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Author: ondbookshelf

Blogging my way through my extensive to be read pile of books.

About ondbookshelf

Blogging my way through my extensive to be read pile of books.

8

Published on 8 Comments on Sister Dear
Sister Dear Book Cover Sister Dear
Laura McNeill
Fiction
Thomas Nelson
April 19, 2016
E-book
400
NetGalley

All Allie Marshall wants is a fresh start. But when dark secrets refuse to stay buried, will her chance at a new life be shattered forever?

Convicted of a crime she didn t commit, Allie watched a decade of her life vanish time that can never be recovered. Now, out on parole, Allie is determined to clear her name, rebuild her life, and reconnect with the daughter she barely knows.

But Allie's return home shatters the quaint, coastal community of Brunswick, Georgia. Even her own daughter Caroline, now a teenager, bristles at Allie s claims of innocence. Refusing defeat, a stronger, smarter Allie launches a battle for the truth, digging deeply into the past even if it threatens her parole status, personal safety, and the already-fragile bond with family.

As her commitment to finding the truth intensifies, what Allie ultimately uncovers is far worse than she imagined. Her own sister has been hiding a dark secret one that holds the key to Allie s freedom.

My review:

This psychological thriller had a lot of things I like within its pages.....family saga, mother-daughter bonding, drug use in sports, wrongful accusations, and a woman trying to get her life back. These are among the many themes touched on. The book is told in both the present, and the past, by four main characters. Allie has been in prison for ten years for a crime she did not commit. Her sister Emma has been caring for her daughter Caroline (who was 5 when Allie went to prison). The townspeople are not at all supportive when a convicted killer comes back to town, and neither is the sheriff, who will keep Allie from poking around to find out the real story of what happened that fateful night. Poor Allie is getting slammed from all sides. No one in town wants to hire her, she is not able to poke around in the murder mystery without violating her parole, her sister wants to adopt her daughter, and she dumped her ex boyfriend so he wouldn't have to hang around while she was in prison. Whew.....poor Allie, I was rooting for her all the way! I'm surprised to say that I did figure out who the real killer was quite early on (rarely happens for me), but that did not at all impede my enjoyment in reading how the actual events played out. It started out a bit slow, but once it picked up, it was a complete page turner!

A great who-dunnit story, with a lot of other facets thrown in, make this a wonderful choice for your next read.

2

Published on 2 Comments on Remember My Beauties
Remember My Beauties Book Cover Remember My Beauties
Lynne Hugo
Fiction
Switchgrass Books
April 18, 2016
194
NetGalley

Imagine a hawk’s view of the magnificent bluegrass pastures of Kentucky horse country. Circle around the remnants of a breeding farm, four beautiful horses grazing just beyond the paddock. Inside the ramshackle house, a family is falling apart.

Hack, the patriarch breeder and trainer, is aged and blind, and his wife, Louetta, is confined by rheumatoid arthritis. Their daughter, Jewel, struggles to care for them and the horses while dealing with her own home and job—not to mention her lackluster second husband, Eddie, and Carley, her drug-addicted daughter. Many days, Jewel is only sure she loves the horses. But she holds it all together. Until her brother, Cal, shows up again. Jewel already has reason to hate Cal, and when he meets up with Carley, he throws the family into crisis—and gives Jewel reason to pick up a gun.

Every family has heartbreaks, failures, a black sheep or two. And some families end in tatters. But some stumble on the secret of survival: if the leader breaks down, others step up and step in. In this lyrical novel, when the inept, the addict, and the ex-con join to weave the family story back together, either the barn will burn to the ground or something bigger than any of them will emerge, shining with hope. Remember My Beauties grows large and wide as it reveals what may save us.

My review:

A story about a broken family, only visible once you peek inside their seemingly idyllic home and horse farm. The title refers to the term the father/grandfather uses to refer to his beloved horses, who are caught in the cross-fire when there is great upheaval within the home when the "prodigal" son returns.  There are some lovely passages within the book that are told from one of the horse's point of view, and I thought this was a very unique aspect to the story. Lots of issues tackled within this short novel including, drug abuse, elder care, substance abuse relapse and rehab, blackmail, and lies (for the better or the worse). I did like the contrast between the messed up people, and how they all became calm and almost a different personality around the horses. On the whole, this book was good, but while it had a satisfying ending, you wonder how long things could stay calm, because there was just so much wrong with this family. It almost got to be too much.

A lovely portrayal of hoses (if you are a horse lover), but the overwhelming dysfunction of not just a few, but all of the characters, made this a good read, but not great.

3

Published on 3 Comments on Three Martini Lunch

ThreeMartiniLunchTitle: Three-Martini Lunch
Author: Suzanne Rindell
Published: April 5, 2016 by G.P. Putnam's Sons
Pages: 512
Source: Publisher via Penguin's First To Read
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads

In 1958, Greenwich Village buzzes with beatniks, jazz clubs, and new ideas—the ideal spot for three ambitious young people to meet. Cliff Nelson, the son of a successful book editor, is convinced he’s the next Kerouac, if only his father would notice. Eden Katz dreams of being an editor but is shocked when she encounters roadblocks to that ambition. And Miles Tillman, a talented black writer from Harlem, seeks to learn the truth about his father’s past, finding love in the process. Though different from one another, all three share a common goal: to succeed in the competitive and uncompromising world of book publishing. As they reach for what they want, they come to understand what they must sacrifice, conceal, and betray to achieve their goals, learning they must live with the consequences of their choices. In Three-Martini Lunch, Suzanne Rindell has written both a page-turning morality tale and a captivating look at a stylish, demanding era—and a world steeped in tradition that’s poised for great upheaval.

My review:

This novel takes a bit to get going, but once it does, it's fantastic! I absolutely loved the idea that it takes place around the book publishing world (how many of us would secretly love to be a book editor or write the next great novel?). The three main characters were well drawn, and I loved that each had their own dreams that were not the same, but yet which ultimately drew them together. The book is told in chapters with each of the three main characters taking turns, and I thought it created a good flow to the story. A good depiction of the time period, especially the social moral codes that were present in that day. I found myself sympathizing with each character at some point, and then wanting to slap some sense into them in the next. I loved that even though I usually knew what was going to happen before it did, I could smugly think "I told you that was going to happen". Rindell also did a nice job with the supporting characters, particularly Cliff's father.

While this may take a few pages to get going, it's well worth it in the end. It's a highly enjoyable story about the publishing world and an era of change in the country.

4

Published on 4 Comments on Lies and Other Acts of Love
Lies and Other Acts of Love Book Cover Lies and Other Acts of Love
Kristy Woodson Harvey
Family secrets
Berkley Books
April 5, 2016
Advanced Reader Copy
352
Author

Dear Carolina was praised as “Southern fiction at its best.”* Now author Kristy Woodson Harvey presents a new novel about what it really means to tell the truth . . . After sixty years of marriage and five daughters, Lynn “Lovey” White knows that all of us, from time to time, need to use our little white lies. Her granddaughter, Annabelle, on the other hand, is as truthful as they come. She always does the right thing—that is, until she dumps her hedge fund manager fiancé and marries a musician she has known for three days. After all, her grandparents, who fell in love at first sight, have shared a lifetime of happiness, even through her grandfather’s declining health. But when Annabelle’s world starts to collapse around her, she discovers that nothing about her picture-perfect family is as it seems. And Lovey has to decide whether one more lie will make or break the ones she loves . . .

My review:

This is Woodson Harvey's second novel, following last year's wonderful debut Dear Carolina. I love her writing style, the way she begins each of her book chapters is truly unique, and sets up the reading perfectly! In this book, each chapter begins with an anecdote about life lessons that have been handed down through the family from multiple generations. Probably the most notable, and the one that ties the story together is:

"The lies that matter most are the ones we tell ourselves."

This book has two main protagonists, Lovey and her granddaughter Annabelle. Some of Lovey's story is reminiscing about her past, and how she met her husband, who is facing his end of life in the present. I loved this character! I completely embraced her love of life, family, and friends. Her anecdotes were poignant and spot-on, and her reasons for her secrets were honorable and believable. As for Annabelle.......sigh.......I truly couldn't stand this character! BUT, before you think this would be a reason to give up on this book, I found this in the discussion questions. I'm thinking I may not be the only person to feel this way, and was this what the author wanted, to create a character that could resonate one way with some readers, and another way with others?

Discussion question #7: Was Annabelle a sympathetic character, or were you frustrated by her choices? Why do you think she jumps into relationships? Could she have benefited from having some time alone?

My answer......Completely frustrated, because she's a spoiled, entitled brat who acts like she's still in high school, and HE** YES!

Now you will have to pick up a copy of this book to find out if you are Team Annabelle or Team OnDBookshelf 🙂  This is a wonderfully written book, the life quotes are worth their weight in gold. Well worth the read, and I am looking forward to seeing what this author comes up with next.

4

Published on 4 Comments on Under the Influence
Under the Influence Book Cover Under the Influence
Joyce Maynard
Fiction
William Morrow
February 9, 2016
Hardcover
288
Own copy

The New York Times bestselling author of Labor Day and After Her returns with a poignant story about the true meaning—and the true price—of friendship. Alcohol cost Helen her marriage and custody of David, her seven-year-old son. Though she once had aspirations to be an art photographer, she makes ends meet taking pictures of grade-school children and working society parties for a catering company. Recovering from her addiction, she spends her evenings checking out profiles on an online dating site; weekends, she has awkward visits with her son, but he seems to be drifting away from her, fast. When she meets Ava and Swift Havilland, the vulnerable Helen is instantly enchanted. Wealthy, connected philanthropists, they have their own charity devoted to the care and welfare of dogs. Their home is filled with glamorous friends, edgy art, and fabulous parties. As Helen increasingly falls under the Havillands’ influence—running errands, doing random chores, cataloguing Ava’s art collection—Ava and Swift hire a good lawyer to help her regain custody of her son. But the debt Helen owes them is about to come due. David witnesses an accident involving Swift, his grown son, Cooper, and the daughter of the Havillands’ Guatemalan housekeeper. With David’s future in the balance, Helen must choose between the truth and the friends who have given her everything.

My review:

This book starts out in the present, and then heads back to reveal the backstory  behind the awkward sighting of a woman from the main character's past. The best part of this book, and what kept me turning pages, was the sense of impending doom. You knew that something was just not right, but couldn't put your finger on it. The main character Helen was an interesting one. It was obvious that she was so downtrodden that she overlooked some mighty red flags with Ava's friendship. At times I felt sorry for her, at others I was annoyed that she could be so trusting. I thought the author really convinced the reader why Helen took the paths she did. The sense of mystery surrounding The Havillands was skillfully done, and the young boy Oliver was well drawn as the child of a non-conventional broken home.

This was a great book if you love that sense of dread that is ever present until the climactic ending. Lovely characterization of how much we are willing to let slide when in need of a friend.

3

Published on 3 Comments on The Flood Girls
The Flood Girls Book Cover The Flood Girls
Richard Fifield
Literary fiction
Gallery Books
February 2, 2016
Hardcover
336
Own copy

Welcome to Quinn, Montana, population: 956. A town where nearly all of the volunteer firemen are named Jim, where The Dirty Shame—the only bar in town—refuses to serve mixed drinks (too much work), where the locals hate the newcomers (then again, they hate the locals, too), and where the town softball team has never even come close to having a winning season. Until now.

Rachel Flood has snuck back into town after leaving behind a trail of chaos nine years prior. She’s here to make amends, but nobody wants to hear it, especially her mother, Laverna. But with the help of a local boy named Jake and a little soul-searching, she just might make things right.

In the spirit of Empire Falls and A League of Their Own, with the caustic wit of Where’d You Go, Bernadette thrown in for good measure, Richard Fifield’s hilarious and heartwarming debut will have you laughing through tears.

My review:

What a wonderful debut novel from an author that I hope to hear a lot more from. This story, about a small town where everybody knows everything about the residents, resonates with sweet southern charm and an equal amount of grit. The main character Rachel comes home to right her past wrongs with the town, and particularly with her mother. What ensues is a delightful friendship with the young boy next door, who is faced with his own family problems. I adored the character of Jake, and he was written so well that I wanted to jump into the book, take him under my wing, and bring him home. All the supporting characters were fabulous and the small town goings on were spot on. The inclusion of the softball team added just the right touch to the storyline. This novel has it all.....humor, secrets, sadness, forgiveness, and characters so rich that you will be sad to leave them behind at the book's conclusion. And speaking of conclusions, shocking!

A well depicted story about small town life (with all its inherent problems), and a look at whether you can really ever go home again. I can't wait to find out what Fifield plans on next.

 

4

Published on 4 Comments on The Ramblers
The Ramblers Book Cover The Ramblers
Aidan Donnelley Rowley
Fiction
William Morrow
February 9, 2016
400
Publisher via BookSparks

For fans of J. Courtney Sullivan, Meg Wolitzer, Claire Messud, and Emma Straub, a gorgeous and absorbing novel of a trio of confused souls struggling to find themselves and the way forward in their lives, set against the spectacular backdrop of contemporary New York City. Set in the most magical parts of Manhattan—the Upper West Side, Central Park, Greenwich Village—The Ramblers explores the lives of three lost souls, bound together by friendship and family. During the course of one fateful Thanksgiving week, a time when emotions run high and being with family can be a mixed blessing, Rowley’s sharply defined characters explore the moments when decisions are deliberately made, choices accepted, and pasts reconciled. Clio Marsh, whose bird-watching walks through Central Park are mentioned in New York Magazine, is taking her first tentative steps towards a relationship while also looking back to the secrets of her broken childhood. Her best friend, Smith Anderson, the seemingly-perfect daughter of one of New York’s wealthiest families, organizes the lives of others as her own has fallen apart. And Tate Pennington has returned to the city, heartbroken but determined to move ahead with his artistic dreams. Rambling through the emotional chaos of their lives, this trio learns to let go of the past, to make room for the future and the uncertainty and promise that it holds. The Ramblers is a love letter to New York City—an accomplished, sumptuous novel about fate, loss, hope, birds, friendship, love, the wonders of the natural world and the mysteries of the human spirit.

My review:

This book caught my eye when it was first buzzed about at the beginning of the year, but I was a bit hesitant to pick it up. Why? It was compared on some sites to The Interestings, a book I did not like, and found the characters for the most part detestable. I'm so glad that (once again) I found out why I hate when books are compared to other books (Gone Girl, anyone.....ugh!). I really liked this book! I thought the characters were well drawn, the setting was delightful, the issues were believable and real, and the supporting characters were also interesting in their own right. I must admit that while I loved Clio and Smith, it took a while to warm up to Tate, but he grew on me. I thought the small references to the ornithology (Clio's profession), were very interesting, and now I want to put up a hummingbird feeder in my backyard. The whole book takes place over a week, and even in that week, all the characters grew and changed for the better. Lots of emotional ups and downs, but ultimately a totally satisfying ending.

Well written, well researched, and a great cast of characters make this a top book for me for the beginning of this year. I'm not going to compare it to any other books since I'm proof that this marketing ploy does not necessarily work.

This book was part of the BookSparks My Winter is Booked tour. Thanks to them for providing me with this copy, which in no way dictates my review opinions.

 

 

5

Published on 5 Comments on I Regret Nothing
I Regret Nothing Book Cover I Regret Nothing
Jen Lancaster
Biography & Autobiography
New American Library
May 5, 2015
Hardcover
320
Publisher at BEA

After a girls’ weekend in Savannah makes her realize that she is—yikes!—middle-aged (binge watching is so the new binge drinking), Jen decides to make a bucket list and seize the day, even if that means having her tattoo removed at one hundred times the cost of putting it on.

From attempting a juice cleanse to studying Italian, from learning to ride a bike to starting a new business, and from sampling pasta in Rome to training for a 5K, Jen is turning a mid-life crisis into a mid-life opportunity, sharing her sometimes bumpy—but always hilarious—attempts to better her life…again.

My review:

I love this author! She makes me laugh out loud, and nod my head in agreement a hundred fold when I delve into one of her memoirs. It probably doesn't hurt that she is only about a decade away from me in age, so I can relate to every anecdote and story she writes about. I like to think that if we were neighbors, we would totally be BFF's, and if I wasn't happily married, I would want a husband just like Fletch (love mine, but he is not anywhere near as funny!). Her memoirs usually have a theme, and in this one she has decided to create a bucket list of things to do in the second half of her life. She wants to avoid getting to the end and having regrets over things she didn't do with her life. We follow her through all of these adventures, and of course, things never go quite as planned (especially in Jen's world).

Straight up fun and funny, pick this one up to lift your spirits. Who knows, maybe it will cause you to create (or dig out) your own bucket list.

4

Published on 4 Comments on What I’ve Been Listening To (Audiobook reviews)

Time for more audiobook reviews! Since I tend to put them up in a group, they are short and sweet reviews. For more information, and lots more reviews from readers, click the Goodreads link provided for each one.

AllTheStarsInTheHeavensTitle: All the Stars in the Heavens
Author: Adriana Trigiani, Blair Brown (narrator)
Published: October 13, 2015 by Harper
Length: 14 hours 35 minutes
Source: Overdrive (library) and own copy
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads

My review:

Interesting fictionalized account of the relationship between Loretta Young and Clark Gable in old world Hollywood. Mostly told from the viewpoint of Young's faithful secretary Alda, this novel takes place during a time period that fascinates me. Dragged a bit at times, but overall I enjoyed this one.

ALandMoreKindThanHomeTitle: A Land More Kind Than Home
Author: Wiley Cash,  Nick Sullivan, Lorna Raver, Mark Bramhall  (Narrators)
Published: April 17, 2012 by William Morrow
Length: 8 hours 56 minutes
Source: Overdrive (library) and own copy
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads

My review:

An engrossing tale about a weird cult religion and the effect on the town when things at the church go horribly wrong. Lots of twists and turns in this one, and an overall theme that while it may seem implausible, was not that uncommon (and maybe still isn't) in backwoods southern towns. A creepy preacher, faith healing, snakes........intrigued yet? Cash is one of the best at writing about the backwoods south.

TheBooksellerTitle: The Bookseller
Author: Cynthia Swanson, Kathe Mazur (narrator)
Published: March 2, 2015 by Harper
Length: 11 hours 32 minutes
Source: Overdrive (library) and own copy
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads

My review:

With a cover like this, how can you go wrong? I didn't think I would like this one as much as I did since it involves an alternate reality. Kitty (by day) is a bookstore owner with her best friend, single, and mom to a cat. Katherine (in her dreams at night) is married with triplets, one of whom is autistic. How these two worlds intersect is the premise of the book, and then ending was completely unexpected.

ThePearlThatBrokeItsShell

Title: The Pearl That Broke Its Shell
Author: Nadia Hashimi, Gin Hammond (narrator)
Published: May 6th, 2014 by William Morrow
Length: 16 hours 10 minutes
Source: Overdrive (library) and own copy
Rating: 3/5
Goodreads

My review:

A story told by two women in Afghanistan, 100 years apart, that illustrates that not a lot has changed in this country from a woman's perspective. I really loved the way this book brings light to the awful treatment and disgusting thoughts about a woman's worth that still exist in a lot of these countries. It was a rather depressing, but yet enlightening read. I did think that it was a bit long, and the writing did not always flow as I thought it should. Still worth a read, and a nice start for a debut author.

TheAviator'sWifeTitle: The Aviator's Wife
Author: Melanie Benjamin, Lorna Raver (narrator)
Published: January 15, 2013 by Delacorte Press
Length: 16 hours 24 minutes
Source: Overdrive (library) and own copy
Rating: 3.5/5
Goodreads

My review:

I knew very little about the Lindberghs, other than the famous kidnapping of their son and his flight across the Atlantic. This was a well documented fictionalized account of their lives, written from the perspective of Anne Morrow Lindbergh. I really like Benjamin's writing style, although this one could have used a tad more editing as I did get bored in a few places. Overall, a good glimpse into the lives of a much beloved couple with a lot of issues behind the scenes that the public was not privy to.

BestBoyTitle: Best Boy
Author: Eli Gottlieb, Bronson Pinchot (narrator)
Published: August 24, 2015 by Blackstone audio
Length: 7 hours 20 minutes
Source: Overdrive (library) and own copy via BEA
Rating: 4.5/5
Goodreads

My review:

This was one of the books talked about at BEA 2015 that I was highly anticipating reading. A wonderful story told by an autistic man living in a care facility. Beautifully written, I loved the voice of Todd, and teared up many times as we are made aware of the fact that his way of looking at things is not always the way we would see them. Definitely a must read/listen!

 

 

2

Published on 2 Comments on The Swans of Fifth Avenue

TheSwansOfFifthAvenueTitle: The Swans of Fifth Avenue
Author: Melanie Benjamin
Published: January 26, 2016 by Delacorte Press
Pages: 368
Source: Publisher via BEA
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads

Centered on two dynamic, complicated, and compelling protagonists—Truman Capote and Babe Paley—this book is steeped in the glamour and perfumed and smoky atmosphere of New York’s high society. Babe Paley—known for her high-profile marriage to CBS founder William Paley and her ranking in the International Best-Dressed Hall of Fame—was one of the reigning monarchs of New York’s high society in the 1950s. Replete with gossip, scandal, betrayal, and a vibrant cast of real-life supporting characters, readers will be seduced by this startling new look at the infamous society swans.

My review:

Oh how I love a good book about high society, and this one packs a delicious punch! While I certainly have heard of Truman Capote, I admit I haven't read anything written by him (including In Cold Blood....gasp). I need to change that after reading this book. I need to scrounge up a copy of Le Cote Basque 1965, which is the scandalous story written by Capote exposing all the secrets of his beloved friends (his swans). The Swans of Fifth Avenue is a wonderful story, not only about the high society of the 50's and 60's, but a look at the characters lives when they were not in the spotlight. The insecurity of the swans, who knew that their beauty would only last so long. The fact that each of them just wanted to be loved and accepted as a person, not as a famous face. What happens to Truman is perhaps the most shocking, as he goes from loving friend to social pariah. This is a work of historical fiction, so while all events truly did occur, the thoughts and feelings of the people were at the liberty of the author, but I thought she did a wonderful job capturing this story.

One of my favorite quotes that I think does a great job of describing the characters:

Tell me -- What is your greatest fear?

There was a long silence. No sounds but the low hum of the pool filter, the faraway grazing of a lawn mower, and the determined "clip clip" of a gardener on the other side of some tall azalea bushes, trimming away.

"That someone will see," Babe whispered, while at the same time, Truman murmured, "That someone will find me out."

"That no one will love me," Truman added after another moment. While at the same time, Babe admitted, "And that I'll never be loved, truly."

If you love books about rich people and the lives they lead, and how those lives are not always as they seem.......pick this one up. It's fascinating.

I was thrilled to be able to meet Melanie Benjamin and hear her speak about this book, as well as her other notable works.

MelanieBenjamin