Book Review: To Have Not by Frances Lefkowitz

To Have Not by Frances Lefkowitz

Publisher: MacAdam/Cage

Publish Date:March 1, 2010

Paperback, 300 pages
Non-fiction; Memoir 

My Review:
Another non-fiction title for me, the self-professed fiction-only reader.  But the publicists keep sending these great sounding blurbs out so I seem to be branching out.  And I am glad I am.  I was sucked into Frances Lefkowitz's book, To Have Not from the first chapter.  I think most of us can relate to Frances on some level.  Whether you were rich or poor growing up, I think everyone has a feeling of resignation about some part of their life at some point in their life.

Through looking from the outside in to Frances' life I was able to look at my own life and be thankful for things.  Frances did not have an easy life, but she never whines or cries about it.  She does get angry, but I never felt the book was one of those "look at poor pitiful me" books, she mainly is stating the fact of her life with emotions thrown in as well.  Frances takes the hits that life gives her and keeps moving, learning lessons along the way.  I found her life fascinating from childhood to college and then when she moves on to trying to find a career.  I also found her relationships interesting.  The ones with her parents who were anything but typical parents and with her brothers, to the gifted children at her school and then the others she meets through life.

Frances' writing style is easy-going, I felt like I was talking with an old friend and catching up on her life.  The story of her life flows easily and moves quickly with little lessons interspersed and Frances often taking stock of her life at that point and relating to something in the past.  To Have Not is a fascinating memoir that takes a look at the ordinary, yet not-ordinary life of a child who grows into an adult and still is finding her way in the world.  It was truly enjoyable and I look forward to reading more by Ms. Lefkowitz and I think reading To Have Not has also opened my doors to more memoirs in the future.


My Rating: 4.5/5.0


About the Book:

Poverty has many guises: a lack of money, of course, but it can also be a lack of love or choice, pleasure or safety, faith or confidence or possibility. Poverty seeps into the soul and deadens the spirit. In To Have Not, Frances Lefkowitz reflects on her own life of poverties. A poor white girl from 1970s San Francisco, Lefkowitz tries to escape her upbringing through an Ivy League scholarship, only to realize that upward mobility is not all it s cracked up to be: being a Have Not and not having aren't necessarily the same thing. Crashing headfirst into boundaries of class, race, and sex, Lefkowitz emerges scarred but whole, humor intact. To Have Not speaks to anyone who has ever battled the feeling of being cut off from the world s abundance, and then settled, eventually, somewhere between resignation and appreciation for all they do have.

About the Author: 

Frances Lefkowitz was born in San Francisco and moved nine times in seventeen years, mostly within the confines of the city. She attended Brown University on scholarships. Frances has published hundreds of magazine articles and earned two Pushcart Prize nominations. She lives in Petaluma, California.

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FTC Information: I received this book from Lisa Steinke at BookSparks PR for a honest 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: Little Princes by Conor Grennan

Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan

Publisher:William Morrow

Publish Date: January 25, 2011

Hardcover, 304 pages
Non-fiction

My Review:
Why I read this: The publicist contacted me and was very excited about this book.  I don't read much non-fiction but I am interested in books where people test their limits and this sounded like it was one of those.  And I was intrigued about the children of Nepal, I know very little about the country and wanted to learn more.

How is the novel driven: It's non-fiction, but it reads smoothly like a fictional story.  No lengthly details to bog  you down.  It's written in very down-to-earth language and you feel like you are sitting with a friend while he tells you of his adventures and struggles.


My thoughts: I was prepared to like this book.  What is not to like?  A story of a man who goes to Nepal and finds his calling to help the children of the country at first in the orphanages and eventually trying to reunite them with their parents.  It sounds wonderful doesn't it?  And it is, but it is so much more.  I was struck with the fact that the author is very open in the beginning that he first went to Nepal to help in an orphanage just to have something to talk about or put on his resume.  Pretty selfish isn't it?  But who isn't like that?  Honestly?

Then something changes, the children creep into Conor's heart and begin to bless him as he helps out in the children's home.  As Conor learns more about the civil war in the country and the people that take the children from their parents to a life of slavery, you see Conor change and then he wants to help change the country and the children.  The story is gripping.  I had a hard time putting it down.  I wanted to know what challenge Conor would get through next.  Would he find the children, would he find the parents and just what could he do in this poor country where children are taken from their parents with the guise of helping them find a better life, but in reality are sold into child slavery.

Through fund-raising and sheer will, Conor accomplished most of his goals with his friend Farid and help of others with other organizations in Nepal.  He started a non-profit, Next Generation Nepal to help these children, to start his own home for them and with the help of others he is accomplishing his goals still to this day.  It is just a marvelous tale of things happening for him and the children at just the right time.  Of course there are trials, but Conor grows and learns to accept things as they happen.

And the book is not only about his journey to help the children of Nepal, but it also has glimpses of his personal life at the time.  I loved every aspect of this book and I hope Conor Grennan writes another book as he continues his plight to help these children and parents in Nepal.  I love that this book opens up this struggle to the world and we as readers can see what is going on and find ways to help as well.  The book is inspiring, uplifting and just amazing.  I already know it will be one of my top reads of the year.

My Rating: 5.0/5.0


About the Book:

In search of adventure, 29-year-old Conor Grennan traded his day job for a year-long trip around the globe, a journey that began with a three-month stint volunteering at the Little Princes Children’s Home, an orphanage in war-torn Nepal.


Conor was initially reluctant to volunteer, unsure whether he had the proper skill, or enough passion, to get involved in a developing country in the middle of a civil war. But he was soon overcome by the herd of rambunctious, resilient children who would challenge and reward him in a way that he had never imagined. When Conor learned the unthinkable truth about their situation, he was stunned: The children were not orphans at all. Child traffickers were promising families in remote villages to protect their children from the civil war—for a huge fee—by taking them to safety. They would then abandon the children far from home, in the chaos of Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu.

For Conor, what began as a footloose adventure becomes a commitment to reunite the children he had grown to love with their families, but this would be no small task. He would risk his life on a journey through the legendary mountains of Nepal, facing the dangers of a bloody civil war and a debilitating injury. Waiting for Conor back in Kathmandu, and hopeful he would make it out before being trapped in by snow, was the woman who would eventually become his wife and share his life’s work.

Little Princes is a true story of families and children, and what one person is capable of when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds. At turns tragic, joyful, and hilarious, Little Princes is a testament to the power of faith and the ability of love to carry us beyond our wildest expectations.
About the Author: 

Conor's Blog/Website

Next Generation Nepal website

Next Generation Nepal on Facebook

***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.  I do not receive money for my amazon links since I live in NC (something about some law), so they are up purely for my readers to have a place to check out the book.***

Book Review: Fatal Judgment by Irene Hannon

Fatal Judgment by Irene Hannon
Publisher: Revell Books

Publish Date: January 1, 2011

Trade Paperback,  330 pages

Romantic Suspense, Christian, Guardians of Justice Series #1

My Review:
I will admit I am a fan of Irene Hannon since I first read Against All Odds last year, but I have to say that Fatal Judgment just blew me away.  Tight suspense, great romance and strong characters made this book shine and made it hard to put down.  I'm not even sure I can do this book justice, it was really amazing.

First I'll start with the plot.  Diving right into the action, the book starts with Liz's sister being shot in Liz's home.  What looks like a domestic dispute gone wrong turns into something much more sinister.  Because Liz is a judge, the U.S. Marshal service steps in to protect Liz until the threat is determined.  This brings Jake Taylor back into Liz's life.  This does not make Jake too happy, but he will do his job no matter what.  Liz was Jake's best friend's wife and he always thought of her as a cold fish of sorts, but as Jake gets to know Liz he finds she's not who he thought she was.  The plot continues to thrill right up until the last page as the Marshals and the local police try to figure out exactly who the threat is.

Second is the characters.  Ms. Hannon is a natural with developing characters.  I love how the layers of Liz and Jake are slowly peeled away and we learn about them little by little, their past, their brief history and how they start to interact with each other.  I also enjoyed the look into Jake's family who will be featured in the later books in the series I believe.  I love seeing how families interact and the Taylor family is very interesting.

If you are looking for a great romantic suspense, I can't recommend this book enough.  I will be anxiously awaiting the next installment in the Guardians of Justice series and I am sure that Fatal Judgment will go down as one of my favorite books of the year.  It definitely reminds me of all the reasons I really enjoy romantic suspense.  All the elements are there and it's amazing to read and hard to put down.

My rating: 5.0/5.0

About the Book:
U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor has seen plenty of action during his years in law enforcement. But he'd rather go back to Iraq than face his next assignment: protection detail for federal judge Liz Michaels. His feelings toward Liz haven't warmed in the five years since she lost her husband--and Jake's best friend--to possible suicide. How can Jake be expected to care for the coldhearted workaholic who drove his friend to despair?
As the danger mounts and Jake gets to know Liz better, his feelings slowly start to change. When it becomes clear that an unknown enemy may want her dead, the stakes are raised. Because now both her life--and his heart--are in mortal danger.

Full of the suspense and romance Irene Hannon's fans have come to love, Fatal Judgment is a thrilling story that will keep readers turning the pages late into the night.

About the Author (from Amazon.com):
Irene Hannon is the author of more than 25 novels, including the CBA bestsellers Against All Odds, An Eye for an Eye, and In Harm's Way. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, the HOLT Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier award, and the Reviewer's Choice Award from Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine. She lives in Missouri.

Website


**Available January 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group**

***I received this book from Revell Books for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  I do not receive money for my amazon links since I live in NC (something about some law), so they are up purely for my readers to have a place to check out the book.***

Waiting on Wednesday - January 26

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Secrets and Shadows (13 to Life #2) by Shannon Delaney

Release: February 15, 2011

Nothing's simple when you run with werewolves. Jess Gillmansen thinks she's seen it all but her eyes are about to be opened to even more danger and a reality far more paranormal than she's suspected. With Jess' realization that the Rusakovas' mother is still alive and imprisoned, the group's choices become harder and trust more important. Lines are drawn and relationships change as the broken Rusakova family struggles to reunite to free their mother - and those who Jess thought to be normal people show themselves to be much, much more...

I'm in the middle of 13 to Life so I am excited that this one is releasing so soon.  I can't wait to read more of this series.

So what are you waiting on this week?

Book Review: Never Been Kissed by Melody Carlson

Never Been Kissed by Melody Carlson
Publisher: Revell Books

Publish Date: January 1, 2011

Trade Paperback,  216 pages

Young Adult, Contemporary, Christian

My Review:
Never Been Kissed is a very interesting YA novel.  Like Anything But Normal that came out last year, it has a very important message to teenagers.  In fact it's one I haven't even thought about but will now make sure my boys understand what to do and what not to do when sending emails, facebook and text messages (if I ever get them cell phones, they are only 5 and 10 now).

While dealing with a powerful subject the book also feels real.  What girl who is about to turn 16 hasn't embellished a little bit about that first kiss if they haven't had it.  What girl is not trying to fit in with an "in-crowd" and what girl hasn't told lies to make herself seem better.  Poor Elise gets caught up in something over her head, but I like how Ms. Carlson showed just how she dealt with it, from making mistakes along the way to making apologies where necessary.

I enjoyed watching Elise grow as a character.  She starts the book as a typical teenager, not a care in the world besides fitting in and getting kissed, but she ends the book learning valuable lessons and going forth from there on with her life.  Ms. Carlson has a way with creating characters that feel real and feel like the every-girl and Elise is a great example of this.

Never Been Kissed is a quick read, but one that will stick with you for awhile.  I can see appeal in this book for people of all ages.  Great for teens, great for parents, great for all those in-between.  Never Been Kissed has a lesson for all of us in this information age and is packaged in a very entertaining way.

My rating: 4.25/5.0

About the Book:
New School = New Chance for That First Kiss Summer is ending, and for once that doesn't seem like such a bad thing to Elise. She's hoping that starting fresh at a new high school will turn her first-kiss prospects around. New guys, new friends, and a new lease on life.
What she wasn't counting on was all the new pressure--to hang with the right crowd, wear the right clothes, and date the right guy. Just when it seems she's on top of the world, everything comes crashing down. Could one bad choice derail her future?

About the Author (from Amazon.com):
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than 200 books, including Just Another Girl and Anything but Normal. She recently was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, Notes from a Spinning Planet series, and Finding Alice. Melody and her husband live in Oregon.

Website
Facebook


**Available January 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group**

***I received this book from Revell Books for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  I do not receive money for my amazon links since I live in NC (something about some law), so they are up purely for my readers to have a place to check out the book.***

Teaser Tuesday - January 25

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

The moment Riley reached the truck she kicked the closest tire, imagining it to be Beck's head.  It was a stupid thing to do because now her foot ached like the rest of her.  Her anger wouldn't make a bit of difference.

From The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver (out February 1)

Book Review: Said the Spider by Earle E Van Gilder

Said the Spider by Earle E Van Gilder

Publisher: Outskirts Press

Publish Date: June 23, 2010

Paperback, 290 pages
Fiction, Mystery and Detective

My Review:
Why I read this: The publisher emailed me with a list of books and this one really jumped up and grabbed me.

How is the novel driven: Plot, you do learn about characters, but it's suspense/mystery so the plot is most important.



My thoughts: At first I found it a little hard to get into, Said the Spider jumps around a bit in the beginning introducing the various players in the book.   However as I continued reading I found the jumping around to be much more interesting.  It would go from present day to back in the past a little to show motivation or background behind why certain decisions were made.  By one-quarter of the way through the book, I was thoroughly into how the book was written.

The plot moves at an interesting pace.  I found myself sucked into the book and not realizing over an hour had past and I had not moved.  At times the language is a little stilted and sometimes there are a few too many exclamation marks, but the story shows through these minor mistakes.  One of my favorite things about the book is the fact that one character shines through above all the rest, he's not perfect but Dan Jamieson, the private detective has a much more spotless character than most of the rest of the characters.  Setting him against greedy bankers, shifty businessmen and a con-man above all con-men makes this book very interesting.

Said the Spider is a truly enjoyable book, I' m not sure the ending makes complete sense to me, but it made enough sense that I felt the story was tied up.  It is full of creepy twists and turns and characters who are everyday people, but because of their greed they get sucked into things they never should have been a part of.  Mr. Van Gilder seems to have a very good understanding of this world and really brings it alive.  The setting was new to me as well.  I don't think I have read too many books that take place in Milwaukee so that made it different to me as well.

If you enjoy suspense/mystery books that uses the everyday man involved in crime that is way over his head then this is a book for you.  It is hard to put down and enjoyable.  Frightening in ways as well.  But overall an enjoyable book with just a few minor editing type problems to marr it.  But the execution of the story is well-done in a different way from most books, almost circular in fashion, but not confusing or overwhelming.


My Rating: 3.75/5.0


About the Book:

Sophisticated crime syndicate parasites invade the normally solid foundation of Midwestern banking and generations of established manufacturing. Executives and management usually in control suddenly find they are masterfully manipulated into a web of irreconcilable personal and financial seduction.

From the traumatic discovery at the river’s edge to the eventual confrontational conclusion Said The Spider seduces greedy, gullible and unsuspecting prey into a deadly and graphic whirlwind of corporate disaster leading to murder, suicide and revenge.

The early exploits of the juvenile crime spree by a youthful mastermind who cleverly manipulates his prey leads the reader to the ruthless genius manipulating the city. This drama of cause and effect with no escape from the temptations of lust, greed, and ignorance has been cleverly baited.

The corporate investigative agency and police sources enter almost too late to stop this whirlpool of turbulence as the bank Vice President’s realize their own failure and the investors and corporation officers panic and retreat from the coming Armageddon.

As murder, suicide and monumental financial losses are exposed, the crime syndicate learns of an investigation which might interrupt their lucrative operation. Crime bosses will stop at nothing to successfully complete their artistic looting of a major bank and manufacturing complex.

Time is running out. Investigators are pulling pieces of the puzzle together. Corrupt and greedy bank executives are running for their lives. The syndicate is charging ahead in their goal of complete domination and eventual departure culminating in a surprise and conclusive end to fraud and murder.

About the Author: 

More than 40 years Earle (Doc) Van Gilder was involved in the investigation of white-collar crime. The last 20 years he ran his own Investigative Corporation partnering with major firms, local and state government agencies and law enforcement to solve a wide range of criminal activities from internal theft and white collar crime to insurance fraud, criminal investigations and undercover operations.

Earle is also a certified Kyokushinkai Karate Branch Chief and martial arts instructor and well versed in the handling of weaponry. These experiences combined with his Marine Corp and equestrian experiences have resulted in a number of short stories which in turn led to his first novel, Said The Spider. He recently completed a second novel, Gumshoe Diary, The Month of May.

Website

FTC Information: I received this book from the publisher (Outskirts Press) for a honest 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.