Category Archives: book review

Madam Tulip and the Knave of Hearts by David Ahern

I’m so grateful that I was once reeled in by a cute frog on the cover of a book. That book, Madam Tulip, introduced me to Derry O’Donnell and her accompanying, charmingly over the top, literary comrades.

David Ahern’s newest book cover isn’t as cute…

… but that’s alright because I loved it even more!

Would I recommend it? Yes! This is the new series I’m recommending to anyone who loves a humorous mystery! It made me giggle (so many times) and almost gag (there’s an eyeball…) and had me on the edge of my seat (Well, that’s just a lie on my part. I was reading in bed. But it did have me refusing to put the book down and go to bed at a reasonable time) all at once. A perfect fun, quick read!

Rosie's Book Review team 1

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I discovered this book because I’m a proud member of Rosie’s Book Review Team!

Life in the Floating City by AR Neal

Do you ever take on a project and then wonder what you were thinking?

Me? Read and review a book inspired by a music album?

Me? Read a book where each chapter corresponds to a song of the album?

I am really not a music person.

But… I am totally alright with futuristic worlds and interstellar travel and (this may come as a shock) I really like books.

So, I offered to read it and…

…holy man the people in this book!

They are conniving and loving and crazy! They have secrets and plans and sometimes they get lucky and sometimes they don’t.

And…Wow!

But, people are always going to be – people. Just like the first chapter says, “No matter where the sun, there’s nothing new under it.”

It doesn’t matter if you’re a music lover or an interstellar space lover because, above and beyond all that, this is a book about people and the rest is just a minor back drop to the drama of their lives. But let me warn you, there is a lot of drama in these lives. I was taken aback by the twists more than once!

Would I recommend it? I would particularly recommend it to someone who loves music. You see I tried to listen to the album… but, and this pains me to admit, I got bored and I couldn’t focus and didn’t really listen to any of it. And so, while I found the information at the end of the book about the album and the inspiration it gave the author really interesting, I’m curious how someone who actually has the ability to pay attention to a whole song would feel about the book. Though I would caution that the novel flows more like a collection of short stories that tell a larger picture. Just remember I’m living proof that you don’t need to listen to the music to enjoy this crazy drama.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ivory and Gold by Jerry Johnson

This is one of those books where the good ole boy Nebraska deer hunters get transported back in time and space to early 1900’s Africa.

 

Yeah… I’ve never read anything like it either and it does sounds a little crazy.

Okay, it might actually be a little crazy, but give it a chance!

Jerry writes with the eyes of a man who appreciates the detail of the natural world.  He can bring both the Nebraska sandhills and the African plain to life like only one who’s loved and lived in the outdoors his whole life can. And, it seems, that he has heard enough hunters talking smart and telling yarns that his characters can banter and trash talk with the best of them, as they make their way through all the terrible and wonderful things the Athi Plain (not to mention that smugglers’ caravan they ran into) can throw at them.  Even if they are just a couple of modern day rednecks.

Would I recommend it? Ivory and Gold was one of those books that I couldn’t help but smile as I read it. I smile when I tell someone about it and re-reading bits as I write this has me grinning all over again. I smiled for the characters and for the African time in history, and I bet, if you don’t mind a little space-time travel and love a good hunting yarn, you will too!

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson and September Book at the Door Winner

And the winner of September’s book and first line art is…I won a Book at the Door with Behind the Willows

…Amy from Photography Journal Blog!

Book Bee and I are getting ready to head to the post office to ship this book and fun artwork from Dan of straydogstrut.co.uk off to Amy.

While we do that you should go find yourselves a copy of the book too. It’s one of those books that when I see it and point it out I can’t articulate much more than an, “Ooooo. Yeah. Read that!”  Then once it’s in your hands get ready because, as I said back when I first read the book, this isn’t a casual beach read – you are going to need to pay attention to this one.

And it’s going to be worth it…

Get ready to pay attention!

Because as the main character relives her life over and over again you’ll want to remember who’s who, what was what and when things happened the last times around.

Would I recommend it? Yes, this is a book worth paying attention to!

Book at the Door winner was chosen using a random number generator from http://www.random.org 

Artists of all kinds (Yes, you photographers and you who says you can’t draw and you who just wants to practice hand lettering and you who is selling paintings online and…all of you!) if you are interested in providing a small piece of work that includes a first sentence I would love to hear from you!  

Authors, have I read your book and tagged it as a recommended read? Would you like to donate a hard copy? Let me know! 

The Elizabeth Papers by Jenetta James

“Finis.”

I read the last line, sighed happily and mentally hugged the digital book to my heart (It’s a true downfall of e-readers, they just don’t snuggle like paper does).

This novel flipped between excerpts from Mrs. Darcy’s diary (yes, that Pride and Prejudice Mrs. Darcy) and the 2014 hunt for the lost diary. On the surface that sounds like it could be, well, boring.

It wasn’t.

The chapters switched between time frames in a way that I was never lost in one time yearning for another. I loved the romance, (of the happy sighing kind) and the hard to put down suspense of it all (I know, lost document suspense, believe it!). My only regret is that e-readers just don’t accept hugs like paperbacks do.

Would I recommend it? I have already told everyone who’s been willing to sit and listen that they should read this and you should too! If you’ve ever shown even a passing interest in Pride and Prejudice, historical fiction, sweet romance, contemporary drama or detective stories, try this book! I absolutely loved it and have moved the authors other book to the top of my “to be read” list!

Rosie's Book Review team 1

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I discovered this book because I’m a proud member of Rosie’s Book Review Team!

The Pickpocket by Celine Jeanjean

Perhaps you’ve read The Bloodless Assassin or The Black Orchid (I know I told you should!). If you have, you’ll already know the main character Rory. But if you haven’t, this truly is (and believe me I’m picky about such things) a stand alone novella about Rory’s life as a young street urchin.

If you’ve read the others in this series you’ll get treated to flashes of insight into what makes Rory tick and fun glimpses of supporting characters as they were years before we really “meet” them.

If you are a new reader you’ll be presented with a page turning story (I read it in one sitting) of a hungry street urchin turned pickpocket. Complete with loss, hard times, friendships and the character depth and growth I’m beginning to happily expect from Celine Jeanjean’s writing. And, you’ll be introduced to the city of Damsport. A city that comes with such depth and detail it gives all of the books an unbelievably firm sense of place and seems to be a character in it’s own right.

Would I recommend it? Was it not yet obvious? Yes! If you haven’t been sure The Viper and Urchin is the right series for you, try this one first! It’s short, it’s minimally steampunk-y (in case that scares you off) and it’s an all around great read. Just don’t yell at me when you are downloading the rest of the series onto your e-reader in the middle of the night!

September’s Book at the Door giveaway is still open! Don’t forget to put your name in the hat for the chance to win a paperback book and first line artwork! Book at the Door: September Giveaway

The Sports Gene by David Epstein

Fair warning, it’s happened again.

I read a book that I found so interesting I can’t help but randomly throw it into conversations. Luckily for me, with the Olympics coming up, I have plenty of opportunity to chime in with random tidbits of information.

The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance

It just sounds fascinating doesn’t it?

No?

Okay…

Even if you aren’t like me, someone whose life long athleticism and latent biology background get all tingly at the title of this book, I still urge you to try it.

Then, when the Olympics are on, you can say things like, “Ahh, I knew he was a swimmer, that long torso just gave it away.”and “Did you know it’s not about height of basketball players as much as how far they can reach?”  Then once you’ve hooked people you can expound on double muscle genes in Belgian Blue Cattle and why the runners from Kenya are again sweeping the podium.

Would I recommend it? Yes. It’s time for the Olympics! Get in the spirit of things! (And it should be noted that even the person in my book club who admitted to having very low expectations of this book, said she was happily surprised with how much she enjoyed it.)

 

Sack Nasty by Ra Avis and July Book at the Door Winner

And the winner is…I won a Book at the Door with Behind the Willows

… A Mouse!

She correctly identified this month’s book as Sack Nasty by Ra Avis and will have a copy of the book and the first line art mailed to her. What a lucky mouse!

As a Book at the Door feature I, of course, recommend you read this book too.  And, as always, I believe you can use the first line to get a feel for what’s in store for you.

"They say she is property."

“They say she is property.”

“They say she is property.” starts this compilation of poems.

That’s not just any run of the mill first line. That’s a sentence that demands your attention. That’s the kind of beginning that can give a person chills. Those are the kind of words that once they have your attention may not be kind to you. And that’s the kind of thought that betrays a glimmer of hope hiding behind it.

Which is all exactly what you should expect when reading these stories from the author’s time in prison.

Attention grabbing, powerful poems that wring your heart, make you consider things that you, perhaps, wish not to, and show some of the darkest sides of human nature right along side the light. And that is why, when asked…

…Would I recommend it? The answer is – Yes.

Once you have read these poems, or perhaps even before, check out The Women’s Prison Book Project because, sometimes, there are little things we can do to make a difference.

The Book at the Door winner was chosen using a random number generator from http://www.random.org 

Artists of all kinds (Yes, you photographers and you who says you can’t draw and you who just wants to practice hand lettering and you who is selling paintings online and…all of you!) if you are interested in providing a small piece of work that includes a first sentence I would love to hear from you!  

Authors, have I read your book and tagged it as a recommended read? Would you like to donate a hard copy? Let me know! 

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen and Book At The Door Winner

The June winner of the Book at the Door giveaway is…

I won a Book at the Door with Behind the Willows

 

Phrogmom! 

Phrogmom will get this book sent in the mail to her…

… as well as this artwork containing the first sentence of Garden Spells created for us by Mr. Tookles!

"Every smiley moon, without fail, Claire dreamed of her childhood."

“Every smiley moon, without fail, Claire dreamed of her childhood.”

Congratulations Phrogmom and thanks again Mr. Tookles!

This is an older book but I read it for the first time in September when I posted this review. I still love it, I still tell people about it and I still think you all should read it!

I fell in love with this book.

I had grand plans for a review that would talk about magic and fantasy and why you shouldn’t flinch from a book that includes either one. I was going to link to an awesome post (Thoughts on Pratchett) and it was going to be epic and amazing.

But then, instead of sitting down and writing all that, I spent my time telling people about it. Solicited and unsolicited, at family gatherings and in e-mails at foolish times of the night I told everyone the same thing.

There is magic in this book, but just the perfect amount. The amount that brings extra vividness to a story about family. It’s beautiful writing and you’ve got to read it.

And, really, that’s all that needs to be said.

Would I recommend it? Yes! And then I’d recommend First Frost and The Sugar Queen and all the rest of her books! (But Garden Spells and it’s sequel First Frost are still my favorite.)

Book at the Door winner was chosen using a random number generator from http://www.random.org 

Artists of all kinds (Yes, you photographers and you who says you can’t draw and you who just wants to practice hand lettering and you who is selling paintings online and…all of you!) if you are interested in providing a small piece of work that includes a first sentence I would love to hear from you!  

Authors, have I read your book and tagged it as a recommended read? Would you like to donate a hard copy? Let me know! 

 

Monkfish Maggie and the Bungalow Stairs by CatchphraseDan and Berg Norcross

Me: “… The End.”

Clara (6): “Can you read it again?”

I read this aloud to all three of my girls: ages 9, 6 and 4. The lack of princesses and other glittery creatures meant the four year old was only listening so she could put off bedtime. My nine year old was convinced it was too scary, but in the words of my six year old, “It’s not scary, it’s exciting!” It was also funny (at least I thought it was funny) and I’m pretty sure my nine year old would have thought it was funny but she was too busy avoiding us in case it was scary and then demanding a run down of everything that happened because she really wanted to know even though she couldn’t quite admit that she really wanted to know. (Insert eye rolling mother and indignant child noises here.)

Would Ivy (9) recommend it? “I would recommend it because I think it’s like an imaginary story and people who like fiction and magic would like it.”  (Ha! I knew she liked it!)

Would Clara (6) recommend it? “Yes, I already tried to tell my friend about it… because it’s really funny!”

Would Jane (4) recommend it? “No. Cause I think it’s too boring.” (Sorry guys, you needed more sparkle to get this little girl’s attention!)

Would I recommend it? I would! All my girls listened to the story, even if some were more spell bound than others, and I loved the humor. Lines like, “Before you ask, a dictionary is a large dusty book that people kept around before the internet was invented” made me giggle louder than my kids.

Rosie's Book Review team 1

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I discovered this book because I’m a proud member of Rosie’s Book Review Team!