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Category: General

Review: The Life O’Reilly by Brian Cohen

[ 1 ] September 6, 2010

Reviewed by Denise G.

As The Life O’Reilly begins, we meet Nicholas O’Reilly, a young and very capable attorney. Nicholas is on the fast track at a New York law firm which specializes in corporate law. As such, he has all the perks: six figure salary, lavish corner office, access to all the movers and shakers in the city. The one thing he doesn’t have is a life, as he spends all his waking hours working.

The firm, looking for good PR, decides to offer some Pro Bono work, and Nick is chosen for the project. Enter Dawn Nelson and her young son, Jordan. Dawn needs help getting out of an abusive relationship with a guy who has connections everywhere and deep pockets to fight the divorce. Nicholas is deeply affected by the experience and begins to question his life choices up to that point. The author takes us through a series of unexpected twists and turns that keep us riveted to the action in the story and wondering what will come next for Nicholas. Haunting and emotional, the book will also make you think long and hard about the choices you make everyday.

With a series of short chapters a la James Patterson, Brian Cohen’s writing style can better be compared to Nicholas Sparks, though it is much more matter of fact. The book compares favorably to many similar works that I’ve read, and the author’s writing is engaging and keeps you wanting more.

Overall, this is a great first effort. A page-turner that leaves you wanting more – I cannot wait for Brian Cohen’s next book!

With a diverse but unsatisfying career background, Denise made the decision to pursue what she loves: writing! Her first novel, of course, is in the works. More info about her is available at her blog http://makemoney-writingonline.blogspot.com.

This book was provided free of any obligation by Brian Cohen. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received

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Review: Kill Dress by John Young

[ 11 ] September 1, 2010

Reviewed by Denise G.

The short novel Kill Dress by John Young is his first, and is about a dress that has mystical powers over men. The story opens by introducing us to five young women who work, rest, and play together in New York City. One of them has recently had her heart broken, precipitating a trip to Louisiana for some relaxation. While there, Kim (the wronged girl) meets an elderly lady who makes her the perfect dress to attract men with. The only problem is that the dress seems to stir some dark emotions in people.

Whenever I read someone’s first published book, I want really badly to like it. This book had a good plot, though it could have been more fully developed and expanded upon. I’m not sure why he decided to put so many characters (roommates) in the story, when fewer would have sufficed. The characters were not developed enough so that I felt any relationship or empathy for them, and they quite easily could have been. Also, there a couple of distracting things about the author’s writing style: the same things kept repeating (as in, they got up and went to work, etc…) and everybody called everybody else “girl”all the time! People just don’t talk that way in real life. A good editor could have (should have?) whipped this book into what it was meant to be.

Overall, even with the minuses mentioned above, Kill Dress is still a suspenseful story that is worth a quick read. Pack it in your beach tote during the few remaining summer days and you can read it in the sun in just a few hours. Hopefully, John Young’s next book will be a little longer, a little better developed and edited soundly.

Visit John Young’s website for more information.

With a diverse but unsatisfying career background, Denise made the decision to pursue what she loves: writing! Her first novel, of course, is in the works. More info about her is available at her blog http://makemoney-writingonline.blogspot.com.

This book was provided free of any obligation by John Young. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Good to a Fault by Marina Endicott

[ 7 ] August 31, 2010

Reviewed by Poppy J.

Good To a Fault by Marina Endicott is about coming to terms with yourself and understanding what you want out of life. Clara Purdy has a car accident that takes her into an elevated state of realizing who she is. She finally comes to the realization that she can have everything she wants, and it doesn’t have to be at the expense of anyone else, not even herself.

Clara feels sorry for the Gages, a family also involved in the car accident. She makes the decision to take the family in, and soon finds out that it is amistake of the highest order. Throughout the story, the reader expects that the family unit will evolve, but what happens is that it is mostly Clara who does the evolving and develops into a different, if not better, person. She might have originally wanted the family she took in to become a real family to her, but in the end, she becomes a real person to them.

What seems interesting in the story is that Clara feels obligated to visit Lorraine, the matriarch of the family she takes in. Lorraine is in the hospital with a terminal illness, and her husband leaves as soon as he can get out of the picture. Clara dutifully visits Lorraine, even when her own family is unable to do so. Many people acknowledge the benefits of lending a hand to those less fortunate. For Clara, she makes the decision to see the fruits of her efforts at home, rather than with strangers at the Anglican World Relief Fund that she donates her money to on a regular basis.

Good To a Fault explores the idea of taking that next step to help someone in desperate need. It may be written for someone like me who wonders what else I could have done after giving a five dollar bill to someone holding a sign requesting money. Would I take this person in? Should I even consider it? There are limits and everyone knows them. Clara offers us all a look into what would happen if we ignored these limits and went to the extreme to help others in need.

After a decade of working in several NYC law departments and teaching, Poppy decided she enjoyed writing full-time. She currently works as a freelance writing consultant, and lives with her husband and sons on the East Coast.

This book was provided free of any obligation by Harper. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Serious Men by Manu Joseph

[ 13 ] August 12, 2010

Reviewed by Claudia R.

” Ayyan was certain that there was no such thing called truth. There was only the pursuit of truth and it was a pursuit that would always go on. It was a form of employment. “Everything that people do in this world is because they have nothing better to do,” he told Oja Mani once. “Einstein had something called Relativity. You scrub the floor twice a day.”

Serious Men by Manu Joseph is like that perfectly curved, gleaming seashell one finds amongst crushed chaos on an early morning beach stroll. It’s a lush, clever, quirky, anomalous read that ends all too quickly but manages to linger on the edges of the brain long after completion.

Ayyan Mani lives with his wife and son in Mumbai. He has a clerical position at the Institute of Research and Theory but maintains aspirations to step outside tradition and class confinement and become something more. Using his son, Adi, as an experiment towards this end, Ayyan devises a plot in which Adi appears to be a genius, garnering publicity, recognition at work and the unfettered joy of Oja, his wife.

At work, Ayyan infiltrates the upper crust of self-absorbed Management and schemes a way to bring down his egotistical boss by divulging a torrid inter-office affair, offering an at times hilarious view of the cost of ambition and the consequences of honest, but misguided actions. Actions that, more often than not, backfire, leading to a chain of events completely unexpected and undesired.

Rich in native heritage and wisdom, Serious Men offers a glimpse in to the lives of has and has-nots outside the confines of white-bread America. Culturally diverse, elegantly resplendent with local dogma, Josephs spins a familiar tale of want versus need in to an elaborate tapestry of longing, despair, desire and dramatics that will leave you with a deeper insight of mankind. Breathtakingly beautiful, from beginning to end.

Claudia lives on Cape Cod with her husband and two children. She entertains her passion for reading in between being a full-time Mom, aspiring writer, avid photographer & volunteer for Missie’s Closet, an emergency food & necessities pantry for the low-income in her area.

This book was provided free of any obligation by W. W. Norton & Company. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Blog Tour: “How to Be an American Housewife” by Margaret Dilloway

[ 9 ] July 11, 2010

Please join Margaret Dilloway, author of How to Be an American Housewife, as she tours the blogosphere with TLC Book Tours!

To learn more about Margaret Dilloway, please visit her on Twitter and check out her blog!

Reviewed by Vera (Luxury Reading)

Raised in a small village in Japan during WWII, Shoko was encouraged by her parents to travel to the nearby city and work for the Americans. She needed to pay for her brother’s education they said, and of course, find an American husband for herself. Young and beautiful, Shoko had no lack of suitors, and with her father’s input, she settled on Charlie, a military medic, and set off in pursuit of becoming the perfect American housewife.

Years later, Shoko and Charlie are living a quite life in a San Diego suburb with two grown children. Life hasn’t turned out quite as Shoko imagined, but she has made do. Unfortunately, their daughter Sue, a divorced single mother, has had to make do with her less than perfect lot in life as well.

As Shoko’s health declines, she fears that she will never have the chance to travel back to Japan and reunite with her brother Taro. Marrying Charlie meant dishonoring Taro, who hated Americans, and Shoko has not spoken to her brother since leaving Japan. She entreats Sue to go in her place before it’s too late. Once reluctant, Sue finds the trip unexpectedly meaningful; the revelations that come about and the people she meets surprise Sue in more ways than one.

How to Be an American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway is about learning to survive in a foreign culture, about striving for a better life for your children, and about hoping that it is not too late to address the choices you’ve made in the past.

The book is split into alternating viewpoints, the first half told by Shoko and the remainder continued by Sue. It was very interesting to see the same situation through two pairs of eyes, and to note that Sue’s attitude towards her mother was at times completely different than the way Shoko perceived it.

While I felt that the book overall was too quiet and was missing some oomph factor that would really make me want to keep reading, it was heartfelt and gave me some insight into the lives of Japanese wives of American GIs post WWII. At times, How to Be an American Housewife was even humorous; the tidbits added from the fictional How to be an American Housewife handbook prior to each chapter definitely gave me a lot to laugh at.

Review and giveaway copies were provided free of any obligation by Putnam Adult. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Guest Post: Eve Marie Mont, author of “Free to a Good Home”

[ 7 ] July 8, 2010

Please welcome Eve Marie Mont, author of a new novel, Free to a Good Home!

Eve Marie Mont lives with her husband, Ken, and her shelter dog, Maggie, in suburban Philadelphia, where she teaches high school English and creative writing. Free to a Good Home is her first novel. She is currently revising her next book, a YA novel inspired by Jane Eyre.

by Eve Marie Mont

First of all, thanks so much to Vera for inviting me to guest post on Luxury Reading. And what a great title for a blog for book lovers! To me, both reading and writing are luxuries. I teach high school English full-time, so much of my year is devoted to planning lessons and grading papers. Writing, while still work for me, is a luxury and a gift. I agree with Gloria Steinem who said, “Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don’t feel I should be doing something else.”

When I asked Vera for suggestions for what to write about for my guest post, she mentioned perhaps something about my writing process. Free to a Good Home is my debut novel, but it’s my second book (my first did not get picked up). I am currently revising my third book, so at this point, I’ve completed three manuscripts, and they’ve all followed a similar trajectory in terms of my writing process. So far, I have started writing every one of my books over winter vacation, although the idea for the book may have first entered my head months, if not years, before. Over the winter and spring, I usually outline the plot and develop the characters, sometimes writing a messy first draft.

But summer is the time when my mind clears itself of all the clutter from the school year and opens itself up to new ideas, character motivations, and plot twists. Ideas come to me in the shower. A notebook sits by my bedside for those nights when the characters wake me up and demand that I write a scene in the dark. I can sit on my laptop for hours, unaware of the time passing. My husband claims that when I’m writing, he can have entire conversations with me that I will later have no recollection of having.

It helps that I had two really clear inspirations for Free to a Good Home: one was my adorable shelter dog, Maggie, now thirteen years old but still a puppy to me; and the second and more important was my mother-in-law, Anne Mont, who just passed away this May after a courageous battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease. The book centers around Noelle, aveterinary technician whose most steadfast relationship in her life is with her Great Dane, Zeke. In my real life, I am fortunate enough to have the most loving and supportive husband, but when I was writing the book, I asked myself, what if I suddenly didn’t? What if my husband left me? How would I cope? And the answer was, in part, through the unconditional love of my dog.

Then I asked myself, what if Noelle was still so in love with her ex-husband that she would do almost any favor he asked? What if, for example, he asked her to take care of his ailing mother? Again, fiction diverges from truth because my mother-in-law, Anne, was the sweetest and most selfless person I have ever met; as someone described her at her funeral, she was “grace personified.” But her fictional counterpart, Margaret, is bitter and ornery, and she’s never liked Noelle. And once Noelle is chosen as her caretaker, Margaret resents her even more.

After I had these “What if?” questions in mind, the rest of the story fell into place. A new love interest entered the picture to complicate Noelle’s life, and along the way, Noelle got fed up with her constant doormat status and began to take charge of her life. When the book was finished, I revised and revised, then sent my query out to at least fifty agents, and crossed my fingers. Six months later, I had found an agent, the amazingly savvy and supportive April Eberhardt at Kimberley Cameron and Associates. I feel so lucky to be a part of this wonderful community of writers and readers now—it truly is a luxury. Thanks so much for having me, Vera!

I hope you’ll check out the contest on my website for a chance to win a book club package of eight signed copies and a Skype call-in. Also, if you’d like to read a sneak preview, click here.

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Summer Reading List

[ 9 ] June 29, 2010

Perfectly mowed backyard – $25
Handmade hammock, bought in Mexico – $40
Pina Colada – $5
A perfect book to spend a summer afternoon with – PRICELESS!

In the spirit of lazy summer afternoons (and morning and evenings), I’d like to share a list of books I loved reading or look forward to indulging in this summer!

What’s on your reading list this summer?

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Hidden Wives, by Claire Avery

What to expect: 15-year-old sisters, Sara and Rachel, live in a Fundamentalist Mormon compound, and are about to be married off to much older men who received “testimonies” from God for the girls’ hand in marriage. Sara is promised to her uncle, while sixteen men clamor to add beautiful Rachel to their hordes’ of wives.  Sara is determined to escape from the years of abuse, but Rachel’s religious beliefs may be too strong to break through…

What’s the fuss? Hidden Wives was hands down my favorite book this year! Full of suspense, romance and characters that you can’t help but sympathize with, it’s a gem that will make you forget the summer heat.
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The One That I Want, by Allison Winn Scotch

What to expect: Not only did Tilly Farmer marry her high school sweetheart Tyler, but she also works at a guidance counselor at the high school both she and Tyler attended. Following a reunion with a childhood friend, Tilly begins having futuristic visions through contact with photographs from the past. Soon, the visions begin coming true, leaving Tilly to re-evaluate the meaning of “happiness”. (read our full review)

What’s the fuss? Allison Winn Scotch has a knack for exploring people’s wishful thinking – going back and choosing a different path in Time of My Life, and being able to see the future  in The One That I Want. Either way, it’s a perfect opportunity to indulge your what-ifs fantasies!
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Bonobo Handshake, by Vanessa Woods

What to expect: In 2005, Vanessa Woods accepted a marriage proposal from a man she barely knew and joined him on research trip to the bonobo sanctuary in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo. A fascinating memoir of hope and adventure, Bonobo Handshake traces Vanessa’s self-discovery as she finds herself falling deeply in love with her husband, the apes, and her new surroundings (adapted from the publisher’s synopsis).

What’s the fuss? Vanessa Woods writes with the polished prose of a seasoned fiction writer, affectionately sharing her intimate encounters with bonobo in the Congo. This is memoir writing at its finest, and a strong new voice from which I’m eager to hear more. (written by Jennifer J.)
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Red Hook Road, by Ayelet Waldman

What to expect: A marriage collapses under the strain of a daughter’s death; two bereaved siblings find comfort in one another; and an adopted young girl breathes new life into her family with her prodigious talent for the violin. (from the publisher’s synopsis)

What’s the fuss? Khaled Hosseini (The Kite Runner) wrote that Red Hook Road was “a thoroughly gripping and elegantly written story about love, grief, friendship, and the unexpected ways in which disaster brings families together”.  Such praise from one of my favorite authors is reason enough to give this book another look!
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The Luxe, by Anna Godbersen

What to expect: The beautiful young Holland sisters, Elizabeth and Diana, rule Manhattan society. Or so it appears. When they discover their status is far from secure, everyone—from the ambitious socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor, Henry Schoonmaker, to the Holland’s dour maid, Lina Broud—threatens the girls’ golden future. (from www.theluxebooks.com)

What’s the fuss? I’ve had my eye on the Luxe series for a while (other books include Rumors, Envy and Splendor) and plan to finally dive into the drama and pretty dresses of 1800′s Manhattan this summer. Every now and then, I need some light hearted reading in between more serious literature, and I think The Luxe fits the bill perfectly! Best of all, the paperback is available on Amazon for $4.00.
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The Leisure Seeker, by Michael Zadoorian

What to expect: Well in their eighties, Ella Robina suffers from cancer and has chosen to stop treatment, and her husband John has Alzheimer’s. Yearning for one last adventure, the self-proclaimed “down-on-their-luck geezers” steal away from their home in suburban Detroit on a forbidden vacation of rediscovery. (adapted from the publisher’s synopsis)

What’s the fuss? If you’re looking for a book that combines, wit, humor, tenderness, love and a unique perspective on aging, eternal love and the fragility of the human body, then this little gem of a book is a must read. A brilliantly written tale of marriage, life and aging and choices. Think Romeo & Juliet meet Archie & Edith Bunker. Priceless & life changing. (written by Claudia R.)
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Where’s My Wand?: One Boy’s Magical Triumph over Alienation and Shag Carpeting by Eric Poole

What to expect: From the age of eight through early adolescence, Poole sought refuge from his obsessive-compulsive mother, sadistic teachers, and sneering schoolyard thugs in the Scotchgarded basement of his family’s suburban St. Louis tract house. When a series of tragic events tested Eric’s longstanding belief that magic can vanquish evil, he began to question the efficacy of his incantations, embarking on a spiritual journey that led him to discover the magic that comes only from within. (from the publisher’s synopsis)

What’s the fuss? Where’s My Wand? has been compared to Augusten Burroughs’ and David Sedaris’ memoirs, and sounds at once humorous and entertaining, as well as sad and touching.
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The Rembrandt Affair by Daniel Silva

What to expect: A man is killed. A Rembrant is stolen. Again. Gabriel Allon is asked by a friend to try to find it. Gabriel finds a lot more than he bargained for: the history of this painting is soaked in blood and it’s future is not looking to bright either.

What’s the fuss? The Rembrandt Affair is a story of international intrigue, and a history lesson on the Dutch participation in the Holocaust. Most importantly, it’s a great read that’s keeping me on the edge of my seat. (written by Caleb S.)
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Giveaway: “Sand in My Eyes” by Christine Lemmon

[ 128 ] June 28, 2010

Win a copy of Sand in My Eyes, by Christine Lemmon!

Christine Lemmon is the author of Sanibel Scribbles, Portion of the Sea and Sand in My Eyes (coming July 1). She lives on an island off Florida’s Gulf Coast – in a house on stilts! – with her husband and children.

Visit Christine on her Facebook page and Twitter!

About Sand in My Eyes

Twenty years ago, Anna Hott thought she could control everything-her crumbling marriage, her demanding children, her hectic life-by quitting her high-paced job in New York City and moving her family to tranquil Sanibel Island, Florida. But she brought her untamed emotions, her rage toward her cheating husband, and her yearning to write a novel with her. When her husband and children left the house for a week, Anna thought at last she would get her household, her novel, and her mind in order.

Instead, her elderly neighbor Fedelina Aurelio knocked on her door bearing flowers and homespun wisdom, and when Fedelina’s recently divorced son arrived, Anna had a test of passion and a test of truth.

Now, with an empty nest, Anna Hott pulls out the incomplete manuscript she started that memorable week and-to find closure for her life and a conclusion for her novel-travels to Indiana to visit Fedelina who lives in a nursing home.

Sand in My Eyes is both a story about the tension between motherhood and personal dreams as well as a story about women across generations inspiring one another.

For more on Christine Lemmon and her books, visit: www.christinelemmon.com.

Mandatory entry: Please comment on this post with your e-mail address.

Extra entries (please post each entry separately, i.e. 2 posts for subscribing):
- Subscribe via e-mail, follow or subscribe to the feed. You must verify the subscriptions. (1 entry each)
- Become a fan of Christine Lemmon on Facebook (2 entries)
- Share this giveaway on a social network of your choice. Click the “Share/Save” button at the end of this post (1 entry each)
- Become a fan on Facebook (2 entries)

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Deadline to enter is midnight on July 12th.

Want another chance to win? Pre-order Sand in My Eyes from Amazon now, email your receipt to christine@christinelemmon.com with subject line Beach Bag Giveaway, and you’ll be entered to win a beach bag full of 7 fabulous new summer beach reads! Click here for more details.

Giveaway copy was provided free of any obligation by BookSparks PR. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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