Fire Season: My Journey From Ruin to Redemption by Hollye Dexter

I received a complimentary book to help me write an honest review. I am participating in this  BookSparks' TRUTH OR DARE Blog Tour, reviews contain my own affiliate links for the books being read and discussed. #BookSparks

And finishing up the BookSparks TRUTH or DARE book tour is Hollye Dexter's Fire Season.

Awakened by her husband’s yells of panic, Hollye Dexter woke to her family’s home set ablaze and her toddler son asleep next to her. With little time to act, Hollye had no choice but to drop her son out of the second story window in order to save his life. Over the course of the next few years, Hollye spiraled into depression, unable to let go of the horrific fire that destroyed everything including all five of her family’s pets. This book tells the true story of a mother who must take back her own sanity and defeat her anxiety to keep her family in tact.

“Hollye Dexter’s book made me cry and laugh—sometimes all within one paragraph. She tells her story with power and punch, and a truth that is unsettling and astonishing and ultimately uplifting. There isn't a soul who can't relate to her memoir. It is filled with revelations, humanity, poignancy, balls-out courage, and humor. She is a role model extraordinaire.” —Amy Ferris author of Marrying George Clooney

My Review

Wow! Such a story to tell. During the first part of the book I remember having to remind myself to breathe. The fire was just such a horrifying experience to read about and the author painted such a vivid picture of that night. As a mother of young children, it was all too real for me and was like reading my own worst nightmare. But the fire was not the only obstacle Hollye and her family had to endure. Throughout the book I felt very thankful for events in my own life.

I am impressed with the courage it takes to write a memoir that is so brutally honest. It would be much easier to try to forget about the struggles and hard times, but Hollye Dexter laid it all out there and showed us the strength of the human spirit.

This is a great way to finish out summer reading because everyone loves a book where the family succeeds despite the odds being stacked against them.

The S Word, a Memoir by Paolina Milana

I received a complimentary book to help me write an honest review. I am participating in this  BookSparks' TRUTH OR DARE Blog Tour, reviews contain my own affiliate links for the books being read and discussed. #BookSparks

Continuing on this month I have another memoir to share from the BookSparks Truth and Dare Tour. This book has been described as a "gut punch" and begs for you to contemplate the meaning behind the word "S". The cover forshadows many different ideas within the book, but for me it came down to two little "s" words, Secrets and Survival.

The S Word, a Memoir by Paolina Milana

Some secrets are too big to keep.

As a young girl, Paolina does her best to keep the secrets she holds: secrets about her Mamma's schizophrenia, secrets about her sexual awakening, secrets about her seduction-turned-rape; secrets about having to play the role of the good Sicilian Catholic girl. But the longers she keeps her secrets, the heavier their weight becomes, suffocating her - until, finally, she finds the strength to save herself.

My Review

I have to admit this was a heavy read for me. I think all families have secrets, but this girl had to endure the burden of more than her share. My heart broke for her and the compassion and help that was missing from her life.

I kept reading till the end because I wanted Paolina to be saved or to break free of her bad situations. I did not want her to end up like the characters around her, all of them seemed just a little twisted and empty. The highlight were the memories and moments with her Papa, but even he was not able to change things for her. The author was so honest with her recollections of her Mamma and the challenges the family faced. But, I could still tell that Paolina loved her family deeply and the sense of loyalty and unconditional love lead her to keep her secrets and protect those around her.

Though I don't want to spoil the journey that Paolina Milana takes her readers on, I have to say that in the end the word that comes to mind is, Survivor. This is not a book I will easily forget, but an emotional journey with real grit and brutal honesty.

The Witch of Bourbon Street by Suzanne Palmieri #SRC2015

I received a complimentary book to help me write an honest review. I am participating in this year's BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge for the fun of it, reviews contain my own affiliate links for the books being read and discussed. #SRC2015

This week we are getting jazzy in New Orleans!

Another week, another great destination for our #SRC2015 reading journey. Remember, you can follow along and join in on the fun on BookSparks Facebook page or follow along with their FB Event Page.

True magic is born from sorrow...

Situated deep in the Louisiana bayou is the formerly opulent Sorrow Estate. Once home to a magical family - the Sorrows - it now sits in ruins, ever since a series of murders in 1902 shocked the entire community. Now the ghosts of girls in white dresses shift in and out of view, stuck in time as they live out the past on repeat. 

When Frances Green Sorrow is born carrying the "signs" of the so-called chosen one, it is believed she will bring her family back from the brink of obscurity, finally resurrecting the glory of what it once was and setting the Sorrows ghosts free. 

But Frances is no savior. 

Fleeing from heartbreak, she seeks solace in the seductive chaos of New Orleans, only to end up married too young in an attempt to live an ordinary life. When her marriage falls apart shortly after having a son, she returns home again - alone - just out of reach from the prying eyes of her family. But when her son disappears, she is forced to rejoin the world she left behind, exposing her darkest secret in order to find him and discovering the truth of what really happened that fateful year in the process. 

Set amidst the colorful charm of The French Quarter and remote bayous of Tivoli Parish, Louisiana, Suzanne Palmieri's The Witch of Bourbon Street is a story of family, redemption, and forgiveness. Because sometimes, the most important person you have to forgive....is yourself.

My Review

Last year I had the pleasure of being introduced to author Suzanne Palmieri through the #SRC2014 selection, The Witch of Belladonna Bay. It was a lovely and haunting story. Really the sort of read I love to sink my teeth into over the summer. So, I was thrilled that another of Palmieri's "Witch" novels was on this year's BookSparks' line-up.

Palmieri's writing is in the same hauntingly beautiful and tragic style. She is a master with imagery and beautiful scene setting. Great characters, real and flawed, perfect for exploring the ideas of redemption and family. We all have flawed families, but family just the same.

I really love the characters that this author creates. They have "shine", but that isn't always helpful. They struggle to navigate fate, love, family and life like everyone else. They just feel more deeply and we are invited along to see their emotional scars and their personal journey through pain and awakening.

The Witch of Bourbon Street is a book that will transport you to both the French Quarter and the bayous of Louisiana, uncovering all the secrets of the Sorrow family, while appreciating all you have in your own life. This book won't let you go until that last page...

The Road Home by Kathleen Shoop #SRC2015

I received a complimentary book to help me write an honest review. I am participating in this year's BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge for the fun of it, reviews contain my own affiliate links for the books being read and discussed. #SRC2015

Another week, another great destination for our #SRC2015 reading journey. Remember, you can follow along and join in on the fun on BookSparks Facebook page or follow along with their FB Event Page.

 This stop lets us meander through Des Moines, Iowa:

The long-awaited sequel to award-winning, bestselling author Kathleen Shoop’s The Last Letter 

1891 - Living separately for three years, fourteen-year-old twins, Katherine and Tommy Arthur, have done their best to make each boarding house feel like home. But unrest grows as they are driven to questionable actions just to survive. Meanwhile their desperate mother is confronted with breaking yet another promise to her children. Then a miracle descends. Hope rises on a cold, rainy night and changes everything. If Jeanie could just get word to Katherine and Tommy, she knows she can set their lives right again. Agitators, angels, and dangerous saviors illuminate the Arthurs' unmatched determination and smarts. 

1905 - Though she tries to forget the awful years that hurt so much, the memories still haunt Katherine. Now, tearful mourners at her mother’s funeral force her to revisit a time in her life that both harmed and saved her in the most unexpected ways. Tommy grieves his mother’s passing as well. He too is thrust backward, compelled to rediscover the events in his life that shaped the man he has become. Will he commit to reconstructing his broken life? The Arthurs' come to understand that forgiveness is the only way back to hope, the only way to find all that was good in the misfortune that transformed their lives forever.

My Review

Sadly, I didn't have a chance to read the first book before diving right into The Road Home. But, luckily, the story and Kathleen Shoop's writing was still captivating. Despite the nearly 500 pages, the book will keep you hooked throughout. Don't worry, all those pages are well used and masterfully written.

I am a huge fan of historical fiction and strong, dynamic characters and this book delivered on both of those. Going back and forth between 1891 and 1905 there is so much going on, so many emotions, complex character interactions and just enough tragedy and triumpth that you can't help but fall in love with Kathleen Shoop's writing and the characters she has created.

Grab your copy:
The Road Home - Amazon Affiliate Link

A Different Kind of Same, a memoir by Kelley Clink - TRUTH OR DARE Blog Tour

I received a complimentary book to help me write an honest review. I am participating in this  BookSparks' TRUTH OR DARE Blog Tour, reviews contain my own affiliate links for the books being read and discussed. #BookSparks

This month, I have a few more reads to add on top of the #SRC2015  Summer Reading Challenge with BookSparks. Over the next three weeks, I will be sharing 3 stunning debut memoirs full of incredible true stories that include secrets, hard truths and heart-pounding true stories. Huffington Post, Woman’s Day, and PopSugar all give these rave reviews and I think we all want to slip in a few more great reads before summer is over.

A Different Kind of Same - a memoir by Kelley Clink

Kelley Clink’s brother Matt was diagnosed with bipolar disorder as a teenager and had once attempted suicide but failed. Kelley was diagnosed with depression at a young age and had once attempted suicide but also failed. Two weeks before his college graduation, Matt attempted suicide again and this time he succeeded. This book traces Kelley’s journey through grief, her investigation into the role her own depression played in her brother’s death, and, ultimately, her path toward acceptance, forgiveness, resilience, and love.

“Kelley Clink laces suicide and mental illness with one of life's most important ingredients: hope. You need to read this book. It will change you.”— Gillian Marchenko, author of Sun Shine Down: A Memoir

My Review:

I am a huge fan of autobiographies and memoirs and this brave memoir from Kelley Clink is right up there with the best. Exploring a painful topic of mental illness, suicide and loss, it also tackles the complicated relationship between a brother and sister suffering in their own ways from the demons in their genes.

I appreciated the honesty with which the author shared her feelings, memories and journey of grief following her brother's suicide. It was a rare glimpse into the painful realities of living with depression and bipolar disorder. Kelly Clink could not only share how it felt when she was lost in her own depression, but how easy it was for her to miss the symptoms of her brother's problems.

Through the memoir, the author explored her own feelings of guilt and loss. It was a painful journey for those her brother left behind, and author Kelley Clink shared a raw and vulnerable side of herself in this journey.

Heavy subject matter, I wasn't left feeling overwhelmed. Instead I was left with hope and a feeling of awe for the amazing person that emerged on the other side of grief and understanding. Masterfully written, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a meaningful and though-proving read this summer.

Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave #SRC2015

I received a complimentary book to help me write an honest review. I am participating in this year's BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge for the fun of it, reviews contain my own affiliate links for the books being read and discussed. #SRC2015

Another week, another great destination for our #SRC2015 reading journey. Remember, you can follow along and join in on the fun on BookSparks Facebook page or follow along with their FB Event Page.

 This stop takes us to Sonoma wine country and a look into love and family with:

There are secrets you share, and secrets you hide....

Growing up on her family’s Sonoma vineyard, Georgia Ford learned some important secrets. The secret number of grapes it takes to make a bottle of wine: eight hundred. The secret ingredient in her mother’s lasagna: chocolate. The secret behind ending a fight: hold hands.

But just a week before her wedding, thirty-year-old Georgia discovers her beloved fiancé has been keeping a secret so explosive, it will change their lives forever.

Georgia does what she’s always done: she returns to the family vineyard, expecting the comfort of her long-married parents, and her brothers, and everything familiar. But it turns out her fiancé is not the only one who’s been keeping secrets….

Eight Hundred Grapes is a story about the messy realities of family, the strength (and weaknesses) of romantic love, and the importance of finding a place to call home.

My Review

A beautiful portrait of the struggles without the perfectly imperfect family. I loved how author, Laura Dave, introduced flashbacks of parents Dave and Jen and the choices... perfect or imperfect, that they made along the way as we follow Georgia and her siblings through the current decisions they must make. I love how even the idyllic setting of a vineyard in Sonoma wine country came with it's own struggles.

My favorite scene in the book, by far, was the first meeting of Georgia and Jacob. Talk about humorous, off the wall and beautifully written!

This is a book about have-to-haves and the journey it takes us to realize what that is for each of us.

I whole-heartily recommend this book for your Summer reading list. And reading it along with a good glass of wine is highly recommended!

Laura Dave is the author of the critically acclaimed novels The First Husband, The Divorce Party and London Is The Best City In America. Her novels have been published in fifteen countries, and three of her novels, including Eight Hundred Grapes, have been optioned as major motion pictures. She resides in Santa Monica, California.

Connect

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The Balance Project by Susie Orman Schnall - #SRC2015

I received a complimentary book to help me write an honest review. I am participating in this year's BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge for the fun of it, reviews contain my own affiliate links for the books being read and discussed. #SRC2015

It's my 3rd book along this Summer Reading Challenge journey with BookSparks. This leg of the trip was especially enjoyable. I think this is a book many woman will be especially interested in checking out.

Remember, you can follow along and join in on the fun on BookSparks Facebook page or follow along with their FB Event Page.

Having it all isn't everything

The Balance Project is a story of loyalty, choices, and balance that will resonate deeply with all women who struggle with this hot-button issue. 

Loyal assistant Lucy Cooper works for Katherine Whitney, who seems to have it all: a high-powered job at a multibillion-dollar health and wellness lifestyle company, a successful husband, and two adorable daughters. Now, with the release of her book on work-life balance, Katherine has become a media darling and a hero to working women everywhere. In reality, though, Katherine’s life is starting to fall apart, and Lucy is the one holding it all together, causing her own life―and relationship with her boyfriend Nick―to suffer. When Katherine does something unthinkable to Lucy, Lucy must decide whether to change Katherine’s life forever or continue being her main champion. Her choice will affect the trajectory of both of their lives and lead to opportunities neither one could have imagined.

My Review

Such a great topic to explore from the point of view of someone helping the "balanced" keep it all together. An assistant was the perfect viewpoint to take for this story.

I have to admit there were a few times I wanted to scream at the pages and tell Lucy to get it together and ditch it all, but the truth is if I was faced with job pressures and loyalty as the main character was, I might find it hard to walk away, too. There is an amazing clarity that comes from reading about the pitfalls of wanting to have "it all", that cannot be understood when one is in the thick of keeping commitments and appearances.

The author, Susie Orman Schnall did a great job of creating characters that were easy to fall in love with. Nick the boyfriend, a truly great guy, the perfect boss Katherine? Real, flawed but compassionate. And even the characters we weren't supposed to like, Maggie? Well, they were all real characters with multiple sides and motivations. I am not sure there were any "bad" characters in the book.

Balance is something very relevant to me as a working Mom. In the end, this book gave me a quick laugh, a fabulous literary get-away, but left me thinking about the balance in my own life long after the characters rode off into the sunset. 

Definitely a Summer read worth adding to the TBR pile!

Wishful Thinking by Kamy Wiscoff - #SRC2015

I received a complimentary book to help me write an honest review. I am participating in this year's BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge for the fun of it, reviews contain my own affiliate links for the books being read and discussed. #SRC2015

So excited for the 2nd week of the  BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge. This past week I read Wishful Thinking by Kamy Wiscoff. It was the perfect book to devour over the long holiday weekend.


This year's books have been arriving all wrapped and ready to be enjoyed. Isn't this cute? You can follow along with the fun on Instagram and Twitter by following #SRC2015. I just had to share because this makes it so fun. Don't forget you can follow along and join in on the fun on BookSparks Facebook page or follow along with their FB Event Page.

Jennifer Sharpe is a divorced mother of two with a problem just about any working parent can relate to: her boss expects her to work as though she doesn't have children, and her children want her to care for them as though she doesn't have a boss. But when, through a fateful coincidence, a brilliant physicist comes into possession of Jennifer’s phone and decides to play fairy godmother, installing a miraculous time-travel app called Wishful Thinking, Jennifer suddenly finds herself in possession of what seems like the answer to the impossible dream of having it all: an app that lets her be in more than one place at the same time. With the app, Jennifer goes quickly from zero to hero in every part of her life: she is super-worker, the last to leave her office every night; she is super-mom, the first to arrive at pickup every afternoon; and she even becomes super-girlfriend, dating a musician who thinks she has unlimited childcare and a flexible job. But Jennifer soon finds herself facing questions that adding more hours to her day can’t answer. Why does she feel busier and more harried than ever? Is she aging faster than everyone around her? How can she be a good worker, mother, and partner when she can’t be honest with anybody in her life? And most important, when choosing to be with your children, at work, or with your partner doesn't involve sacrifice, do those choices lose their meaning? Wishful Thinking is a modern-day fairy tale in which one woman learns to overcome the challenges—and appreciate the joys—of living life in real time.

My Review

I think every busy Mom, working Mom, stressed Mom has had moments when they fantasize about being able to do it all or having endless hours in the day. Kamy Wicoff''s novel, Wishful Thinking, is a humorous but thought provoking look at the great "what if". In our daily lives we joke about having an app for everything, but what if there really was?

I loved the chance to see how "having it all" in our current society might play out. The author did a great job of exploring the topic while also showing how we make choices that shape our lives. The stress of parenthood, the time required to be on committees as well as the pressure we place on ourselves to be superhuman....are all things Jennifer faces and things that I could identify with.

Great writing, great characters and a fascinating exploration of a dream I think we have all had at some point.


So what do you think? I hope you will add Wishful Thinking to your Summer reading list. Now, stay tuned, next week I will be giving your my review of The Balance Project by Susie Orman Schnall.

The Grown Ups by Robin Antalek - #SRC2015

I received a complimentary book to help me write an honest review. I am participating in this year's BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge for the fun of it, reviews contain my own affiliate links for the books being read and discussed. #SRC2015

I am so excited to join in the BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge again this year (#SRC2015 if you want to follow along). I have to say the line up of books (all 17) sound very exciting! Don't worry, there is still plenty of time to get involved and start reading along. Check out the Facebook Events page for more information on what books will be on the travel itinerary this season.

This year is being hosted by Jane Green and there are some great prizes you can win along the way... but, let's face it, good books and good company are their own rewards, right?

I am kicking off this reading challenge with a great book, The Grown Ups by Robin Antalek.

For a few secret months, 15-year-old Sam enjoys the unexpected attention of Suzie. However, at the end of the summer, Sam’s world unexpectedly shatters when Suzie moves away. Watching her parents’ marital troubles escalate, Suzie takes on the responsibility of raising her two younger brothers and plans an early escape to college. Suzie misses Sam and her closest friend, Bella. It is not until years later that a chance meeting with Sam’s older brother reunites the trio, causing Suzie to confront her past, as well as her friends.

My Review

The Grown Ups is a great Summer read that follows along with 3 childhood friends. The author, Robin Antalek, has such a great mastery of storytelling and it starts right off with a great ice breaker,

It was the summer all the children in the neighborhood caught a virus.

That first chapter was filled with so much vivid detail and humor that I was quickly hooked into the story and into the neighborhood that bound the 3 characters, long after they moved away.

This story drew me in with these dynamic characters, teenagers who struggled to grow up in the midst of parental problems, their own life choices along the way and the constant struggles that life throws at them. This was such a beautiful portrayal (though sometimes in the ugliest way) of the fears and struggles faced while growing up and finding one's place in the world.




Stay tuned for another book destination next week! I will be diving right into Wishful Thinking by Kamy Wicoff.

Have you read The Grown Ups? What did you think of the story?

Gravel on the side of the Road, by Kris Radish Review

I received review copies from BookSparks in order to write my book review posts for the 2014 Summer Reading Challenge. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links. #SRC2014

Yes, this gem fell out of my Summer reading. But, honestly this is a great book to read this Fall... or anytime of year!

A woman who worries about carrying a .38 special in her purse, nearly drowns in a desert canyon, flies into the war in Bosnia, dances with the FBI, tells Geraldo he shouldn't put guests in hotel rooms with rats and spends time with murderers, has more than a few stories to tell. Gravel on the Side of the Road-True Stories From a Broad Who Has Been There is a daring and revealing adventure itself. Beloved novelist Kris Radish returns to her non-fiction beginnings with her first book of autobiographical essays. Her writing career has spanned four decades and has included award-winning newspaper work, magazine features, a national syndicated column, eleven books and enough stories and adventures to fill up many more. Radish s talent for telling it like it is, sharing the wit and wisdom of a life lived mostly on her own terms and her keen sense of humor are highlighted in these stories some of them previously published, all of them offering a glimpse into worlds many never dare to enter. Kris is definitely a broad who has been there.

Grab your copy on Amazon.com

My Opinion

I think everyone is a sum of all those crazy, exciting and memorable moments in our lives. A good storyteller will be able to recount those times with vivid imagery and brutal honesty. Kris Radish delivered on both accounts. Having a life brimming full of memorable moments she decided to share them with her readers. I applaud her bravery for sharing her autobiographical essays.

What I liked most about this book was that it was easy to grab for a quick read here are there. Don't get me wrong, if you want to knock this out in one afternoon you could, but as a busy Mom building up my own portfolio of memorable moments I enjoyed the bite-sized stories and experiences. It was like seeing a tiny glimpse into the woman and author that Kris Radish is today.

And there is enough in this book to keep you laughing out loud and then chuckling to yourself for weeks! 

I love how her experiences made me think about how I would handle a similar situation. What if I was a night guard at a remote cabin when "Jesus" showed up? Or if I would have choice words with Geraldo or...just stare at his head. 

If you are a fan of Kris Radish, you will love to see some of her real life experiences written down. I think it gives me even greater appreciation for her other writing and great novels. If you haven't had the pleasure of reading her work before, this is not a bad place to start.

About the Author

Kris Radish is the author of nine novels and two works of non-fiction.  A former award-winning journalist, magazine writer, nationally syndicated columnist, waitress, worm picker, university lecturer, lifeguard and Professional Girl Scout—to name just a few of her past lives—Radish is also co-owner of a wine lounge, the Wine Madonna, in downtown St. Petersburg Florida where she hosts books clubs and special literary events with groups from across the globe. Her empowering novels celebrate female friendship, real life, personal empowerment—and naturally, the importance of celebrating life as often as possible. She calls her genre, Broads Who Have Been There, and it takes one to know one.  Her widely popular novels include The Elegant Gathering of White Snows, Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn, Annie Freeman’s Fabulous Traveling Funeral, The Sunday List of Dreams, Searching for Paradise in Parker P.A., The Shortest Distance Between Two Women, Hearts on a String, Tuesday Night Miracles and A Grand Day to Get Lost.  Her twelfth book and third non-fiction work, Gravel on the Side of the Road–True Stories From a Broad Who Has been There and her tenth novel, The Year of Necessary Lies will both be published by SparksPress in 2014.

Be sure to check out her website, http://www.krisradish.com/

Serenade by Emily Kiebel - #SRC2014

I received review copies from BookSparks in order to write my book review posts for the 2014 Summer Reading Challenge. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links. #SRC2014

Suddenly the voice she prized is now dangerously seductive. 

Lorelei Clark’s only concern was her future as a classically trained soprano, that is, until the day 
her father was tragically killed. Shattered by his death, she hesitantly accepts an invitation from a 
mysterious aunt to visit her lavish oceanside home in Cape Cod. She quickly discovers that her 
aunt and the two women who live with her are harboring a frightening secret – they are sirens, 
terrifying mythical creatures responsible for singing doomed sailors to their deaths. Even more 
astounding, Lorelei is one of them. 

In this new world where water comes alive at her touch and an ancient power pulses beneath the 
tide, the most important rule Lorelei must learn is that a siren never interferes with fate. When 
she breaks this rule by rescuing a handsome sailor who should have died at sea, the sirens vow 
she must finish the job or face grave consequences. Finding herself inexplicably attracted to him, 
she must fight to keep him safe from the others, even if it means risking her own life – and her 
heart – in the process. 

My Opinion

I love a good paranormal story, and this one definitely satisfied my craving. a fascinated YA story, I am sure will appeal to many ages. Yes, it starts out seemingly normal enough, but as you keep reading, more and more is revealed about Lorelei and her family.

Natural singing talent may be something more and we delve into the world of sirens. I haven't had the pleasure to read many paranormal stories about sirens, usually the vampires and werewolves in paranormal writing take center stage. This was a great chance to explore a new character and the myths that surround them.

Kiebel created a great female character in Lorelei. Well written, I think readers will be able to identify with her and a young girl struggling to find out who she is and what she wants to be.

About the Author

Emily Kiebel was raised in Colorado and went on to study classical music and English at Concordia University. She found a love for singing early in life and now sings professionally and directs a local church choir. In her spare time, she can be found exploring the natural beauty of the great outdoors 
with her beloved dogs, Ginny and Diggory, cooking for friends and family, traveling or dragging her friends along to obscure historical sites. Serenade is her debut novel. 
Connect with the author: 
on Facebook, her website, and Goodreads

Queen of Hearts, Volume Two: The Wonder, by Colleen Oaks - #SRC2014

I received review copies from BookSparks in order to write my book review posts for the 2014 Summer Reading Challenge. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links. #SRC2014

Book two in the bestselling Queen of Hearts series! 

Alone in the wilds of Wonderland, Dinah fights for survival. When she meets the Yurkei, natives she was always taught were the enemy, and finds out she had been lied to all along, Dinah plots to reclaim her throne with their help. Filled with vivid imagery and thrilling action, Dinah’s transformation into a fierce warrior is stunning.

My Opinion

Picking up where the first book left off,  The Wonder is just as good as the first. I love the idea of seeing what leads a notorious villain to become who they are.

The same great cast of characters is back, and author Colleen Oaks does a marvelous job of bringing the reader back to Wonder Land. We all know how the story ends, but the journey there is full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing. Dinah is growing up... and we know what kind of villian she is growing into.

Now you will know why...

This is one of my favorite series right now and I can't wait for the third book to be released. You can bet I will share my thoughts on it as soon as it is released.

About the Author

Colleen Oakes is the author of the Elly in Bloom series and the YA fantasy Queen of Hearts Saga, both published via SparkPress, a BookSparks imprint. She lives in North Denver with her husband and son. 

When not writing, Colleen enjoys swimming, traveling, and immersing herself in nerdy pop culture. She is currently at work on the last Elly novel and her second YA fantasy series, Wendy Darling. 

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1hJGIL6
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColleenBlooms 
Website: http://colleenoakes.net 

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1jl5CvV

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After I Do, by Taylor Jenkins Reid - #SRC2014

I received review copies from BookSparks in order to write my book review posts for the 2014 Summer Reading Challenge. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links.

You may have noticed that I haven't posted many books lately here, but I am slowly getting back into my Summer reading after a few crazy weeks. I think I should point out that you can join in with the Book Sparks Summer Reading Challenge at any time. There are still fun prizes to be won on the Facebook page and many great books to discover! #SRC2014

When Lauren and Ryan’s marriage reaches the breaking point, they come up with an unconventional plan. They decide to take a year off in the hopes of finding a way to fall in love again. One year apart, and only one rule: they cannot contact each other. Aside from that, anything goes.

Lauren embarks on a journey of self-discovery, quickly finding that her friends and family have their own ideas about the meaning of marriage. These influences, as well as her own healing process and the challenges of living apart from Ryan, begin to change Lauren’s ideas about monogamy and marriage. She starts to question: When you can have romance without loyalty and commitment without marriage, when love and lust are no longer tied together, what do you value? What are you willing to fight for?


This is a love story about what happens when the love fades. It’s about staying in love, seizing love, forsaking love, and committing to love with everything you’ve got. And above all, After I Do is the story of a couple caught up in an old game—and searching for a new road to happily ever after.

My Opinion
Emotionally raw, insightful and beautiful all at the same time. After I Do really made me appreciate the love I have and the ongoing relationship I have worked so hard for. As the cover states, falling in love was much easier.

I wasn't really sure what to think when I picked up After I Do. Having been married for 13 years the premise was a little odd to me. I am not sure I would ever choose to live apart from my spouse if we were having trouble. But, I can't say I have ever had the breakdown of communication as Lauren and Ryan did in the book

I love how author Taylor Jenkins Reid set up the story. The reader is shown short but significant snapshots of a relationship changing and then dying. When the whole suggestion of living apart comes up, it makes sense for the characters. A few of the scenes, like the big fight and the morning after, were gut wrenching. It was brutal honesty that I rarely see written.

And though the family of characters may not start out making sense, through how they all deal with the "breakup" and how life moves on, I started to fall in love with all them - even the irresponsible younger brother and quirky Mom. In the end it was a whole family who endured this "breakup" and had to discover a way to heal and appreciate each other all over again.

There were a few times I was brought to tears. There were so many strong emotions tied to how their actions affected the other, even when they didn't realize it. There is a bond of marriage and being connected so deeply to someone that just doesn't go away. I thought the author did an amazing job leading me along that emotional rollercoaster and I really had a hard time leaving the world in the book to come up for air.

This is a book you MUST add to your Summer reading list. Just make sure you arm youself with a box of tissues from the start.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is an author and essayist from Acton, Massachusetts. She graduated from Emerson College with a degree in Media Studies. Her first novel, Forever, Interrupted, was named one of the “11 Debuts We Love” by Kirkus Reviews. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alex, and her dog, Rabbit. Her forthcoming novel, After I Do, will be published July 1, 2014.

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