Book Review: In Search of the Rose Notes by Emily Arsenault

In Search of the Rose Notes by Emily Arsenault

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Publish Date: July 26, 2011

Paperback, 384 pages 
Fiction, Mystery
ISBN: 978-0062046345

My Review:
I just keep lucking up on my reads lately.  In Search of the Rose Notes sounds intriguing from the blurb, but the blurb does not do it justice at all.  The book is so much more.  It's amazing, it's haunting, it's just a great suspense read that kept me turning pages.  I have really been enjoying this different suspense genre that drives the book at a pace that different from the breakneck speeds of a James Patterson or a Brad Thor or the like.  This is character-driven suspense, not action-driven suspense and I am learning that I really like this kind of suspense.

I was drawn in from the first page as you watch the live of Nora, Charlotte and Rose slowly unravel before you.  Switching from the present when Nora has gone back to visit with Charlotte when Rose's remains have finally been found to the past during the time leading up to Rose's disappearance and some afterwards makes the book interesting.  It really gives the characters a chance to develop to see them as budding teenagers and then again as twenty-somethings trying to make sense of this chapter in their lives.

I loved this book and did not put it down.  I would not have if I did not have to go back to work this week and have my husband's birthday fall during this week - pretty inconsiderate of hubby and work, wasn't it, to interrupt a really good book.  I just don't know what else to say, I don't want to give anything away, jusst get your hands on this book any way you can and read it.  It's suspenseful, it has great characters and it will suck you right into Nora and Charlotte's world and won't let you out until the last page is turned.  I'm not even sure it lets you out then since I'm still thinking about them now.  It's just that good.

My Rating: 5.0/5.0

About the Book:
Eleven-year-olds Nora and Charlotte were best friends. When their teenage babysitter, Rose, disappeared under mysterious circumstances, the girls decided to “investigate.” But their search—aided by paranormal theories and techniques gleaned from old Time-Life books—went nowhere.
Years later, Nora, now in her late twenties, is drawn back to her old neighborhood—and to her estranged friend—when Rose’s remains are finally discovered. Upset over their earlier failure to solve the possible murder, Charlotte is adamant that they join forces and try again. But Nora was the last known person to see Rose alive, and she’s not ready to revisit her troubled adolescence and the events surrounding the disappearance—or face the disturbing secrets that are already beginning to reemerge.

About Emily Arsenault

Emily Arsenault is the critically acclaimed author of The Broken Teaglass, a New York Times 2009 Notable Mystery. She lives in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts.

Visit Emily at her website.

 

 

 

Emily’s Tour Stops

Tuesday, July 26: Sarah Reads Too Much
Wednesday, July 27: My Reading Room
Friday, July 29: Reviews from the Heart
Monday, August 1: Life In Review
Tuesday, August 2: Reflections of a Bookaholic
Thursday, August 4: Reading Lark
Monday, August 8: The Whimsical Cottage
Tuesday, August 9: Chaotic Compendiums
Wednesday, August 10: A Bookworm’s World
Friday, August 12: Cozy Little House
Monday, August 15: Reviews By Lola
Friday, August 19: “That’s Swell!”

FTC Information: I received this book from the publisher through TLC Book Tours for an 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 Feature: In Search of the Rose Notes by Emily Arsenault

In Search of the Rose Notes by Emily Arsenault

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Publish Date: July 26, 2011

Paperback, 384 pages 
Fiction, Mystery
ISBN: 978-0062046345

*** My review will be coming later today.  This is an amazing book, twisting suspense, love the back and forth, present and past looks at both girls and the other characters and of course at Rose through the characters, so you can already tell I am excited about this one! ***

About the Book:
Eleven-year-olds Nora and Charlotte were best friends. When their teenage babysitter, Rose, disappeared under mysterious circumstances, the girls decided to “investigate.” But their search—aided by paranormal theories and techniques gleaned from old Time-Life books—went nowhere.
Years later, Nora, now in her late twenties, is drawn back to her old neighborhood—and to her estranged friend—when Rose’s remains are finally discovered. Upset over their earlier failure to solve the possible murder, Charlotte is adamant that they join forces and try again. But Nora was the last known person to see Rose alive, and she’s not ready to revisit her troubled adolescence and the events surrounding the disappearance—or face the disturbing secrets that are already beginning to reemerge.

About Emily Arsenault

Emily Arsenault is the critically acclaimed author of The Broken Teaglass, a New York Times 2009 Notable Mystery. She lives in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts.

Visit Emily at her website.

 

 

 

Emily’s Tour Stops

Tuesday, July 26: Sarah Reads Too Much
Wednesday, July 27: My Reading Room
Friday, July 29: Reviews from the Heart
Monday, August 1: Life In Review
Tuesday, August 2: Reflections of a Bookaholic
Thursday, August 4: Reading Lark
Monday, August 8: The Whimsical Cottage
Tuesday, August 9: Chaotic Compendiums
Wednesday, August 10: A Bookworm’s World
Friday, August 12: Cozy Little House
Monday, August 15: Reviews By Lola
Friday, August 19: “That’s Swell!”

FTC Information: I received this book from the publisher through TLC Book Tours for an 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.

Guest Blog: On Location Research and the Blood Coven Series by Mari Mancusi

Please join me in welcoming Mari Mancusi today, who is here to talk about visiting one of the foreign settings of her Blood Coven settings, with really cool photos as well!  The newest installment of the Blood Coven series, Blood Ties, comes out next week so I know all you Blood Coven are anxiously awaiting that release.  To tide you over, enjoy this guest blog today.

One of the things I love about writing the Blood Coven series is picking the settings for the
books. I try to place each book in a very scenic, very different place. For example, the twins start
their adventures in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, then go to England, Vegas, the Swiss
Alps, Ireland, Fairyland, and, in Blood Ties, Tokyo, Japan.

I, myself, got the opportunity to travel to Japan a few years ago with a friend. At the time, I
had no idea I'd be using the country as a setting for a future book. But the experience was so
amazing--and the country so different than anything I had ever seen, by the time I left, I knew I
had to put it all in a book someday.

Many of the places you will read about in Blood Ties are places that my friend and I journeyed to while at Japan. For example, like Sunny and Jayden, we stayed at a Ryokan, which is a traditional Japanese Bed and Breakfast, right out of the Edo period. There are no beds--you sleep on futon mats on the floor. There are no chairs either--only pillows around a small table with tea service. (My Westernized back was so not happy about this!) Of course, while the furnishings
were decidedly traditional, the toilet was from the 22nd century--with crazy buttons and heated seat. The Ryokan also featured communal baths--which freaked me out a little, I must admit. Luckily our room also had a shower...

In Blood Ties, Rayne, Sunny and Jayden try to find blood at a Vampire Cafe. My friend and I ate at this cafe, which is located in the Ginza neighborhood in Tokyo. The place is Goth dream come true, decked out with red and black decor, candles, roses, and a huge coffin in the center of the restaurant. When you arrive, you're escorted by a French maid or butler to a small, private booth, closed off by a red curtain, and served a price fixed meal in which every food is shaped to look like something vampire related. It was perhaps one of the coolest restaurants I've ever eaten at and I highly suggest it to any vampire fan who finds him or herself in Tokyo.

 

We also visited a Cat Cafe, like Rayne and Jareth and Magnus do in Blood Ties. Evidently Japanese work long hours and have small apartments--so there is often no room or time for a pet.  So these cafes allow you to go and spend time in a room full of cats--to get your pet fix anytime you need one. While the cats were adorable and very friendly, I felt a little weird sitting on the floor, drinking coffee. (Which you were required to order as part of the price.) Also, the litter boxes could have been cleaned a little more often.

Another stop? Harajuku station, where Sunny, Rayne, and Jayden go meet up with the cosplay coven. That was definitely a highlight of my trip. Outside the subway station were dozens of teens, dressed in the most amazing costumes ever. Some were based on popular manga or
videogame characters--others were totally made up. The teens just hung around, looking bored, as tourists snapped picture after picture. I noticed that many of them carried rollaway suitcases with them. Perhaps they changed out of their cosplay gear before heading home to mom and dad!
Harajuku also featured an amazing outdoor mall, filled with really cool teenage clothing shops.

Sadly, being American, I barely fit into any of the clothes--but they were so cute! I did manage
to purchase an really cool Gothic Lolita dress that I still wear to fantasy conventions to this day.

In all, I had an amazing experience in Japan and it was so much fun to look through all my
pictures and videos when starting to write Blood Ties. I hope the book inspires people to
consider a trip to Japan. It's a fascinating country--and so different than our own--I think
everyone should experience it at least once!