New Blogger Appreciation Award

I have met a a blogger who is new to this venue. I think she is doing a great job, and would like to present her with a New Blogger Appreciation Award!

And the award goes to....*drum roll*....

Shannon at Books Devoured

Please stop by and check out her brand spanking new blog!

Fiction: The Redemption of Holly Dobson, by C. Lynn Barton

The Redemption of Holly Dobson, by C. Lynn Barton is the story of a girl who grows up in unloving circumstances and finds herself trying to get through life the best she can. She meets a man who changes everything for her and that is where her true story begins. Holly finds herself in many corners where evil lurks and temptation gets the better of her. She ignores the warnings of those who truly care for her, and justifies the terrible things she does by claiming to do them in order to protect her family.

This book has been labeled as horror fiction and thriller. I found it to be neither of these. Though there was a supernatural evil element, the book did not cause me to feel any fear for the characters. There were a few gruesome acts that were mentioned, but the evil described just wasn't presented in a way that would really cause fear or concern. Holly treated all things with no sense of mortification, which added to the ho-hum feel of things. The back cover mentions her son as "demonic," which conjures thoughts of the most horrifying evil. However, the actions taken by the son were more along the lines of Orson Wells' 1984. Horrifying, yes. Demonic, no.

As for being a thriller, I didn't find it suspenseful. Everything was pretty predictable. Even when new elements were introduced, they were done in a "that's just the way it is" fashion.

Overall, I found many parts of the story to be extremely redundant (e.i., the constant reminder that Holly grew up with no love, or how she would do anything to protect her family, etc.). I also feel that the transitions were very abrupt. There were many mechanical problems, and the ending was not satisfying as there was no real resolution. Lastly, I just could not sympathize with the main character because she never learned her lesson, though she viewed herself differently.

I  liked the original ideas that surrounded The Spring and the Vampierre family. This book had good bones, and I did enjoy reading it, but it really needed to be fleshed out more thoroughly in order for it to be its best.

On a scale of 1-4, I give this book a 2. I liked the overall premise of the story, and I feel it has potential.

This book was published by Dark Willow Books
ISBN: 978-0-615-34941-1

Thank you to C. Lynn Barton for this gift of this book.





 

Fiction: The Swan Thieves, by Elizabeth Kostova

The Swan Thieves, by Elizabeth Kostova is a classic romance, a mystery, and a historical fiction all wrapped up in one. Andrew Marlowe is a psychiatrist who is introduced to a new patient, Robert Oliver. Oliver, who is a somewhat famous painter of the times, has suffered a breakdown and has tried to attack a painting in one of New York's most esteemed museums.

While Dr. Marlowe tries to unravel the mystery that is Robert Oliver, another mystery unfolds itself in the pages of the book; a secondary story of love and romance that takes place in France in the late 1800's. All of this is set against the background of art from the Impressionists with real places and works of art being intricately woven into the story.

I experienced the first 21 chapters of this book via CD (thank you All Ears Audiobooks). This was my first experience with an audiobook, so I didn't quite know what to expect. Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to experience the whole thing in audio format. I ended up checking out the hardcover from my local library and filling in my nights with the rest of the adventures of Marlowe and Oliver.

Speaking strictly about the format, I actually liked listening to the story while otherwise engaged. After getting used to the rhythm of the reader, as well as the quirks and accents, I was able to hone in on the story itself. I look forward to trying out another audiobook for those times when I need a boost to get through a workout, or when I am cleaning.

Back to the story, itself, I really enjoyed it. The writing was well done, the pictures drawn out well with words. I did feel, however, that there was a bit of overindulgence in some parts. For instance, I would have cutback on much of the narrative of Mary (an ex-lover of Robert Oliver). I did find myself skimming at parts such as these, which I try desperately not to do. At 102 chapters and 561 pages, with not every detail riveting, I hope you can understand why I may have drifted a bit.

In any case, I truly enjoyed this book. The information and back story about the art world was interesting, the intertwining of past and present was done well, and the overall resolution was satisfying. As with every story of heartbreak and mania, one can never truly understand the mysteries of the heart and mind.

On a scale of 1-4, I give this book a 3.5. A great read for most any fiction lover.

This book was published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of the Hachette Book Group.
ISBN:978-0-316-06578-8

ARC Fiction/Thriller: Red Wolf, by Liza Marklund

Red Wolf, by Liza Marklund (co-author of The Postcard Killers, with James Patterson), is the fifth book in a series that follows the life of Annika Bengtzon, a crime reporter for the Swedish tabloid Evening Post. Chronologically in the life of the main character, The Bomber precedes Red Wolf. In The Bomber, Annika is taken hostage and terrorized. Coming into Red Wolf, she is still battling with fear and anxiety caused by her abduction, which greatly affects the way Annika deals with life.

Annika decides to reheat a long cold trail leading from an attack on a Swedish military base many years before. What she ends up stumbling upon takes her to a dark place where twisted minds lurk and people end up dead. How deep does the rabbit hole go? Deeper than you know.

During her journey, Annika also makes discoveries about herself and uncovers the truth about her relationship with her husband. Interwoven are the side stories of her husband, Thomas, and her dearest friend, Anne. Will Thomas stray, and will Anne find harmony with her ex?

This was my first ARC. I was very excited to have won it! I enjoyed reading it, especially knowing that not everyone was privy to the book yet.

This book is very similar in many ways to the Millennium Trilogy, by Steig Larrson. You have the reporter who follows clues to untangle an old mystery, places in Sweden of course, and political scandal. But it is a story that stands out alone in the way it introduces multiple characters whose lives intermingle and the personal relationships each encounters. Not to mention a strong woman as the main character.

Aside from the few technical problems that I'm sure will be addressed in the final cut, I really enjoyed this book. It had good drama, action, and suspense, along with some nice plot twists. If only full names weren't used every time a character was reintroduced!

On a scale of 1-4, I give this book a 3.5. I almost loved it, but definitely recommend it!
This book is published by Atria Books, a division of Simon and Schuster.
ISBN: 978-4516-0206-7 (On sale February 15, 2011)
Thank you to the author, via @ShelfAwareness and Rachel Bostic at Atria Books/Simon and Schuster for the gift of this book.

Children's Fiction: The Naturals, by Sharon R.C. Petersen

The Naturals, by Sharon R.C. Petersen, is a collection of short stories about nature. Each story features a natural element as a main character that interacts with the other characters in the story. At the beginning of each story a question is posed as to what children think will happen (e.i., "Does Rainy make things worse...or can he truly save the day?"). At the close of each story is a sweet little saying to help tuck the wee ones in bed, followed by a discussion prompt to help the children explore and answer the question asked at the start.

There are stories about Cloudy, Windy, Snowy, Rainy, Sunny, Moony, Hailstones, Starry, Rainbow, and Earth. Each one tries to explore the intentions of the characters in an attempt to get children to connect and identify with their surroundings.

I read this at night to my 9 and 5 year olds. The 9 year old didn't enjoy the stories very much. She was not able to give me any concrete reason other than she felt that some of the stories were boring.  My youngest daughter, on the other hand, said that she loved the book. Because this is a book from the UK, we were able to experience new words such as "trotters" (feet), which made the book that much better for her.

I like the concept of this book, though some stories were better than others.  The author made a point to incorporate a lesson and discussion with each story, which made it easier for me to engage my children. Also, I liked how each story ended with the same "signing off." It gave a sense of continuity and predictability which some children enjoy. However, I would have put the closing after the discussion prompts, that way it showed a true end to the matter.

Overall, this is a good bedtime story collection for children who like to personify the world around them, or who enjoy stories about talking animals and engaging environments. I feel that the ideal age group for this book is children under 8.

On a scale of 1-4, I give this book a 3. My 9 year old wasn't too impressed, but my 5 year old loved it. I felt it was engaging, and I liked how the author offered suggestions for further story exploration.


This book was published in the UK by Book Guild Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-84624-340-0

Thank you to Sharon Petersen for the gift of this book.

More information about The Naturals can be found at http://thenaturals.uk.com/index.html
A percentage of the profits from the sale of this book will benefit WWT (Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust) to help save wetlands and wildlife, as well as the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) to help stop child abuse.

Non-Fiction: The Naked Lady Who Stood on Her Head; A Psychiatrist's Stories of His Most Bizarre Cases, by Gary Small, M.D. & GiGi Vorgan

The Naked Lady Who Stood on Her Head, by Dr. Gary Small and his wife GiGi Vorgan (authors of The Memory Bible), is a collection of stories about Dr. Small's adventures in psychiatry. The book leads through the life and cases of Dr. Small as he begins his career as a "shrink." The tales range from a naked lady standing on her head, to a man and his shrinking penis, with each case being explained  by Dr. Small for a better understanding of what the causes and treatments are for that particular situation.

The title of this story leads one to believe that the cases discussed will be strange and rare, or at least rarely heard of. When I read the title, I even thought that there would be quite a bit of humor involved. What I found is that, though the scenarios are strange, I can't believe they are the "most bizarre" that Dr. Small has encountered. And though the stories were told in a lighthearted manner, there really wasn't very much humor.

Aside from my initial expectations not being met, I did enjoy this book and found it very easy to read. The explanations offered for the diagnoses were clear and understandable, and the personal reflections were heartfelt. The stories in, and of themselves, were entertaining, and I liked the way that Dr. Small's life was interwoven with the cases.

On a scale of 1-4, I give this book a 3. I thought the cases would be more bizarre and humorous, but overall it was a good read.

This book was published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins
ISBN: 978-0-06-180378-9

Thank you to the authors Dr. Small and Gigi Vorgan, via their publicist Greg Lee, for the gift of this book.
Several places to find more info about Dr. Small and his wife GiGi Vorgan:
http://www.drgarysmall.com/
http://facebook.com/group.php?gid=104526749607663 (Naked Lady Book Group)
http://twitter.com/drgarysmall
http://drgarysmall.wordpress.com/
http://twitter.com/gigivorgan

Children's Fiction: The Adventures of Isaiah James; Beach Boy, by Sabrina K. Carpenter

The Adventures of Isaiah James; Beach Boy, by Sabrina K. Carpenter is the first in a series of children's books about the author's son Isaiah. It is the rhythmical telling of a trip to the beach and the wonderful adventure Isaiah and his family have. Fun filled with beach balls, crabs, and plenty of sand castle building.

My two younger daughters read this, followed by a reading of my own. The eldest of the two felt that the author used the name "Isaiah James" too often, but had no other input. My youngest, on the other hand, liked the adventure wholly. I liked the story and how the author wanted to write something meaningful for her son. I did feel that occasionally the meter of the words did not flow as well as in some parts of the story, but the rhyming overall was fairly well done.

This book is a good bedtime story. The pictures were colorful and the story mostly rhythmic. Overall, a good read.

On a scale of 1-4, I give this book a 3. At least one daughter enjoyed it, as did I.

This book was published by Perfected Pen Publishing.
ISBN: 978-0982773710

Thank you to Sabrina K. Carpenter for the gift of her book.

Urban Fantasy/Sci-Fi: Phantom Four; Children of the Grave, by Roger Wilson

The Phantom Four; Children of the Grave, by Roger Wilson is the tale of four young boys whose lives were stolen at the age of five by the forces of evil, and then transformed by the powers of good into the ultimate fighting quartet 20 years later. Based in various venues around New York City, the Phantom Four fight demons of Hell who are aiding Satan in his take over of the world. All the while they learn about themselves, discover their past, and hone their newly acquired skills.

This story has a good premise for a hero story. It is written in a screenplay format, as that was the initial intention of the writer. However, it would be best told in a graphic novel where the story and characters could come alive like traditional superheroes.

There were some technical errors in the book, but my biggest difficulty was with the incongruity of the Christan themes with the sexual context of the story. There was also a lot of profanity, which I do not have a personal issue with, but again, did not fit well with the Christian themes. The religious aspects felt unnatural to the overall flow of the story, with the exception of the "good versus evil" elements.

Overall, I feel that this story has promise.  I liked the ideas and hope that the author will go back and revise the conceptual inconsistencies.

On a scale of 1-4, I give this book a 2.

This book was published by Outskirts Press.
ISBN: 978-1-4327-6122-6

Thank you to Roger Wilson for the gift of his book.