Ten Beach Road Review

Ten Beach Road

By: Wendy Wax
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Book Description:

On the brink of ruin, three very different women discover themselves where they least expect...at Ten Beach Road

Madeline, Avery, and Nikki are strangers to one another, but they have one thing in common. They each wake up one morning to discover that their life savings have vanished, along with their trusted financial manager...leaving them with nothing but co-ownership of a ramshackle beachfront house.

Madeline Singer is a homemaker coping with empty-nest syndrome and an unemployed husband. Avery Lawford is an architect--or was, until she somehow became the sidekick on her ex-husband's TV show. And professional matchmaker Nikki Grant is trying to recover from her biggest mistake...

No one is going to save them but themselves. Determined to fight back, they throw their lots in together and take on the challenge of restoring the historic beach house to its former glory. But just as they begin to reinvent themselves and discover the power of friendship, their secrets threaten to tear down their trust, and destroy their lives a second time...

Review by Kelsey:

This wonderful work by Wendy Wax is truly refreshing and inspiring. The story is compelling, with many fascinating twists and each character is so multi-faceted that by the end of the book, they all feel like old friends. By alternating "stream of conciousness" storytelling between each of the three leads, the story comes to life. The dialogue was quick and sharp, and the author's own sense of humor shines through in every chapter. The vibrant main characters are each women who alternate between hysterically humorous and heart-wrenchingly poignant as they grapple with their own emotional and financial fallouts. The romance in the novel is witty and fresh, and the love scenes were not overly sexual. In fact, all the relationships in this novel are painted with a light hand, allowing realism to carry the reader along a remarkable journey! There is also some intrigue, as the main antagonist in this book is hunted down, bringing the secrets of the three women to an enthralling crescendo. I am definitely keeping this one on my shelf, and will be sharing with friends!

White Sleeper Review

White Sleeper

By: David R. Fett & Stephen Langford
Meet The Authors

About the Book:

When Arkansas experiences a wave of rare fatal diseases, the CDC sends disgraced doctor Dave Richards to investigate, and he knows this is the case that could save his career. When he teams up with FBI agent Paula Mushari, Richards thinks he may have found the person who can help him find the answers. But as they dig deeper, they begin to get a sinister glimpse into what they are dealing with - a vengeful sect led by the son of a late white supremacist, intent on destroying a nation. As Richards fights to save his job, he and Mushari must race against the clock to prevent a plauge of catastrophic proportions.

Review by Kelsey

I must admit, this book was a little hard to get into. The beginning was slow; the writers relied heavily on weight descriptions to characterize individuals, and while this device is mainly predictable, at times it verges on offensive. I never knew there were so many different ways to communicate the fact that a person is overweight. (Zaftig, anyone?) To put it bluntly, I was not optimistic.

Then the story began. In a word, I was riveted. It was like an excellent episode of crime TV (the kind of which one of the authors is actually a producer) and I gobbled it down. The pace picked up, and I found myself so engrossed that even turning the page was an inconvenience! The main characters finally came to life within this amazing plot. In truth, the premise of the book is rather harrowing in its sheer plausibility, and the authors do a brilliant job of balancing the antagonist and protagonist story lines. To top it all off, there's even a reasonably believable love story! I think this will make an excellent addition to any Drama/Suspense fan's collection.

Thursday, August 25

Book reviewed at True Media Solutions

Review: Left Neglected by Lisa Genova

Left Neglected
By Lisa Genova
Excerpt

About The Book:
Sarah Nickerson is like any other career-driven supermom in Welmont, the affluent Boston suburb where she leads a hectic but charmed life with her husband Bob, faithful nanny, and three children—Lucy, Charlie, and nine-month-old Linus.


Between recruiting the best and brightest minds as the vice president of human resources at Berkley Consulting; shuttling the kids to soccer, day care, and piano lessons; convincing her son’s teacher that he may not, in fact, have ADD; and making it home in time for dinner, it’s a wonder this over-scheduled, over-achieving Harvard graduate has time to breathe.

A self-confessed balloon about to burst, Sarah miraculously manages every minute of her life like an air traffic controller. Until one fateful day, while driving to work and trying to make a phone call, she looks away from the road for one second too long. In the blink of an eye, all the rapidly moving parts of her jam-packed life come to a screeching halt.

A traumatic brain injury completely erases the left side of her world, and for once, Sarah relinquishes control to those around her, including her formerly absent mother. Without the ability to even floss her own teeth, she struggles to find answers about her past and her uncertain future.

Now, as she wills herself to regain her independence and heal, Sarah must learn that her real destiny—her new, true life—may in fact lie far from the world of conference calls and spreadsheets. And that a happiness and peace greater than all the success in the world is close within reach, if only she slows down long enough to notice.

About the Author:
Lisa Genova graduated valedictorian from Bates College with a degree in Biopsychology and has a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University. She is the author of the New York Times Bestselling novels STILL ALICE and LEFT NEGLECTED.

Review by Lynda:
Seldom have I read a book that so surprised me. I didn't really expect to be enthralled by the tragic circumstances of Sarah Nickerson, but enthralled I was. Sarah's character is so well written that I felt like she was someone I knew personally. I wanted to hold her hand, smack her when she got too testy, and cheer her on as she achieved each small victory.

Author Lisa Genova mixes frustration, failure, disbelief, and depression with just the right amount of humor that gave me a moment to take a deep breath before diving ever deeper into this superb story. What Sarah is able to accomplish through sheer grit and determination is remarkable, but when coupled with the love and commitment of her family, well, it's beautiful and miraculous. What an up-lifting and inspiring story!

Review: The Watchman of Ephraim by Gerard de Marigny

The Watchman of Ephraim
By Gerard de Marigny

Release Date: Original: January 21, 2011; 3rd Edition: July 01, 2011

Published by: JarRyJorNo Publishing (www.JarRyJorNoPublishing.com)

ISBN-978-1456575403        

Pages: 273

Genre: Political Thriller

About the Book:
Cris De Niro worked his way up to the top of the hedge fund world. Yet all of his money couldn't protect him from losing his wife on 9/11. 10 years have passed since the tragedy. Turning to his faith, De Niro now lives for a higher purpose. He acquires a lackluster counter-terrorism agency, in order to transform it into The Watchman for the United States, but there's not a moment to lose. He and his new agency unknowingly become targets when they stumble upon a connection between a rich Iranian businessman and a Mexican drug cartel. First, their agent sent to investigate goes missing and then strange events start to unfold at the border. Making matters worse, they suspect that there’s a leak among them. It’s up to De Niro and his new team to protect America from a possible terrorist attack more catastrophic than 9/11 …and it appears he and his children are targeted too! 

Review by Lynda
One wonders how they would respond, reason, or survive a crisis as horrendous as described in The Watchman of Ephraim. Through author Gerard de Marigny's considerable writing skills, we get to experience such a thing through one man, Cris De Niro. The emotions are intense and raw. If you get to page 17, you'll not be able to put this book aside for long.

This cat and mouse thriller with it's straight, yet curvy plot, explores the threat and violence of terrorism without coloring the pages with unnecessary graphic gruesomeness. It delves into the heart and soul of a man in emotional agony. It gives us an inside view of his interpretation of events and the decisions that will change his life.

For those who read this genre, you'll find this book very well written. Desperate times, emotionally wounded characters, a fast paced plot, to-the-point dialog, and just the right amount of description make this story an easy read that will be over before you're ready to give it up.

The Trouble With Being a Horse Review

The Trouble with Being a Horse

By: Emily Edwards

About the book:

Olivia is outraged when her parents forbid her to ride and she wishes she could run away and be with horses forever. But after falling off her favourite horse, Olivia is shocked to find that she has mysteriously turned into a horse!

As a girl in a horse's body, Olivia must put her knowledge of horses to the test as she navigates this new and bizarre world. Struggling to communicate with both humans and horses, Olivia does her best to fit in. But when she can't resist showing off how much she knows, her secret is in danger of being found out!

 
Review by Kelsey G:
Wish-fulfillment and horse sense are the order of the day in Emily Edwards' novel The Trouble with Being a Horse. Girls everywhere will get a kick out of this book, I think, while adult readers may find the writing style a bit lacking in wit and originality. Most of those bothersome details of the "why" and "how" are left to the reader's imagination regarding the main character, a horse-loving girl named Olivia's unexpected equestrian metamorphosis, and I think this hurts the story. Granted, this novel makes no science fiction or adventure story postures, and winds up achieving its most basic goal, to be an entertaining horse story. While I must admit to being mostly bored, I can tell Ms. Edwards makes an attempt to keep the plot fresh with unexpected characters and events. Unfortunately, these "twists" read more like formulaic plot points, and the reader is never really caught up in the events as they unfold. Of course, the inescapable "grass is never greener" lesson is effectively learned by the close of this novel, I only wish the journey there had been a tad more thrilling. I give it three stars because, despite its short-comings, it is a solid children's book and I will be keeping it on the shelf for my daughter to enjoy.

The Romance of Georgette Heyer

The Quiet Gentleman
By Georgette Heyer
Read More or Purchase Books Here

About The Book:
Returning to his family seat from Waterloo, Gervase Frant, seventh Earl of St Erth, could have expected more enthusiasm for his homecoming. His quiet cousin, stepmother, and young half-brother seem openly disappointed that he survived the wars. And when he begins to fall for his half-brother’s sweetheart, his chilly reception goes from unfriendly to positively murderous.

One of Heyer’s most suspenseful Regency romances, The Quiet Gentleman combines an ingenious mystery plot with her signature witty style and effervescently engaging characters.

Bath Tangle
About The Book:
A Delightful Tangle of Affairs…
The Earl of Spenborough had always been noted for his eccentricity. Leaving a widow younger than his own daughter Serena was one thing, but leaving his fortune to the trusteeship of the Marquis of Rotherham – the one man the same daughter had jilted – was quite another.
When Serena and her lovely young stepmother Fanny decide to move to Bath, Serena makes an odd new friend and discovers an old love. Before long, they’re all entangled in a clutter of marriage and manners the likes of which even Regency Bath has rarely seen.

Review by Lynda:
Anyone who has been an avid reader of Romance for any length of time will recognize the name, Georgette Heyer. Not only will they recognize it, but they will tell you that she was a talented pioneer in the published romance genre, and that no one could write better the Regency period, which was the setting for most of her books. I've read all of her stories and will forever admire her style, voice, and understanding of what constitutes the true spirit of Romance. I've chosen two of my favorites to highlight in this post. You'll love the snappy dialog, the feisty heroines, the strong, principled men who are both roguish and charming. You'll love the pomp and sometimes comical antics of the Regency era as the author portrays them.

If you haven't yet enjoyed one of Georgette Heyer's books, please do yourself a huge favor and spend an afternoon with The Marquis of Rotherham and Serena in BATH TANGLE. Or, immerse yourself in the web of romance that surrounds the Earl of St Erth and his half-brother's sweetheart in THE QUIET GENTLEMAN.

Bath Tangle - Page 260
'You cannot silence my threats, my lord!'

'It seems improbable that you could be silenced by anything short of a gag. And don't call me my lord! It makes you appear even more absurd than you do already.'

The Greatest Love on Earth By Mary Ellen Dennis

The Greatest Love on Earth
By Mary Ellen Dennis

About The Book:

Set against the exotic world of an 1875 circus and the high-society milieu of Denver, Colorado, Mary Ellen Dennis's THE GREATEST LOVE ON EARTH  sweeps readers into a story of death-defying feats, dangerous rivalries, and a love that has all the thrills and romance of the greatest show on earth.

Bold, beautiful Calliope Kelley has two passions in life: her father's circus and Brian O'Connor, and she just may lose them both. For years she has singlehandedly struggled to keep the Sean Kelley Circus going. Then Brian O'Connor, the daredevil animal trainer Calliope has adored since childhood, returns to the circus, having found everything a man can want. . .except the right woman.

Soon their passion will explode under the Big Top. Soon a deadly enemy will begin sabotaging Calliope's beloved circus. As terror becomes the star attraction, it will take a woman's indomitable dreams and a man's enduring love to survive and triumph over the most impossible odds of all.

Review By Lynda: The storyline really intrigued me on this one. I love reading about the world of Circus and those who work and perform in them. And a good love story mixed into this promised a rewarding read. Author Mary Ellen Dennis delivers the rigors and excitement of the Circus with great settings and description. The unique characters she populated the Circus community with will keep you wondering about their lives long after you've finished the book. The only negative factor to me was the love story. While it was begun with great promise and romanticism, it soon dropped into the realm of gratuitous sex. I had been instantly drawn to both Calliope and Brian in the very beginning and I wish I could say the same was true when I'd finished. Actually, I ended up loving the secondary characters, the setting, and the superb writing style, but not the main characters.

Box-Load of Books Giveaway

BOX-LOAD OF BOOKS GIVEAWAY

Between the Pages is going to give one happy reader a box full of great books. In fact, we'll be sending you all SIX of the novels pictured in the photo above. All you have to do to be entered to win these books is make a comment on any book review on our blog between July 29th - August 30th. 

(Comments need to be made on the individual book review pages. 
Do not put your entry comments on this post.)
(A list of reviews may be found under LABELS in the right sidebar.)

• Required Entry: Make a comment on any book review on our site and be sure to leave your email address in that comment so that we can contact you should you be chosen as our winner.
• Extra Entries: If you comment on more than one book review, each additional comment on a different review will count as an extra entry. (The more comments you make, the better your chances of winning!) Be sure to include your email address.
• Extra Entry: Follow our blog on GFC

Giveaway ends at midnight, EST, on August 30th. A winner will be chosen and announced on our blog within three days. The winner will be notified by email and have 72 hours to respond. In the case that the winner does not respond within the allotted time, a new winner will be chosen.

WE HAVE A WINNER: Mamabunny for her comment on the book review for 'Whispers In The Sand'. CONGRATULATIONS!

Review: Tout Sweet by Karen Wheeler

Tout Sweet

By Karen Wheeler

Hanging Up My High Heels for a New Life in France

A MEMOIR
http://karenwheele/r.co.uk/book/


About the Book:
In her mid-thirties the author had it all: a successful career as a fashion editor, handsome boyfriend, fab flat in west London and a gorgeous array of shoes. But when her significant other leaves, she wonders if there is more to life than a collection of great accessories. So, she hangs up her Manolos and waves goodbye to her city lifestyle, moving to France to renovate a run-down house in rural Poitou-Charentes, western France.

There she encounters a host of new friends and unsuitable suitors, soon learning that true happiness can be found in the simplest of things – a bike ride through the countryside on a summer evening, or six glasses of pineau in a neighbour’s garden. If you’ve ever dreamed of chucking away your BlackBerry in favour of real blackberrying and downshifting to a simpler life abroad, Tout Sweet is ideal summer reading.’

Review by Kelsey G.
Let me begin this review with the following declaration: I LOVE THIS BOOK! The adventures of the main character, Karen (or Ka-renne, as her French friends call her) are downright hilarious. The characters in this memoir are both funny and frighteningly real, and the debacles of a single Englishwoman trying to make a go of it in the French countryside are positively endearing. I was rooting for Karen almost instantly, in turn gasping and choking with laughter as she describes the woes of renovating a flagging old house while trying to eke out for herself some kind of social life among a slew of "over-fifty ex-pats". While trying to find love and balance in her new life, Karen is such a relateable character. The dialogue was charmingly sprinkled with French wording, and the descriptions were living, breathing things. I could taste the food, feel the winter's chill, and rejoiced with Karen as she finally got her woodstove burning!
There are some surprises along the way, but by the end, I set this book down with a satisfied sigh, then promptly began researching flight packages to France! If you enjoy fast-paced, witty banter and honest self-revalation, Tout Sweet is a must-read!