Lie Still by Julia Heaberlin

Author: Julia Heaberlin
Publisher: Bantam Dell
Date of publication: July 2013

When Emily Page and her husband move from Manhattan to the wealthy enclave of Clairmont, Texas, she hopes she can finally escape her haunted past—and outrun the nameless stalker who has been taunting her for years. Pregnant with her first child, Emily just wants to start over. But as she is drawn into a nest of secretive Texas women—and into the unnerving company of their queen, Caroline Warwick—Emily finds that acceptance is a very dangerous game.
 
Lie Still ended up being an OK read for me.  Emily and her husband have moved to Texas from New York so he can take the job as chief of police.  She is finally pregnant with her first child. Life seems to be looking up.  She meets the "society" women in town and realizes that their leader thrives on secrets.  I did find the ladies amusing, especially Letty.

The beginning of  is pretty harsh as Emily tells the story of her rape in college.  I wasn't sure what it had to do with the rest of the story.  In my opinion, it really didn't.  I kind of felt like I was reading two separate mysteries.  I think without the rape story-line  the disappearance of Caroline and her murder would have been an enjoyable read.  For me, it ended up muddying the story with too many suspects and pathways.  I was surprised in the end.  I thought that the author did a good job in building up to the reveal.  I ended up listening to the audiobook and I liked the narrator.

Blog Tour: Gracianna by Trini Amador

Author: Trini Amador 
Publication Date: July 23, 2013
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press
Hardcover; 296p
ISBN-10: 1608325709

The gripping story of Gracianna–a French-Basque girl forced to make impossible decisions after being recruited into the French Resistance in Nazi-occupied Paris.

Gracianna is inspired by true events in the life of Trini Amador’s great-grandmother, Gracianna Lasaga. As an adult, Amador was haunted by the vivid memory of finding a loaded German Luger tucked away in a nightstand while wandering his great-grandmother’s home in Southern California. He was only four years old at the time, but the memory remained and he knew he had to explore the story behind the gun.

Decades later, Amador would delve into the remarkable odyssey of his Gracianna’s past, a road that led him to an incredible surprise. In Gracianna, Amador weaves fact and fiction to tell his great-grandmother’s story. As Amador tells the imagined story of how his great-grandmother risked it all, he delivers richly drawn characters and a heart-wrenching page-turner that readers won’t soon forget.

Gracianna is a story that was inspired by the true story of the author's great grandparents.   I say that because while the majority of the book is about Gracianna, her husband Juan takes a pretty big part in her story as well.  The book mainly takes place before and during the Nazi occupation of France.  The author does tell us that the story is pieced together through tales passed down through the family.  So, I'm sure a bit of it is imagined.  

I almost didn't finish this book.  It was pretty slow for me in the beginning.  But, I am glad I kept going with the book.  Gracianna was an amazing woman. We all know what a nightmare World War II was for everyone involved.  By accident she became part of the French Resistance.  What I found both amazing and horrifying was how she essentially became an assassin for them.  She was a naive girl from the mountains when she left with the dream of going to America.  What happened to her in Paris changed her life forever.  The book also delves into Gracianna's sister Constance's time at the concentration camp in Birkenau.  

I won't say that I enjoyed the book because what she went through was horrifying and heartbreaking. That isn't something that one "enjoys".  I will instead say that it was well written and intriguing.  My only wish is that I would have liked to read more about her and Juan's life in America after the war.   I think that this is a wonderful tribute to the author's great grandmother.

About the author:

Trini Amador vividly remembers the day he found a loaded German Luger tucked away in a nightstand

while wandering through his great-grandmother’s home in Southern California. He was only four years old at the time, but the memory remained and he knew he had to explore the story behind the gun. This experience sparked a journey towards Gracianna, Amador’s debut novel, inspired by true events and weaving reality with imagination. It’s a tale drawing from real-life family experiences.

Mr. Amador is a traveled global marketing “insighter.” He is a sought-after guru teaching multinational brand marketers to understand how customer and consumer segments behave based on their needs, values, motivations, feeling and values. He has trained over five thousand brand marketers on how to grow brands in over 20 countries in the last 15 years. His counseling has been valued at global brands including General Electric, Microsoft, AT&T, Yahoo!, Sun Microsystems, Google, Jack Daniel’s, The J.M. Smucker Co., DuPont, Mattel, and Rodale, Inc..

Amador is also a founding partner with his wife and children of Gracianna Winery, an award-winning winery located in Healdsburg, California. The winery also pays tribute to the Amador Family’s maternal grandmother, Gracianna Lasaga. Her message of being thankful lives on through them. The Gracianna winery strives to keep Gracianna’s gratitude alive through their wine. Learn more at: www.gracianna.com, like Gracianna Winery on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @GraciannaWinery.

Amador resides in Sonoma County with his family.

Link to Tour Schedule: http://hfvirtualbooktours.com/graciannatwotour
Twitter Hashtag: #GraciannaTour

Blog Tour: Lies You Wanted to Hear by James Whitfield Thompson

by:  James Whitfield Thompson
published by:  Source Landmark
publish date:  November 5, 2013

Alone in an empty house Lucy tries to imagine the lives of her two young children.  The day they left, she didn't know she would never see them again. Now she is tormented by the role she played in that heartbreaking loss. You can hardly see a glimpse of the woman she used to be. Back then she was a magnet for men like Matt, who loved her beyond reason, and Griffin, who wouldn't let go but always left her wanting more. But 20 years later, the little lies they told have come to haunt all three of them.

This was one of those books that I have a hard time with.  I like books that have a character that I can identify with in a positive way.  Characters that have some redeeming qualities.  I had a hard time finding any redeeming qualities in any of these characters.  Lucy was generally awful.  The relationship that she had with Griffin made me sick at times.  I wanted to strangle the woman and tell her to get a grip on her life and stand up for herself.  Matt, while initially seemed like a great guy and the more sympathetic character, eventually turns out to be more questionable towards the end.  I guess maybe that's what it's about.  How, in every relationship there's some selfishness on each partner's part and we can accept it and work with it or we don't.

Having said all that, it did read well.  There was nothing wrong with the writing.  Kudos to Mr. Thomson on that aspect of it.  I also want to give the author a high five for pursuing a dream and debuting his novel at 68.  Way to go!

About the Author:  James Whitfield Thomson was an early member of the late Andre Dubus’s writers’ workshop, along with Elizabeth Berg, George Packer and Dennis Lehane. He grew up on the North Side of Pittsburgh, attended Harvard College on scholarship, and earned a Ph.D. in American Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.

A former U.S. Navy navigator in Vietnam, Thomson’s writing has appeared in Agni and The Ledge, and received a grant from the Massachusetts Council for the Arts. The author lives in Natick, Massachusetts, with his wife. This is his first novel.

Blog Tour Schedule:

November 1 - Peeking Between the Pages

November 4 - A Bookish Affair

November 5 - As I Turn the Pages

November 6 - Utah Mom's Life

November 7 – Mina’s Bookshelf

November 8 – Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books

November 9 - A Novel Review

November 11 - From the TBR Pile

November 12 - Chick Lit Plus

November 13 - Rainy Day Ramblings

November 14 – I’d So Rather Be Reading

November 18 - Cheryl's Book Nook

November 19 - Allodoxophobia

November 20 - Bookhounds

November 21 - Rather Be Reading

November 22 - Cocktails and Books

November 25 - Chick Lit Central

November 26 – Linus’s Blanket

The Coldest Girl in Cold Town by Holly Black

by:  Holly Black
published by:  Little Brown Books for Young Readers
publish date:  September 3, 2013

Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave.

So I thought I was done with vampire books.  I didn't think there was anything thing left that was worth reading in the entirety of the vampire genre.  I'll say I was wrong on that one.  I ended up liking The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, although, I don't like the title.  The title alone put me off reading this book.  It gave it a very immature feel and the book itself was definitely at the older end of the YA spectrum.  The relationship that Tana and Aiden had was a bit racy for YA.  

There are two older vampire characters in this book, Gavriel and Lucien,  that are at odds with each others.  Their relationship to each other kept making me think of the characters Louis and Lestat from Anne Rice's Interview with a Vampire.  If you like that sort of vampire novel and a bit of post-apocalyptic mixed in, you'll like this book.

I liked this one as well.  I also agree with Autumn that I would put it at the older end of YA.  I thought a there were some gruesome parts to the book.  These aren't generally nice vampires.  I liked Gavriel.  He was the only vampire that I liked in the book, besides Aiden.  The other thing that I liked about the book was the parts from Tana's sister's point of view.  I don't think a YA book could be more perfect for a lesson in how what you see on TV isn't usually reality.  I think a lot of the characters got that lesson in this story.  Finally, I have to say that I loved the ending.  It was just perfect!

Autumn and I both listened to the audiobook.  The narration was good.  However, there was music sprinkled throughout the book I think in an attempt to give the listener a better listening experience.  The problem was the places that the music was used was inconsistent   It was like someone threw a dart at the book and wherever it landed, they put in music.   It did get annoying after a while.  

Tumble & Fall by Alexandra Coutts

by:  Alexandra Coutts
published by: Farrar, Straus and Giroux  
publish date:  September 17, 2013

The world is living in the shadow of oncoming disaster. An asteroid is set to strike the earth in just one week’s time; catastrophe is unavoidable. The question isn’t how to save the world—the question is, what to do with the time that's left? Against this stark backdrop, three island teens wrestle with intertwining stories of love, friendship and family—all with the ultimate stakes at hand. 

In a week the world is going to be destroyed.  The world's best and brightest have collaborated to come up with scenarios to divert the asteroid, but nothing has worked.  So with a week to live how will you spend your time.  Tumble & Fall looks at the lives on a tiny island preparing for the strike.  Some are preparing to survive by banding together to build an ark.  Some are spending their last days falling in love, getting married and forgiving old grudges.  Some are going on wild scavenger hunts looking for lost family members.  

I really liked this book.  In the world of YA post-apocalyptic, dystopian literature it was nice change of pace to read something that was pre-apocalyptic.  It wasn't a flu or a war that people were going to survive so there wasn't any wild prepping going on.  The one thing that I thought was kinda weird was that there weren't any phones or computers in this book.  They couldn't find people or get in touch with people unless it was in person.  I never did understand why the phones and computers didn't work.

I would definitely recommend this book for the YA readers out there.  Doesn't matter what genre of YA you like, I'm sure there's something in this book for you.  It had your disaster, it had your science-y stuff, it had some prepping, it had romance, it had social issues.  It was all in there.  Give it a whirl, tell us what you think.

Review & Giveaway: The Stranger You Know by Andrea Kane

Giveaway Details:  Want to win a copy?  Just fill out the rafflecopter below to enter! (US/Canada only)

Author: Andrea Kane
Publisher: Harlequin/MIRA
Date of publication: September 2013

It begins with a chilling phone call to Casey Woods. And ends with another girl dead.

College-age girls with long red hair. Brutally murdered, they're posed like victims in a film noir. Each crime scene is eerily similar to the twisted fantasy of a serial offender now serving thirty years to life-a criminal brought to justice with the help of Forensic Instincts.

Call. Kill. Repeat. But the similarities are more than one psychopath's desire to outdo another. As more red-headed victims are added to the body count, it becomes clear that each one has been chosen because of a unique connection to Casey-a connection that grows closer and closer to her.

Now the Forensic Instincts team must race to uncover the identity of a serial killer before his ever-tightening circle of death closes in on Casey as the ultimate target. As the stalker methodically moves in on his prey, his actions make one thing clear: he knows everything about Casey. And Casey realizes that this psychopathic won't stop until he makes sure she's dead.

The Stranger You Know is the third book in the Forensic Instincts series.  I have really enjoyed the series so far.  This one is a bit different because what seems like an outside case quickly turns personal for the team, especially for Casey Woods.  There is a killer who keeps calling her after he rapes and murders a red-headed woman.  He seems to be linked to a killer that the team put away 2 years before. 

I felt like this one was a lot darker than the first two books.  The crimes committed against the girls were brutal and sadistic   As the team puts together the puzzle pieces, it was not too difficult to predict what was going to happen.  But, there were a few surprises thrown in the mix as well.  I felt like this book showed a lot more blending of the team as a whole.  They are definitely closer by the end of the book.  Although Hero had a pretty minimal role in the investigation.   If you have enjoyed the first two books, I definitely recommend this one as well. While it isn't the best out of the three, it's a nice addition to the series.

a Rafflecopter giveaway




About the Author:

Andrea Kane’s psychological thriller The Girl Who Disappeared Twice became an instant New York Times bestseller, the latest in a long line of smash hits. With her acclaimed signature style of developing unforgettable characters and weaving them into carefully researched story lines, Kane has created Forensic Instincts, an eclectic team of maverick investigators. Recruited because of their special talents and dynamic personalities, the high-energy members thrive on blatantly disregarding authority. Armed with skills and talents honed by years in the FBI and Special Forces and with training in behavioral and forensic psychology, this unstoppable team solves seemingly impossible cases while walking a fine line between assisting and enraging law enforcement.

With a worldwide following and novels published in more than twenty languages, Kane is also the author of numerous romantic thrillers and historical romances. She lives in New Jersey with her family, where she is busily crafting a new challenge for Forensic Instincts.

Visit her at www.AndreaKane.com

For a full list of Andrea Kane’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS go HERE.

The Death of Bees by Lisa O'Donnell

Author: Lisa O'Donnell
Publisher: January 2013
Date of publication: Harper

Today is Christmas Eve. Today is my birthday. Today I am fifteen. Today I buried my parents in the backyard. Neither of them were beloved.

Marnie and her little sister Nelly are on their own now. Only they know what happened to their parents, Izzy and Gene, and they aren’t telling. While life in Glasgow’s Hazlehurst housing estate isn’t grand, they do have each other. Besides, it’s only one year until Marnie will be considered an adult and can legally take care of them both.

I had to sit on this one for a while.  Death of Bees is in a word, bizarre.  I'm still not even sure if I can say whether or not I liked it. The story is not a happy one.  It's raw, gruesome and depressing.  The story is told through the voices of sisters Nelly and Marnie and their elderly neighbor Lennie.  Nelly and Marnie find their parents dead and decide to bury them in the garden to avoid going into foster care. As each person speaks, the reader learns more about the miserable lives that Nelly and Marnie have had up to now.  Not that it gets any better after they are on their own.

I think the thing that I didn't like about the book was as I was reading I just kept getting more and more down.  I never really felt a sense of hope for either girl.  I know Marine is a product of her parents. Nelly definitely has something odd about her.  I didn't really like either of the girls.  I just felt really bad for them. I did like Lennie. What he did for the girls was wonderful and amazing.  

This is just a really hard book to review for me.  I think it is one of those that each reader has to experience for themselves.  I'm not totally sure if I would recommend it to everyone, maybe just a select few people to whom I know this time of book would appeal.   

About the author:

Lisa O’Donnell won the Orange Screenwriting Prize in 2000 for The Wedding Gift. A native of Scotland, she is now a full-time writer and lives in Los Angeles with her two children. The Death of Bees is her frst novel and was the winner of the Commonwealth Book Prize.

Visit Lisa at her website, connect with her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

Tour Schedule:

Wednesday, October 23rd: Peppermint PhD

Friday, October 25th: Booksie’s Blog

Monday, October 28th: she treads softly

Wednesday, October 30th: Book-alicious Mama

Thursday, October 31st: Olduvai Reads

Monday, November 4th: Love at First Book

Tuesday, November 5th: A Bookish Way of Life

Wednesday, November 6th: red headed book child

Thursday, November 7th: From the TBR Pile

Tuesday, November 12th: Peeking Between the Pages

Thursday, November 14th: guiltless reading

Throwback Thursday: The Loving Daylights by Lynsay Sands

Author: Lynsay Sands
First published in 2003 by Love Spell

Jane Spyrus can build any gadget B.L.I.S.S. needs in its international fight against crime, but she soon meets a fellow who shows her how to love the daylights out of something without batteries. 

When I first started listening to The Loving Daylights, I wasn't sure if I would keep listening   It was really unlike anything else that I have read by this author.  Once I gave into the silliness of the book, I found I enjoyed it.  This book is very silly.  I took it as a tongue-in-cheek  spy romance novel.  There are lots of funny scenes that had me laughing.  The shrink wrap condom scene was hilarious!  I started to enjoy the character names, such as Ira Maintrue and Dirk Ensecksi.  Say those really fast and see what you get. The characters themselves were fun. If you are looking for a really fun read that doesn't take itself seriously, then make sure to check this one out!

Killer Image by Wendy Tyson

Author: Wendy Tyson
Publisher: Henery Press
Date of publication: October 2013

As Philadelphia’s premier image consultant, Allison Campbell helps others reinvent themselves, but her most successful transformation was her own after a scandal nearly ruined her. Now she moves in a world of powerful executives, wealthy, eccentric ex-wives and twisted ethics. 

When Allison’s latest Main Line client, the fifteen-year-old Goth daughter of a White House hopeful, is accused of the ritualistic murder of a local divorce attorney, Allison fights to prove her client’s innocence when no one else will. But unraveling the truth brings specters from her own past. And in a place where image is everything, the ability to distinguish what’s real from the façade may be the only thing that keeps Allison alive.

I actually really enjoyed this book.  I'm not usually too much into straight mysteries but the synopsis sounded interesting. I'm glad I read it.  I enjoyed the characters as much as the mystery.  Allison Campbell is an image consultant   She helps people better themselves in both their professional and personal lives.  Her only exception is that the won't work with kids.  The reasons for this are slowly revealed over the course of the book as she draws comparisons between her new client Maggie and a long lost client.  

I liked Allison a lot.  She has molded herself into a something that is far from her childhood.  Her life is very ordered, or as ordered as she can get.  She has a sister that she doesn't really get along with, ailing parents, and an ex-husband who she still has feelings for.  I really felt for her when she as she struggles with the guilt she felt over what happened 10 years before.  The ending of the book was very bittersweet but gave her some much needed closer.

The story has a great mystery.  There are a lot of characters in the beginning, but the story-line is well planned out so that the puzzle of how they fit comes together seamlessly.  I was only partially right in who the killer was, so that made the book more enjoyable.   I definitely recommend this one.  I look forward to reading more adventures with Allison Campbell!

About the author:

Wendy Tyson wrote her first story at age eight and it’s been love ever since. When not writing, Wendy

enjoys reading other people’s novels, traveling, hiking, and playing hooky at the beach – and if she can combine all four, even better. Originally from the Philadelphia area, Wendy has returned to her roots and lives there again with her husband, three kids and two muses, dogs Molly and Driggs. She and her husband are passionate organic gardeners and have turned their small lot into a micro farm. Killer Image is Wendy’s first novel in the Allison Campbell mystery series. The Seduction of Miriam Cross is her first Delilah Percy Powers mystery.

Amazon.com:  http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/1938383605

Website - http://www.watyson.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WendyTysonAuthor

Twitter - https://twitter.com/wendytyson

Monday, October 14th:  Book-alicious Mama

Tuesday, October 15th:  Truth, Beauty, Freedom, & Books

Wednesday, October 16th:  Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Thursday, October 17th:  Booked on a Feeling

Monday, October 21st:  No More Grumpy Bookseller

Tuesday, October 22nd:  Bewitched Bookworms

Wednesday, October 23rd:  Rinn Reads

Thursday, October 24th:  WV Stitcher

Monday, October 28th:  A Bookish Way of Life

Tuesday, October 29th:  Kritter’s Ramblings

Wednesday, October 30th:  Simply Stacie

Monday, November 4th:  Guiltless Reading

Tuesday, November 5th:  My Bookshelf

Wednesday, November 6th:  From the TBR Pile

Forgiving Lies by Molly McAdams

Author: Molly McAdams
Publisher: William Morrow
Date of publication: October 2013

A matter of secrets...
Undercover cop Logan "Kash" Ryan can't afford a distraction like his new neighbor Rachel Masters, even if she's the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. To catch a serial killer, he needs to stay focused, yet all he can think about is the feisty, long-legged coed whose guarded nature intrigues him

A matter of lies...
Deceived and hurt before, Rachel would rather be a single, crazy cat lady than trust another guy, especially a gorgeous, tattooed bad boy with a Harley, like Kash. But when his liquid-steel eyes meet hers, it takes all of Rachel's will-power to stop herself from exploring his hot body with her own.

Given that I really disliked Taking Chances, I was a little wary going into this book.  I am always willing to give an author another try.  Hey, we can't love them all, right?  I am glad I gave this one a chance.  I did enjoy Forgiving Lies. I thought the characters, for the most part, were great and the story was attention grabbing.

The thing that I liked the most about this story of Rachel and Kash was that they became friends before they gave into their attraction.  Despite the "big lie" that Kash is keeping from Rachel, they really got to know each other ahead of time.  That really made me buy into their love story.  

One thing I have to say about this author is that she really knows how to write extremely dislikable characters.  I couldn't stand Candice.  If your BFF tells you that your cousin tried to rape her, shouldn't you give her the benefit of the doubt?  I had such a hard time with the way she treated Rachel when it came to that.  Family or not, you have been best friends with this girl your whole life, why wouldn't you believe her?  Her attitude just sucked.  I loved Rachel and couldn't understand why she would choose to be friends with someone like Candice.  That was the one part of the book that had me shaking my head.

I do recommend this one.  It's the first in a series.  Be warned  this end in a HUGE cliffhanger. So, the next book better come out soon!  I really need to know what happens next!

About the author:

Molly grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband and furry four-legged daughter. Some of her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling and long walks on the beach…which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. When she’s not diving into the world of her characters, she can be found hiding out in her bedroom surrounded by her laptop, cell, Kindle and fighting over the TV remote. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies, fried pickles and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm...or under one in a bathtub if there are tornados. That way she can pretend they aren't really happening.

Visit Molly at her website, read her blog, connect with her onFacebook, and follow her on Twitter.

Tour schedule:

Tuesday, November 5th: From the TBR Pile

Wednesday, November 6th: Into the Hall of Books

Thursday, November 7th: Book Marks the Spot

Monday, November 11th: Booked on a Feeling

Tuesday, November 12th: Sara’s Organized Chaos

Wednesday, November 13th: A Chick Who Reads

Thursday, November 14th: Tina’s Book Reviews

Friday, November 15th: Dear Brighton

Monday, November 18th: Books à la Mode

Tuesday, November 19th: Reading Reality

Wednesday, November 20th: Mom in Love With Fiction

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

by:  Robyn Schneider
published by:  Katherine Tegen
publish date:  August 27, 2013

Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life.

Ezra is at the top of the high school hierarchy.  He's the most popular boy in school, he's dating the most popular girl in school, he's athletic, and he's about to be a senior.  His life is perfect until he catches his girlfriend cheating on him and he gets hit by a car and shatters his knee.  His tennis career is over, his girlfriend is gone and his social status has plummeted.  

Ezra starts his Senior year wanting to be depressed, wanting to stay on the outside.  However, his childhood best friend comes to the rescue, he gets adopted by the Debate Team and the new girl in school makes him see life in a new perspective.

I always say these YA contemporary romances aren't my thing.  Then I pick one up and end up really liking it.   At some point I'm going to have to stop saying that.  I'm getting to be a softy in my old age I guess.  This was a good book, good story.  The only thing I didn't like was the coyote reference throughout the book.  They finally made sense towards the end, but I felt like it could have been left out.  I recommend it for anyone looking for a sweet, high school romance.