The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
As Hadley meets a young Ernest Hemingway and is swept away, so are we, the reader in this brilliantly written novel. Written in first person, as Hadley, exploring St. Louis, Chicago, Paris, Pamplona, and beyond - meeting the wits of Stein, Fitzgerald, and the like - and only as a wife could have written, being swept into the torrent wind that is Hemingway. Through Hadley's voice a story of love, losing oneself to another, marriage, desperation, hopelessness, pain, heartbreak, and courage come alive. An era as effervescent as the wine that flowed comes alive and off the pages thanks to Ms. McLain's skillful writing.
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* For more information about this book please go to www.ParisWife.com *
Monday, January 24, 2011
Review: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
Posted by Avid Reader at 5:48 PM 0 comments
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Review: Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler
Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Delilah Hannaford has to return to Red Falls Vermont with her mother to bury her grandmother. There her mother, her aunt, and Delilah must confront the past and each other in order to heal the scars that have kept them frozen in time.
Ms. Ockler delves into the effects of mental illness on family members, the emotional scars left behind, the healing process - and does so while weaving a story that holds truth and hope as a guiding light.
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Posted by Avid Reader at 12:41 PM 0 comments
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Review:The Guardian Chronicles 2 - The Fallen Guardian
The Fallen Guardian by Steven R. Burke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
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The battle cry has roared. Orcs, Goblins, Higher Elves, Wolves, Warlocks, a rogue Elemental riding a Dragon, and an exiled evil join forces as the rest of Tuwa become allies for the ultimate war.
Mr. Burke brings to life the "war of the races" in Tuwa. He brings the Black Forest, Tarisdell, Landen alive. The characters spring forth in their own grief, imprisionment, fear, anger, and greed. Kings vs. Queen, General vs. General, Sister vs. Sister as time ticks and strategy is put to the test when an Elemental, Kana, has decided to take over by all means necessary.
The united front comes with it's own questions of solidarity, for now Elves, Giants, Dwarves, Eagles, Druids, Elementals (including Khalida - Kana's sister), Mystical Bears fight for survival.
The novel is written to be devoured, battle scenes unfold, and a cliffhanger is waiting. I am looking forward to unlocking the mystery of The Orb of Nitesh and reading further The Guardian Chronicles.
A Thanks to Goodreads and Steven Burke for sending me this book to review.
Posted by Avid Reader at 7:45 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Review: before i fall By: Lauren Oliver
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a fresh voice and an amazing tale! Stuck in the day she dies, Samantha, a teenager, must grow in death as she might never had in life. Through reliving this one day, she gets to see and experience different things, outcomes, and points of view.... only hoping and waiting until the day will finally end, when she will finally get it right.
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Posted by Avid Reader at 7:05 PM 0 comments
Review: Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn
Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Julia Quinn's style and characters continue to come alive in this historical romance. Annabel is the eldest of eight and much make a match, one that is chosen is that of a wretched decrepted Lord in need of an heir. Sebestian is the next in line, a rogue, and in a chance encounter enchanted. The main characters jump wonderfully off the page, as do the secondary as Olivia and Harry come back from What Happens In London (along with Prince Alexei mentioned - I am hoping he will get his own story). There is comical situations and villianous buildup, all that is perfectly Ms. Quinn's styling.
Enjoy being wisked away. I always do.
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Posted by Avid Reader at 6:58 PM 0 comments
Review: Snowy Night With A Stranger - Jane Feather, Julia London, Sabrina Jefferies
Snowy Night with a Stranger by Jane Feather
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Three of the top romance novelists come together to create individual novellas for the Christmas Season. Each tale is linked with a man with a need to be healed, a heart that has been scarred over, and a chance encounter that brings the woman that will bring the spirit of life, love, and Christmas back to them.
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