"When I'm Gone" is a Rosemary Beach novel by Abbi Glines who is a New York Times bestselling author. You can learn more about her at AbbiGlines.com but you won't find her on my go-to source, fantasticfiction.co.uk.
I picked up this paperback from the "Best Picks" shelf at my local library and it was a quick read but disappointing. I might have enjoyed the sexual detail when I was a pre-adolescent or adolescent but it doesn't appeal to me as a more mature woman. I also found some of the language offensive and unnecessary.
However, the overall story line was a good one -- Reese Ellis was made to feel stupid by her teachers, her mother, her stepfather, and schoolmates growing up because she had an undiagnosed learning disorder - dyslexia. She also suffered sexual abuse at the hands of her stepfather. She is now supporting herself cleaning houses and her fear of men keeps her at home most of the time. The one male friend she feels safe with is her friend and neighbor, Jimmy, who is gay.
When Mase Colt-Manning, a Texas rancher, comes to town to visit his sister, their paths cross briefly but that brief meeting leaves them both changed forever. Mase has never felt about a woman the way he feels about Reese. He knows she's uncomfortable around men and he wants to be her protector.
Reese, on the other hand, slowly learns to trust Mase and is surprised when he genuinely appears to want to help her figure out why she can't read --- something he discovered accidentally. Their path to romance is rocky but they do eventually get there.
The book didn't convince me I want to read any more Rosemary Beach novels, though. pazt
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
"Love Begins In Winter"
"Love Begins In Winter" is a book of five short stories by Simon Van Booy. Although I have read several of his books and find it difficult to describe Van Booy's writings, I always return for more. Each of the stories told in this novel are unique and beautiful and Van Booy has a way of drawing me into his story with his character descriptions. All I can say is give his work a try for yourself. pazt
Sunday, December 27, 2015
"The Wrong Girl"
?The Wrong Girl" by Hank Phillippi Ryan is the first book I've read by this author and the second one in her Newspaper Reporter Jane Ryland and Detective Jack Brogan series. It mentions incidents from the first novel in the series and I liked this one so well that I'm already looking for that one!
Ryan is the investigative reporter for Boston's NBC affiliate as well an author. She's won 28 Emmys and 10 Edward R. Murrow awards for her journalism. Four of her mystery novels are best sellers and she's won 2 Agatha Awards as well as the Anthony and Macavity for her mystery novels. You can visit her on the web at www.HankPhillippiRyan.com for more info.
Three deaths happen in fairly quick succession in Boston and appear to be unrelated. The first two are declared murder by the new hotshot medical examiner and the third is suspicious but most likely not homicide. Detective Jack Brogan and his partner are called to the scene of the first murder where two small children have been left unattended when the young woman with them is found dead. Jane Ryland is on the scene trying to get a story for her newspaper without compromising the feelings that are growing between her and Jack which, if allowed to blossom, would jeopardize both their jobs.
In the meantime, a former colleague of Jane's has asked for her help in finding her real birth mother. While there are four or more different scenarios being explored in the book, it's a little difficult at first to move back and forth between the story lines. However, as the investigations and arrests proceed, everything that appeared to be unconnected may, in fact, be linked. Jane and Jack find themselves turning up at the same location following different leads -- on the murder investigations for him and story lines for her. Very well written and an absorbing read! pazt
Ryan is the investigative reporter for Boston's NBC affiliate as well an author. She's won 28 Emmys and 10 Edward R. Murrow awards for her journalism. Four of her mystery novels are best sellers and she's won 2 Agatha Awards as well as the Anthony and Macavity for her mystery novels. You can visit her on the web at www.HankPhillippiRyan.com for more info.
Three deaths happen in fairly quick succession in Boston and appear to be unrelated. The first two are declared murder by the new hotshot medical examiner and the third is suspicious but most likely not homicide. Detective Jack Brogan and his partner are called to the scene of the first murder where two small children have been left unattended when the young woman with them is found dead. Jane Ryland is on the scene trying to get a story for her newspaper without compromising the feelings that are growing between her and Jack which, if allowed to blossom, would jeopardize both their jobs.
In the meantime, a former colleague of Jane's has asked for her help in finding her real birth mother. While there are four or more different scenarios being explored in the book, it's a little difficult at first to move back and forth between the story lines. However, as the investigations and arrests proceed, everything that appeared to be unconnected may, in fact, be linked. Jane and Jack find themselves turning up at the same location following different leads -- on the murder investigations for him and story lines for her. Very well written and an absorbing read! pazt
Thursday, December 24, 2015
"Howl's Moving Castle"
"Howl's Moving Castle" was authored by an Englishwoman, Diana Wynne Jones, who was born in 1934 and died in 2011. This book has been made into a motion picture and it is this movie that I saw first before deciding I'd like to read the book.
I loved her dedication: "The idea for this book was suggested by a boy in a school I was visiting, who asked me to write a book called "The Moving Castle."
I wrote down his name, and put it in such a safe place, that I have been unable to find it ever since. I would like to thank him very much."
This book is about three sisters but mainly it is about the eldest sister, Sophie. When their father dies, their mother is unable to keep the sisters in their private schools and must send them out as apprentices -- all but Sophie who she apprentices in the family hat business because this is the store that Sophie will inherit. While Sophie toils in the store, her stepmother is out and about "drumming up business."
When the Wicked Witch of the Waste shows up in the shop one day and casts a spell on Sophie turning her into an old woman, she decides to go out into the world. She can't tell anyone that a spell has been cast on her and she won't be recognized as Sophie.
She finally ends up the Wizard Howl's moving castle worming her way in and getting him to allow her to stay. That is when Sophie and Howl's adventures begin.
Although I enjoyed the movie, the book is really quite different and the depth of the story unfolded the more I read. There were plenty of surprises along the way, too! It is science fiction/fantasy and may not appeal to everyone but I enjoyed it enough to look for the second book in this series. pazt
I loved her dedication: "The idea for this book was suggested by a boy in a school I was visiting, who asked me to write a book called "The Moving Castle."
I wrote down his name, and put it in such a safe place, that I have been unable to find it ever since. I would like to thank him very much."
This book is about three sisters but mainly it is about the eldest sister, Sophie. When their father dies, their mother is unable to keep the sisters in their private schools and must send them out as apprentices -- all but Sophie who she apprentices in the family hat business because this is the store that Sophie will inherit. While Sophie toils in the store, her stepmother is out and about "drumming up business."
When the Wicked Witch of the Waste shows up in the shop one day and casts a spell on Sophie turning her into an old woman, she decides to go out into the world. She can't tell anyone that a spell has been cast on her and she won't be recognized as Sophie.
She finally ends up the Wizard Howl's moving castle worming her way in and getting him to allow her to stay. That is when Sophie and Howl's adventures begin.
Although I enjoyed the movie, the book is really quite different and the depth of the story unfolded the more I read. There were plenty of surprises along the way, too! It is science fiction/fantasy and may not appeal to everyone but I enjoyed it enough to look for the second book in this series. pazt
Sunday, December 20, 2015
"Girl Waits With Gun"
"Girl Waits With Gun" is a novel by Amy Stewart but the three sisters, Constance, Norma, and Fleurette Kopp, who are the heroines of this story are real women and this novel is based on what actually happened to them.
The oldest sister, Constance, was 35 years old in 1914 and all three unmarried sisters lived on the rural New Jersey family farm. Although their brother encouraged them to move to town to live with he and his wife and their two children, they insisted on staying on the farm after their mother's death. They survived by selling off pieces of the farm, raising chickens, and most of their food.
When their buggy is destroyed by a speeding car, Constance seeks compensation from the owner of the car who is also the owner of the local silk mill. What would seem like a straightforward request turns into something much more when the girls are blackmailed, threatened with kidnapping, shot at, and more! As the oldest, Constance takes on the responsibility of getting the sheriff involved. The sheriff provides them with deputies to keep an eye on the farm and arms the three girls (women) and teaches them how to shoot.
Although history has not said much about Constance, she was the first woman to become a deputy sheriff. She was also a rarity in her time because she stood 6 feet tall.
Stewart adds her own story line to this true tale but also includes newspaper headlines and articles from the actual events. The book makes interesting reading as well as insight into the times that these women lived and why what happened to them could have happened. pazt
The oldest sister, Constance, was 35 years old in 1914 and all three unmarried sisters lived on the rural New Jersey family farm. Although their brother encouraged them to move to town to live with he and his wife and their two children, they insisted on staying on the farm after their mother's death. They survived by selling off pieces of the farm, raising chickens, and most of their food.
When their buggy is destroyed by a speeding car, Constance seeks compensation from the owner of the car who is also the owner of the local silk mill. What would seem like a straightforward request turns into something much more when the girls are blackmailed, threatened with kidnapping, shot at, and more! As the oldest, Constance takes on the responsibility of getting the sheriff involved. The sheriff provides them with deputies to keep an eye on the farm and arms the three girls (women) and teaches them how to shoot.
Although history has not said much about Constance, she was the first woman to become a deputy sheriff. She was also a rarity in her time because she stood 6 feet tall.
Stewart adds her own story line to this true tale but also includes newspaper headlines and articles from the actual events. The book makes interesting reading as well as insight into the times that these women lived and why what happened to them could have happened. pazt
Thursday, December 10, 2015
"Warning At One"
"Warning At One" is Ann Purser's 8th novel in the Lois Meade mystery series. Life seems to have settled into a routine for Lois and her cleaning business until Bill, one of her long term part-time cleaners, announces his wife is pregnant with their second child and has decided to stop working. That means he is going to accept an offer at the vet's where he works part-time to become a full-time employee. Although Lois and the crew will miss him and are sad to see him go, she was not totally surprised by his resignation.
Bill had just started cleaning for a visually impaired woman and she decides Dot Nemmo should take over there. The house happens to be across the street from the rental Lois and her husband purchased as an investment. However, the last tenants have moved out leaving it empty because the elderly man next door, Clem, has a cockerel that wakes everyone in the area very early in the morning with its loud crowing. The neighbor on Clem's other side appears antisocial and reclusive. Fortunately, for the Meade family, the eldest son, Douglas, is taking a job and moving back to the area and wants to rent their vacant home.
Inspector Cowgill has informed Lois that there may be shady things going on in the neighborhood and he'd appreciate Lois, her son, and Dot keeping an eye out for anything useful that they might report to him.
When Douglas moves in and meets Clem's granddaughter, Susie, sparks fly and a romance blossoms. Unfortunately, Clem and his cockerel are murdered and Douglas finds himself on the suspect list thanks to some anonymous tips.
However, not all is what it appears to be with the neighbors and, when threats are made, Lois gets involved and finds herself in hot water. Life is always interesting when Inspector Cowgill and Lois team up! Another good Lois Meade mystery! pazt
Bill had just started cleaning for a visually impaired woman and she decides Dot Nemmo should take over there. The house happens to be across the street from the rental Lois and her husband purchased as an investment. However, the last tenants have moved out leaving it empty because the elderly man next door, Clem, has a cockerel that wakes everyone in the area very early in the morning with its loud crowing. The neighbor on Clem's other side appears antisocial and reclusive. Fortunately, for the Meade family, the eldest son, Douglas, is taking a job and moving back to the area and wants to rent their vacant home.
Inspector Cowgill has informed Lois that there may be shady things going on in the neighborhood and he'd appreciate Lois, her son, and Dot keeping an eye out for anything useful that they might report to him.
When Douglas moves in and meets Clem's granddaughter, Susie, sparks fly and a romance blossoms. Unfortunately, Clem and his cockerel are murdered and Douglas finds himself on the suspect list thanks to some anonymous tips.
However, not all is what it appears to be with the neighbors and, when threats are made, Lois gets involved and finds herself in hot water. Life is always interesting when Inspector Cowgill and Lois team up! Another good Lois Meade mystery! pazt
Saturday, December 5, 2015
"The Illusion of Separateness"
Simon Van Booy's "The Illusion of Separateness" is a great novel. I just finished reading it but it is so familiar that I think I may have read it before but maybe not finished it -- maybe wrote about it and maybe not?
The book tells the stories of a deformed German infantryman, a lonely British film director, a young woman who is a blind museum curator, two Jewish American newlyweds separated by war, and a caretaker at a retirement home for actors in Santa Monica.
Each chapter talks about a different character -- sometimes returning more than once to that individual but what we learn in the end is that all these individuals lives have intersected in some way at some point -- all around events during and after World War II.
It was a joy to read -- sad at times but for the most part uplifting. pazt
The book tells the stories of a deformed German infantryman, a lonely British film director, a young woman who is a blind museum curator, two Jewish American newlyweds separated by war, and a caretaker at a retirement home for actors in Santa Monica.
Each chapter talks about a different character -- sometimes returning more than once to that individual but what we learn in the end is that all these individuals lives have intersected in some way at some point -- all around events during and after World War II.
It was a joy to read -- sad at times but for the most part uplifting. pazt
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