Review: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Published July 15th 2014 by Atria Books

A grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door.

Meet Ove. He's a curmudgeon, the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him the bitter neighbor from hell, but must Ove be bitter just because he doesn't walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?

Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove's mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents' association to their very foundations. 

My Thoughts

I was seeing this novel pop up just about everywhere, so I just had to pick it up and see what type of adventure I was in for. Truly glad I decided to dive into A Man Called Ove because I definitely enjoyed the journey from beginning to end. The story was steady, engaging and easily kept my attention the entire time.

Ove is described as a grumpy old curmudgeon, and when I started the novel I was expecting he was a seventy or eighty year old man. However, unless I’m grossly mistaken, Ove was in his late fifties, so that gave me a slightly different impression of him that what I think the author intended. But, that didn’t stop me from seeing Ove as a stoic, rule-following, stick in the mud. Keep in mind, I describe him in such a manner with a light heart that enjoyed him immensely!

In this story, we learn how Ove is at a time in his life where he’s lost his job. Coupled with that, he’s still struggling with the death of his wife, and that compounds his desperate need to keep some sort of order in his life while at the same time trying to end it. To add to the chaos he feels, he now has to deal with a young family literally crashing into his neighborhood, which manages to toss the last pieces of normalcy out the door.

As the story progresses, we uncover Ove’s backstory, which includes a series of tragedies that can easily have the reader sobbing like a baby. His experiences definitely have a hand in molding Ove into the stoic, hard-edged man that believes in structure, order and fairness.

When Parvaneh and her family move into Ove’s community, his defenses are tested as this full-of-life mother/wife forces him to connect with people once again. I loved Parvaneh to pieces! Her loud, unassuming nature was exactly what Ove needed to feel purpose in his life once again.

Overall, Ove was a stand-up character that I enjoyed getting to know. His past was intriguing, and clearly showed how your experiences can mold you into the person you will later become.

Lovely novel that’s filled with a cast of unforgettable characters. If you’re looking for something heartfelt and emotional, A Man Called Ove will not disappoint.

4 Suns

Review: The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer

The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer
Publication Date November 8, 2016

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

She used to work for the U.S. government, but very few people ever knew that. An expert in her field, she was one of the darkest secrets of an agency so clandestine it doesn't even have a name. And when they decided she was a liability, they came for her without warning.


Now she rarely stays in the same place or uses the same name for long. They've killed the only other person she trusted, but something she knows still poses a threat. They want her dead, and soon.


When her former handler offers her a way out, she realises it's her only chance to erase the giant target on her back. But it means taking one last job for her ex-employers. To her horror, the information she acquires only makes her situation more dangerous.


Resolving to meet the threat head-on, she prepares for the toughest fight of her life but finds herself falling for a man who can only complicate her likelihood of survival. As she sees her choices being rapidly whittled down, she must apply her unique talents in ways she never dreamed of.

My Thoughts

Well that was a pleasant surprise!!

Having been a fan of the Twilight Series (minus the final installment), as well as, The Host, I was somewhat excited to see what Stephenie Meyer cooked up in her recent adult drama release The Chemist.  After plowing through this adventure-packed novel, I have to give credit where credit is due. Meyer definitely has a knack for creating a story that leaves you no other option but to feel a vested interest in her characters and their adventure.

In The Chemist, we meet Juliana Fortis who works for a secret agency that circumvents terrorist attacks on American soil.  Her background is chemistry and research, which is used during interrogations on suspected terrorists to disclose possible threats to our safety by using chemical and creative torture techniques.  When the agency suddenly turns their attention to Juliana and begins to see her as a liability because of the knowledge she’s acquired, she flees for her safety. After three years on the run and several attempts on her life, she knows that being over-prepared is the only way to survive.

When the same agency that is trying to eliminate her calls on her for a final job as a trade for her freedom, she accepts the assignment in the hopes of finally getting her life back. However, as she dives into the assignment, it proves to be more complicated and sinister than what she initially believed, and now she has an additional liablity on her shoulders that she feels compelled to protect.

I really liked how Meyer decided to develop her characters in The Chemist. It was quite different than what she’s done in the past. In this novel, Juliana or rather Alex (her alias for most of the novel) is the strong heroine that is both wickedly clever and surprisingly strong. She’s able to hold her own throughout the book despite the physical and mental punches she takes from her adversaries. Daniel Beach is a nice complement to Alex’s hard edges and unbreakable strength.  It was interesting to see how Meyer chose to make Daniel a bit more breakable and vulnerable and Alex the force to be reckoned with.

The Chemist also has its fair share of tender moments. And let’s be honest with ourselves… If Stephenie Meyer wants you to swoon over a guy, she’s going to put the right words in his mouth, and he’ll deliver his magic through the pages. Call me a sucker, but I fell for this sweet guy and his poetic confessions.

“I see a woman who is more… real than any other woman I’ve ever met. You make every other person I’ve known seem insubstantial, somehow incomplete. Like shadows and illusions… I’ve never been drawn to someone the way I am to you, and I have been from the very first moment I met you. It’s like the difference between… between reading about gravity and then falling for the first time. “ ~Daniel

“It feels like I’ve been waiting a century to do that. It’s like time has lost continuity. Every second with you outweighs days of life before I met you.” ~Daniel

Overall, it was great to see Meyer try her hand in a new genre. Having published YA Paranormal and Adult SciFi, The Chemist is a nice complement to her literary resume as she tackles Adult Drama/Suspense in a way that makes the transition appear seemless.  I always enjoy seeing authors take risks with their craft, and Meyer did so in a noteworthy way.  Well done Meyer… well done…

5 Suns

Review: Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil by Melina Marchetta

Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil by Melina Marchetta

Publication Date: October 11, 2016

Publisher: Mulholland Books

Bashir “Bish” Ortley is a London desk cop. Almost over it. Still not dealing with the death of his son years ago, as well as the break-up of his marriage.

Across the channel, a summer bus tour, carrying a group of English teenagers is subject to a deadly bomb attack, killing four of the passengers and injuring a handful of others. Bish’s daughter is one of those on board.

The suspect is 17 year old Violette LeBrac whose grandfather was responsible for a bombing that claimed the lives of dozens of people fourteen years ago; and whose mother, Noor, has been serving a life sentence for the part she was supposed to have played in the attack.
As Bish is dragged into the search for the missing Violette, he finds himself reluctantly working with Noor LeBrac and her younger brother, Jimmy Sarraf.

And the more he delves into the lives of the family he helped put away, the more Bish realizes that they may have got it wrong all those years ago, and that truth wears many colours. Especially when it comes to the teenagers on board the recent bus bombing. Including his daughter.

Tell the truth. Shame the devil. Bish can’t get Violette LeBrac’s words out of his head. But what he may get is some sort of peace with his own past as the worlds of those involved in two bombings, years apart, collide into the journey of his life.

My Thoughts
Tragic yet hopeful... my emotions are all over the place. Marchetta never disappoints. Once again Melina Marchetta delivers a profound and brilliant story that is both spell-binding and powerful.

Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil reads like a movie script in the best possible way. Each scene is depicted so vividly that you’re effortlessly immersed in the moment, and you suddenly lose track of time. This book will definitely land in my top five for 2016.

As with her other novels, Melina Marchetta has a way of crafting a story that is painful, complex and topical. Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil deals with subject matters such as the death of a parent and child, divorce, parental incarceration, social profiling, and terrorist attacks to name a few. And, Marchetta tackles these subjects with such bold confidence that as a reader, you simply surrender your imagination to her as she catapults you into her world and takes you on an unforgettable journey.

As is her style, Marchetta creates a story that is very character driven. Where with other authors, this technique can become cumbersome and complicated, Marchetta has a way of making the story flow with ease as she introduces new players as the story progresses. What makes her technique work is that she ensures each character carries their weight in the story in an equally important way. There wasn’t one character that I met in this book who didn’t play a vital role in developing the plot and contributing to the flow of events. It was all so carefully crafted and well executed from beginning to end.

What amazes me about this author, aside from her true gift of creativity, is Marchetta’s ability to effortlessly dabble in several genres with resounding success. She demonstrated her skill with children’s novels, contemporary young adult, fantasy young adult and now adult contemporary/drama. Proving her writing skills have no boundaries, I can’t wait to see what Marchetta creates in her next adventure.

5 Suns

General Update & Giveaway

Hello readers! I guess we've been a little slow here on the blog, but we have some great things coming up this summer. We have several giveaways, and we'll tell you about them and share some of our Summer reading and vacation plans. Arlene and I would love to hear about your reading and fun plans for the Summer, too, so tell us in the comments below. If you have a photo posted on Facebook/Twitter/Blog link us up, and I'll come by check it out!  

As a bonus, we have a giveaway of M. Leighton's Until I Break down below. This book had a little bit of scandal surrounding it and so the author pulled it from Amazon, and I can't find it anywhere else. I read it back in 2013 (my review) and loved it. It was a little edgy, but not sure what all the fuss about. Apparently it pushed someone's buttons, though.

First off, coming up on the blog:

 Reading, Reviews, & Giveaways

Coming this Thursday:

Posting on Friday:

Reading, Reviewing:

(click on cover for Goodreads link)

   

   

(Addicted, Shadow Rider, Falling in Deeper, Reaper's Fire, and Just What I Needed will be book giveaways & reviews.)

Both Arlene and I are reading The Angel's Share, book 2 in J.R. Ward's The Bourbon Kings series and I'm sooo excited for it! Kind of soap-opera-y, scandalous and oh-so-hot! I read a teaser for Reaper's Fire a while back and it was good! Can't wait for Tinker and Gage's story! Roni Loren is the queen of melt-your-panties-smoking-hot romances/erotica! I'm not sure if Wanderlust will be more mellow but I don't care, her writing is amazing!

What we've been listening to. Not necessarily going to review, but worth mentioning.

Rachel:

  

I can't get enough of the Virgin River series by Robyn Carr! I'm currently on book 8.  Therese Plummer is the narrator for the series, and she is amazing! Both male and female voices are wonderful. Allison Brennan's Max Revere series is about an investigative reporter who is smart, confident, and a little bitchy sometimes, but she completely grew on me with her uncompromising search for the truth and justice! The second book had me on the edge of my seat with tension! Narration is totally recommended! You just can't go wrong with Ilona Andrews and since I'm all caught up with Kate Daniels I'm searching for anything else by them and came up with The Innkeeper Chronicles. Renee Raudman narrates all of their books and I love her! Her male voices in the very first Kate Daniels needed some work, but she nailed it after that.

Arlene:

 

I'm exited to finished up these audio books. It's been a while since I've had a chance to listen to one from beginning to end, but now that school is out and work projects are slowing down, I know I'll have a lot more time on my hands to enjoy The Year We Turned Forty by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke, as well as, Listen to Me by Kristen Proby.

Back in May, I also had a chance to revive my book club with my close friends, and we've been having a great time getting together and talking about books. Our June read was After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid, which I read a couple of years ago and really enjoyed diving into again. For July, we decided to tackle a foodie fiction book and bring a treat to the meeting to share among friends. So, for next month, we'll be reading and discussing Little Beach Street by Jenny Colgan.

Summer fun and vacation plans:

Rachel:

Vancouver & Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

I visited several years ago (ten?) in the Fall, and loved it. I'm going again next month. 

Laguna Beach, California:

This is only a couple of hours from my house, but a nice getaway. I plan on reading and relaxing by the pool. Heaven!

Arlene:

Lake Tahoe, CA

We'll actually be driving to this resort, which will be an eight hour road trip. We plan to make the most of it by stopping a local diners and attractions. However, when we get to Lake Tahoe, I plan to relax and dive into the books I've purchased especially for this trip. The picture below shows you a day and evening view of the resort.  What you can't see is the the Cable Car Ice Cream Shop across the street. Having stayed here a few years ago, I know I'm in for a week long treat!

San Francisco, CA

We will also be taking a trip to San Francisco this Summer, and I already have my top five excursions for the visit. We plan to drive across The Golden Gate Bridge, either walk or drive down the curvy road of Lombard Street, visit the Victorian houses throughout the city, enjoy a chocolate dessert at Ghirardelli Square and spend some time on Fisherman's Wharf.  Having been here quite a few times, I know to bring a sweater for the trip. Yes, even in the Summer it can be quite chilly!

A Paperback Copy of Until I Break by M. Leighton:

 The giveaway is open to US & CA residents only.

Review: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Published October 6th 2015 by St. Martin's Griffin

Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who’s ever been chosen.

That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.

Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here—it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story—but far, far more monsters. 

My Thoughts
…There will be a threat, that we’ll be dark and divided – that magic itself will be in danger, and that there will be a mage who has power no one else has ever dreamt of, a magician who draws his power from the centre of the earth. He walks like an ordinary man, but his power is like no other….
What an entertaining and creative story that mixed fantasy, mm and new adult all into one caldron of pure magic. I quite liked this one!

I knew when I read Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell that she had something going with her fan-fiction of Simon and Baz. I enjoyed the small excerpts she included throughout the book and thought on numerous occasions how her fanfic element would make a great standalone. I was right!

Carry On allows Simon, Baz, Penny and Agatha to take center stage in their own story as they battle the Insidious Humdrum that threatens their magical world. The most unlikely of characters become allies in this story as they fight battles, uncover mysteries and ultimately forge relationships that will redefine who they thought they were.

I loved how Rowell didn’t hesitate to take a popular premise and put her own spin on things. Yes, I won’t deny that the parallels to Harry Potter were glaring, but I feel that was done purposely. You can’t ignore how the Insidious Humdrum reflects dementor qualities at times. It’s hard not to miss the familiar spells. You also have a wizard who will save the magical world with a best friend named Penelope who has a knack for magic and uncovering mysteries. It’s quite clear that Watford is much like Hogwarts and Ebb is your resident Hagrid.

However Rowell takes these elements and makes them her own with an added splash of what reminds me of Malfoy’s character and making him into Baz who is in love with Simon. Edgy I tell you! All of the similarities did not for one second take away from the fun of being catapulted into a world of magic, good versus evil, and friendships that stand the test of hardship.

I loved what Rainbow Rowell did with this story and how she made it her own. Taking a tour down memory lane where the streets are called something different and the characters have their own personalities was a fun adventure in fantasyland. Loved it.

5 Suns

2015 Audio Reading Challenge

I just came across this challenge and thought it was the prefect one for me. I love listening to audio books, and I’ve recently touted my addiction to Overdrive, which you can check out HERE.  Now I know I am entering this challenge a bit late, but here’s my retro-recap along with some details on the challenge. Enjoy!

Reading Challenge Details:

• Runs January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015. You can join at anytime.
• The goal is to find a new love for audios or to outdo yourself by listening to more audios in 2015 than you did in 2014.
• Books must be in audio format (CD, MP3, etc.)
• ANY genres count.
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads, Shelfari, Booklikes, Facebook, LibraryThing, etc. – I’ve created a Goodreads Group for the challenge, feel free to join.
• If you’re a blogger grab the button (on the sidebar) and do a quick post about the challenge to help spread the word. If you’re not a blogger you can help by posting on Facebook or Tweeting about the challenge.

By request, a new level (Marathoner) has been added this year for the hardcore listeners and the numbers for My Precious has been changed from 30+ to 30-50.

Levels:

• Newbie (I’ll give it a try) 1-5 
• Weekend Warrior (I’m getting the hang of this) 5-10 
• Stenographer (can listen while multi-tasking) 10-15 
• Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20
• Binge Listener (Why read when someone can do it for you) 20-30
• My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30-50
• Marathoner (Look Ma no hands) 50+ 

We’ve decided to go back to having quarterly updates to help keep everyone motivated and to snag new participants through out the year. There will be posts on the following dates for you guys to check in to let us know how your listening is going for 2015.

Update Schedule:

• March 27th: 1st Quarter Update
• June 19th: 2nd Quarter Update – Giveaway included
• September 25th: 3rd Quarter Update
• December 18th: 4th Quarter Update and Wrap – Giveaway included 

First Quarter Review (January – March 2015)
The Tyrant’s Daughter by J.C. Carleson
Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
I Was Here by Gayle Forman
Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella
Changeling by Philippa Gregory
The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks
Landline by Rainbow Rowell
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
The One and Only by Emily Griffin
Ask the Passengers by A.S. King
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
Hausfrau by Jill Alexander Essbaum
Stormbringers by Philippa Gregory
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
The Book of Ivy by Amy Engel
First Love by James Patterson
On Dublin Street by Samantha Young
The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
Total – 22 Titles

Second Quarter Review (April – June 2015)
Confess by Colleen Hoover
The Return by Jennifer Armentrout
Silver Bay by JoJo Moyes
Hero by Samantha Young
Lick by Kylie Scott
Allegiant by Veronica Roth
Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren
The Shadows by J.R. Ward
Kaleb by Nichole Edwards
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Play by Kylie Scott
The Proposition by Katie Ashley
Rule by Jay Crownover
Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby
99 Days by Katie Cotugno
Lead by Kylie Scott
Down London Road by Samantha Young
Total – 17 Titles

Third Quarter Review (July – September 2015)
Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker
Goodnight June by Sarah Jio
Grey by E.L. James
Before Jamaica Lane by Samantha Young
The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
Saved by the Rancher by Jennifer Ryan
Sweet Ache by K. Bromberg
Until Fountain Bridge by Samantha Young
Nothing Personal by Jaci Burton
Castle Hill by Samantha Young
Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave
Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley
Rusty Nailed by Alice Clayton
Total – 13 Titles

Looks like I’ve achieved MARATHONER LEVEL! Look Ma no hands! To date, my Overdrive shelf has me at 52 titles completed for 2015 so far. You can check out my entire Goodreads Overdrive shelf HERE.

Review & Giveaway: The Bourbon Kings (The Bourbon Kings #1) by J.R. Ward

The Bourbon Kings (The Bourbon Kings #1) by J.R. Ward
Publication Date: July 28th 2015 by Penguin Publishing Group

Purchase Links:  Amazon  | Barnes & Noble  |  The Book Depository

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood delivers the first novel in an enthralling new series set amid the shifting dynamics of a Southern family defined by wealth and privilege—and compromised by secrets, deceit, and scandal....


For generations, the Bradford family has worn the mantle of kings of the bourbon capital of the world. Their sustained wealth has afforded them prestige and privilege—as well as a hard-won division of class on their sprawling estate, Easterly. Upstairs, a dynasty that by all appearances plays by the rules of good fortune and good taste. Downstairs, the staff who work tirelessly to maintain the impeccable Bradford facade. And never the twain shall meet.

For Lizzie King, Easterly’s head gardener, crossing that divide nearly ruined her life. Falling in love with Tulane, the prodigal son of the bourbon dynasty, was nothing that she intended or wanted—and their bitter breakup only served to prove her instincts were right. Now, after two years of staying away, Tulane is finally coming home again, and he is bringing the past with him. No one will be left unmarked: not Tulane’s beautiful and ruthless wife; not his older brother, whose bitterness and bad blood know no bounds; and especially not the ironfisted Bradford patriarch, a man with few morals, fewer scruples, and many, many terrible secrets.

As family tensions—professional and intimately private—ignite, Easterly and all its inhabitants are thrown into the grips of an irrevocable transformation, and only the cunning will survive.

Arlene's Thoughts
Whoever said fictional drama is overrated clearly hasn’t read The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward! Oh my!! What a whirlwind of chaos, misunderstandings, deceit, misguided affections and a whole lot more!!

I’ll be the first to admit… I have a very dysfunctional reader relationship with J.R. Ward. I am an avid fan of her early installments of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. But as of late, I’ve done nothing but complain about her recent installments screaming that she’s milking the series and driving it to the ground. Thank goodness Ward has finally launched a new series and has transitioned her writing efforts into the non-paranormal world. With The Bourbon Kings, Ward has managed to remind me why I love her crazy-ass storytelling.

In this novel, we meet the family that has owned the Bradford Bourbon Company for over two centuries. Edward, Lane, Max, and Gin have grown up in a life filled with excessive wealth and boundless opportunities. However, despite the luxuries afforded to them, they have been destroyed by the power and privilege that has defined the Bradford name.

First off, signature of Ward’s style… her books are extremely character-driven and The Bourbon Kings is no exception. Because this novel is the first in its series, we are introduced to a packed cast of characters. I hope all four adult siblings get their own installment. I was intrigued by each of them!

The Bourbon Kings placed a significant focus on Lizzie King who is the head horticulturist for the Bradford Family Estate. Rewind a couple years back, and we learn that Lizze fell hard for Lane only to have her heart broken when he married another socialite. Their relationship suffered years of heartache that was brought on by lies and misunderstandings. Throughout the entire novel, Lane had my sympathies and I rooted him on from beginning to end. I was glad when he attempted to cut his losses towards the end of the novel and walked away at a moment when he knew he deserved to be believed and trusted. Good on him! This character was filled with integrity, heart and passion. Loved him! Oh and his relationship with Miss Aurora was so heartfelt and perfect, which only added to my attraction to this character.

Throughout the novel, Gin pulled at my heartstrings. She was not a noble character by any stretch of the imagination, but I sympathized with her because of her blatant weaknesses. I hope she gets her own installment because despite her mistakes and shortcomings, I sense a great deal of potential growth in this character and I hope to see it erupt later in the story.

Edward reminded me of Zhadist from the Black Dagger Brotherhood. I don’t necessarily want the details of his kidnapping in South America, but I’d be lying if I said I didn't wanted a little more background on what exactly broke him physically and mentally. I’m not quite sure how it will all play out with Sutton and Shelby, but I sense both characters have the power to help him heal. I hope it happens.

Okay, am I the only one that is curious as hell to find out what has happened with Max? He was introduced in the beginning of the novel and briefly mentioned a couple of times. Where is he and why hasn’t he surfaced in years?

Well, as you can see, I’m hooked! I can’t wait for the next installment because I have no doubt the drama and emotional chaos will not slow down. Bring it on!

5 Suns

Rachel’s Thoughts:

If I had to use one word to describe The Bourbon Kings it would be: addictive.  The story centers on the Brandford/Baldwine family, who are old-money rich and Kentucky’s equivalent to royalty. I think the comparisons to the nighttime soaps of the 80’s like Dynasty and Dallas are apt, because each chapter ends on a hook so that I felt completely compelled to keep going to find out what happened next!

Jonathan Tulane Baldwine or Lane, as he’s nicknamed, fell hard for Lizzie King, head horticulturist of his family’s estate. Unfortunately, rotten circumstances pulled Lane and Lizzie apart, and Lane’s stayed away for two long years. With his “mama” sick, Lane rushes home to see her, knowing he’ll have to deal with his estranged wife, Chantal, as well as Lizzie, the woman he’s never stopped loving. Lane is prepared to set things right this time, and win back Lizzie for good. Lizzie is rightfully cautious, as her heart was shattered two years ago, but she can’t deny the powerful feelings she still has for Lane. 

Lane and Lizzie’s romance sizzled off the pages, and tugged at my heart! It hurts when a love that’s so right is derailed.  I desperately wanted things to work out for them. I also wanted Lane’s spoiled witch of a wife, Chantal, to take a long walk off a short bridge! I was happy, though, that she didn’t present as much of a problem as I thought she would, because I stress out of this kind of romantic drama!  I didn’t want Lane vacillating between these two women and thankfully from the very start there was only one woman for him: Lizzie.

While Lane and Lizzie are the romantic focus, there are other stories and romances going on as well.  Edward’s story, the oldest Baldwine brother, really moved me. From a young age Edward was a brilliant business man, and it was thought he’d take over as head of Bradford Bourbon Company. But he’s separated himself from the family, refusing to be anywhere near his father, William, after surviving a kidnapping/hostage situation that left him a broken man.  Instead Edward passes his days building up the family’s equine (race horses) business, and drinking. There is a history, more like unrequited love, between Sutton Smythe, the heir to Smythe Distillery and chief competitor of Bradford Bourbon, and Edward.  I am totally rooting for Edward and Sutton!  I can only hope that Shelby doesn’t become a love interest for Edward, as well, turning this whole thing into a love triangle! Please don’t do it Ms. Ward!

At first, I had a hard time feeling sorry for, Gin Baldwine, Lane’s sister. Her actions were so selfish! From the way Gin treated her daughter, Amelia, to the way she treated men just ticked me off.  Yes, her daddy’s an asshole, (understatement!) and I wouldn’t want to marry a man my father insisted I did to bail out the family’s finances, but Gin went through life taking, taking and taking. She didn’t use the advantages her privileged life afforded her to make herself a better person, and stand on her own. Grow up Gin! You didn’t like how your parents raised you? Then why are you raising your daughter the same way?!

There is a lot of messy, ugly baggage between Gin and Samuel T., her one true love in life.  Their timing truly sucked.  I really, really hope they get their HEA. I have a feeling Gin has a world of hurt and torture coming her way with the decisions she’s made. Gin has potential for some real character growth and I hope to see it in the coming books.  I do love it when an author manages to turn my feelings around on a pretty unlikable character.

As a side note, where the heck is Max Baldwine?! Just another piece missing in this intricate family puzzle.

J.R. Ward started The Bourbon Kings off with a bang!  The story was thoroughly unputdownable! Secrets, murder, lies, manipulations, and romantic entanglements abound. There is so much going on, and every single piece was riveting! I’m dying to get my hands on the next book!

4.5 Suns

Seeing as we enjoyed this novel so much, we are giving away a choice of a Paperback or eCopy of The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward to one lucky Waves of Fiction follower. This giveaway is open to anyone who can receive a Paperback copy from The Book Depository or an eCopy from US Barnes & Noble or US Amazon.  Simply fill out the rafflecopter and share with us why you'd like to read this book. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Goodnight June by Sarah Jio

Goodnight June by Sarah Jio 

Published May 27th 2014 by Plume

The New York Times bestselling author of Blackberry Winter imagines the inspiration for Goodnight Moon.

Goodnight Moon is an adored childhood classic, but its real origins are lost to history. In Goodnight June, Sarah Jio offers a suspenseful and heartfelt take on how the "great green room" might have come to be.

June Andersen is professionally successful, but her personal life is marred by unhappiness. Unexpectedly, she is called to settle her great-aunt Ruby’s estate and determine the fate of Bluebird Books, the children’s bookstore Ruby founded in the 1940s. Amidst the store’s papers, June stumbles upon letters between her great-aunt and the late Margaret Wise Brown—and steps into the pages of American literature.

My Thoughts

Goodnight June by Sarah Jio is one of those rare finds that surprisingly captures your heart for all the right reasons. I loved this steadily paced story about redefining who you are, falling in love and finding forgiveness.

In this wonderful story, we get to meet the very successful banker June Anderson who sets off to her hometown in Seattle when she hears that her great-aunt Ruby passed away and left her as the sole beneficiary of her beloved bookstore Bluebird Books. When June arrives at the shop, her intention is to prepare the bookstore for sale, so she can immediately return to her New York apartment and fast living. However, as June begins to uncover small treasures in the form of letter between her great-aunt Ruby and the author of Goodnight Moon, she realizes there’s more to life than her high powered position that leaves her empty inside.

I loved this story that was loosely tied to the creation of the children’s book Goodnight Moon. It’s a book I’ve enjoyed reading to my little ones countless times. Having owned more than one copy because I’ve read it over and over again only added to my emotional tie to the story.

I truly enjoyed watching June’s transition from stressed out banker to committed independent bookstore owner. I rooted her efforts in trying to keep the bookstore afloat and seeing how much I love and support independent bookstore; I was moved by how passionate June’s mission was to save the bookstore.

Added to that, I loved the secondary plotlines between her and her sister, as well as the small twist that occurred at the end of the story.

Goodnight June is a wonderful story that is filled with noble characters, intriguing backstories and relatable conflicts that fans of adult contemporary will surely enjoy!

4 Suns