Book Review: Somewhere Along the Way by Jodi Thomas

 

Somewhere Along the Way by Jodi Thomas

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: November 2, 2010

Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages

Romance, Fiction

  
My Review:
Why I read this:  I read the first book, Welcome to Harmony and loved it so much that I begged the author to include me on her second tour.  Okay she invited me, but I think I did beg after I read the first book - I loved it so much!

How is the novel driven:  Characters are front and center in this one, though there is a nice suspense plot that runs through the book.

My thoughts:  Somewhere Along the Way did not disappoint.  When I started reading this one I fell right back into the wonderful town of Harmony along with it's inhabitants.  Somewhere Along the Way is the story of Liz and Gabe and the town of Harmony, but it's so much more than that as well.

One thing I particularly love about these novels is the fact that they don't focus just on the couple who will be getting together in that novel.  This isn't just about Liz and Gabe.  We get to go back and visit with Hank and Alex from Welcome to Harmony.  We see more of Reagan, Preacher, Tyler and others.  We get to meet new people in Harmony and find out more about them.  It's fun to see the town come to life with it's inhabitants.  I absolutely love the way Ms. Thomas writes about Harmony and the people, it makes me feel like I am a part of the town and watching what is going on from my front porch.

There are a couple of romances in this one and Tyler is still pining away as well.  Reagan is also still central to the story and I really like her and her uncle and the colorful townsfolk.  Ms. Thomas tells a beautiful story of how a town comes together each time there are problems.  I think I would love to live somewhere like Harmony and I definitely wouldn't mind a Gabe, Hank or Denver to come to my rescue.

If you like small town romances, with a touch of suspense, some humor and great characters, then I highly recommend Somewhere Along the Way.  It's a book you will pick up and not want to put down and as soon as you finish you will be eagerly awaiting the next novel in this series.

Wondering whether you need to read the first in the series before you read this.  It's not a must, but it will give you background on this book.  I do believe you can pick Somewhere Along the Way and get to know the folks of Harmony, but trust me when I say you want to read Welcome to Harmony as well.

My Rating: 5.0/5.0

About the Book

In the two years since she claimed Harmony, Texas, as her home, eighteen-year-old Reagan Truman has found herself drawn to others who have made their way there, too. Gabe Leary, for instance, whose plan to hide out in Harmony is dashed when he becomes the town hero. Then there's Liz Matheson: Vulnerable and fresh out of law school, Liz has never been needed by anyone—until an unsettling encounter with Gabe changes everything. And there's Liz's brother, volunteer fire chief Hank Matheson, who's starting to wonder where the town's sheriff, Alex McAllen, will ever set the date to marry him.

As for Reagan, who's been shaped by the loneliness she's know most of her life, she's finally found a place she belongs—and doesn't want anything to get in her way. But when her life is put in jeopardy and the whole town comes together to save her, she'll discover that trusting the love that's come into our hearts is the greatest gift of all…

About the Author

Jodi Thomas is the NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of 31 novels and 8 short story collections.
As of July 2006, she was the 11th woman to be inducted in to RWA Hall of Fame. She is also currently serving as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. 

Jodi’s website

Enter my giveaway here, post on this review for 5 bonus entries in the giveaway.  Giveaway ends 10/26.  Open to US/Canada only.

FTC Information: I received this book from the author for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site. 
 

Guest Post and Giveaway: Somewhere Along The Way by Jodi Thomas

Please join me in welcoming author, Jodi Thomas to My Reading Room this morning.  Jodi has visited in the past and I am thrilled to have her here again.  Thank you Jodi!

Good morning everyone.  Thanks for inviting me to drop by and visit.  I’d like to welcome you to step into my second book in the Harmony Series.  SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY.  This is my 30^th book and what I believe will be one you’ll keep and read again and again.

 

My story begins with Reagan, a runaway who found her home in Harmony two years ago.  An old man took her in as his niece and gave her the first home she ever had.  The story opens with her working a shift in the town’s diner for a friend.  The last thing she has to do is take a take-out out the back door to the town hermit.  He speaks to her and as the weeks pass they form a friendship.

Gabe Leary wants nothing but to be left alone.  After five years of living on his land he’s managed to earn a living as a graphic artist without speaking to anyone in town.  He’s shattered from the war and sees himself as a man without friends.  About the time he’s comfortable with his life, he meets Liz.

With a mixture of characters you’ll fall in love with and a treat that gets everyone involved, I think you’ll love this story.

Thanks for letting me drop by and thank you for reading.  Writing is a fascinating journey, but if it wasn’t for readers coming along with me it wouldn’t be any fun.

About Jodi
Jodi Thomas is the NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of 31 novels and 8 short story collections.
As of July 2006, she was the 11th woman to be inducted in to RWA Hall of Fame. She is also currently serving as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. 

Jodi’s 30th Novel
NY Times and USA Today best-selling author Jodi Thomas is pleased to present her 30th novel, SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY. Thomas proves once again that she is one of mainstream romance genre’s most compelling writers with her highly anticipated sequel to WELCOME TO HARMONY, which captured America’s heart.

Jodi’s website
 

My review of the first book in the series, Welcome to Harmony is here.

My review of Somewhere Along the Way will be coming later this afternoon.

Giveaway:
Jodi has sent me along a second copy of Somewhere Along The Way to give to one of my readers.  Open to the US/Canada only, and it ends on 10/26.  How to enter?  Simply comment and leave a way for me to reach you.  Additional entries for following (rss, email, GFC Friend, Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, etc.).  Other entries for tweeting and sidebar or blog posts (+2, 1/day).  You can place all your entries in one post if you like.  5 extra entries for posting a comment on the review that posts later this afternoon.  Just post on the review and I'll add your entries. 

For today, 10/19, you can get a bonus 10 entries if you ask Jodi a question on the blog, she'll be around, I won't guarantee she'll answer, since hopefully she's busy writing more books :)  

Book Review: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Publisher: Philomel

Publish Date: October 19, 2010

Hardcover, 528 pages
Young Adult, Paranormal, Nightshade trilogy #1

My Review:
Why I read this:  I received this coveted ARC from the publisher.

How is the novel driven: Character and plot, the character-development is key in this one to set up the series.  There are major events, but I think the characters shine through.

My thoughts:  I wasn't sure about this book when I got it (I'm not even sure how I received it, but I was thrilled when I did).  Then I started reading it.  Wow - the story completely sucked me in.  I love love triangles and they abound in young adult fiction lately, but this one seems a little different to me.

Calla is a great character.  She knows exactly what will happen with her life, it is all mapped out, it's the way her society will do things.  She knows Ren will make an great match with her and their packs merging will be great.  Then the monkey wrench is thrown in, in the form of a human boy named Shay.  When Calla saves Shay, things begin to change and Calla begins to question her society and their rules.  But she doesn't do this without Ren right there beside her.  Ren who is a known ladies man in high school, but he is destined to be hers.  Craziness also abounds within each pack where certain members are beginning to pair off, but that really isn't allowed yet.  Ren and Calla are both trying to figure out what will be expected of them and what they want to do with their lives.

Setting the paranormal world in the midst of the human world is very well done in this book.  I loved reading the interactions between the characters and the introduction to each member of the pack.  I really like Ren, Calla and Shay.   This wasn't one of those books where I hated one guy and loved the other.  Ren becomes redeemable to me.

Well-written and exciting, Nighshade is a great addition to your reading pile if you want a different take on werewolves and a great story to go along with it.  I look forward to the next installment in this series.


My Rating: 4.75/5.0

About the Book:

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything--including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?
Wolfsbane (Nightshade #2) will be published in July 2011
Bloodrose (Nightshade #3) in spring 2012

About the Author:

Andrea Cremer is a professor of history at Macalester College and lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

 

Her website
Her Blog 
Twitter
Shay Doran on Facebook

FTC Information: I received this book from the publisher for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

What are you Reading Monday - October 18

Come post weekly and see what others are reading too just so you can add to your tbr - I always do! For more information see Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books and join in!

Books Completed Last Week 

• Solid by Shelley Workinger (ebook, review)
• Solitary by Travis Thrasher (review) 
• Burned by P.C. and Kristin Cast (audiobook) 
• Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn (review) 

Reading Now:

• To the Nines by Janet Evanovich (audiobook in car)
• Don't Look Back by Lynette Eason (review)
• Somewhere Along the Way by Jodi Thomas 

Next:

• The Mullah's Storm by Thomas W. Young
• Shedrow by Dean DeLuke
• The Unidentified by Rae Mariz
• Rampant by Diana Peterfreund
• Ascendent by Diana Peterfreund
• Love Means Zero by Daisy Jordan

Reviews completed this week (books read before this week):

• What Alice Knew by Paula Marantz Cohen
• Sloane Hall by Libby Sternberg

Other books still need to review:

• Wings by Aprilynne Pike (library) 
• The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong (mine)  
• The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz
• Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs (audiobook)
• Matched by Ally Condie (review)
• Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs (audiobook) 
• Evermore by Alyson Noel (library)  
• Spells by Aprylynne Pike (library) 
• Nightshade by Andrea Cremer  (review)
• Candor by Pam Bachorz
• The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan 
• Tough Customer by Sandra Brown
• Definitely Dead (audiobook)
• Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich (audiobook)
• Jenna and Jonah's Fauxmance by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin
• Sloane Hall by Libby Sternberg (ebook, review)
• I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore (review) 
• Audrey, Wait by Robin Benway (library)

Summary -

Great reading week - the read-a-thon has left me not overwhelmed by reading but refreshed so I stayed busy during this week with my reading and keeping caught up with my reviews.  The end of the week found me at the Fall Cub Scout campout and that was fun with the husband and the oldest son and allowed for some relaxation time for me as well.


Best of the week:  Solitary by Travis Thrasher - this is one amazing book and I don't care what age you are - I think you will enjoy this book.  I look forward to more in this series.

Book Review: Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn

Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn

Publisher: Mira

Publish Date: October 1, 2010

Paperback, 400 pages
Historical Mystery, Romance, Lady Julia Grey #4

My Review:
Why I read this:  I was contacted by the publicist and the book sounded interesting and different from what I usually read, but in line with what I read enough that I thought I would enjoy it.  And really the cover is just beautiful as well as the title.

How is the novel driven:  Plot - the characters are important, but the detecting of the case is what drives this book ultimately.

My thoughts:   Humor, that is what struck me in the first few pages of the book.  Not in the slapstick over the top way of Stephanie Plum, but in the subtle sarcastic and witty way that I really enjoy it and best fits with a historical novel of a British family.  So Dark Road to Darjeeling was off to an excellent start for me with the humor and it never let up.  I was intrigued.  At one moment the book was very lighthearted, poking fun at the English ways and this unconventional family and the next it had a darker feeling.

This book was not at all what I expected.  You know the amateur sleuth type novels that are happy and cute (cozy mysteries), well Dark Road to Darjeeling had that, but the darker more suspenseful side was there as well and such a delight to read.  I loved how it was unexpected.  I guess if you have read other Lady Julia mysteries this will be expected but since this was my first, it was all new to me.

The mystery/suspense plot was well-done and though I did figure out who did it, it was not easy and it was really only a hunch on my part.  Ms. Raybourn does a magnificent job making sure there are lots of suspects and lots of reasons to believe each person is responsible for Freddie's death.  It was well-done and keeps your interest throughout.

I also love the family plotline and Lady Julia and Brisbane's marriage elements that are through this book.  I think they are what take this book to a higher level.  Lady Julia and Brisbane don't have the conventional blissful marriage, but they are muddling through and they have great love for each other.  This book is not conventional in any means and I think that is a breath of fresh air.

I have not read any of the others in this series and thought this book read well as a stand-alone.  I will go back and read the other now because I am intrigued by the characters and want to learn more about them and see them solve other mysteries as well.  I also can't wait for the next book as a nice teaser comes at the end of this one.

If you like historical mysteries and exotic settings then this is a book for you.  If you enjoy interesting characters and humor, then this is a book for you.   Dark Road to Darjeeling is a wonderful book and I can't wait to read more of Lady Julia, Brisbane and her family.

One quote that I really liked (this is from the ARC):

Brisbane regarded her thoughtfully. "Morag, the point of learning to swim is rather to prevent drowning."

She sniffed. "Ha! My father was a sailor, he was. And he always said them that learnt to swim died the worst. They flailed around and waited to be saved while the sharks circled and took them a piece at a time, prolonging the agony. But them that drowned quick were spared the pain of it."

Brisbane looked at me and shrugged. "The logic is faultless," he said.

My Rating: 4.5/5.0

About the Book:

After eight idyllic months in the Mediterranean, Lady Julia Grey and her detective husband are ready to put their investigative talents to work once more. At the urging of Julia's eccentric family, they hurry to India to aid an old friend, the newly widowed Jane Cavendish. Living on the Cavendish tea plantation with the remnants of her husband's family, Jane is consumed with the impending birth of her child—and with discovering the truth about her husband's death. Was he murdered for his estate? And if he was, could Jane and her unborn child be next?

Amid the lush foothills of the Himalayas, dark deeds are buried and malicious thoughts flourish. The Brisbanes uncover secrets and scandal, illicit affairs and twisted legacies. In this remote and exotic place, exploration is perilous and discovery, deadly. The danger is palpable and, if they are not careful, Julia and Nicholas will not live to celebrate their first anniversary.

Lady Julia Grey Series:
Silent in the Grave
Silent in the Sanctuary
Silent in the Moor
Dark Road to Darjeeling

About the Author:

In her refurbished study, surrounded by painted peony pink walls and an elegant crystal chandelier that dangles from a Mediterranean blue ceiling, Raybourn constructs an inspirational collage for each book she writes.  For Silent in the Grave, Raybourn won the 2008 RITA Award for "Novel with Strong Romantic Elements."  The Lady Julia Grey series has been nominated for several other awards, including an Agatha, a Daphne du Maurier, a Last Laugh and two Dilys Winns.

After enduring too many scorching summers in San Antonio, the award-winning author and native Texan moved her family to charming Williamsburg, Virginia, where her father's family name is still engraved on a pew in Bruton Parish Church, the same church whose bell was donated by her mother's ancestor.  In her old Colonial-style home, Raybourn is in the perfect setting to continue her historical Lady Julia Grey series.

As a former teacher and student with an emphasis on Shakespearean studies, Raybourn dabbled in English and history but always reverted back to her renowned taste.  "I noted that my favorite novels were all historical, British and witty.  They all had a mystery at the heart and a touch of romance," she says.  "I only read things I loved for a year to develop my own voice.  I always approach my writing from a reader's perspective--readers enjoy when you make an effort."  An avid blogger on writing, clothing and travel, she continues to entertain her readers with classic romantic characters, and style with a dollop of humor.

Her website
Her Blog

FTC Information: I received this book from Erin McNichols at Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc. for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Book Review: Solitary by Travis Thrasher

 
Solitary by Travis Thrasher

Publisher: David C. Cook

Publish Date: August 1, 2010

Paperback, 400 pages
Young Adult, Solitary Tales Series #1

My Review:
Why I read this:  I have read several of Travis Thrasher's adult novels and love his style of writing and his books so when I was offered this one I really wanted to read it.  Mix young adult with an author I love and it's a must-read for me.

How is the novel driven: Character and plot are intertwined brilliantly in this one.  Action/plot drives it for the most part, but the characters are so integral that it’s hard to separate and say what truly drives this exceptional book.

My thoughts:   My first thoughts of wanting to read this book were correct.  I went on an amazing ride during this one.  Travis Thrasher seems to channel Stephen King, Ted Dekker, Frank Peretti and other great authors, yet he keeps his novels true to him.  I hate comparing authors to other authors because it sounds like they don’t have their own voice.  This is not what I mean when I do this with Travis Thrasher.  I think I do it more to share that if you like certain authors you might like his books.  But if you don’t like those authors, don’t let that turn you off either.  As I said, Travis Thrasher has his own voice and a way with storytelling that bridges the gap between adult fiction and young adult fiction. 
Most of Mr. Thrasher’s books have a supernatural bend to them.  A good vs. evil plotline and Solitary takes this plot and makes it so much more.  He writes what I consider the new “Christian” fiction.  It takes a story and doesn’t beat you over the head with Christianity but lets you make the decisions for yourself and lets you see real people trying to do the right thing, not perfect people.  Solitary takes this, adds in some teenage angst, some cliques, a new boy at school, an aloof beauty and a town where nothing seems right but no one dares speak about it.  I must say go ahead and mark out a block of time and sit down with this one because you won’t want to put it down once you pick it up.
With quotes like the following it can appeal to multiple generations like my own generation which will understand this fully:

I'm listening to the Foo Fighters and wish I could've been sixteen back when Dave Grohl was in his first band.  Foo Fighters are great, but Nirvana was epic."

And here a gem that will appeal to today’s generation:

I laugh and let out a curse of disbelief.  "What is going on here?  I mean--where in the world is this place?  Isn't this America?  Things like this don't happen.  Can't someone put out a rumor on the Web?  Tweet about it?"

With Solitary, Travis Thrasher proves he has a great grasp on what it’s like to be a teenager and writes the book with genuine feeling that I think any teenager can relate with.  While getting the teenage aspect right, I also feel he does a masterful job weaving a story that grabs you on the first page and keeps you hanging right up until the last page and then has you eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series.
Come check out the town of Solitary, meet Chris and Jocelyn, fall in love with them, be scared of the town and some of it’s inhabitants and find a book and an author that you won’t want to put down.

My Rating: 5.0/5.0

About the Book:

His Loneliness Will Soon Turn to Fear….

When Chris Buckley moves to Solitary, North Carolina, he faces the reality of his parents’ divorce, a school full of nameless faces—and Jocelyn Evans. Jocelyn is beautiful and mysterious enough to leave Chris speechless. But the more Jocelyn resists him, the more the two are drawn together.

Chris soon learns that Jocelyn has secrets as deep as the town itself. Secrets more terrifying than the bullies he faces in the locker room or his mother’s unexplained nightmares. He slowly begins to understand the horrific answers. The question is whether he can save Jocelyn in time.

This first book in the Solitary Tales series will take you from the cold halls of high school to the dark rooms of an abandoned cabin—and remind you what it means to believe in what you cannot see.

About the Author:

The author of a dozen works of fiction, including Isolation and Ghostwriter, Travis Thrasher has been writing since he was in the third grade. His writing is known for its honesty, depth, and surprising twists. Thrasher lives with his wife and daughter near Chicago.

His website
His Blog
Facebook
Twitter



FTC Information: I received this book from Audra Jennings at The B&B Media Group for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Book Blogger Hop - October 15-18, 2010

To check out other answers and join the hop go and check out Crazy-For_Books.com for the Mr. Linky for the Blog Hop. 

This week's question:

"When you read a book that you just can't get into, do you stick it out and keep reading or move to your next title?"

It depends, if it is one for review I will try and stick it out if I need to review it soon.  If not I will put it down until a time when it might appeal to me more.  Much more leeway with books that aren't for review.  I like to put in at least 150 pages if it is for review and if I still can't get into then that is how I review it.  It rarely happens, but sometimes I'm just not in the mood for the book, or it is just not for me.

I've been missing from the hop for a few months but decided to come back - I look forward to hopping and finding new blogs this weekend!