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Category: Genre Fiction

Review: Glow by Jessica Maria Tuccelli

[ 3 ] April 24, 2012

Reviewed by Alysia George

Characters from several generations combine their voices and stories to form the epic novel Glow, by Jessica Maria Tuccelli. Their personal histories run amidst the days of slavery, the Civil War, the turn of the 20th century, and all the way up to the time just before World War II. Turn by turn, they tell of love, heartache, family, social injustice, and supernatural gifts.

In 1941, a young girl named Ella is sent on a train to Georgia but never reaches her destination. She is attacked and left on the side of the road, where two old women find her and take her home. When Ella’s mother, back in Washington D.C., realizes something is amiss, she heads back to her hometown in Georgia to find her daughter and get to the bottom of the situation. As she travels south she is immersed in memories of her childhood. Here the book starts shifting, chapter by chapter, between Ella’s point of view and her mother Amelia’s.

Pretty soon Willie Mae Cotton, one of the women who rescues Ella, begins a narrative of her own. A few other characters have the chance to tell their stories as well. This could get confusing quickly, especially because the chapters dip and maneuver throughout 100 years of history, but the beginning of each chapter is labeled with the name of the character who is currently in the narrator seat. Also there is a very helpful family tree at the beginning of the book, which I referred to frequently as I read.

Glow is rich in southern history and character detail. Reading about topics such as slavery and Ku Klux Klan lynchings from several different view points provides a unique vantage point. Because there are several narrators, all from the same town and dealing with the same families throughout different points in history, the reader gains a better understanding of the bigger picture. This is a book that requires diligent attention, but it’s worth the effort.

Rating: ★★★★★ 

Alysia lives in Metro Detroit with her husband and four children. She writes about family life, parenting issues, and other things of interest to her on her blog, Michigal.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Viking Adult. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Red, White and Blood by Christopher Farnsworth

[ 2 ] April 23, 2012

Reviewed by Caleb Shadis

Cade is back! And so is the Boogeyman! You heard right, the Boogeyman really exists and most of those stories you heard about the hook on the mirror and the escaped felon on the loose murdering away are the work of the Boogeyman. Cade has sent him to hell many times but his followers keep calling him back. This time he’s got a little extra help and he’s set his sights higher. Cade keeps thwarting him so he’s going to make Cade pay; his first order of business is to make Cade fail by assassinating the President.

It is reelection time and the president’s numbers are slipping. So the president and his staff decide to do a bus tour of the Midwest to try and boost his popularity. Then a brutal murder with two victims is discovered at one of the party’s branches. A message in blood is scrawled on the walls, “It’s good to be back”. It’s not the first time Cade has seen this message.

Red, White, and Blood is the third Nathaniel Cade book in the series and it’s just as good as the previous two. While the first two were a little more tongue-in-cheek and made me laugh at times, Red, White, and Blood got straight down to business.

Farnsworth still pays homage to Lovecraft with hints of Cthulhu popping up. He also seems to be giving the slasher movie makers of the 70s and 80s a nod. I enjoyed the fast-paced vampire story but the first two books took themselves less seriously. I personally hope that that sense of humor comes back in the fourth installment.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Also by Christopher Farnsworth: The President’s Vampire & Blood Oath

Caleb is a software engineer and amature woodworker living in southern Minnesota. He has more hobbies than he has time or money for, and enjoys his quiet time reading.

A review copy was provided free of any obligation by Putnam Adult. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Empress of the Seven Hills by Kate Quinn

[ 2 ] April 19, 2012

Reviewed by Colleen Turner

Corruption, honor, war, love, loyalty, power…these topics and many more are tackled in Empress of the Seven Hills, the newest novel of Rome by Kate Quinn. You hear the term “action packed” used to describe many books but this is one of the few times I have actually read a book and thought it fit. Tipping the scales at 500 pages it was hard to put down as the excitement and intrigue just kept going, resulting in a cliff hanger ending that left me seething about having to wait to find out what happens next.

The story is told in alternating narratives between four very compelling characters – Sabina, a much loved senator’s daughter with a determination all her own; Vix, the gruff ex-gladiator returning to Rome to conquer the city that nearly killed him as a child; Titus, a young nobleman from a respected family that is honest and practical and longs for nothing more than an uneventful life; and Plotina, the plotting, nasty wife of Emperor Trajan that will stop at nothing to see her protégé, Hadrian, become Emperor after her husband. Each character has a very distinct voice that helps the reader get into their frame of mind, whether that is a wonderful self-deprecating humor (as with Titus) or a delusional fantasy world (as with Plotina). The one thing that seems to unite all of these characters is their individual determination to have the life and future they want, regardless of what others around them have planned.

Sabina wants nothing more than to be free to travel the world and do what she wishes. She is the daughter of a respected nobleman, however, and therefore is a prime asset on the marriage market. Titus is her youngest suitor and, despite his love for Sabina, they are destined to become nothing more than lifelong friends. Plotina plots to marry Sabina to Hadrian, her cold and calculating favorite, in the hopes that the love and familial bonds between Sabina and Emperor Trajan will lead to Hadrian being named as the heir to the throne. While Sabina does not love Hadrian, his apparent yearning to see the world makes him seem as good a choice as any and she agrees to his proposal. Vix, a guard in the senator’s home and Sabina’s lover, is angered by the match and decides to launch a career in the military and make a name for himself to rival his past. As their lives advance, twining together and moving apart throughout, they all seem set on the paths they’ve chosen. That is until Emperor Trajan dies and their lives change in an instant. Now all of them with face new challenges and their futures are anything but clear.

I am so excited to see where these characters will be going in the next installment. My favorite character by far was Titus and the new romance he begins to develop towards the end of Empress of the Seven Hills has me itching to read more. Kate Quinn is definitely an author I will be keeping an eye on and I am excited to go back and read her previous two novels, Mistress of Rome and Daughters of Rome.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Check out Kate Quinn’s guest post

Colleen lives in Tampa, Florida with her husband, son, their dog Oliver and their fish Finn. When not working or taking care of her family she has her nose stuck in a book (and, let’s face it, often when she is working or taking care of her family as well). Nothing excites her more than discovering a new author to obsess over or a hidden jewel of a book to worship.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Berkley Trade. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: The Fear index by Robert Harris

[ 2 ] April 19, 2012

Reviewed by Shannon Hopkins

Dr. Alexander Hoffman is a pioneer in the realm of artificial intelligence. After years of work he has created VIXAL-4, an algorithm that trades in the global markets by capitalizing on the Fear Index – financial movements based on the current level of risk. The success of the algorithm has made billions for Hoffman and his clients even in a falling market, and they are preparing to solicit even greater investments to move forward.

On May 6, everything turns upside down.

A mysterious book, a late-night intruder, and a series of communications Hoffman doesn’t remember having…all these things and more are somehow connected, and Hoffman is convinced that someone is out to ruin him. But who could it be – a disgruntled employee, a client, or a competitor looking to drive him out? As coincidences pile up and his life is torn to shreds, Hoffman must discover a truth more frightening than his worst assumptions.

Robert Harris’ The Fear Index begins slowly but draws the reader in with a gripping sequence of events taking place in the first few pages and setting the tone for the rest of the novel. The exposition is somewhat slow, focusing on the technical aspects of VIXAL-4 and the politics of dealing with investors, until a sudden frenzy of plot movement propels both protagonist and reader to a dramatic conclusion both wholly predictable and utterly shocking.

Not every part of the story fits together seamlessly, however. There are vague references to a potential subplot that, if further developed, had the potential to add greater depth to Hoffman’s journey; instead, the subject is tersely addressed in a few short asides and forgotten. In addition, the web woven around Hoffman is so intricate that a few rereads of different sections were necessary to establish how each element of the mystery fit into the larger whole.

Perhaps, though, that was Harris’ goal. The twists and turns that Hoffman faces are sure to keep the reader guessing, and there are quite a few surprises along the way. Ultimately, the effort to keep the facts straight was well worth it.

The Fear Index is an excellent psychological thriller, with dashes of crime drama and technology thrown in. Don’t be afraid to give it a read.

Rating: ★★★★½ 

Shannon lives in Cleveland, Ohio with her fiancé and a room full of books that she peruses when she isn’t trolling Apartment Therapy for new decorating ideas. In her free time she enjoys maintaining her blog, The Writer’s Closet, planning her wedding, and baking tasty gluten-free treats.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Knopf. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Blog Tour: The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck

[ 4 ] April 19, 2012

Please welcome Rachel Hauck, author of The Wedding Dress, who is touring the blogosphere with LitFuse Publicity!

Reviewed by Amanda Schafer

Charlotte Malone owns a bridal shop where she helps brides-to-be find the perfect dress. She’s also supposed to be finding the perfect dress for herself since her own wedding to Tim Rose is just a few weeks away. But Charlotte is feeling out of sorts so she goes up to Ludlow Estates (a well-known mountain attraction) to think and have quiet time. What she finds instead is a beautiful old trunk at an auction and impulsively buys it. However, a short time after Charlotte buys the trunk, she and Tim break off their engagement. They both realize they rushed things and are not really ready to get married.

Emily Canton gave her love to Daniel Ludlow before he went off to play baseball. Since Daniel didn’t write to her to profess his mutual love, Emily decided to marry Phillip Saltonstall. Phillip is a young and handsome man who is a part of a wealthy and prominent family in Birmingham. But when Daniel comes back and tells Emily that he did in fact write to her while he was gone, she begins to doubt her decision. When she suspects Phillip of being unfaithful to her, she questions herself even further.

Emily’s mother insists on a particular wedding dress, made by a popular designer in town. But Emily’s heart is set on wearing the wedding dress designed by Taffy Hayes, a black seamstress from the “other” side of town. Taffy’s dress is simple, elegant, beautiful, and timeless.

Charlotte finally decides to open the trunk with Tim’s help and discovers a beautiful wedding dress inside that looks as if it’s never been worn or altered in any way. But who would part with this dress and lock it away in a trunk? In the process of finding out about the dress, Charlotte also finds out that she is deeply connected to the dress in ways she never imagined.

Rachel Hauck is a great writer and can really draw a reader in. I was a bit disappointed at first because The Wedding Dress did not “grab” me in the way her books usually do. But I kept reading and within a few chapters I was hooked!

While at first I was expecting the book to be about a dress that was handed down through generations in a family, The Wedding Dress was about so much more. A wedding dress and generations, yes, but Hauck threw in plenty of twists and turns that made the story more exciting.

At the end of the book Rachel Hauck states that the book is a symbol of the Gospel in that it never wears out, is timeless, and fits everyone who tries it on. But I also came away with the idea that we’re always connected to past generations even when we don’t feel like we are. Charlotte felt completely alone in the world because she had no immediate family. What she didn’t realize at the time was that she has always been connected to her ancestors through her town and through the people she met.

Again, Rachel Hauck has done a great job with The Wedding Dress and her writing style is very easy to read. The only thing about the book that disappointed me was that she never came back to address Daniel’s letter to Emily while he was away. She found them and started to read them, but stopped and hid them away. We never get to finish those letters to know what else he said in them. However, this was a minor issue for me and did not affect the plot at all. As a whole, this was a very enjoyable book!

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

RSVP for the Facebook party to win some great prizes!

Amanda lives in Missouri with her engineering husband, two sons, and one daughter. In between homeschooling and keeping up with church activities she loves to read Christian Fiction, Women’s Fiction, and any Chick-Lit. She never goes anywhere without a book!

The review copy of this book was provided free of any obligation by Thomas Nelson. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Tuesday Night Miracles by Kris Radish

[ 2 ] April 18, 2012

Reviewed by Claudia Robinson

“These are not easy assignments, but I know you are up to the task. Keep an open heart, try not to worry about what anyone else might think, and please be honest. This journey is all about self-discovery or rediscovery, but I know you have already figured that out. Right?” – Dr. Bayer

Dr. Olivia Bayer has a new assignment, actually, she has four. Four very angry, emotionally charged, unhappy to be assigned, assignments. Kit, the only girl in a family of five, tired of being belittled and bullied, Grace, a hard working single mother with a gay daughter and one eager to rebel at the drop of a hat, Jane, a wealthy, but currently unemployed, real estate agent, struggling with her new society status and Leah, a domestic violence victim with two young children about to start a new life.

All four women have one thing in common. They’re all unwilling, court mandated participants in Dr. Bayer’s Tuesday night, anger management course. Kit beat her brother with a broken wine bottle, Grace rear ended, repeatedly, the back of her daughter’s boyfriend’s car, Jane’s stilettos were used as weapons against her boss’ head and Leah, abhorrent of violence, raised her hands on her young children. One time incident, or accidental, it doesn’t matter, each woman has to pay penance in Dr. Bayer’s class until which time as the good doctor feels each woman has successfully completed her assignments.

From the onset, it appears the women will all fail. Inattentive, surly and, well, angry, none of the women seem to understand or grasp the severity of their actions and Dr. Bayer is certain she will be signing their jail sentence papers, as opposed to completion forms, at the end of the course. Determined to help the women, Olivia gets creative. With the quasi-blessing of her superior, Olivia creates assignments that involve hiking, comedy clubs, working out, pedicures, bowling, archery and the likes. All things the women, under any other circumstances, would never do, let alone think of. Taking their individual needs and personalities in to account, Olivia formulates a healing process that will first force the women to see themselves, as others do, and find the source of their anger.

What ensues, is a story filled with emotional overload, remorse, sadness, love and loss. Turmoil fuses with repentance, anger with laughter, and together, the four women, guided by their competent (but worried) doctor, begin the slow, painful journey back to themselves, before the anger took control.

Readers are given an intimate view of each of the character’s lives and what led up to their one moment of violence. There is heartache and open wounds that are laid bare for all to share. There is jealousy, intimidation, relationships are tested and pushed past the breaking point, while others are formed, new, fresh and unlike anything ever experienced before. These women are so varied and unique that any reader can find one to relate to and that sudden click in empathy opens up the possibility that at any given time, any one of us, could do something similar.

Edgy, very deep and utterly charming, Tuesday Night Miracles is the perfect read for a rainy night, cup of hot chocolate and a fluffy blanket. A nice combination of sweet and sour, Tuesday Night Miracles is basically chick lit gone wild. Good fun from start to finish.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Also by Kris Radish: Hearts on a String

Claudia lives on beautiful Cape Cod with her husband and two children.

The review copy of this book was provided free of any obligation by Kelley and Hall Book Publicity. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Blog Tour & Giveaway: Butterfly’s Child by Angela Davis-Gardner

[ 52 ] April 17, 2012

Please join Angela Davis-Gardner, author of Butterfly’s Child, as she tours the blogosphere with TLC Book Tours! 

Don’t forget to enter to win a copy below.

Reviewed by Vera Pereskokova 

Three-year-old Benji is the product of a love affair between a geisha, Cio-Cio (Butterfly), and a U.S. Naval Officer, Frank Pinkerton. Benji has never met his father since Pinkerton left Japan before his birth and is not even aware of his existence.

When Pinkerton finally returns to Nagasaki after a three year absence, Benji is taken away from everything and everyone he has ever known, bound for the U.S. with Pinkerton and his young American wife, Kate. The couple lives on a farm in rural Illinois and to save themselves the embarrassment, they tell everyone that Benji is an orphan they found on their trip – albeit a blond one with a resemblance to Frank.

As he grows up, Benji struggles to adapt to his new surroundings and to find acceptance – not only with his peers but even within his own “adopted” family. When the secret behind his lineage is finally brought to light, it rocks the already dysfunctional family, but also affords Benji the trip he has dreamed of since he was brought to the U.S. – one that takes him back to Nagasaki and reveals the truth behind his mother’s tragic fate.

Just like Madame Butterfly before it, Butterfly’s Child is a tragic tale, but it’s one that will keep you turning pages in hopes of a better future for Benji. It’s a tale of love gone wrong, and of an innocent child caught up in the thoughtless actions of adults around him. Pinkerton was a young man on the prowl when he met Cio-Cio and was thrust into fatherhood when he least expected it. Kate is longing to have a child of her own and is forced to care for a young boy who only reminds her of her husband’s big love. And while most adults – Pinkerton, his mother, and Kate – are at times very unlikable, Davis-Gardner’s skillful writing also makes it easy to see things from their perspective.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Review and giveaway copies were provided free of any obligation by Dial Press. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.
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Review: The Last Romanov by Dora Levy Mossanen

[ 4 ] April 16, 2012

Reviewed by Alyssa Katanic

The Last Romanov, by Dora Levy Mossanen, is a historical fiction novel exploring the Imperial Russian Romanov family and the mystery that still surrounds their lives and executions. The Romanovs have captured the imaginations of many writers through the years, and Mossanen brings us a new perspective through the fictional character of Darya, the nurse (and holistic healer) of the youngest Romanov and heir to the throne, Alexei, a hemophiliac.

Mossanen’s take on the Romanov story falls under the literary description of magical realist fiction where a realistic story is woven with elements of magic and, often, the supernatural. When we first meet Darya she is 104 years old, gorgeous and strong, and surrounded by butterflies that float out from her pockets, follow her every move, and rest in her hair. This is just a small example of the magical elements contained in The Last Romanov. Magical realist fiction is a style that is fitting to the Russian setting of the story, as it shares Russian roots (think Gogol, Kafka or Nabokov), and adds to the mystery of the family.

The Last Romanov also contains many religious aspects that include Russian Orthodox, Jewish, and reincarnation beliefs, as well as the secular. It is a very complex book, yet it does not overwhelm the reader to the point that it is no longer fun. If you are looking for a rich and mysterious adventure, Mossanen’s The Last Romanov is it.

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

Alyssa is a wife and stay at home, homeschooling mother of five, with two boxers, two cats, a soft shelled turtle named after Bob the Builder, and 7 frogs (admittedly a homeschooling project gone froggy). In all her spare time, she loves to read and believes that there is no such thing as having too many books!

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Sourcebooks Landmark. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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