Goodreads.com)

In her latest ripped-from-the-headlines tour de force, New York Times bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf shows how one small mistake can have life-altering consequences...

Veteran social worker Ellen Moore has seen the worst side of humanity; the vilest acts one person can commit against another. She is a fiercely dedicated children's advocate and a devoted mother and wife. But one blistering summer day, a simple moment of distraction will have repercussions that Ellen could never have imagined, threatening to shatter everything she holds dear, and trapping her between the gears of the system she works for.

Meanwhile, ten-year-old Jenny Briard has been living with her well-meaning but irresponsible father since her mother left them, sleeping on friends' couches and moving in and out of cheap motels. When Jenny suddenly finds herself on her own, she is forced to survive with nothing but a few dollars and her street smarts. The last thing she wants is a social worker, but when Ellen's and Jenny's lives collide, little do they know just how much they can help one another.

 
A powerful and emotionally charged tale about motherhood and justice, Little Mercies is a searing portrait of the tenuous grasp we have on the things we love the most, and of the ties that unexpectedly bring us together

Related Media:

About the Author: 

Heather was born in Wagner, South Dakota, the youngest of six children. At one month of age, her family returned to the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota where her father was employed as a guidance counselor and her mother as a school nurse. At the age of three, her family moved to Iowa, where she grew up. Having been born with a profound unilateral hearing impairment (there were many evenings when Heather and her father made a trip to the bus barn to look around the school bus for her hearing aids that she often conveniently would forget on the seat beside her), Heather tended to use books as a retreat, would climb into the toy box that her father’s students from Rosebud made for the family with a pillow, blanket, and flashlight, close the lid, and escape the world around her. Heather became a voracious reader and the seed of becoming a writer was planted.

Heather Gudenkauf graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in elementary education, has spent her career working with students of all ages and continues to work in education as a Title I Reading Coordinator.

Heather lives in Iowa with her husband, three children, and a very spoiled German Shorthaired Pointer named Maxine. In her free time Heather enjoys spending time with her family, reading, hiking, and running. She is currently working on her next novel.

My Review:  I love ripped from the headlines type books.  The beginning of Little Mercies by Heather Gudenkauf, hits a little close to home for this busy mom and overworked social worker.  I have been a social worker for the last 20 years also working with children.    Ellen is a veteran social worker and dedicated to the children she helps.  It is a hard thing to balance motherhood and a career such as social work.  Gudenkauf delves into the challenges of motherhood and being a  social worker with great insight. 

Ellen, while rushing to address an emergency on her caseload, makes a mistake that will have life altering consequences for her and her family.  Little Mercies is the story of Ellen, but also the story of a young girl Jenny.   Their stories eventually converge through some very skillful writing.  I chose to read Little Mercies due to the storyline including a social worker.  Little Mercies was the first book by Heather Gudenkauf, I have read. I was delight to discover she was originally from South Dakota, as I am.   The characters are well developed and you instantly care about Ellen Moore and her family.  The story of Jenny Briard was not as developed, but intriguing none the less. 

Little Mercies is a chilling, emotional story about motherhood and justice.    Little Mercies is an intriguing,  fast – paces read.   The story flows very nicely and hooks you right from the beginning.  You will finish this book in short order.

My Rating: 4 – Little Mercies is a ripped of the headlines story that will hit home with a lot of mothers.  Little Mercies is a fast-paced, intriguing read that you will be glad you devoured.   Little Mercies would be great book for a book club discussion, especially for my book group as we are almost all social workers.  If you are a fan of Jodi Picoult you will love Heather Gudenkauf’s book, Little Mercies.

My Rating Scale: 1 – didn’t like it; 2 – it was ok; 3 – liked it; 4 – really liked it; 5 – it was amazing

Little Mercies was also reviewed on the following  blogs:  Tempest Books, Book Journey, Candace’s Book Blog, and I’d So Rather Be Reading  

Happy Reading!

**Disclosure – Little Mercies by Heather Gudenkauf  was received from Harlequin MIRA in exchange for a fair review.

Review: Walking on Water by Richard Paul Evans

Title: Walking on Water (Book 5) Author: Richard Paul Evans (Author Website) (Facebook) Genre: Adult Fiction Narrator: Richard Paul Evans Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Audio, May, 2014 Source: Audiobook Jukebox‘s reviewer program

About the Book: (from Good Reads.com)

In this fifth New York Times bestseller in the Walk series, Richard Paul Evans’s hero Alan Christoffersen must say some painful goodbyes and learn some important lessons as he comes to the end of his cross-country walk to Key West.

After the death of his beloved wife, after the loss of his advertising business to his once-trusted partner, after bankruptcy forced him from his home, Alan Christoffersen’s daring cross-country journey—a walk across America, from Seattle to Key West, with only the pack on his back—has taught him lessons about love, forgiveness and, most of all, hope.

Now Alan must again return west to face yet another crisis, one that threatens to upend his world just as he had begun to heal from so much loss, leaving him unsure of whether he can reach the end his journey. It will take the love of a new friend, and the wisdom of an old friend, to help him to finally leave the past behind and find the strength and hope to live again.

Related Media: – Book Trailer

 About the Author & Narrator:

Richard Paul Evans is the #1 bestselling author of The Christmas Box.  Each of his eighteen novels has appeared on the New York Times bestseller list; there are more than 14 million copies of his books in print worldwide.  His books have been translated into more than twenty-five languages, and several have been international bestsellers. Evans has won the American Mothers book award, two first place Storytelling World awards, The Romantic Times Best Women’s Novel of the Year Award, the German Leserpreis Gold Award for Romance, and the Religion Communicator’s Council’s Wilbur Award. Four of Evans’s books have been produced as television movies. Evans received the Washington Times Humanitarian of the Century Award and the Volunteers of America National Empathy Award for his work helping abused children. Evans lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, Keri, and their five children.

 My Review: Walking on Water is the 5th book in the Walk series by Richard Paul Evans.  This audio book was narrated by the author.  I must admit, when I realized the author was also the narrator I wasn’t terribly excited.   I have listened to other authors and the experience has been less than satisfying.   That was not the case with Richard Paul Evans.  He has a very smooth and pleasing voice to listen too.  He narrates with great emotions, which really added to the listening experience. 

While, I enjoyed Walking on Water by Richard Paul Evans, my experience was probably diminished by not having read any of the previous books in the Walk series.  I am sure those who have read all the previous books were more connected with the character, Alan Christoffersen.  The last book eludes to many trials that Alan has endured in previous books, which I didn’t know the details about.   I imagine those who started at the beginning of this series were waiting for each book and felt a real connection or kinship with Alan.   Alan is a very likeable character who you hope ends his walk with restored hope and healing. 

The story starts with Alan facing some difficult issues with his father.  Allen is a very likeable character working through a number of losses towards healing.  The details of the states that Allen walks through is amazing.  The people he meets through out the last leg of his walk are interesting.   I plan on reading the previous books in this series.  I am especially interested in his walk through SD, since that is where I am originally from.   The details of the locations is obviously due to the author’s trip through these areas.  Great research by Richard Paul Evans.

My Rating: 3.5/5 – Walking on Water by Richard Paul Evans is the entertaining and emotional travelogue of Alan' Christoffersen’s walk from Seattle, Washington to Key West, Florida.   While Walking on Water is enjoyable as a stand alone book, I think you will feel more connected and invested in the characters if you follow Alan’s journey from the very beginning.

My Rating Scale: 1 – didn’t like it; 2 – it was ok; 3 – liked it; 4 – really liked it; 5 – it was amazing

Walking on Water by Richard Paul Evans was also reviewed by the The Friendly Book Nook,  and  Bookbag Lady.

 

Happy Reading!

**Disclosure – Audio book on Walking on Water by Richard Paul Evans was received from Simon and Schuster Audio in exchange for a fair review.

Review: The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarity

Title: The Husband’s Secret Author: Liane Moriarity (author website) Genre: Adult Fiction Publisher:  Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam; 1st Printing edition (July 30, 2013) Pages:  416 Source:  Kindle book purchased for book group

About the Book: (from publisher)
At the heart of The Husband’s Secret is a letter that’s not meant to be read
My darling Cecilia, if you’re reading this, then I’ve died...
Imagine that your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret—something with the potential to destroy not just the life you built together, but the lives of others as well. Imagine, then, that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive. . .
 .
Cecilia Fitzpatrick has achieved it all—she’s an incredibly successful businesswoman, a pillar of her small community, and a devoted wife and mother. Her life is as orderly and spotless as her home. But that letter is about to change everything, and not just for her: Rachel and Tess barely know Cecilia—or each other—but they too are about to feel the earth-shattering repercussions of her husband’s secret.

Acclaimed author Liane Moriarty has written a gripping, thought-provoking novel about how well it is really possible to know our spouses—and, ultimately, ourselves.

Related Media:  Liane Moriarty on The Husband's Secert



About the Author:

Liane Moriarty is the author of Three Wishes, The Last Anniversary, What Alice Forgot and The Hypnotist's Love Story. All of her novels have been published successfully around the world and translated into seven languages. Writing as L.M. Moriarty, she is also the author of the Space Brigade series for children. Liane lives in Sydney with her husband, son and daughter.

My Review: The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriaty was the monthly selection for my book group.   I don't belive I have read any books by Moriaty prevously, but other members had! 

Cecelia Fitzpatrick finds an envelope which says on the outside  "To Wife...To be opened in the event of my death"?   Would you open it??   I would open it in a heat beat!  I wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it otherwise.   The Husaban's Secret is the intertwined story of Tess, Cecelia and Rachel and how each are ultimately each effected by the contents of the envelope.  The Husband's Secret kept my interest.  I felt the story had a very good flow and kept you wanting to know more, which made for a very quick read.  

I think The Husband's Secret is a great book for a book group.  There are many moral dilemmas within the story to discuss.   I actually missed book group and didn't get to participate in the discussion.  I really wanted to discuss the ending and if others felt they would have made a similar decision to Rachel's.  

The Husband's Secret touches on themes of grief, lost, betrayal and the cost of forgiveness. 
    
My Rating: 4/5 - The Husband's Secret is very readable and gripping.  It is a book you will finish in a few sittings as you want to know how the author will resolve the events set in motion by that one simple letter intended to be read after the death of Cecelia's husband. 
 

My Rating Scale: 1 – didn’t like it; 2 – it was ok; 3 – liked it; 4 – really liked it; 5 – it was amazing

 

The Husband's Secret was also reviewed by Aestas Book Club, Maryse's Book Blog, and Book Journey.

 

 

Happy Reading!

Review: The Pearl That Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi

Title: The Pearl That Broke Its Shell Author: Nadia Hashini (Author Website)   (Facebook) Genre: Adult Fiction Narrator: Gin Hammond (website) Unabridged Length: 16.2 hours Publisher:  Blackstone Audio, May 5, 2014 Source: Audiobook Jukebox‘s reviewer program

About the Book: (from good reads.com)

Afghan-American Nadia Hashimi's literary debut novel, The Pearl that Broke Its Shell is a searing tale of powerlessness, fate, and the freedom to control one's own fate that combines the cultural flavor and emotional resonance of the works of Khaled Hosseini, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Lisa See.

In Kabul, 2007, with a drug-addicted father and no brothers, Rahima and her sisters can only sporadically attend school, and can rarely leave the house. Their only hope lies in the ancient custom of bacha posh, which allows young Rahima to dress and be treated as a boy until she is of marriageable age. As a son, she can attend school, go to the market, and chaperone her older sisters.

But Rahima is not the first in her family to adopt this unusual custom. A century earlier, her great-aunt, Shekiba, left orphaned by an epidemic, saved herself and built a new life the same way.

Crisscrossing in time, The Pearl the Broke Its Shell interweaves the tales of these two women separated by a century who share similar destinies. But what will happen once Rahima is of marriageable age? Will Shekiba always live as a man? And if Rahima cannot adapt to life as a bride, how will she survive

Related Media:  Nadia Hashimi Introduces “The Pearl That Broke Its Shell”.

About the Author:

Nadia Hashimi was born and raised in New York and New Jersey. Both her parents were born in Afghanistan and left in the early 1970s, before the Soviet invasion. Her mother, granddaughter of a notable Afghan poet, went to Europe to obtain a Master’s degree in civil engineering and her father came to the United States, where he worked hard to fulfill his American dream and build a new, brighter life for his immediate and extended family. Nadia was fortunate to be surrounded by a large family of aunts, uncles and cousins, keeping the Afghan culture an important part of their daily lives. Nadia attended Brandeis University where she obtained degrees in Middle Eastern Studies and Biology. In 2002, she made her first trip to Afghanistan with her parents who had not returned to their homeland since leaving in the 1970s. It was a bittersweet experience for everyone, finding relics of childhood homes and reuniting with loved ones. Nadia enrolled in medical school in Brooklyn and became active with an Afghan-American community organization that promoted cultural events and awareness, especially in the dark days after 9/11. She graduated from medical school and went on to complete her pediatric training at NYU/Bellevue hospitals in New York City. On completing her training, Nadia moved to Maryland with her husband where she works as a pediatrician. The Pearl That Broke Its Shell is Hashimi’s debut novel.

About the Narrator:

Gin Hammond received her MFA from the A.R.T. at Harvard University/Moscow Art Theatre. She has performed nationally at theatres such The Guthrie, Arena Stage, The Longwharf Theatre, Seattle’s ACT, The Pasadena Playhouse, the ART, The Berkshire Theatre Festival and The Studio Theatre in Washington D.C., where she won a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for her performance of The Syringa Tree. Internationally, she has performed in Russia, Germany, Ireland, Scotland and England. Ms. Hammond also received a Kathleen Cornell award, and WA state grants from Allied Arts, The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, Artist Trust, 4 Culture, as well as from the NEA. Her voice(s) can be heard on Jim French's Imagination Theatre, Super Granny, Cake Mania, Westward, and Nancy Drew video games, a wide range of industrials, audiobooks produced by Redwood and Cedar House Audio, and Halo 3 ODST. She currently resides in Seattle with her husband, where she writes, directs, teaches and performs.

My Review: Let’s just get this out of the way, The Pearl that Broke Its Shell is one of my favorite reads so far this year.   I received The Pearl That Broke Its Shell from the reviewer program at AudioJukeBox.   In my work as a social worker in a metro area, I meet many people and find myself drawn to stories of life within other cultures.  

The Pearl That Broke Its Shell is the story of two Afghan women, Shekiba and Rahima.  Shekiba lived in the early 1900’s during the reign of King Habibullah.  Rahima lived in present day Afghanistan.   Shekiba and Rahima shared a commonality of living as a Bacha posh.  Bacha posh ("dressed up as a boy" in the Dari Language) is a cultural practice in which some families without sons will pick a daughter to live and behave as a boy. This enables the child to behave more freely: attending school, escorting her sisters in public, and working. Bacha posh also allows the family to avoid the social stigma associated of not having any male children.

I don’t want to share too much about the story as you have to really experience it and I can’t really give it justice.  I found learning about the history of Afghanistan very interesting.  I found it very interesting how in 1920’s Afghanistan rules by King Amanullah Khan and Queen Soraya was looking towards the ways of the West and were making efforts to modernize and empower the Afghan people.  Fast forward nearly a 100 years to Rahima’s life and those previous efforts to modernize and empower the Afghan people are non existent.  The country is ruled by warlords and wrought with corruption. 

While the Pearl That Broke Its Shells touches of issues such as child marriage, warlords, political unrest, drug addiction, and domestic violence, I really was impacted by the strength, perseverance and determination of Shekiba and Rahima to change their naseeb.  Naseeb means destiny or fate. The literal meaning in Arabic is "share", but it came to be understood as "one's share in life", and thus his destiny. 

This is my first experience with the narration of Gin Hammond.   I really enjoyed listening to The Pearl That Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi.  Gin Hammond provides a very emotional and passionate performance.   Her narration is easy to listen to and very enjoyable.  She bring the story to life in a manner that added to my enjoyment of the story!

My Rating: 4/5 -  The Pearl That Broke Its Shell is a debut novel that is wonderfully written.  It is hard to believe this is Nadia Hashimi debut novel.   I found myself looking for excuses to slip in my earbuds to listen to just a few more chapters.   Hashimi provides a very intimate look into the life of two amazing Afghan women.   I found myself thinking about Shekida and Rahima throughout my day.  The Pearl That  Broke Its Shell is a story that will stay with you long after you close the book.

My Rating Scale: 1 – didn’t like it; 2 – it was ok; 3 – liked it; 4 – really liked it; 5 – it was amazing

The Pearl that Broke Its Shell was also reviewed by the The Book Reporter, The Savvy Reader, Peeking Between the Pages and West Metro Mommy Reads. 

Happy Reading!

**Disclosure – Copy of The Pearl That Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi was received from Blackstone Audio in exchange for a fair review.