Book Review: The Forgotten Garden

The Forgotten Garden

Kate Morton

2008

648 pages

Synopsis

A foundling, an old book of dark fairy tales, a secret garden, an aristocratic family, a love denied, and a mystery. The Forgotten Garden is a captivating, atmospheric and compulsively readable story of the past, secrets, family and memory from the international best-selling author Kate Morton. 

Cassandra is lost, alone and grieving. Her much loved grandmother, Nell, has just died and Cassandra, her life already shaken by a tragic accident ten years ago, feels like she has lost everything dear to her. But an unexpected and mysterious bequest from Nell turns Cassandra's life upside down and ends up challenging everything she thought she knew about herself and her family. 

Inheriting a book of dark and intriguing fairytales written by Eliza Makepeace - the Victorian authoress who disappeared mysteriously in the early twentieth century - Cassandra takes her courage in both hands to follow in the footsteps of Nell on a quest to find out the truth about their history, their family and their past; little knowing that in the process, she will also discover a new life for herself.

Rating: 3/5 Stars

My Review

This book took a little while to draw me in, as I found it difficult initially to keep up with who was who, and what time period the chapter was set in. Eventually as time went on, and as the stories interconnected with each other, I was able to follow a little more clearly. There was a lot of descriptive writing, which I have to really be in the mood to read through, but I did enjoy the realistic nature of the characters. I felt like the author really portrayed their actions, thoughts and dialogues quite well, and made it more of a believable story. I have others of hers waiting to be read on my night stand - we had a great discussion of the book at book club, and one of my friends had two of her other novels. So I'm looking forward to tackling those soon.

Book Review: Summer Rental

Summer Rentals

Mary Kay Andrews

2011

402 pages

Synopsis

Sometimes, when you need a change in your life, the tide just happens to pull you in the right direction…

Ellis, Julia, and Dorie. Best friends since Catholic grade school, they now find themselves, in their mid-thirties, at the crossroads of life and love. Ellis, recently fired from a job she gave everything to, is rudderless and now beginning to question the choices she's made over the past decade of her life. Julia--whose caustic wit covers up her wounds--has a man who loves her and is offering her the world, but she can't hide from how deeply insecure she feels about her looks, her brains, her life. And Dorie has just been shockingly betrayed by the man she loved and trusted the most in the world…though this is just the tip of the iceberg of her problems and secrets. A month in North Carolina's Outer Banks is just what they each of them needs.

Ty Bazemore is their landlord, though he's hanging on to the rambling old beach house by a thin thread. After an inauspicious first meeting with Ellis, the two find themselves disturbingly attracted to one another, even as Ty is about to lose everything he's ever cared about.

Maryn Shackleford is a stranger, and a woman on the run. Maryn needs just a few things in life: no questions, a good hiding place, and a new identity. Ellis, Julia, and Dorie can provide what Maryn wants; can they also provide what she needs?

Mary Kay Andrews' novel is the story of five people questioning everything they ever thought they knew about life. Five people on a journey that will uncover their secrets and point them on the path to forgiveness. Five people who each need a sea change, and one month in a summer rental that might just give it to them.

Rating: 2/5 Stars

My Review

It was definitely a light summer read. I pushed through it because I had gotten so far in it. It wasn't horrible, but there were some parts that were dry and did not leave me hanging, like my usual suspenseful reads. The characters were more believable than I was first expecting, so that part was great. The romance in it was expected, but still well-played out. I'll probably read more of hers in the future - especially when I want a lighter read.

Book Review: The Power of a Praying Parent

The Power of a Praying Parent

Stormie Omartian

1995

214 pages

Synopsis

Stormie Omartian's bestselling The Power of a Praying series (more than 23 million copies sold) is rereleased with fresh new covers and new material to reach a still-growing market of readers eager to discover the power of prayer for their lives.

After 20 years of raising her son and daughter alongside her husband, Michael, Stormie looks back at the trials and joys of parenting and the power in praying for her children. In these easy-to-read chapters, Stormie shares from personal experience as to how parents can pray for their kids':

* safety 

* character development 

* adolescence 

* peer pressure 

* school experiences 

* friends 

* relationship with God

This resource will help you to be an amazing praying parent whether your kids are three or thirty-three.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

My Review

I absolutely love this book. As a parent, it taught me a lot of things that my child needs prayer for, in every aspect of their lives. It was nice because there was a personal connection made in the devotion, then an example of a prayer about that specific topic, and then 5-6 verses that apply to what was prayed about. For me personally, my prayer life is not the strongest, and I often feel like I don't know *how* to pray, so by reading the example prayers in the book I was able to get an idea of how I could pray for my child in such an easy manner. I will likely be buying this book in hardcopy because I want to use it more than just the past 3 weeks (I borrowed it from the library). I'll also check into her other devotional books about prayer, like the one meant for wives.

Book Review: No Child of Mine

No Child of Mine
by Susan Lewis
2013
560 pages

Synopsis:
Alex Lake’s life is centered on helping people. Her job as a social worker in a British seaside town is more than a career: It’s the very essence of who she is. And though there are frustrations, Alex takes to heart the rewards of placing a child in a safe and loving home. But when she encounters three-year-old Ottilie Wade, Alex is completely unprepared for the effect the sweet, shy little girl has on her. Though on the surface Ottilie seems to want for nothing—she’s perfectly healthy and lives in a very nice home—she’s mysteriously silent and asocial. Alex knows that something is not right in the Wade house. And the deeper she looks into the case, the more Alex comes to feel that she and Ottilie are being drawn together by fate.

As disturbing evidence mounts and Alex’s superiors seem unwilling to help, Alex knows she will have to risk everything—her job and the life she loves—to save Ottilie. But Alex will also have to wrestle the demons of her own past before she can secure a future for this child in need.

Rating: 3 / 5 Stars

My Review:
I enjoyed this book much more than the other Susan Lewis novel that I read. The writing wasn't so descriptive, and the story was well told. The characters were very believable, and I was able to really connect with the main character, Alex Lake, and understand her side of the story. The material in the novel was a lot more tragic than I was expecting. There were situations involving child abuse that I was not prepared to read about. It's really apparent to me that now that I'm a mommy, things like that happening in a book are very disturbing for me to read. Lewis did it in a very tasteful and well-written manner, and the shock-factor definitely had the right effect that she was probably going for. The ending was a little odd to me - not at all what I was expecting. Nor was it realistic (or so I think). It was a happy and interesting ending which Alex and Otillie definitely deserved to have after everything they'd been through, but it was not what I was expecting at all. I'll read another novel of hers in a little bit, and see if I continue to enjoy her storytelling.

Book Review: The Family of Jesus

Heart of the Story: The Family of Jesus
by Karen Kingsbury
2014
240 pages

Synopsis
Through The Family of Jesus, listeners will develop an emotional connection to the family members of Jesus, learning about their lives and falling in love with Scripture along the way. Bible studies and devotionals abound, and in churches everywhere people gather to seek a deeper understanding of God’s word and its application to their lives. But too often these studies engage only the analytic approach to Bible learning.

In The Family of Jesus, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist Karen Kingsbury will make you laugh, cry, and ultimately care more deeply about the Bible by helping you grasp the truths in Scripture not just with your mind, but with your heart. The characters in these short stories were among those closest to Jesus—Mary, Joseph, Jesus’ brother James, John the Baptist, Zechariah, and Elizabeth. Each has a compelling tale to tell. Kingsbury intersperses fictional, emotionally gripping details anchored in Scripture with historical and theological insights and questions that will guide soul-searching and reflection.

The Family of Jesus not only provides a deeper understanding of the relatives of our Savior, but also helps listeners acquire tools that will draw them closer to Christ, to the Scriptures, and to each other.

Rating: 5 / 5 Stars

My Review:
A beautifully written novel looking at the lives of 6 family members of Jesus: his parents, Mary and Joseph, his aunt and uncle, Elizabeth and Zechariah, his cousin John the Baptist, and his brother James. I found the stories worked well together and told the story of Jesus' upbringing and ministry quite well. There were some parts that were obviously made up as it's not mentioned in the Bible, but that needed to happen in order to pull all the stories together, and to adequately portray the different character's lives. It was well-written, descriptive, and interesting to read about each of their different perspectives. I also like that she added a Bible Study to the novel, so that you could either work on it through your own devotions, or do it with a church group. Next time I'll get it from the library without doing the "Express" read, so I can take some time doing the studies.

Book Review: No Turning Back

No Turning Back
by Susan Lewis
2012
544 pages

Synopsis:
Eva Montgomery is at the peak of her career when she is viciously attacked by a stalker. While still traumatised, she makes the biggest mistake of her life -- one she can never turn back from.

Sixteen years later, Eva has managed to rebuild her life in a way that seemed impossible after the attack. Her home in Dorset, high on the cliffs overlooking the sea, is as elegant as she is, but bears none of the scars. To an outsider, her world seems perfect in every way.

Then the past invades the present -- with shattering consequences.

Hurt, frightened and confused, Eva struggles desperately to put right the terrible mistake she made sixteen years ago and finally break free from a past that nearly destroyed her.

Rating: 2 / 5 Stars

My Review:
At first I thought I wouldn't be able to finish this book. The beginning was really long and drawn-out, and somewhat confusing. I decided to keep plugging along, and I'm glad I did, because the story did pick up and get more interesting. The characters were interesting and the dialogue was pretty good. There were many spots where I had to go back and re-read a section because I wasn't sure what was going on, or who did what, etc. Then there were other parts that I skimmed quickly because it was a lot of drawn-out detail. I'm glad I stuck through it though, as I really enjoyed the ending and how things came to a close. I will try more of her novels because she has good story ideas, but I hope the writing style improves or differs from this one.

Book Review: Her Last Breath

Her Last Breath (Kate Burkholder #5)
by Linda Castillo
2013
320 pages

Synopsis
An extraordinarily beautiful Amish woman, a dangerous femme fatale, is the central figure in a story that reveals a dark side of Painters Mill and its seemingly perfect Amish world

A rainy night, an Amish father returning home with his three children, a speeding car hurtling toward them out of nowhere.
What at first seems like a tragic, but routine car accident  suddenly takes on a more sinister cast as evidence emerges that nothing about the crash is accidental.  But who would want to kill an Amish deacon and two of his children? He leaves behind a grieving widow and a young boy who clings to life in the intensive care wing of a hospital, unable to communicate.  He may be the only one who knows what happened that night.  Desperate to find out who killed her best friend’s husband and why, Kate begins to suspect she is not looking for a reckless drunk, but instead is on the trail of a cold blooded killer amid the residents of Painter’s Mill.  It is a search that takes her on a  chilling journey into the darkest reaches of the human heart and makes her question everything she has ever believed about the Amish culture into which she was born. 

Rating: 5 / 5 Stars

My Review:
I found this one really intriguing because it tied in part of Kate's past that was talked about in the first book of the series. I think it'll still come up in the next one, and I'm curious to see how it'll be resolved. The murder in this book of the series was absolutely crazy and not what I was expecting at all. It makes me happy when I'm reading that the author just pulls off a random and crazy twist to make me realize that I wasn't on the right track. It keeps me guessing, book after book, what really took place. I'm eagerly waiting the next book to get into the library so I can read it. Lastly, I was very pleased with how Kate dealt with the Tomasetti situation. I love that man, and it frustrated me to see how she could so quickly and easily just toss that away. I'm glad that at the end of this novel she finally came to her senses!

Book Review: Gone Missing

Gone Missing (Kate Burkholder #4)
by Linda Castillo
2012
288 pages

Synopsis
Rumspringa is the time when Amish teens are allowed to experience life without the rules. It’s an exciting time of personal discovery and growth before committing to the church. But when a young teen disappears without a trace, the carefree fun comes to an abrupt and sinister end, and fear spreads through the community like a contagion.

A missing child is a nightmare to all parents, and never more so than in the Amish community, where family ties run deep. When the search for the presumed runaway turns up a dead body, the case quickly becomes a murder investigation. And chief of Police Kate Burkholder knows that in order to solve this case she will have to call upon everything she has to give not only as a cop, but as a woman whose own Amish roots run deep.

Kate and state agent, John Tomasetti, delve into the lives of the missing teen and discover links to cold cases that may go back years. But will Kate piece together all the parts of this sinister puzzle in time to save the missing teen and the Amish community from a devastating fate? Or will she find herself locked in a fight to the death with a merciless killer?

Rating: 5 / 5 Stars

My Review:
Once again, Castillo did not disappoint me with this 4th book. The most surprising thing was the ending, which ended in a cliffhanger - so part of the mystery was left "unsolved," by Kate, although the readers got an understanding of what happened afterwards. There was less of a poignancy of Kate's character growth in this one, as I didn't get too see as much of an emotional connection to the cases as I did in the other ones. There was still a definite connection, but not one that truly affected her or changed her character. I'm very excited to get started on the fifth one, especially to see how her and Tomasetti move forward in their relationship, especially after he dropped the question of moving in together.

Book Review: Breaking Silence

Breaking Silence (Kate Burkholder #3)
by Linda Castillo
2011
302 pages

Synopsis:
Police Chief Kate Burkholder is called to the scene of a horrific tragedy on a peaceful Amish farm.

The Slabaugh family are model Amish farmers, prosperous and hardworking, with four children and a happy extended family. When the parents and an uncle are found dead in their barn, it appears to be a gruesome accident: methane gas asphyxiation caused by a poorly ventilated cesspit. But in the course of a routine autopsy, the coroner discovers that one of the victims suffered a head wound before death—clearly, foul play was involved. But who would want to make orphans of the Slabaughs’ children? And is this murder somehow related to a recent string of shocking hate crimes against the Amish?

Having grown up Amish, Kate is determined to bring the killer to justice. Because the other series of attacks are designated hate crimes, the state sends in agent John Tomasetti, with whom Kate has a long and complex relationship. Together, they search for the link between the crimes—and uncover a dark secret at work beneath the placid surface of this idyllic Amish community.

Rating: 5 / 5 Stars

My Review:
Once again, I wasn't disappointed by this novel. The third in the series, and just as captivating as the others. I was thrown for a loop at the end with the final twist, but I find that extremely intriguing about her writing - I never know how she'll make the plot lines interconnect or finish. I also really enjoyed reading about the continuing relationship between Kate and Tomasetti - I'm really in love with John's character and how he has grown. I just hope that in the future books that he doesn't die or they don't break up. I will be truly heartbroken if that happens. This particular novel in the series has shown a great growth in Kate, and it was good to see some real raw emotion from her.

Book Review: Pray for Silence

Pray for Silence (Katie Burkholder #2)
by Linda Castillo
2010
304 pages

Synopsis:
The Plank family moved from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to join the small Amish community of Painters Mill less than a year ago and seemed the model of the Plain Life—until on a cold October night, the entire family of seven was found slaughtered on their farm. Police Chief Kate Burkholder and her small force have few clues, no motive, and no suspect. Formerly Amish herself, Kate is no stranger to the secrets the Amish keep from the English—and each other—but this crime is horribly out of the ordinary.

State agent John Tomasetti arrives on the scene to assist. He and Kate worked together on a previous case during which they began a volatile relationship. They soon realize the disturbing details of this case will test their emotional limits and force them to face demons from their own troubled pasts—and for Kate, a personal connection that is particularly hard to bear.

When she discovers a diary that belonged to one of the teenaged daughters, Kate is shocked to learn the girl kept some very dark secrets and may have been living a lurid double life. Who is the charismatic stranger who stole the young Amish girl’s heart? Could the brother—a man with a violent past, rejected and shunned by his family and the Amish community, have come to seek out revenge? As Kate’s outrage grows so does her resolve to find the killer and bring him to justice—even if it means putting herself in the line of fire.

Rating: 5 / 5 Stars

My Review:
I found this one just as captivating as the first in the series. The author has a really great art of tying tons of different plots together, and making tons of twists and turns throughout the novel. Plus she's pretty good at depicting raw and true emotions of all of her characters. This one has more "shocking" details to the types of murders, and I will admit to being scared at night when hearing noises in the house. This one didn't take me too long at all to read, mostly because I knew all of the characters from the first book, so it was just like another "episode" that I was watching/reading. I'm working on the third one as we speak.

Book Review: The Fault In Our Stars

The Fault In Our Stars
by John Green
2012
318 Pages

Synopsis
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars

My Review:
It was a slow start getting into this book, but after the part of them being in Amsterdam, that's when it picked up for me. Some of the parts were either confusing or a bit much for me (like discussing the books that they enjoyed - I know that was a main part of the plot, but it didn't appeal to me at all). The dialogue was realistic for sure, as were the depictions of the characters going through the different stages of disease, suffering, survival and mourning. I of course cried during the sentimental parts between Hazel and her parents. Maybe as a mother now reading these types of YA novels will hit me differently than before.

Book Review: Sworn to Silence

Sworn to Silence (Katie Burkholder #1)
by Linda Castillo
2009
321 pages

Synopsis
A killer is preying on sacred ground....

In the sleepy rural town of Painters Mill, Ohio, the Amish and “English” residents have lived side by side for two centuries. But sixteen years ago, a series of brutal murders shattered the peaceful farming community. In the aftermath of the violence, the town was left with a sense of fragility, a loss of innocence. Kate Burkholder, a young Amish girl, survived the terror of the Slaughterhouse Killer but came away from its brutality with the realization that she no longer belonged with the Amish.

Now, a wealth of experience later, Kate has been asked to return to Painters Mill as Chief of Police. Her Amish roots and big city law enforcement background make her the perfect candidate. She’s certain she’s come to terms with her past—until the first body is discovered in a snowy field. Kate vows to stop the killer before he strikes again. But to do so, she must betray both her family and her Amish past—and expose a dark secret that could destroy her

Rating: 5 / 5 Stars

My Review

This book was fantastic. I found it extremely intriguing and I loved all of the characters. At first I wasn't expecting there to be so much discussion about the Amish lifestyle - I thought they were just using an "Amish town" as the setting, but it really goes much deeper than that. I thoroughly enjoy reading Amish Christian Fiction (which is of course much more happier and positive than that of a suspense thriller), so I was happy to appreciate all the Amish aspects of this novel. I found the writing really easy to follow, and it was quite realistic. The characters were great and easy to connect with. I especially enjoyed reading about the up-and-down relationship between Tomasetti and Katie. I'm so excited to read the rest of the series!

Book Review: I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
MalalaYousafzai, Christina Lamb
2013
327 pages

Synopsis
When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education.

On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive.

Instead, Malala's miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen, she has become a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest nominee ever for the Nobel Peace Prize.

I Am Malala is the remarkable tale of a family uprooted by global terrorism, of the fight for girls' education, of a father who, himself a school owner, championed and encouraged his daughter to write and attend school, and of brave parents who have a fierce love for their daughter in a society that prizes sons.

I Am Malala will make you believe in the power of one person's voice to inspire change in the world.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

My Review
This was definitely an interesting read, despite my personal preference of not really enjoying non-fiction books. However, she leads a very inspiring life as you discover more about the hardships her and her family faced growing up in a valley haunted by violence and religious ignorance. I learnt a lot more about the history of Pakistan and the Taliban, than I had ever known before. Seeing things through her perspective, as well as that of her father, I gained a lot more insight into the way of life over there. I'll be the first to say I'm usually oblivious to the events going on in the world, so it was refreshing to get more in-depth details about the way their culture has them live, as well as how they were treated by the Taliban and Pakistani Army. I also enjoyed how it took us through her life, day-by-day as she recovered from her almost fatal attack. I got to see how she reacted to her condition and what she was thinking during this difficult transition. As a teacher it also naturally interests me about her quest for having education available for all children. It was a well-written book, and one I'm glad I got the chance to read.

Book Review: Fine Things

Fine Things
by Danielle Steele
1987
398 pages
Synopsis from Goodreads
Smart, likable, Bernie Fine was the wonder boy of  Wolff's, New York's most glamorous department  store. A senior VP moving up, he arrives in San  Fransisco to open a West Coast store. His career is  skyrocketing, but his life is lacking a center.  When he looks into the wide, innocent eyes of  five-year-old Jane O'Reilly, and then into the equally  enchanting eyes of her mother, Liz, Bernie knows  he has found what he has been looking for. Bernie  thought he had found love to last a lifetime, but  when Liz is stricken with cancer shortly after the birth of  their first child, time becomes  painfully short. Alone with two children, Bernie  must face the loss and learn how to move on. New  people, new experiences, a new life alone with two  kids. He meets it with courage and humor, and  learns some of life's hard but precious lessons as he  does.

Rating: 3/5 Stars

My Review:
This book was an alright read, and I really got into it at some spots. But there were other areas where I either felt like the story could have ended, or it just seemed to drag on. I did love the children characters, as well as Bernie's first wife. They were all very genuine. I did end up coming to like Bernie's mom near the end, as her spunk got more active and she was used for comic relief. It was a sad story overall, with a happy ending.

Book Review: The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow

The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow
by Rita Leganski
2013
400 pages

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Conceived in love and possibility, Bonaventure Arrow didn’t make a peep when he was born, and the doctor nearly took him for dead. No one knows Bonaventure's silence is filled with resonance - a miraculous gift of rarified hearing that encompasses the Universe of Every Single Sound. Growing up in the big house on Christopher Street in Bayou Cymbaline, Bonaventure can hear flowers grow, a thousand shades of blue, and the miniature tempests that rage inside raindrops. He can also hear the gentle voice of his father, William Arrow, shot dead before Bonaventure was born by a mysterious stranger known only as the Wanderer.

Bonaventure's remarkable gift of listening promises salvation to the souls who love him: his beautiful young mother, Dancy, haunted by the death of her husband; his Grand-mere Letice, plagued by grief and long-buried guilt she locks away in a chapel; and his father, William, whose roaming spirit must fix the wreckage of the past. With the help of Trinidad Prefontaine, a Creole housekeeper endowed with her own special gifts, Bonaventure will find the key to long-buried mysteries and soothe a chorus of family secrets clamoring to be healed.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

My Review:
This novel was incredibly well-written and very captivating. I was shocked at the end by how all of the characters' lives were intertwined with one another - in ways I never even thought about! I definitely loved the character of Bonaventure Arrow, because he was such a sweet and innocent boy, who just wanted acceptance and love. I also enjoyed the character of his mother, Dancy, particularly in how she managed to raise her son alone and after facing the tragic loss of her husband. The grandmothers were so different, yet intriguing at the same time. The author used really poetic language, but it wasn't too obscure or flowery that you couldn't follow what she was saying. I definitely recommend this book to others. I picked it for my book club night, and all of the ladies thoroughly enjoyed it!

Book Review: Feel the Heat (Hot in the Kitchen #1)

Feel the Heat
by Kate Meader
2014
416 pages

Synopsis from Goodreads:
IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT . . .

Photographer Lili DeLuca spends all her time working at her family's Italian restaurant, instead of following her dream of getting an MFA. When famous British chef Jack Kilroy unexpectedly challenges her father to a cook-off, Lili decides she's tired of playing it safe and vows to seduce the tempting Brit. But once a video of her and Jack kissing goes viral and her luscious (if voluptuous) butt starts trending on Twitter, Lili fears she's cooked up a recipe for disaster . . .

Jack Kilroy's celebrity has left him feeling used and used up. While Lili's oh-so-sexy moans when she tastes his delicious creations turn him on, he's even more aroused by how this beautiful, funny woman is unimpressed by his fame. He knows they could be amazing together, if she could only see past his rabid, bitch-fork-wielding fan base. Now as he's about to start a new prime time TV cooking show, can Jack convince Lili to realize her own ambitions-and turn up the heat in his kitchen?

Rating: 2/5 Stars

My Review:
The plot was a bit scattered at the beginning and it took me a while to get into it. But one I hit the middle of it, it picked up and kept my attention until the end. I didn't mind the main character - she was a little more realistic than your usual "female" character, as she proud of her curvier and larger figure. Not many books portray women in that light, so it was refreshing in that sense. I'm not sure if I'll read the rest of the series though. I may change my mind later.

Book Review: Looking for Alaska

Looking for Alaska
by John Green
2006
221 pages

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. He heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.

After. Nothing is ever the same.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

My Review
One of my students had recommended this book to me, after she read it and loved it. I believe she is one of John Green's biggest fans! Anyways, I finally got it from the library and I read it in a day and a half. It was quick read and the style of writing was really easy to follow and was quite compelling. I haven't read a young adult novel in quite some time, but it was refreshing to read this one. The plotline was realistic, the characters were believable, and I feel like I could connect with all of them on some level, and understand what they were going through. I definitely will be looking to read his other books in the future!

Book Review: Fifty Shades Freed

Fifty Shades Freed

by E.L. James

2012

579 Pages

Synopsis from Goodreads

When unworldly student Anastasia Steele first encountered the driven and dazzling young entrepreneur Christian Grey it sparked a sensual affair that changed both of their lives irrevocably. Shocked, intrigued, and, ultimately, repelled by Christian’s singular erotic tastes, Ana demands a deeper commitment. Determined to keep her, Christian agrees.

Now, Ana and Christian have it all—love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of possibilities for their future. But Ana knows that loving her Fifty Shades will not be easy, and that being together will pose challenges that neither of them would anticipate. Ana must somehow learn to share Christian’s opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own identity. And Christian must overcome his compulsion to control as he wrestles with the demons of a tormented past.

Just when it seems that their strength together will eclipse any obstacle, misfortune, malice, and fate conspire to make Ana’s deepest fears turn to reality.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

My Review

This finale in the trilogy had the best plot for me. At the end I was literally overcome with emotion, over what Ana and Christian were facing. Maybe it's because I'm pregnant and am feeling extra emotional, but it was nice to actually connect with the characters on some level, and see them as having actual realistic feelings and reactions to what was going on.

Book Review: The Perfume Collector

The Perfume Collector

by Kathleen Tessaro

2013

464 Pages

Synopsis from Goodreads

An inheritance from a mysterious stranger . . .

An abandoned perfume shop on the Left Bank of Paris . . .

And three exquisite perfumes that hold a memory . . . and a secret

London, 1955: Grace Monroe is a fortunate young woman. Despite her sheltered upbringing in Oxford, her recent marriage has thrust her into the heart of London's most refined and ambitious social circles. However, playing the role of the sophisticated socialite her husband would like her to be doesn't come easily to her—and perhaps never will.

Then one evening a letter arrives from France that will change everything. Grace has received an inheritance. There's only one problem: she has never heard of her benefactor, the mysterious Eva d'Orsey.

So begins a journey that takes Grace to Paris in search of Eva. There, in a long-abandoned perfume shop on the Left Bank, she discovers the seductive world of perfumers and their muses, and a surprising, complex love story. Told by invoking the three distinctive perfumes she inspired, Eva d'Orsey's story weaves through the decades, from 1920s New York to Monte Carlo, Paris, and London.

But these three perfumes hold secrets. And as Eva's past and Grace's future intersect, Grace realizes she must choose between the life she thinks she should live and the person she is truly meant to be.

Illuminating the lives and challenging times of two fascinating women, The Perfume Collector weaves a haunting, imaginative, and beautifully written tale filled with passion and possibility, heartbreak and hope

Rating: 5/5 Stars

My Review

This was a super well-written novel, and it drew me in right from the beginning. Not too much description, but enough to make me envision the events actually occurring. The characters were realistic and believable - I really connected with the main character, Grace. It made me happy to see her choices at the end, particular with Mr. Tissot (such a wonderful man!) I loved how the stories all intertwined and how the plot had unique twists and turns throughout. I'll definitely be reading more of her novels, especially if they're anything like this one.

Book Review: Requiem

Requiem

by Frances Itani

2011

399 Pages

Synopsis from Goodreads

Bin Okuma, a celebrated visual artist, has recently and quite suddenly lost his wife, Lena. He and his son, Greg, are left to deal with the shock. But Greg has returned to his studies on the East Coast, and Bin finds himself alone and pulled into memories he has avoided for much of his life. In 1942, after Pearl Harbor, his Japanese Canadian family was displaced from the West Coast. Now, he sets out to drive across the country: to complete the last works needed for an upcoming exhibition; to revisit the places that have shaped him; to find his biological father, who has been lost to him. It has been years since his father made a fateful decision that almost destroyed the family. Now, Bin must ask himself whether he really wants to find him. With the persuasive voice of his wife in his head, and the echo of their great love in his heart, he embarks on an unforgettable journey that encompasses art and music, love and hope.

A story of great loss, a story of redemption, a story of abiding love, Requiem is a beautifully written and evocative novel about a family torn apart by the past and a man’s present search for solace

Rating: 3/5 Stars

My Review

It was nice to read a book that took place in Canada, and especially in areas that I've been to or lived in. It really helped me connect with the characters in their setting. Overall this novel was very tragic. The family suffered greatly and it was sad to realize how Japanese Canadians were treated in WWII. I had no idea that they faced such harsh realities while living here. The book started off slow, but it definitely picked up when it focussed on the main character's life in those hard times. The book jumped back and forth between present and past, and the past times were definitely more of an interest to read.