Book Review: The First Lie by Diane Chamberlain

The First Lie by Diane Chamberlain

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Publish Date: June 4, 2013

Short Story
eBook, 35 pages
Fiction, Historical
 ISBN: 9781466839403

My Review:
The First Lie is an interesting first look into the world/history behind Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain that will release in September.  It's a quick short story, but poignant and it definitely has me intrigued and ready for another one of Diane's wonderful novels.

Character Development:
It's a short story, but in the few pages (~35) we get to know a little bit about Ivy and her family and also about some of the surrounding families.  Again since it's so short, it's not a lot of development, but Ms. Chamberlain does a lot with a short number of pages.  I want to know more about Ivy and Mary, but I get a good feeling for them in the short story.

Plot:
The plot starts off with a bang, where was Ivy and why is she sneaking in late and what is happening to Mary Ellen.  But Ms. Chamberlain quickly explains both things and moves the story along.  A lot happens in 35 pages.  It's a very quick enjoyable read.  I felt like things are setting up well for Necessary Lies, yet I read a nice complete story in The First Lie.

Final Thoughts:
If you enjoy books by Diane Chamberlain, then you will want to read The First Lie and it will have you clamoring for Necessary Lies.  If you haven't read Diane Chamberlain, what are you waiting for?  Dive right in with the short story and get a feel for the world she creates.  I love her fiction, such realistic and heartfelt stories and The First Lie does not disappoint.  Give it a read and let me know what you think!

My Rating: 5.0/5.0


About the Book:
An e-original short story that sets the stage for bestselling author Diane Chamberlain’s upcoming novel Necessary Lies (September 2013).

The First Lie gives readers an early glimpse into the life of thirteen-year-old Ivy Hart. It’s 1958 in rural North Carolina, where Ivy lives with her grandmother and sister on a tobacco farm. As tenant farmers, Ivy and her family don’t have much freedom, though she and her best friend, Henry, often sneak away in search of adventure…and their truest selves. But life on the farm takes a turn when Ivy’s teenage sister gives birth—all the while maintaining her silence about the baby’s father. Soon Ivy finds herself navigating the space between adolescence and adulthood as she tries to unravel a dark web of family secrets and make sense of her ever-evolving life in the segregated South.

About the Author (from Goodreads.com): 
I'm the author of 22 novels published in more than eleven languages. I like to write complex stories about relationships between men and women, parents and children, brothers and sisters, and friends. Although the thematic focus of my books often revolves around family, love, compassion and forgiveness, my stories usually feature a combination of suspense, mystery and intrigue.

I live in North Carolina with my significant other, photographer John Pagliuca, and my shelties, Keeper and Cole--the only non-reading members of the household!

Please visit my website and blog. I look forward to seeing you there!

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***I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***

Book Review: Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale

Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

Publish Date: January 31, 2012

Hardcover, 277 pages
Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction
 ISBN: 978-1608196258

My Review:
I fell in love with Shannon Hale not long after I started this blog when I read The Actor and the Housewife.  Ms. Hale just has a way with taking the life of ordinary women and making great stories with them.  I can appreciate that, being a woman with a husband and kids and living a pretty ordinary life.  I then read Austenland and fell even more in love so when I saw there was a sequel, I  had to read it.  While they call it a sequel, I would say it works fine as a stand-alone.  It's been quite awhile since I read Austenland so those details are fuzzy and this book involves a new main character so it works great on it's own.

Charlotte has been divorced for awhile.  Her husband is remarried and her children are leading their lives.  Charlotte is also a very successful woman.  She seems to succeed at everything she does and doesn't understand where her marriage went wrong.  She doesn't want her husband back, and she's tired of blind dates, but she wants to do something for herself so she finds some goals she made for herself when she was younger and one was to read Jane Austen.  She does this and falls in love.  Then she finds out about the immersion vacation offered and she decides she wants to go and she does.  What happens after that provides humor, romance, insight into Charlotte's life and even mystery for the reader.

Charlotte is a great character.  While she is successful, she has been through the divorce and she is kind of in need of finding herself but in a way she doesn't realize it.  She really isn't looking for a man so that is refreshing.  She is just looking for something and she's not sure what that is.  Her sense of humor is great.  Her confidence is a little down especially around the stunning men, but as time passes she builds her confidence.  I loved watching her grow and bloom while staying at Pembrook Park.  I also loved the cast of characters there.  The friends she makes and the mystery that is there, the one created by the characters and the one that evolves as well.

Ms. Hale does a magnificent job plotting Midnight in Austenland out.  I was never bored.  She kept me guessing as to what would happen next and I cared about each character (or at least about the ones I was supposed to).  I wanted to see what would happen and I was pulling for Charlotte to find herself and come out on top the entire time.  I was also pulling for things to work out for Pembrook Park in hopes of seeing another novel set there in the future.

If you love works set around Jane Austen books then this is a book for you.  If you have read anything by Shannon Hale and love her, then you must read this.  If you haven't tried Shannon Hale, what are you waiting for?  This book has it all, romance, mystery, a great female lead character, fun supporting characters, humor, bonnets, old estates, dead people, strange tales of nuns and so much more.  You just simply must read it.

My Rating: 5.0/5.0


About the Book:
When Charlotte Kinder treats herself to a two-week vacation at Austenland, she happily leaves behind her ex-husband and his delightful new wife, her ever-grateful children, and all the rest of her real life in America. She dons a bonnet and stays at a country manor house that provides an immersive Austen experience, complete with gentleman actors who cater to the guests' Austen fantasies.

Everyone at Pembrook Park is playing a role, but increasingly, Charlotte isn't sure where roles end and reality begins. And as the parlor games turn a little bit menacing, she finds she needs more than a good corset to keep herself safe. Is the brooding Mr. Mallery as sinister as he seems? What is Miss Gardenside's mysterious ailment? Was that an actual dead body in the secret attic room? And-perhaps of the most lasting importance-could the stirrings in Charlotte's heart be a sign of real-life love?

The follow-up to reader favorite Austenland provides the same perfectly plotted pleasures, with a feisty new heroine, plenty of fresh and frightening twists, and the possibility of a romance that might just go beyond the proper bounds of Austen's world. How could it not turn out right in the end?

About the Author (from Goodreads.com): 
Shannon Hale is the New York Times best-selling author of six young adult novels: the Newbery Honor book Princess Academy, multiple award winner Book of a Thousand Days, and the highly acclaimed Books of Bayern series. She has written three books for adults, including the upcoming Midnight in Austenland (Jan. 2012), companion book to Austenland. She co-wrote the hit graphic novel Rapunzel's Revenge and its sequel Calamity Jack with husband Dean Hale. They live near Salt Lake City, Utah with their four small children, and their pet, a small, plastic pig.

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FTC Information: I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley for an honest review.  I do make money from purchases made at The Book Depository, Alibris and B&N.com, but all money is used to fund giveaways and shipping for giveaways from the blog.

Book Review: Radiant Desire by Inara Scott @inarascott

Radiant Desire by Inara Scott

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Publish Date: October 4, 2011

Paperback, 304 pages 
Fiction, Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy
 ISBN: 978-1937044305

My Review:
My thoughts:  The cover is what first caught my eye of this book, the beauty of the colors and the Faerie on the cover.  I admit to falling for covers and having to read the books.  Sometimes the books live up to the covers and sometimes they don't.  Radiant Desire is an example of the book being so much more than the cover.

I have read two of Ms. Scott's young adult novels and really enjoyed them so I was wondering how her adult novel would be.  She makes a very natural transition over to the adult romance realm taking with her the paranormal that she already uses in young adult, but instead of humans with magical powers she moves into the Fey realm. 

In the beginning we meet Kaia Verde the Faerie Handmaid and seductress of the Queen of the Fey, Zafira.  Kaia is pretty much used to go out and seduce men and then leave them embarrassed and wanting.  Kaia truly has no use for men and thinks they are all cheaters and liars so she doesn't think twice when her Queen sends her out to seduce Garrett Jameson.  But then there is something different about Garrett. When Kaia finds pleasure with Garrett and is sentenced to make Garrett fall in love with her as a human without magic, we get to know a very different Kaia.

This is when I started liking Kaia.  The Kaia at the beginning of the book is very unfeeling and cruel and hard to like.  But as a human she starts to like people and develop emotions and become real.  I loved watching Kaia develop and here is where the story really begins to flourish is with the relationships between Kaia and Rachel who is her boss and Garrett's best friend's fiancee.  What started as a way to use someone to get near Garrett becomes so much more.  And when Garrett comes back into her life, that relationship is different too.  So much happens and it was so interesting to watch, I just about could not be pulled away from the book for family movie night.  But alas I had to be.  I did keep sneaking pages in though because I wanted to know what would happen next.  Garrett was fascinating too.  He did not get close to people either and slowly through Kaia's touch and talking, the reader learns why he is the way he is and he begins to grow and change as well.

Ms. Scott beautifully crafted this romance and relationship novel so that the relationships bloom in front of your eyes.  The fun part is even though the people involved don't see it, the reader does and of course you get to finally witness that a-ha moment but will it be too late for Kaia and Garrett?  You'll just have to find out.  And I dare say you will be quite surprised by the little story that Ms. Scott has created for the climax.  It fits well and it surprised me - I really never saw it coming!  The other great thing.  Kaia is one of four sisters and handmaids of the Queen Zafira, so this is just the start of what looks to be a great series.  I can't wait to see what happens with the next handmaid and hopefully get another glimpse of Kaia and Garrett.

Great romance, stellar relationship building, interesting world building, great future tie-in for other books, and just an all-around fun book with a beautiful cover.  Radiant Desire is a book you should run out and get this week!


My Rating: 5.0/5.0


About the Book:
Kaia Verde is one of the four Faerie Handmaids of Zafira, Queen of the Fey. To redress an ancient wrong done to Zafira by a human king, the Handmaids make sport of mortal men, seducing and humiliating them. When Kaia sets out to seduce Garrett Jameson, but ends up being the one surrendering to pleasure, Zafira is furious. Kaia's punishment is simple: make Garrett fall in love with her by the summer solstice, then break his heart, or face eternity without her wings—or her soul. To make the task harder, Zafira tells Kaia she cannot use her faerie magic or charm to lure Garrett into her bed.

About the Author: 

Inara grew up in winter wonderland of Buffalo, NY. Consequently, she spent much of her childhood complaining about being cold. To spare the world her whining, she fled the cold climate and eventually wound up in the Pacific NW, where she practiced law for ten years before getting up the courage to quit her day job and write full time. A proud author of fantasy and romance for adults and young adults, Inara firmly believes that great literature doesn't have to be depressing, true love does exist, and everyone deserves a happily ever after.

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FTC Information: I received this book through Netgalley for an honest review. 

Book Review: Sweet Justice by Christy Reece @ChristyReece

 Sweet Justice by Christy Reece
Publisher: Ballantine

Publish Date: September 6, 2011

Paperback, 400 pages 
Fiction, Romantic Suspense
 ISBN: 978-0345524072
A Last Chance Rescue Novel (1st in new trilogy)

My Review:
Overview:  I now have a new author to read in one of my favorite genres and that excites me.  Christy Reece will be on my must-read list after reading Sweet Justice.


My thoughts:  From the first pages I liked Honor Stone.  She's a tough-as-nails FBI agent who wants to do what is right, and she has a heart of gold.  But inside she's a woman too and she has a heart that can be broken and that's just what Seth Cavanaugh does at the beginning of this book, but Honor moves on as best she can.  I like that Honor is strong and that she moves on as best she can.  I like the normal woman side to her.  I don't like women that can act like it's nothing.  Now Honor can put on that front, but deep down she is hurt.

I also like Seth, but that's because we are privy to what is going on and to why he is breaking Honor's heart.  Part of the reader will dislike him, but most of the reader will understand.  Seth is really a good guy who is trying to do right and it just ends up being a bad situation.  Love always seems to find you when you aren't looking for it and that's what happened to Seth.

Fast forward to several years later and that's when the meat of the story really starts.  Honor is working for Last Chance Rescue (LCR) which Ms. Reece has written about in earlier books, but as far as I could tell this book stood alone quite well and this book is actually the start of a new trilogy.  I think there are some mentions of several married couples in the LCR and I assume they are couples from earlier books, but I didn't feel like I was missing anything by starting with this book.  So Honor is working with LCR and Seth's niece has gone missing and they have exhausted all the normal modes of trying to find her so Seth goes to LCR.  Of course Honor is assigned to the case and works closely with Seth.  There is great tension between them, but they also work very well together bouncing ideas and working to solve the case with other LCR operatives.  So there is much more to the book than just them rekindling their romance.  But of course they do rekindle, but not without bumps along they way.  I like the approach of the seasoned romance, they didn't have to get to know each other.  They had dated for awhile when Seth left her.

The kidnapping plot was great, I like how Ms. Reece made it into a greater plot and gave us a glimpse into the bad guys as well.  And the bad guys are quite evil.  One thing I really like too is even though the bad guys are quite evil, she gives us a glimpse but never goes into great detail so we aren't haunted by what is going on.  We know it's bad, but we don't have to deal with really bad imagery and I appreciate that.  I like my romantic suspense gritty, but not too gritty and I think Ms. Reece truly understands the line not to cross.  She really builds up the suspense even though we know they bad guy.  We are left wondering if Seth and Honor will figure it out, will they catch them and is Seth's niece okay.  Trust me when I say there is plenty of suspense to keep you turning pages in this book.

In the end, I have a new name to add to my list of great romantic suspense authors and a ready made backlist to go through as well.  I can't wait to see what's in store for me with Rescue Me, Return to Me, Run to Me, No Chance, Second Chance and Last Chance.  And then there is Sweet Revenge coming in October which will be a must-read for me and Sweet Reward in December which is even more of a must-read because it will feature Jared who was in Sweet Justice and was the mystery man that I want to know more about.

So if you haven't tried out Christy, you should try out Sweet Justice, if you have tried her, let me know what you thought of the book you read.  I love reading comments and will respond back if you leave an email or if your email is attached to your blogger profile.

My Rating: 4.75/5.0


About the Book:
Honor Stone is a young, idealistic FBI agent when her path collides with Seth Cavanaugh. For a girl who has never walked on the wild side, the dark and dangerous Seth is a temptation she can’t refuse. But then Seth walks out the door and out of her life. Five years later, Honor is an operative with the elite Last Chance Rescue organization and Seth is a desperate ex-cop searching for his missing niece—one of many young women who have mysteriously vanished from college campuses. Going undercover, Honor will attract the maniacal cult leader behind the kidnappings and find a way to work with Seth—while steering clear of the passion and need that’s just one touch away from explosion. Seth knows he had all the right reasons for the wrong he did five years ago. And from the moment he sees her—and takes her in his arms again—this former undercover man will risk everything for one more chance with Honor.

About the Author: 
Christy Reece is a member of Romance Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. She lives in Alabama with her husband, two adorable canines, and one very shy turtle. Sweet Justice is the first novel in her new three-book Last Chance Rescue series.

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FTC Information: I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley for an honest review. 

Review: Oracle of Dating by Allison van Diepen

The Oracle of Dating by Allison van Diepen

My rating: 8.5/10.0

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publish Date: May 1, 2010
Paperback, 192 pages
Genre: Young Adult


My Review:

An adorable read. It took me back to the best moments of high school, made me feel the romance and just took me out of life for awhile.

Kayla is a typical teenage girl, in fact her and her group reminds me more of my crowd in high school - the ones in the middle, neither popular or unpopular, friends with everyone. So that made this a winner in the first place. It made it really easy to relate with her and her friends. I think all girls will find it easy no matter what their popularity is.

There are all types in the book. The focus however, is on Kayla. I enjoyed getting to know Kayla as a character. She can come off a little judgmental at times, but you realize she has everyone's best interest at heart. Also as you read more about her you understand more why she is that way. I loved the aspect of the dating oracle. Her website and articles were cute and helpful for the dating scene. I like the way Kayla grows and develops through the book and look forward to where further books in this series will take her (the next is due out in November 2010).

I also enjoyed the character of Jared. He sounds amazing and just perfect for Kayla. I like the way he's described as being handsome to her. You never feel like he's the hottest guy at school, but you know that he's the hottest to Kayla and that tells a lot to me. The romance aspect was great. It's well written and has great tension. You never know if the two will get together or not, but you are cheering for them the whole time.

Overall this is a fun book to spend time with. The plot and characters are well-done and it makes a great young adult read.

Rating Breakdown:
Characterization:    1.5/2.0
Plot:                      1.5/2.0
Writing:                 1.5/2.0
Attention-holding:   1.0/1.0
Ending:                  1.0/1.0
Believable:             1.0/1.0
Genre:                  1.0/1.0    
Rating:                8.5/10.0

About the Book:

No one at Kayla’s school knows she’s the famous Oracle of Dating—the anonymous queen of dating advice, given through her own Web site. Kayla doesn’t even have a boyfriend. Two relationship disasters were enough to make her focus on everyone else’s love life. But then her advice backfires on her own best friend. And Kayla starts to seriously obsess about Jared Stewart—the very cute, very mysterious new guy in school. Suddenly, the teen queen of advice needs her own oracle of dating--and she knows just where to find one... 

FCC Disclamiers:

I received this book through NetGalley for review purposes.

All links through Amazon do not result in any commission for me, I live in NC and we aren't allowed to receive commission (I'm not sure why, but it doesn't matter), so I don't make any money - but the authors do so feel free to buy their works :)