The Book Was Better

  Color me impressed! While Jane Austen was the narrator of my early adulthood, Claudia Gray was a new author for me.  Ms. Gray picked up where Ms. Austen left off, with the Watson family. Youngest daughter, Ada has returned to her family after being raised since age six by her aunt and uncle. The family dynamics are realistic and very Austen-esque, with each daughter looking to secure a good marriage and save their family from financial ruin. Where matters of the heart are concerned, both Austen and Gray stick to their belief in love-matches -- though Ada must fight a harrowing battle against herself and her society if she hopes to secure her own.  Ada represents another strong heroine in the Austen collection and might be perhaps the most outspoken of the lot. The siblings were everything one could hope for in a classic tale, each markedly different, flawed, and delightful. While there were moments of semi-modernity that crept in, I was most impressed that there was no ...

Catherine Saunders is struggling. She’s buried herself in meaningless one night stands and copious amounts of alcohol while she attempts to finish her PhD in Archeology and come to terms with her recent divorce. When the key artifact of her dissertation goes missing, Catherine has to tame her desperation and reexamine her own choices — and her own conscience — to get the vessel back.   The premise behind this read, and the overall plot, were intriguing and fun, making it a light-hearted almost-beach-read. But, the over-academic pretension, underdeveloped side characters, and borderline unlikable heroine, made it a little more of a slog than it should’ve been.   More Mary, fewer daddy issues, a less predictable twist, and more relationship development could have made this a winner.   Huge thank you to NetGalley and Abrams Books for this advance read!  Her Life in Ruins: ★ ★ ★1/2

  In this second installment out of charming Story Lake, we find Hazel's agent/best friend, Zoey, and Cam's younger brother, Gage, fighting off an instant attraction that they know will end in disaster. Or will it?  Embracing the tropes of small-town-romance and opposites attract, Lucy scores once again (see what I did there?) and proves she's not only the master of Rom-Coms, but also of sibling relationships. With hilarious wit and not-too-much physical humor, Mistakes Were Made balances comedy with real depth. Zoey's relatable insecurity and scattered-ness and Gage's imperfect perfection set the perfect tone in a messy, loving family who is still overcoming true loss.  Zoey and Hazel's friendship is a terrific example of women cheering each other on, and the Bishop family continues to represent #familygoals with their comical banter and genuine affection.  Minus a few formatting issues with the e-book version, this one is a win.  Mistakes Were Made: ★★★★★

By this point, nearly anyone who has any desire to has devoured Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight saga. Though intended as a young adult series, Meyer’s tales have captivated young and mature, creating a frenzy rivaled only by Ms. Rowling. Rather than echoing the countless reviews of those who have loved or despised the series, I ask the question: why? What is it about these supernatural tales that has captured our hearts and inspired all-night, breathless page-turning sessions? My observations have led me to conclude a three-fold appeal: We all feel a little abnormal. Bella Swan’s character is insecure, fallible, and ordinary – easily relatable. But more, Bella feels that she has never quite fit in – there’s something just a little different about her. From adolescence to present I can recall feeling this same striking displacement. No matter our situation in life, we tend to think we’re just a bit unusual compared with those surrounding us. For some, this becomes a crutch, an excuse, but...

While I am completely in favor of a good read-for-pleasure-not-for-thought-provocation novel, Beth Harbison’s book was more along the lines of a get-sucked-into-the-abyss-of-high-school-ridiculousness read. While I enjoyed the narrative trips back in time, the plot remained painfully predictable, while at once seeming to tackle issues a little too lofty for its capricious tone. The characters were so underdeveloped that they were unlikeable. I found myself not really caring if the heroine succeeded in her love quest since I knew little more about her than the flashbacks of a bossy and materialistic adolescent. Worse than a trip down memory lane, this book absorbed all of the absurdity of the teenage years (and the adults who are stuck there) and none of the joys. Book Chick Rating: Y Y

Boy meets girl; they fight the initial attraction; they go through an intense experience together; boy and girl live happily ever after. Nora Roberts’ recipe for romance manages to work in any setting without feeling repetitive or formulaic. Here, we delve into the world of smoke jumping – an intense and fascinating environment. As Nora does best, her characters are endearing for their humanity – while we may not be able to relate to their situation, we can most definitely connect to their fallibility and their desires. Rowan’s passion, both for fire and for life, is contagious, as is Gulliver’s happy-go-lucky optimism. While the plot’s mystery is hardly a puzzle, the unique perspective and relentless action make this one of Nora Roberts’ most intensely satisfying novels yet.   Book Chick Rating: Y Y Y Y

Sara Gruen’s tale is raw, detailed, and disappointingly lacking in chemistry and emotion. The storyline itself, though occasionally predictable, is compelling and the descriptions of a Depression-era circus so thorough, you feel like you could have been along for the ride. Gruen magnificently captures the displacement and lack of identity of an elderly Jacob, bringing life to both past and present perspective. It is unfortunate that the relationship between the two main characters is not more developed. This lapse hinders the illusion of belief necessary for real enjoyment and casts doubt upon the final outcome of the story.  Book Chick Rating: Y Y Y