September Read: :How Can I Help You? by Laura Sims

 

I don't know too many librarians who don't want to read this novel--about a librarian, set in a library, written by a librarian. Oh, and it includes murdering misbehaving patrons. SHHHH.

Dear Margo. She's a nondescript middle-aged woman who's worked as a circulation librarian at the Carlyle Library for the past two years. She's efficient, helpful, and keeps to herself. Her past as Jane, a nurse, is far behind her. She still seethes a bit over the injustice of hospital administration and how she was treated, but she's managed to simmer down and build a new life far away from all of that. 

And then Patricia (Pa-tree-see-a) walks in--young and polished; the new reference librarian. Margo doesn't really care for Patricia at first-she is a change in the pleasing, calming routine Margo has created for herself. She's a ripple Margo doesn't need. 

Patricia is a newly minted librarian, and this is her first job. She's escaped a dismal relationship in Chicago, along with the crushing failure of a rejected novel she's written and no one wants to publish. Desperate to try something new, she's moved to Carlyle--a dull, boring, Midwest town. 

Margo is intrigued by Patricia--what exactly does she do all day at the reference desk? Why is she always writing in her little notebook? Patricia is also intrigued by Margo--those odd flashes of coldness in her eyes; the careful stillness about her. Not to mention that very weird episode in the women's bathroom, where a patron died and Patricia saw Margo acting very, very strange. 

It doesn't take Patricia long to figure Margo out--and oh, what a story to write! But she's torn--does she tell the police now, or after she's finished writing her novel? Will it ruin her chances at a successful novel? 

The tension increases between the two women, even as they share tidbits of their lives with each other. Margo's restlessness is coming back, and she's itching to return to those heady feelings of helping folks...die. 

This was one heck of a short novel. Margo is truly a psychopath, and her mental dialogue along with her belief she's innocent are disturbing. Patricia seems like a harmless person, but her inner dialogue definitely makes you a bit uneasy, too. Two peas in a pod? 

Most of the action takes place in the library, with a few key scenes at the apartment complex both Margo and Patricia live at; the library references are spot on and the patrons--well, yes, they're definitely shaped by real-life interactions as a librarian. 

If you want to read a quick thriller, this is the one. Margo/Jane is truly one unsettling character. I found myself lingering over her chapters, trying to dig a bit deeper to figure her out. Patricia is someone you think you want to know, but by the end, I'm not so sure. It would be an interesting book to discuss with a group. 

Rating: 5/6 for a psychological thriller that builds in tension, so much so that I was almost reluctant to turn the pages! "How Can I Help You" takes on a whole new meaning in this small town library. 

Available in hardcover, audio, and e-book.

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September Read: :How Can I Help You? by Laura Sims

June Read: The Enchanted Hacienda by J. C. Cervantes

 

I'm a sucker for a novel that involves gardens, flowers, and magic. 

Harlow Estrada is fresh off a break up with her loser boyfriend on the same day she loses her job.  She leaves New York City for the family farm and business in Mexico. Run by her mother and aunt, the Hacienda Estrada is a magical place. And I mean magical in every sense of the word. Acres of flowers, a fantastic hacienda, and yes, a bond with the land courtesy of a goddess. 

Harlow is the only woman in her family that has no apparent magic. Everyone else has a way with flowers that amplifies their gift. Now Harlow is back to stay for a few weeks while her mother and aunt take a vacation to Italy. It's just the break Harlow needs to find her creative spark and maybe, just maybe, her magical gift. 

There's also a gorgeous man she meets in the local village--Ben. He's drop dead hot, and seems to be interested in Harlow. But wow, their relationship is a bit of a hot mess, and it's the main romance of the novel. Harlow's emotions get in the way of her heart and cause a lot of trust issues with Ben.

This was a cute read; I was mostly interested in the farm and the magic used with the flowers. I found that all fascinating and dang if I wouldn't like to live on a magical flower farm. I thought the story dragged a bit and Harlow's questioning herself and Ben over and over was a bit annoying. 

I hope there are more stories involving Harlow's sisters and cousins--they each have magical gifts and none of them are in relationships--so many possible sequels to this novel. 

I don't have a deep introspective review of this novel. It was enjoyable; I'll be honest I went outside to my lavender pot and swept my hand over the buds to inhale the scent. Too bad I don't have a magical bone in my body! But this was a great reminder for me to see the magic in the flowers I have in my backyard. 

Themes about starting over; ending something can mean the beginning of a great new life; embracing being creative, trust yourself and your feelings. 

Fans of Sarah Addison Allen and Heather Webber will enjoy this magical novel.

Rating: 3/6 for a novel that will take you away from everyday life for just a bit, to a place where the flowers bloom and magic is all around. 

Available in hardcover, ebook, and audio. 

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June Read: The Enchanted Hacienda by J. C. Cervantes

The Portrait by Ilaria Bernardini

 

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It's taken me a bit to finish this novel, but that's okay because it's not a novel to rush through. The Portrait a character driven story about two women, one man, and a lifetime of love. 

Valeria Costa is a famous writer who has had a decades-long affair with Martin Acla. Now Martin has had a stroke and is in a coma in his London home. His wife, Isla, is a famous portrait artist, and she, along with their three children, are at their home in London with Martin as his days wind down. 

Valeria is bereft and is desperate to see Martin again. She writes Isla, asking to have her portrait painted. This way, she can get into the house, and hopefully see Martin. Isla agrees, and Valeria temporarily moves to London to have her portrait painted. 

Valeria goes to a lot of trouble to see Martin! But he is her love, and their relationship goes back decades; they've been secret lovers almost as long as Martin and Isla have been married. Flying around the world, meeting each other for nights and weekends, Valeria and Martin had a deep connection and love for each other. Valeria knows everything about Isla's life with Martin. 

As Valeria visits the home, and sits for her portrait, she's drawn deeper into the lives of Isla and her children. Martin is only a few floors up, on a ventilator, being monitored by nurses; completely unaware his two lives have now come together. 

I kept looking at the cover; intrigued by the portrait. It's haunting, to be sure. Valeria is one complex character, as is Isla. The novel moves back and forth between the portrait sitting, Valeria's youth and her troubled relationship with her mother, to her times with Martin. She is constantly framing her life and observations into short stories (which she is famous for)-which, if you look closely, tell the tale of her love affair with Martin. 

Throughout the novel, I kept asking myself if Isla knew who Valeria was-did she know about the affair? You don't know for sure until the end, and oh my, that's a pretty good ending. It takes a bit to digest and understand how the story all comes together. You will spend time thinking about these two complex women.

A big thank you to Pegasus Books for a review copy. This is not my typical novel, but I'm so glad I had the chance to read something so character driven and complex. Author Ilaria Bernardini is a well-known Italian author, this is her first American debut. 

Rating: 4/6 for a character driven novel about grief, love, death, art, aging, life, and forgiveness. A slow build that grips you and doesn't let go. An ending that takes your breath away. 

Available in hardcover, ebook, and audio.

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The Portrait by Ilaria Bernardini

The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict

 

I first read about the real-life mystery of Agatha Christie's disappearance in 1926 a few years ago and was fascinated by it. What intrigued me the most is that no one, to this day, knows what exactly happened, and why she disappeared for eleven days in December, 1926. This lead to a wave of news media and police searching for her, fearing the worst. And yet after eleven days, she's found staying at a hotel near London, under an assumed name. 

Agatha Christie never explained her disappearance--never talked about it for the rest of her life. Instead, she went on to become the most popular author of all time, writing mysteries that defined the genre and made her so famous she still steadily sells books and has movies based on her works produced 100 years later. Amazing. 

Marie Benedict was also intrigued by this real-life mystery and decided to craft a novel around it, with a possible explanation as to the "why" of it. It's an interesting take on a mystery that will never be solved. 

This novel moves back and forth between the eleven days of Agatha's disappearance, and the years leading up to that December of 1926. The novel starts off in 1912, as Agatha meets Archie Christie at a dance. She's already engaged to another man, but Archie is boldly attracted to Agatha and pursues her. She, in turn, it captivated by this handsome man who clearly wants Agatha. He courts her, and she falls in love. They are married when Archie is fighting in World War I. Agatha helps out taking care of wounded soldiers, and this is where her knowledge of medicine and poisons comes from; her talent at writing is natural and something she has always done but never seriously. Archie starts to show his true colors-he's self-centered, demanding, and falls into depression pretty regularly. Taking her mother's terrible advice, Agatha does everything she can to be the perfect wife to Archie. 

As the years go by, Agatha loses more of herself in the process. She does all she can to keep Archie happy, and gets little in return. Even the birth of her daughter Rosalind is tempered by the knowledge that Archie must always come first. It causes permanent damage in her relationship with her daughter, who doesn't understand why her mother doesn't spend more time with her. Archie is one annoying man! 

Meanwhile, Agatha's stories are gaining in popularity. At first supportive of her writing, it's now just another thing that Agatha does that irritates Archie. She just can't win with her husband. 

And then Archie does the unforgivable, and it sets off a chain of events concluding with Agatha's reappearance, claiming amnesia. This story is just one author's imagining; it seems that Agatha left us with one mystery that we can't ever absolutely solve. 

It took me a bit to read this novel, mostly because i was a bit unsure where it was headed. I'll admit to being a touch disappointed at the final reveal as I read it. However, spending some time thinking about the ending afterwards, I will admit it is pretty clever. 

You may want to do some sleuthing of your own after reading this, and delve into the internet to read up on the real-life disappearance and reappearance of Agatha Christie in 1926. It's pretty interesting; you'll find yourself crafting your own explanation to a mystery that went to the grave with the Queen of Suspense.

Rating: 4/6 for a dive into the marriage and mystery of Agatha Christie. It's also a novel about a women finding her talent and her power to live life her way. Anyone who has read an Agatha Christie mystery or watched a movie based on her books will want to read this. 

Available in hardcover, ebook, and audio. 

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The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

I've joined the thousands of other readers who have jumped on the crawdad wagon (or boat). I've been reading recently that Delia Owens has the distinct honor of having the one fiction book that in the past few years  has sold over 1 million copies in hardcover. The novel in second place comes in at around 750,000 copies sold in hardcover. That's a heck of a lot of books sent out in the world, and that doesn't even count the ebooks and audio books purchased!  Pretty impressive for a first novel, wouldn't you say?

So what is it about Where the Crawdads Sing that resonates so deeply with so many people? I think it's a few things, at least that was the case for me. Kya, oh Lord, she broke my heart. It took me quite a while to be able to come to terms with the fact that her entire family abandoned a little girl and left her alone to fend for herself. And the townsfolk of Barkley Cove did nothing to help this little girl. How she survived and thrived are the magic of the story. Nature-the marsh and all the wonders it held nurtured and protected her. The marsh was her mother, her provider, her teacher, her friend. Kya loved it as she would her family, and the relationship between Kya and the marsh are the foundation of this amazing story. 

Delia Owens' writing makes you wish for a secluded cabin, a boat, and time alone. Kya's life is rough--nearly penniless, she survives on grits and what she can gather from the marsh. Uneducated, until Tate comes along, and teaches her to read. Jumping' and Mabel were the closest folks she had to family, and their relationship sustained her through some rough times. Tate, the boy who loved the Marsh Girl with all he had, but still hurt her. And there is the mystery of Chase Andrew's death on that October night in 1969. The story bounces back and forth between the early 1950's and 1970, as Kya's story unfolds.  

Kya is one of those unforgettable characters that you don't often meet in fiction. How this little girl grew to be a brilliant naturalist, purely because she so loved the marsh and everything in it, is an unforgettable story. The writing is effortless, and simply stunning. It makes you itch to grab a sketch pad and sit somewhere and observe nature. It reminded me of my fascination with the children's book Pagoo by Holling C. Holling when I was a child. I actually spent time attempting to recreate the illustrations about Pagoo, the hermit crab and his life in the tide pool. I still have that book, and love to look at it. 

But this novel isn't just about a young girl surviving in the marsh. It's about family, abandonment, stereotypes, shunning others who we see as different, prejudice, conforming to society's expectations, and most of all, love and trust. And oh, by golly, strength to get through the worst life can hand you and come out the other side and into a new day. 

So yes, if you haven't read this, please do. It will give you a new appreciation for nature, and the beauty around us that we seem to cavalierly destroy just for the sake of progress. And read it because it's a damn good story. 

Rating: 6/6 for a multi-layered novel about a young girl raising herself in the marshes of North Carolina during the 1950's and 1960's. You will smell the water, squish the mud between your toes, and feel the breeze on your face. 

Available in hardcover, ebook, and audio. 

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Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

The Widow's House by Carol Goodman

It's been a few years since I read my last Carol Goodman novel.  I stumbled across her while I was shelving at my bookstore, thought I'd try out her writing, and I'm so glad I did. Her contemporary gothic thrillers are just the kind of novel I enjoy.

 I would compare her to Kate Morton and Simone St. James; if you're a big fan of novels set around the Hudson Valley, you should read not only The Widow's House, but some of her other novels. She's also written a series for teens: Blythewood, Ravencliffe, and Hawthorn. She hasn't forgotten young readers, either: The Metropolitans looks like a great little mystery, and I'm adding it to my TBR list.  

Onto The Widow's House.  Jess and Clare Martin are two writers who have hit rock bottom.  Jess' first and only novel, written just out of college, was a big hit, but he's failed miserably writing his second novel.  Clare has put aside her own desire to write (she's the better writer of the two) in order to work at a publishing house to makes ends meet.  A stressed marriage and no money combine to take the Martins out of New York City and back to Concord, a sleepy village in the Hudson Valley known for its apple orchards and Apple Blossom Queen Festival.  It is where Clare grew up, and met Jess at Bailey College.  Not a place Clare was eager to return to, as her memories of growing up in a harsh household, knowing she was adopted, has left her feeling a bit adrift.  

Jess and Clare end up at Riven House, a huge mansion out in the country, where Alden Montague--their former professor at Bailey College, resides in what was once a glorious estate.  Taking the caretaker's job means they have an affordable place to stay, and the quiet Jess needs to finish his novel.  

But of course things aren't that simple.  Clare sees a young woman standing outside; hears a baby cry in the night, and is haunted by the tale of the Mary Foley, her lover Bay Montague, and their tragic ending in 1929.  Is it Mary she sees at night near the river, holding her baby?  What story does Mary want Clare to tell?

As Clare digs into Mary's story, her own novel starts to take shape at a feverish pace, and her obsession with Mary's tragic life compels Clare to start exploring the house and the secrets it holds.  Does she just have a vivid imagination, or is there evil at Riven House?  

I've got to say, I enjoyed everything about this novel except the relationship between Jess and Clare. They are obviously an unhappy pair; his treatment of Clare just had me really annoyed and wanting to smack him upside the head. Clare's high school boyfriend is the sheriff in town, and from the first time they meet again, it's obvious he's the good guy, and the man she should be with--not Jess.  That was frustrating, waiting for the story to evolve.  Other than that, there's enough history, paranormal possibilities, and backstory to make this a novel that you will carry with you everywhere, waiting to read just a few pages.  
A perfect Halloween read.

Rating:  4/6 for the atmosphere; the story of the Apple Blossom Queen is solid, and Clare is someone to cheer on in her journey to unveil the mysteries of Riven House. 

Available in paperback and e-book.

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The Widow's House by Carol Goodman

Lies She Told by Cate Holahan

Lies She Told is a novel that blurs reality and fiction and adds in two unreliable narrators.  What you get is a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, waiting for the curtain to whoosh open, revealing the truth.  

Liza Cole is an author who's had a respectable run publishing novels, but now she's stuck, and under a deadline to produce another novel in quick time, or she will probably lose her contract.  She's struggling with infertility; taking hormones and trying desperately to engage her husband in this latest round of treatments.  He's grown distant, and it's no wonder:  his best friend and law partner Nick is missing, and no one has a clue what's happened to him.  

Liza's novel begins to take shape in the form of Beth, a new mother who is also riding the hormone train, and feeling a bit insecure regarding her husband's affections.  As a reader, it took me awhile to get it in my head that Beth was the creation of Liza, and not another character living in Liza's New York reality.  I guess that means Liza has a possible hit novel on her hands, if only she can stick with it! 

 Blurred lines play a big part in the storyline:  headaches, hormones, shady memories--or no memories at all.  Liza's experimental hormone therapy has some seriously bad side effects but she's unwilling to give up what may be her last chance to conceive. She also likes to drink, and that just adds to the uncertainty of Liza's view of the world.  

Beth and Liza's worlds are similar, and as you read you realize they're not only similar, but may be more horribly connected than you thought.  You get bits and pieces of Liza's past colliding with the present, and you can feel her desperation to gain her husband's attention not only through her thoughts, but as reflected in Beth's story.  It's the best writing Liza's done in years, but how far is it from reality?  

I don't want to give anything away, but holy cow even if you figure it out, you just haven't really figured it out.  There's a big twist at the end, and it will keep you thinking about this book long after you're finished.  You'll want to discuss it with others, so make sure you either read it in a book group, or have a friend or two read it.   I haven't read Cate Holahan's first novel, The Widower's Wife, but I'm certainly adding it to my list.  

A big thank you to Crooked Lane for a review copy of this novel.  I would have passed it by in the library or bookstore, but now I've got a great book to recommend.  

Rating:  5/6 for a twisty plot that blurs reality and fiction.  Marital relationships, that "perfect couple", those secrets that sometimes lie down deep, just waiting to pounce.  A thriller folks will gulp down. 

Available in hardcover September 12 in the U.S. Also will be available as an e-book and audio book.  

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Lies She Told by Cate Holahan

Tumbledown Manor by Helen Brown

I traveled to Australia this week to visit Tumbledown Manor.  A perfect beach read (or front porch read) that was a refreshing change of locale for me.  I haven't read too many novels set in Australia but I certainly plan on changing that soon.  

Lisa lives in New York City, a mother of two adult children, and happily married.  The story opens on her 50th birthday.  Her husband arranges for a surprise birthday party at their apartment, and so thoughtfully has a massive flower arrangement delivered to the party.  When Lisa reads the card, she discovers that the flowers were mistakenly delivered to her--and that they were meant for her husband's mistress.  Awkward!

Lisa is a successful author struggling through the second book in a trilogy.  This whole divorce isn't helping at all.  She decides to leave New York City for her native Australia.  She's starting over and leaves New York City with no regrets.  Once in Australia, she resists buying a townhouse in Castlemaine and instead buys Trumperton Manor, a falling-down house surrounded by neglected grounds and a spooky stable.  She has a connection to the house; her grandfather's family built the place and lived there.  In this space she will write her novel, and figure out her new life. 

There are plenty of characters in this novel that make it a fun read:  the Grey Army; a group of retirees who descend on the house to paint, rebuild, and refinish the home; Lisa's sister Maxine who is constantly bossy; Scott, the very handsome and slightly goofy landscaper who sets Lisa's heart racing; Lisa's son Ted and daughter Portia.  And of course her ex-husband Jake makes an appearance.  Lisa is surrounded by a great family and community.

Tuck this one into your beach bag or your purse when you take your vacation.

Rating:  7/10 for an enjoyable read with likable characters and a beautiful setting.  

Available in paperback and e-book.

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Tumbledown Manor by Helen Brown

The Versions of Us by Laura Barnett

The Versions of Us is a definite read for those who like romance, but romance that isn't an automatic happily ever after.  This romance is all about the journey; of what it means to love someone, and how that love can wither, grow, or become stagnant through life's many ups and downs.  It's about yearning, falling out of love, desperately trying to find love with someone who clearly isn't the right one. It is about the many facets of love and the complexity of it all. 

This novel is told in three parts:  Version One, Version Two, and Version Three.  Each version features Eva and Jim, two students at Cambridge in 1958.  A chance encounter on a path goes three ways:  Eva swerves to avoid a dog and gets a flat tire that Jim stops to repair--and the attraction is instant; Eva avoids the dog completely and doesn't get a flat tire--thereby not meeting Jim, who is just another person on the path; and the third version sees Eva and Jim meeting, but having a very short relationship that ends with Eva leaving Jim with just a letter goodbye.  

Each version carries on from this fateful moment on the path, through the sixties, seventies, eighties, and up to 2012.  In each version, Eva and Jim have many of the same people in their lives.  In each version  Eva either struggles to write, or is a successful writer, or comes into writing later in life. Jim is a lawyer, yearning to be an artist; in one version he's a well known painter; in another a man who never achieves much success; in another, a man who decides to follow his dream after struggling to do the right thing.  Through each version of their lives, Eva and Jim continue to connect.  Each is never far from the other's thoughts, even if they are geographically far apart, and with other partners.  

I struggled a bit with following the three versions; I found myself thumbing back to the beginning to keep the stories straight; but eventually it really didn't matter.  The powerful ending made it clear that no matter where life takes us, some people are meant to be in our lives.  Whether we spend our whole lives with them, or meet them later in life; if they are meant to be in our lives, they will somehow connect.  Love comes in many shades, and doesn't guarantee a happy ending.  Life is a struggle, even when we are with those we love the most.  I will admit I got a bit weepy at the end(s), but it was because I felt that I had been on such a journey with Eva and Jim.  I spent decades with them and their stories.  

This story reminded me of my relationship with my boyfriend.  We met in our late 30's on a blind date, and have been together for 14 years.  We talk sometimes about how we wish we'd met earlier in life--and how different our lives would be if we'd even met a few years earlier.  For sure we would have gotten married and had children.  By the time we'd met, he was past the stage of having kids, and life's challenges have kept us from taking the plunge and getting married.  I can't imagine my life without him, but I can easily imagine a different life with him, if only we'd met just a bit earlier.  We both can get a bit emotional thinking about it, and agree that we are lucky to have found each other when we did, and live the rest of our lives together, even if it is a bit unconventional.  If anything, this novel will make you think "what if?"

Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a review copy.  This was a wonderful discovery and would make a good book club discussion.  I'm glad I didn't miss it.  

Rating:  8/10 for a romance that has three versions of happily ever after, and the journey to get to that place.  A novel that will make you contemplate life. 

Available in hardcover, e-book, and audio book.  Available May 3rd at your local library or bookstore. 

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The Versions of Us by Laura Barnett

DNF: Here's a Few from February!

I was surprised at the number of people who read my post on DNF's and why I don't feel a lick of guilt setting a book aside to read something else.  I'm certainly not the only one who does this.  Right now I have so many books to read under a deadline that the DNF pull is getting way too tempting.  I'm resisting and forging ahead on the books that I want to read and review. Some I would push to the back of the pile if I had all the time in the world to read them.  I simply have too many choices and it's making me crazy and unable to settle down with my usual rotation of 3-4 books.  The life of a book lover and blogger is tough sometimes.  Boo hoo.  

 I promised to start a new feature talking about the DNF's I have each month.  Here are a few from February that I planned on reading, started, and just couldn't complete:

 
 I love M.J. Rose.  I've read many of her books, and enjoyed her mix of history and magic.  I didn't get a chance to read this book when it first came out, so I thought now would be the time.  I was wrong.  I got about 50 pages in, and just couldn't latch onto the story.  I will return to this book in the future and read it.  But for now, it is a DNF.  

This novel had me alternately enjoying it and being puzzled by it.  I was ready to give up by page 50, but kept plugging away until 150 pages, and I was enjoying it.  Then I read the end, was pissed at what happened, and lost all desire to finish it.  With that being said, I was hoping for a humorous book, and it wasn't humorous enough for me to stick with it. 

 I saw the movie Life of Pi, and loved it.  The premise of this novel intrigued me; I was ready for a mystical Paulo Coelho type book (and this was a new release!).  I made it to about 100 pages, and gave up.  Couldn't hold my interest at all.  Bummed.  

So there you have it.  I'm pretty sure there were more DNF's in February, but these three stood out for me in the DNF ring.  

Now I'm off to conquer my required reading stack.  

 

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DNF: Here's a Few from February!

The Martian by Andy Weir

I wish my brain was a big as Andy Weir's brain.  This man is brilliant.  How do you get non-science people to read a book about science?  Make it fiction, stick an astronaut on Mars, and then leave him there.  By himself.  With no communication and very little food.  

The Martian is a thrill ride from beginning to end, and even though I will freely admit to not knowing much about engineering, chemistry, and space, I couldn't put this down.  What makes it even more fun is that you really could see this happening.  Here's the premise:  Mark Watney is part of a team of astronauts who have landed on Mars to conduct an expedition.  They've got supplies, a place to live, and all the tools they need to get things done before they get into their MAV and blast off the surface of Mars and back into space and their spaceship, which is in orbit.  Then it's back to Earth.  Everything was working just fine, until a big storm hits Mars, and the mission is cut short.  They have to leave Mars now!  And while they're making their way towards their escape, Mark is hit by something, knocked out, and blown away.  All readings from his suit indicate he has no oxygen and is dead.  With time dwindling away, Commander Lewis has no choice but to leave him and keep the other astronauts alive by getting back to their spaceship.  Racked with guilt, they are all haunted by the knowledge that Mark Watney is dead on the surface of Mars.

Except Mark's not dead.  Miracles do happen, and his space suit is still functioning.  He wakes up, realizes he's alive, and soon also realizes he's going to be dead quickly if he doesn't fix his suit and get to safety.  

This begins Mark's quest to stay alive long enough to make it to the next Mars mission--IN FOUR YEARS.  He's a botanist, so he makes a plan to grow potatoes.  He's incredibly smart and MacGyver-like and has a wicked sense of humor.  Keeping a log of his time on Mars, he works day and night to stay alive, make plans for rescue, and is fully cognizant that he may not make it off Mars alive.  

Does he get rescued?  What the heck happens?!  I won't share anymore of the story, because you need the experience of living this adventure with Mark.  I will admit some of the science lingo had my brain shutting down, but keep moving through.  There's humor, poignancy, bravery, awe, and sheer moxy in this novel.  I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys adventure stories, science, and anything to do with space.  This is not science fiction as you would imagine.  It's been optioned for a movie, and I hope it happens because it will make a heck of a movie.  Men and women and teens will all enjoy this story.  

Available in paperback and e-book.

Rating:  8/10 for a thrilling adventure, a great main character full of humor and courage, and references to ABBA, Three's Company, and disco.  

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The Martian by Andy Weir

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

So much fun to read a novel from a man's point of view as he looks for love in a very scientific kind of way.  Sounds kinda goofy, and it is--in a wonderfully funny way.  Don Tillman is a total square.  He's in his early 40's and a genetics professor.  He has decided it is time to find a wife, and goes about this in a very scientific way:  he produces a 16 page questionnaire to find suitable candidates.  Among the questions asked to filter out the "unsuitable" candidates:  do they drink?  smoke?  Are they on time or late?  Are they vegetarian?  

Don lives his life by a very scheduled, regimented  plan.  He looks at everything scientifically and not emotionally, which is part of his charm.  Yes, he is charming in his total dysfunction.  And along comes Rosie, a PhD candidate in Psychology who asks Don to help her find out just who among a field of academics is her natural father.  And guess what?  Rosie is everything Don doesn't want, yet he finds himself feeling attracted to her, thrown off his regimented plans, and examining his burgeoning emotions.  All which throw him in a tizzy.  It's so much fun to read Don's thought process through this whole unexpected awakening to love. And Rosie is equally charming in her complete normal-ness.  She herself is in a bit of a quandary over finding such a odd duck appealing--truly, opposites attract.  

Can Don help Rosie find her real father?  And what of his wife project?  Will he ever find a suitable candidate?  This is a sweet story of two people making their way towards each other in a completely awkward and humorous way.  And really, isn't that how love usually goes?  You will love this novel!  Perfect for summer.  

Rating:  7/10 for a refreshing look at finding love with a cast of characters who are completely charming.  You'll find yourself cheering them on to a happy ending.  

Available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audio.

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The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Delicious! By Ruth Reichl

I've been anticipating this book for months and luckily its release happened just as I was finishing my first year of grad school.  Surely that meant I was supposed to drop everything after my final this week and devour this book.  

Delicious is Ruth Reichl's first novel.  She's well known for her books about food and worked as a food critic in New York City for years.  She's a talented writer and I hope this isn't her only novel.  

Billie Breslin arrives in New York and lands a job at Delicious, a food magazine that's been around for 100  years.  Billie has an incredible gift: the ability to eat anything and discern every flavor note in it.  I for one would love to have this gift--can you imagine being able to eat anything and know all the flavors you're tasting?  While Billie is working at Delicious, she meets Sal, who owns the most incredible cheese shop.  Seriously--I hope and pray a place like this really does exist somewhere in this world.  I would set up a tent and live there if I could.  Fontanari's shop is a character that is one of my favorites; I can smell the cheese and salami from here.  Billie begins working there on weekends and quickly becomes part of the family.

Delicious is housed in a beautiful old mansion in New York City; it's one of the few remaining survivors from the grand old days.  On the top floor is a locked room; it's the magazine's library.  Billie and Sammy, the world traveler for Delicious, find themselves in the library after a particularly distressing time at Delicious.  In that library, they find Lulu's letters.  Lulu was a young girl who wrote James Beard letters during the 1940's.  James Beard!  Yes, he worked at Delicious.  And following the clues, Billie and Sammy hunt down Lulu's letters, savoring each wonderful glimpse into a special relationship set against a nation fighting World War 2.  

There's much more to this story.  I can't give it all away.  You have to discover it yourself, and it won't be hard to do because you won't be able to put this novel down.  I love food.  I am a modest cook, I have a tiny kitchen, but I sure do like to read about food and try my hand at making memorable meals for me and my boyfriend.  I watched Julia Child on public television years ago and liked to watch my mom cook for my huge family.  I have overstuffed folders full of recipes that I haven't tried just yet, but don't want to throw away.  My idea of a perfect wedding reception would be one where I make all the food.  

Yes, I love food.  And I loved this novel.  Perfect summer read.  Billie's a young woman running from a painful past; all of the characters in this novel have a history that is delightful to explore.  Incredible descriptions of food, wine, and New York City.  This is one of my favorite reads of 2014.  

Rating:  9/10 for incredible descriptions of food, New York City, and an intriguing library full of surprises.  

Available in hardcover, e-book, and audio.

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Delicious! By Ruth Reichl

The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles by Katherine Pancol

A big thank you to Penguin for sending me a copy of this novel to review.  It was a great away to kick off my reading list for 2014. 

Katherine Pancol is a big deal in France.  She's written many bestselling novels, but unfortunately for the US, nothing's been translated to English until this fun, engaging novel popped up this month on the bookshelves at my store.  There are people who call this chick lit, but I disagree.  To me, chick lit is twenty-something women searching for love while experiencing growing pains in their lives, careers, and friends.  The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles does focus on changing lives, but it involves both men and women in their 40's who wake up and realize that the life they chose doesn't work for them anymore.  What to do about it?  Josephine and Iris, two sisters living in Paris; both married with kids.  Iris is rich, Josephine's husband hasn't worked in a year.  Josephine's passion is 12th century French history; her part-time work as a researcher has become the only way her family is surviving.  Add in one teen daughter who wants all the finer things in life and has complete disrespect for her mom, and Josephine has her hands full.

Josephine's life takes a turn when she kicks her husband out after finding out (and being the last to know) he's having an affair.  Antoine flies the coop, and ends up in Kenya running a crocodile farm with his lover, leaving Josephine to raise Hortense and Zoe.  Iris  is rich and bored and doesn't know why her husband has become so distant.  Is he having an affair?  Iris makes matters worse when she blurts out at a dinner that she's writing a novel about….12th century France.  A publisher is interested and won't let the idea go, so Iris talks Josephine into writing the novel.  Iris will get all the credit, Josephine will get all the money.  

And things go wrong from there.  Josephine is a sweet woman who is slowly, very slowly, coming into her own as a strong, intelligent person capable of being successful on her own.  Her story is the main push in this novel, and you'll come to love her, even when you're frustrated that she's not standing up for herself quickly enough.  Iris is a pill and just keeps making her life more complicated because she can't keep her mouth shut.  It's a fun, entertaining, afternoon read about women who are looking for a re-do in their lives.  Who will be successful?  What about their husbands?  The cast of characters is chock full of quirky people who make the novel feel like you're reading about friends going through a bit of  a sticky spot in their lives.  And reading about French characters added something special to the mix, too.  There were a few odd translation boo-boos, but nothing that will keep you from enjoying this novel.  

Available in paperback and ebook.  

Rating:  8/10 for a quirky, fun novel full of lively characters and life changing moments.

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The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles by Katherine Pancol

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

I've been eagerly awaiting this novel and have decided that everyone in my city needs to read it, and planned accordingly.  My manager has graciously allowed me to plant a table in our cashwrap line, pile this book on it, and sell the hell out of it.  

And it isn't hard to do, because it's a wonderful novel.  I loved it and can't wait to tell my book groups about it.  

This novel is about two young girls, decades apart, who share so much in common:  both have experienced tragedy in their lives; both are left to fend for themselves in a world that doesn't seem to care about them at all; both have been changed by their experiences and fight to keep their true selves alive and well through all of their heartbreak.

Molly is a teenager in the foster system who lives in a small Maine town. She's been in and out of many foster homes, and currently lives with a couple who don't get along with her at all.  She's a Penobscot Indian, and has lost her father to a car crash and her mother to a life of crime and drugs.  She's tough--her exterior Goth look hides someone who is very sensitive and just wants to find a safe place to land.  

Molly has to serve 50 hours of community service and with the help of her boyfriend, Jack, she meets Vivian, a 91 year old widow living in a large home in town.  Vivian has an attic full of trunks, boxes, and a lifetime of "stuff" and needs help cleaning it out.  Molly and Vivian meet, and a tentative bond is formed.

Vivian is a very interesting character, and so much like Molly--when she was a young girl heading West on an orphan train in 1929.  Vivian--actual name Niamh (pronounced Neev)n is an immigrant from Ireland who has lost her family to a fire in their apartment in New York City.  She finds herself on an orphan train with only the claddagh necklace her grandmother gave her to keep her memories of her family alive.  She literally has nothing, and is going to an unknown life.  Vivian's life is told from 1929 to 1943; memories are shared with Molly as they go through the attic--a mustard colored coat, a brown dress, letters from a soldier.  Vivian and Molly slowly begin to connect, as Molly realizes Vivian understands what it is like to be alone in the world, and how it affects a person's ability to be themselves.  Both keep so much inside; both learned to smile and nod, and not share themselves in order to protect themselves from hurt and disappointment.  

Molly and Vivian are great characters.  Your heart just aches for both of them and all they go through when they are so young.  The plight of the orphan train children  is a fascinating tale, and one that is uniquely American.  Orphan trains ran from 1864 to 1929 and sent over 200,000 children away from the East Coast and into the Midwest, to be adopted by families and have a new life.  While many did find happy homes, so many others were treated poorly, worked  like adult laborers, and often ran away.  So many had heartbreak and disappointment, and lost everything connecting them to their original families.  
This novel may very well propel you into reading all you can about the orphan trains.  

I so enjoyed this novel.  Christina Baker Kline wrote a novel that touches your heart while not being maudlin at all.  You find yourself eagerly reading about Vivian's journey. Molly's journey takes her away from anger and disappointment and into the belief that she can be what she wants to be; there are people out there who do care about her.  Her metamorphosis from feeling like a victim to becoming empowered in her decisions is a part of the novel that I so enjoyed--and she pulls Vivian along with her, too.  You are never too old to come to terms with the past and move to a place of acceptance, grace, and peace.  

This was a quick read--I finished it in a day or so  (in between work, exercise, and life!).  I think high school students should read this, as well as anyone in the foster care system.  Book clubs would also find this a great discussion novel.  I would also recommend reading Mercy Train by Rae Meadows if you haven't already!  

Rating:  8/10 for two great characters--Molly and Vivian.  Both have fascinating stories that will grab you and not let go until the last page.  And this book makes you think about who we are, and how our experiences shape us.  

Available in paperback and as an e-book.

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Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Anyone who read Between Shades of Gray in the last few years has eagerly been awaiting Ruta Sepetys' latest teen novel.  This woman is such a good writer and teller of stories that I predict she will continue to take the teen world by storm.  I hope she branches out into adult fiction sometime soon.  But don't let the "teen" in this novel scare you away.  

Josie Moraine lives in New Orleans in 1950.  She's 17, and her only family is Willie, a madam who owns a whorehouse and keeps an eye on Josie.  Josie's mother is absolutely horrid and cannot stand her daughter.  I mean she really hates her own child.  She's a drunk, a whore, and runs with the very wrong crowd.  She will steal from anyone and everyone--including her daughter.  Josie is smart, kind, and determined to go to college.  She just doesn't know how to do it.  Until she meets Charlotte, who comes into the bookshop Josie works at, and befriends Josie.  Charlotte goes to Smith College, and she encourages Josie to apply.  This begins Josie's quest to apply to Smith College--her way out of New Orleans and into a better life.  But the road is very bumpy, and she has many obstacles to overcome.  

What I most enjoyed about this novel was the cast of characters that surround Josie.  What she lacks in blood relations is made up by all of the people around her who love her, guide her, and take care of her:  Willie; Cokie, Willie's driver; Jesse, a young mechanic who has feelings for Josie; Patrick, a young man who's father owns the bookshop Josie work at; and Charlie--the owner of the bookshop who gives Josie a place to live on her own at age 12.  Even the prostitutes at Willie's love Josie and take care of her as best they can.  She needs all their help, as her mother is tangled up with gangsters and the murder of a rich gentleman from Tennessee.  Josie is involved in this murder also, but only because he visits the bookshop and buys books from her the day he dies.  There's so much more to the story than that, but I can't give anymore away!

I think Ruta Sepetys has a wonderful writing gift.  The characters are well drawn, Josie's world is easy to picture, and even though you want her path to be easy, it's not.  And that's the way life is--not always wonderful; full of obstacles, and sometimes lots of pain and disappointment.  It's also full of caring people, love, and hope. It's about looking for your path, and taking those steps even when it's tough and looks like you won't make it.  That's Josie's life.  You will quickly become absorbed in her story, and won't put this book down until the very last page.  

Rating:  9/10  I love Ruta Sepetys.  I love New Orleans.  I love this story.
Available in hardcover, and e-book.   

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Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan

Another book I stared at for a year before I succumbed and bought it on my Nook.  Now I've finally read it, and I'm a bit disappointed.

The basics of this novel are this:  The Empress Alexandra, a ship, suddenly sinks in the middle of the ocean, leaving most of the passengers dead with just a few in lifeboats.  Grace Winter is 22, newly married, and in a lifeboat with 37 other people.  A power struggle on the boat between Mr. Hardie--a crewman from the ship--and Mrs. Grant and Hannah, two of the women on the lifeboat, takes an ugly turn as days go by with no rescue appearing on the horizon.  Grace, Mrs. Grant, and Hannah begin this book on trial for their lives.  On trial for what, you may ask?  

You have to read the book to find out.  But it's not too hard to figure out what will happen.  There are 38 people in a lifeboat, very little food or water, and the lifeboat is taking on water.  This story is a prime example of those themes we learned about in literature class our freshmen year of high school:  man vs. nature, man vs. self, man vs. man.  They are all swirling about in this novel.  What would you do if you were in this situation?  Are you one of the weak, or one of the strong?  Are you a leader or a follower?  Are you strong enough to sacrifice yourself to save others, or is it cowardly to want to survive at all costs and let others die?   

Grace is an interesting character, and we see the whole story through her eyes.  She's someone you can examine from many different angles, but never get quite a grip on who she is:  a helpless victim, a strong survivor, or someone who goes with whatever happens.  She leaves many questions unanswered.  

I did enjoy the book, but not immensely.  I was not surprised by any of what happened.  Maybe I've read too many "stuck in a life and death situation" books to have been surprised or amazed by what these characters did or did not do to survive.  World War I had just started; this novel puts all those issues into a little lifeboat and stirs the pot.  It's safe to say that there will always be those who sacrifice, those who lead, and those who will sit by and do nothing.  

This is certainly a book that will invite much discussion at a book club or even a classroom.  I guess I was underwhelmed by it all, but I can certainly see others being compelled to discuss the plot and characters.  I'm glad I read it, if anything because it made me think about what I think I would do in this situation.  I really don't know--would I be a sheep, or a leader?  Would I jump over the side and put myself out of misery, or fight til the end?  

Rating:  6/10.  Grace is one of many characters that you will want to discuss with others; I found the plot to be predictable and wasn't surprised by the actions of the lifeboat people.

Available in hardcover, paperback, and as an e-book.

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The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan

Getting Over Mr. Right by Chrissie Manby

I needed a break from reading historical fiction and ghost novels, so I found Getting Over Mr. Right by Chrissie Manby on my Nook and quickly began reading it.  

Ashleigh is a 32 year old single woman living in London and working at an ad agency.  She's been through the dating scene and is pretty much convinced she'll never meet Mr. Right.  Until she meets Michael, a slightly shabby accountant who just may be Mr. Right.

Fast forward two years, and Michael has been promoted, bought a shiny new flat and car, and dresses a lot better.  He's also dumped Ashleigh on Facebook--and horrors--defriended her.  

Ashleigh goes off the deep end and the majority of this novel is about her determination to win Michael back from his new girlfriend.  Ashleigh quite frankly loses her mind!  We've all had heartbreak, and yes, it does take a while to move through it.  Ashleigh embraces it with a death grip and doesn't let go--stalking Michael, missing work, dying her hair brown to match his girlfriend's and ultimately alienating friends and family with her crazy shit.  It's funny and not so funny.  It gets old.  I found myself shouting at her to get it together!!  Arrgh!

I will say Ashleigh does have a  great supporting cast of characters around her, and the story does take a nice turn--until the last few pages, where I was again stamping my foot and swearing at Ashleigh.  Yes.  Swearing at a make believe character.  The crazy had spread.  It reminded me of the movie Bridesmaids, and how the main character has to sink so low before she rises again.  Ashleigh sinks pretty darn low.

I'll give this one a 2/5.  It wasn't a horrible novel and was entertaining for the most part when she was doing something other than obsessing.  I didn't like Ashleigh's obsession, her inability to listen to anyone at all, and her blatant disregard for the rest of her life and what she was doing to ruin it.  I guess I'm just old enough to look at this and realize it's not so funny to be so broken hearted over a loser that you have to rebuild yourself from the ground up.  It also reminded me of Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic novels.  I just couldn't wrap my brain around those, either.  

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Getting Over Mr. Right by Chrissie Manby

Winter Bloom--A Garden in Dublin

I received an ARC of this novel and was eager to read it.  Winter Bloom by Tara Heavey is a novel about a walled garden in Dublin that brings five people together, each of whom has a troubled past.  There's Eva, who has lost her husband and daughter to a car accident, leaving her to raise her small son Liam on her own; Mrs. Prendergast, the owner of the garden, who's cool demeanor covers a soul that's been bruised and battered; Emily, a young woman who has had to make a heart wrenching decision, and Seth and Uri, a son and his father who are finding their way through a rocky patch.

The garden brings them all together, as they set about turning a badly beraggled garden back into the beauty it once was, years ago.  Through the year, the reader learns each character's back story, and how they are moving forward in their lives.  The end is delightful, and just what you would hope for as a reader.

If you're a fan of Emily Giffin, Donna Ball, Kristin Hannah, or Karen White, pick this one up.  The garden lore and facts are always interesting, even if you don't have a gardening background.  This book may very well push you towards planning a garden for next spring.

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Winter Bloom--A Garden in Dublin