Fiction, Women's Fiction

Faithful, by Alice Hoffman

Kristie

What a good book! This is the first time I’ve read something by Alice Hoffman, but it was engrossing and kept my attention from start to finish. It reminded me a lot of The People We Keep by Allison Larkin, a recent read, in that the main character is a traumatized young woman.

In Faithful it is Shelby Richmond, who is struggling with deep depression and survivor’s guilt after being in a car crash that incapacitated her best friend. Shelby changes her appearance, has extremely low self-esteem, and considers herself a nothing. But there is an anonymous person who reaches out, sending Shelby postcards for years with short, cryptic messages:
“Be something.”
“Feel something.”
“Do something.”
“Trust someone.”

Clearly this person feels that Shelby has untapped potential if she would only believe in herself.

It is fascinating to follow Shelby on her journey over the next few years. We find out who her secret pen pal is by the end of the story, but there are some wonderful supporting characters along the way. Alice Hoffman has done a terrific job keeping the personalities distinct and unique. The core group is a great example of the power of friendship, hope, and the rewards we reap when we put ourselves on the line for others.

My only real confusion is the title. I’m still trying to work that out in my mind. But the fact that it keeps me thinking about the story and the characters is a testament to the excellent writing and plot development. I have an idea what it means, but sharing my thoughts would be giving away something important. I certainly don’t want to do that to any potential readers. *wink*

9/10 Stars

ARC (Advanced Reader Copy), Fiction

Just a Regular Boy, by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Kristie

AVAILABLE May 2, 2023

I’ve read several books by Catherine Ryan Hyde and, while they often seem to follow the pattern of pairing a child in distress with an unlikely adult companion, that is where the similarities end.

In this novel, five year old Remy is forced to live in the wilderness with his survivalist father as they both mourn the loss of Remy’s mother. Conditioned to think that the world’s societies are crumbling and all remaining humans will be killed or enslaved, Remy fears everyone outside their makeshift camp. But when he finds himself completely alone and must depend on others or die, he discovers the extremes in his father’s thinking. Embraced by a foster family with an especially determined and intuitive mother, Remy learns Life’s actual truths. Yes, the world is a tough place and bad things happen, but when you are loved, validated, protected, and wanted, it can make all the difference.

Catherine Ryan Hyde never fails to amaze me with her unique stories. Once again her young protagonist is wise beyond his years but with an emotional fragility that only love can heal. The character development is excellent. The theme of trust vs fear is very strong throughout, making readers examine their own lives and insecurities.

If I had one criticism, I would say that the COVID theme with its “we’re fine, we’ve been vaccinated” is a bit heavy-handed at times. The author lives in California, where that is very much the way of thinking, but the story takes place in Idaho, where beliefs are more varied. I wish that ideology had been fine-tuned more to match the setting. Overall, though, this is a special book that I would definitely recommend to others.

9/10 Stars

Cover Reveal

Cover Reveal: Appointment in Bath, by Mimi Matthews

Kristie

As part of Mimi Matthews’ launch team, I get to share her cover reveal for the next book in the Somerset Series! Appointment in Bath will be available June 27, 2023.

Besides being one of the sweetest women ever, Mimi’s books have been a wonderful discovery in my literary journey. There’s swashbuckling adventure, romance, intrigue, fun, and fantastic characters. I’ve read 7 of her books now and have enjoyed every one.

While you wait for Appointment in Bath to release, I encourage you to read others in the series. Each of them is a delight!

Book 1: The Work of Art

Book 2: Gentleman Jim

Book 3: Return to Satterthwaite Court

ARC (Advanced Reader Copy), Fiction

Theme: Women Going It Alone

Kristie

I recently heard a terrific talk about the “backpacks of (metaphorical) rocks” we all carry–those burdens that follow us through life and affect so much of what we do and how we treat people. There are the rocks created by others, the rocks we made ourselves, and those uncontrollable rocks that are just part of being human. In this talk, the speaker focused mostly on women and how we often choose to carry our burdens alone, even when we don’t have to. I thought about this concept a lot in relation to these two books.

In Worlds Apart, a debut novel by Jane Crittenden, teens Amy and Olivia both carry backpacks heavily burdened by the actions of others. But while Amy stays upbeat and friendly, Olivia is sullen and moody. Years later, the roles are reversed and it is Amy who is bitter. Now a single mother with a popular bakery and supportive friends, she is the picture of negativity. When Chris, her daughter’s father, reenters her life after nineteen years, Amy treats him with snarky saltiness, wondering why he never inquires about his child. She wrestles with her feelings of confusion and contempt, always playing the victim and never coming out and just saying what’s on her mind. The resulting drama is unnecessary and maddening. Amy never earns our sympathy or endearment. Everything works out after a dreary three hundred pages, but only because of luck, and not in a way that feels sincere or satisfying. Sadly, this novel did not even come close to meeting my expectations. 3/10 Stars

The People We Keep, by Allison Larkin, is a fascinating study in human behavior. As we follow the life of young singer-songwriter April Sawiki, we see that problems can affect us without defining us. We are also reminded that parental scars are the deepest, whether they be physical or emotional. In April’s case, they are both. With only her guitar and her dad’s ex-girlfriend as her solace and support, sixteen year old April is left to fend for herself. Soon, survival mode is all she knows and that early hunger for love and belonging stretches into years. During April’s journey to find her place in the world, she gravitates towards other broken people, always slow to trust but amazingly observant. She is scrappy and rough, but she’s also kind, helpful, protective, and never toxic. Author Allison Larkin does a remarkable job with April’s character development, making her both strong and fragile, always wanting more but feeling she deserves less. By the time we leave April, her future is still imperfect, but it seems hopeful. Her personal rule of always leaving people with good memories extends to the reader as well. This book is beautifully written and deeply profound. 9/10 Stars

Uncategorized

March 2023 Reading Wrap Up!

Kristie

Another month, another bunch o’ books! (My failed attempt at an Irish accent.) There were some duds and disappointments–more than usual it seems–but there were some great ones too! Let’s focus on those. The ratings are based on Goodreads’ 5 star rating system.

5 Stars-I LOVED IT! (Read these, you’ll be glad you did!)

4 Stars-I really liked it (Read these too!)

3 Stars-I liked it (They’re OK, but they didn’t shatter my world.)

2 Stars-I did not like it (They were either boring, smutty with misleading covers, depressing, or just plain bad.)

1 Stars-I hated it (Same as the 2 stars, but even worse. Avoid at all costs.)

FAVORITES: Click the links below to read reviews of my 6 favorite books this month!

The Stars Don’t Lie, by Boo Walker (Available 8.22.23)

What To Say Next, by Julie Buxbaum

Gilded Girl, by Pamela Kelley

One, by Sarah Crossan

Moonrise, by Sarah Crossan

Return to Satterthwaite Court, by Mimi Matthews (Available 4.11.23)

Revisiting some favorite authors:

Boo Walker, Julie Buxbaum, Diane Chamberlain, Catherine Ryan Hyde, Mimi Matthews, and Amy Harmon never disappoint. You just cannot go wrong with their books. I’ve also read books by David Baldacci and Nicole Deese in the past and really liked them, but the ones I read this month are, in my opinion, not their best. I was especially let down by The Words We Lost, but I learned after reading the author’s note that it was a labor of love and a story she needed to tell. I respect that decision. After all, writers are people too.

And now, on to April! I have a few books picked out: a science book to fulfill a reading challenge in my online group, an advanced copy of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s next book Just a Regular Boy, and Emily Henry’s Happy Place, which is available on April 25th. I’ll have to buy or borrow that one since NetGalley is very stingy with her books and wouldn’t approve my request to get it before it’s published. I’m not bitter. I’m really not. Mostly not. 🙂

Some great books are in the future!

Meanwhile, kitties Luna (black) and Cleo (tabby) decided to stop by and say hello just now:

ARC (Advanced Reader Copy), Historical Fiction, Romance, Series & Collections

Return to Satterthwaite Court, by Mimi Matthews

Kristie

AVAILABLE April 11, 2023

I am so honored to have been chosen by Mimi Matthews to be part of her launch team for Return to Satterthwaite Court! This delightful novel of historical fiction is the third in the series of Somerset Stories, after The Work of Art and Gentleman Jim. But it also works perfectly fine as a standalone. The other books, each wonderful in its own way, are only lightly referenced.

It is December 1844 when we meet Lady Katherine Beresford and Lt. Charles Heywood, who has recently returned from several years at sea. Like the best literary romances there is awkwardness, tension, even annoyance, right from the beginning when these two have their first haphazard meeting on a busy street. Throw in a horrified best friend and a mangy stray dog and the encounter is nothing if not comical. And while Kate (Lady Katherine) is much more tenacious than most Victorian young ladies, she is kind and endearing in her pursuit of the handsome lieutenant. Her determination serves only as a reminder that females of that era had to orchestrate certain parts of their lives when so many other things were beyond their control.

There is mystery, intrigue, and terrific banter between the two characters. It easily played out as an entertaining movie in my mind’s eye, reminding me of some of my favorite onscreen couples. Because, although you know they will get together in the end, the journey to that conclusion is great fun.

If you love clean historical fiction with excellent character development and witty dialogue, I highly recommend this charming book!

9/10 Stars

Young Adult

Two Amazing Books by Sarah Crossan

Kristie

There is someone who I need to add to this blog and that is Irish author Sarah Crossan. I just discovered her books a few weeks ago and quickly flew through two of them. I’ve never seen anyone tackle heavy subjects like she does, and with such a deft combination of pathos and wit. And, even though her books are marketed for Young Adults, I highly recommend them for older readers as well.

The first I read is One, the story of conjoined twins Tippi and Grace. As we follow the sisters, we learn about what is required when two people share parts of a human body. Each movement of every day necessitates coordination, patience, and compromise. Grace, the physically weaker of the twins, is the dominant narrator, which I found to be a very interesting choice by the author. Once we get to know these two girls, however, it makes more sense. Grace is quiet and observant, even passive, while Tippi is fearless and vibrant. Now teenagers, the girls have proven everyone wrong in how long they’ve lived. Unfortunately, a crucial decision must be made, demonstrating Grace and Tippi’s emotional connection transcends even their physical bond. This is a story that will carve a place in your heart. The characters are fascinating, as is Sarah Crossan’s unique writing style. 9/10 Stars

Next I read Moonrise, (sometimes marketed as The Moon Brothers) a completely different story but just as touching. This novel deals with the controversial topic of capital punishment. The youngest of three children in an extremely dysfunctional family, seventeen year old Joe Moon makes the brave decision to travel alone to Texas to visit his older brother, Ed, who awaits execution on Death Row. After a ten year separation and numerous reminders from others that it’s best to cut Ed out of his life, Joe focuses on the kindness and protection his brother always showed him. Over several weeks, with Joe set up in a dingy apartment near the prison, the two brothers reunite and reminisce. Meanwhile, the end looms over them like an ominous cloud. I found this book absolutely gripping and like nothing I’ve ever read before. It’s a slice of life I hope most of us will never see. 9.5/10 Stars

I’ll be honest, I don’t know if I could’ve handled these books when I was a youth. Maybe, but only maybe. Certainly my perspective would’ve been different without the years of living I’ve known since then, but it isn’t like the experiences in each novel have been remotely on my radar. Interestingly, though, I don’t think we are meant to relate to any of these main characters. How could we? Instead, we are taught compassion and acceptance through the examples of characters more heroic than they’ll ever know. In the midst of their suffering, these young people exemplify courage and grace beyond their years.

I implore any reader who seeks a very special literary experience to read both of these books.

ARC (Advanced Reader Copy), Fiction, Women's Fiction

The Stars Don’t Lie, by Boo Walker

Kristie
“She was still there, this night sky, this elegant gown woven with diamonds…”

AVAILABLE August 22, 2023

Some “pre review” thoughts: As exciting as it is to communicate with a favorite author, it can also be tricky. Boo Walker has been incredibly generous to me, a humble blogger, offering and sending me CDs and MP3s of his two previous books, bringing me on board as a beta reader for his upcoming novel in 2024, freely giving and receiving feedback via email, and being a friend on social media. Bottom line: I wanted to love this book. Thankfully, I did. Now, on to the review.

Dr. Carver Livingstone has a lot of things figured out in life. Still in his thirties, he is a successful North Carolina veterinarian with several clinics, a surgical patent, and a staff who adores him. But he has a past, one without closure that he has kept buried and at a distance for twenty years. So when his mother asks him to return home to Vermont and mediate a family issue, it isn’t an easy decision.

Carver is, after all, a man of science. He seeks facts and doesn’t like shades of gray. He can also be slow on the uptake when it comes to emotional cues from others. It’s that “different kind of smart,” an observation not lost on Mrs. Eloise Cartwright, his favorite teacher from high school. Mrs. Cartwright was there for Carver during his darkest moments as a teen and, while he has never forgotten the impact she had on his life, he has cut ties with her as much as with everyone else.

Mrs. Cartwright would hate the cliché, but Carver had to wait for the stars to align. Or maybe they have aligned and he just needed a good push. Either way, things are being set into motion through a series of events beyond his control. Call it Fate or call it Faith, change is on the horizon.

There was so much I loved about The Stars Don’t Lie. Boo Walker effortlessly accomplishes a multitude of objectives with a diverse cast of characters. Diverse in the sense that we meet different people at various stages of life, which means there is someone for whom every reader can relate to and understand. And even though many of them have their own epiphanies, it is Carver who is at the center of it all, trying to stay afloat, constantly doubting his abilities, but still learning what’s most important. All he has to do is look up.

On a grander scale is the writing itself, which is done with terrific skill. The pace is just right and the phrasing is very clever. I highlighted several for future reference. I also found myself tapping into personal memories and feelings that few, if any, books have ever brought to the surface. Last but not least there are the messages, mainly of redemption and reminders that we are all a part of something bigger than ourselves, each conveyed with gentle tenderness. Reading, no, experiencing this book was like finally opening a stuck window and airing out a musty room. A refreshing, emotional detox.

I highly recommend it. (Yes, I’m a bit biased, but I don’t care. I loved it.)

10/10 Stars

*This book can currently be preordered on Amazon and is only $4.99 for the Kindle edition. Like all of Boo’s previous books, it will likely be available in print, digital, and audio formats if you have a subscription to Kindle Unlimited.

Young Adult

What To Say Next, by Julie Buxbaum

Kristie
Different, not less…

Another triumphant Young Adult book by Julie Buxbaum! This time centering around a socially cloistered teenage boy with above-average intelligence and a high-achieving girl who just lost her father. Is it possible I liked this book even more than Buxbaum’s other emotional novel, Tell Me Three Things? Perhaps. I do know that I labored for a ridiculously long time writing this review. I’m not sure why. Maybe I felt like David and Kit deserved the extra effort.

David and Kit. High school juniors. There’s so much to love about these two. As the reader I feel fiercely protective of them, which just proves Julie Buxbaum’s skill as a writer.

David, with his high functioning autism and awkward genius adorableness. David, with his blunt, literal interpretation of the world and its inhabitants. David, who seesaws between wisdom beyond his years and paralyzing confusion at man’s inhumanity to man. David, who is confident in his strengths but also humble enough to ask for help. (With a special shout out to Miney, who might just be the best big sister EVER.) David, our brave knight in dented armor, but a knight nonetheless.

And Kit. So many Goodreads reviews unfairly tear her apart. Kit, who is dealing with a cacophony of family issues, and deserves nothing but our compassion. Kit, an only child, with heavy emphasis on “only.” Kit, with no sibling to lean on or commiserate with about her parents and their secrets. Kit, with her age-appropriate uncertainty, mired in an impossible situation. Kit, who is suffering in her own isolation and still manages to break through David’s invisible walls.

What To Say Next is a gem. A very special read. In fact, the author has admitted it is her favorite book that she’s written. Character driven, but characters who touched my heart so deeply they transcend the page. I loved it and I loved them.

9.5/10 Stars

Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction

Good For You, by Camille Pagán

Kristie

Change is never easy, especially when it involves a devastating loss, but it can also lead to good things you never expected. Aly Jackson should know. As she’s mourning the death of her older brother, Luke, her career and relationship also get upended. The only lifeline she has is a house that Luke left to her on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Of course, nothing is as she expects it to be when Aly arrives. There are still plenty of estate details to figure out, family issues to resolve, and emotions to sort through. But, even in death, Aly’s older brother is her protector, whether she realizes it or not.

This is the first book I’ve read by Camille Pagán. It won’t be my last! She delves into very real feelings, exploring them through Aly with that frustrating combination of confusion, resistance, and wisdom that happens when the rug gets pulled out from under you. Having dealt with similar grief, I felt for Aly and related to her. But even if you have been fortunate enough not to experience such sorrow, this is a book worth reading. I recommend it!

9/10 Stars

Available with a Kindle Unlimited subscription.

Fiction

Stay, by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Kristie

Another triumphant read by Catherine Ryan Hyde! Her stories are so unique, with the only steady common denominator being an unlikely friendship between a child and an adult.

It is the summer of 1969 and fourteen year old Lucas Painter is mourning his older brother’s absence in Vietnam, his best friend’s depression, and his parents’ volatile marriage. His main enjoyment is running, made even better when he befriends two dogs in the woods near his home. What Lucas doesn’t know-and will soon discover-is that the dogs belong to a long time resident and social outcast in their small town. Gossipy and unforgiving, the locals hold a grudge against this woman for a tragedy that happened years before.

Undaunted, Lucas sees past the prejudice. He finds solace in her company, often seeking her wisdom and advice, not even realizing the healing effect of his own presence. As time passes and more characters become involved, festering emotional wounds are confronted and choices must be made.

Like all books by Catherine Ryan Hyde, Stay is one that makes you hold up a mirror and ask how you would behave in a certain situation. We’ve all experienced conflicts, we’ve all been in circumstances with shades of gray, and we’ve all had times when holding a grudge was easier than extending mercy. Easier, but not necessarily right.

I loved this book and highly recommend it.

9/10 Stars

Historical Fiction

A Girl Called Samson, by Amy Harmon

Kristie

I have such a special place in my heart for women in history whose stories waited much too long to be told. Henrietta Lacks, The Radium Girls, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton are the ones who immediately spring to mind. And now, Deborah Sampson.

In A Girl Called Samson we have the story of this real-life heroic woman who was abandoned by her father and sold into indentured servitude by her mother. Through a series of events she became one of a handful of females who served valiantly in the Revolutionary War. Author Amy Harmon has filled in the details faded by time, portraying Deborah as a brave and determined soldier, one who never let her gender and society’s rules stand in her way during incredibly challenging times.

My dilemma is the ending. I won’t reveal it, except to say that a very important element in the book is fictional. Why? Why pay respectful homage to this woman only to tamper with the facts? For this reason and because of some extra lengthy war scenes I could only give it 9 stars. But I will say that the book is worth reading. The less you know of actual history, the more you will enjoy it. If the real Deborah Sampson was at all as honorable as our novel’s heroine, she is a person you should know and admire.

9/10 Stars

This is a Kindle First Reads selection for March 2023, a free book if you have Amazon Prime in the US. Paperback and hardback formats will be available April 1st.