Until It Fades by K.A. Tucker

Two people whose lives couldn’t be any more different have their worlds collide, in Tucker’s latest romance novel.  After an awful blind date, Cath is driving down a dark and winding road when she comes across a bad accident.  That little red sports car that flew past her earlier now smashed into a tree.  The passenger of the vehicle still looks to be alive and she uses all her strength to get this giant of a man out of the car.  Saving his life.  When NHL player, Brett and his famous family want to show their gratitude, it brings an onslaught of media attention straight to Cath’s door, eventually dredging up a past Cath would much prefer stay in the past.  

Even Tucker states this is a little different than her typical storyline however what doesn’t change is her amazing ability to weave a story that makes readers care about the characters.  We all want Cath and Brett to have a relationship that comes from a terrible accident.  We want Cath’s past to stay put and hope it doesn’t come back to ruin what could happen with their relationship.  This was a fantastic, fast contemporary read and one of my favorite books of 2017.  

All Over the Place by Geraldine DeRuiter

I stumbled upon Geraldine's travel blog, The Everywhereist, over 5 years ago and immediately fell in love with her charm and humor. I know I'm not unique in thinking Geraldine is one of my friends by now; that's what happens when you read so much about one's life on the internet. But, alas, she has no idea who I am. We completely share the same love for sweets and I always check her blog before we travel somewhere new to see if she's already scoped out the best bakeries in town.  

When I found out she was writing a book I was over the moon. Reading All Over the Place is like sitting down with a good friend, laughing (ok, fine, snorting) away and nodding along in agreement as Geraldine regales you with hilarious and crazily honest stories. It's less about actually traveling and more about life, dare I say, growing up, being in love (and the compromise that follows!) and understanding the people and places around you and what that means. I loved every word of it and can see myself re-reading it over and over. It's definitely not to be missed!  

Being a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz

It’s a well-known fact that a dog’s nose is remarkably better than a humans. But just how good is it? Horowitz dives in, or rather crouches down, to really find out. What transpires is a fascinating exploration of the power of not only dogs’ noses but of humans’ as well. In order to better understand a dog’s scent-abilities, Horowitz found many opportunities to view working dogs at their best as well as exercising her own sniffer.  She highlights some incredible dogs including those that can detect cancer, or track endangered animals, can locate contraband materials, to discovering underground highly sought after truffles. A dog can tell when its owner should be coming home, when it’s about to rain, it can even assess the gender, age, health, etc. of another dog. 

Humans’ and dogs’ noses have become weaker over the centuries largely because it’s not as important survival-wise. Dogs depend on their owners and we depend on technology. Plus, noses will continue to become weaker unless we exercise this undervalued sense. Try paying more attention to the smells around you and what they might actually mean. Does that sweet smell in the air mean it's going to rain? Also, if you have a dog try playing the Find It game and allow him or her to sniff longer on your walks instead of pulling them along.  If you love dogs or have an interest in all things smelly, you’ll enjoy this book.  

I found Being a Dog captivating and would often find myself sharing my new knowledge with anyone who would listen. For instance: a human nose can produce up to 2 liters of mucus in a day!! I can’t wait to exercise my smeller more by sniffing everything! 

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert

This book, in my mind, will be known as the Sweetness of Coconut Cake for how absolutely adorable it was.  I was thrilled by its comparison to You’ve Got Mail and just had to read it.  Elizabeth (Lou) Johnson owns Luella’s, a French cuisine restaurant in Milwaukee which she has poured her heart and soul into.  Al Waters, a transplant from the U.K. (swoon) is a tough food critic and writes for the local Milwaukee paper.  Coincidentally, these two likable characters meet cute at the Milwaukee Public Market, the same day Lou catches her fiancée with another woman, and Al is scheduled to dine and review Luella’s.   You get an idea of what will enfold but it's still so wonderful to follow along with these two as they blindly fall in love.  Plus, it's a nice bonus, for many people, to see Milwaukee in a fun and new light.

How to Start a Fire by Lisa Lutz

How to Start a Fire is such a well-crafted, thought-out, novel that it has quickly become my favorite this year.  Nonlinear and at times confusing (but in such a wonderful unfolding of beautiful storytelling) we meet three flawed women in college. Lutz interweaves their stories through flashes of time between the past and present spanning 20 years into middle-age.  We slowly gather details about one traumatic night in their 20s plus the aftereffects on each of them without yet knowing what that night entailed. 

Anna Fury eschews her wealthy background with misadventures and a strong love of drinking.  Orphan, Kate Smirnoff was raised by her grandfather and hasn't planned anything for her future beyond owning her grandfather’s greasy spoon diner come graduation.  George (Georgianna) Leoni, the beauty of the three, keeps falling for the wrong men preferring to morph herself into the ‘perfect wife’ depending on the husband.  This is such a calculated and well-timed story and would make a great book club selection as there is much to discuss regarding how lives are changed with certain events.  I am incredibly impressed with Lutz and she remains one of my favorite authors.  

At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen

Written with the backdrop of WWII, three Philadelphia socialites set out for Scotland in search of the Loch Ness monster.  Color blind Ellis and flat-footed Hank are unable to serve their country during the war and are seemingly oblivious to that which is raging on around them.  While the men are off to track down the elusive Loch Ness monster each day, they leave behind Maddie, Ellis's wife, who befriends the people living and working in the quaint village of Drumnadrochit.  The nearness of the war and its effects open Maddie’s eyes to a harsh reality and makes her take a closer look at those she thought she loved.  

A lovely story set in a beautiful landscape and troubling time frame.  Sara Gruen is wonderful at creating a setting that becomes a character of its own.  Plus, the WWII history she brings to the story is just another reason why I love her writing.  She perfectly weaves history, setting and a love story to make a great novel.

When by Victoria Lauri

Maddie Fynn's life hasn't been too easy up till her Junior year of high school.  Since birth, she's been able to see a unique string of numbers on every person's forehead.  When her father dies at a young age, the numbers finally make sense.  They are each person's individual death date.  For almost a decade after, she has blamed herself for her father's work-related death, as her mother has been drinking herself into an early death of her own.

However, when Maddie gives a 'reading' to make extra cash things get much worse.  Maddie informs a wealthy woman, who has come to inquire about her ailing daughter, that it's her very heathy son who will die next week.  All kinds of attention is brought on Maddie for his mysterious death.  What follows is an intense, suspenseful ride as Maddie is suspected of murder, her best friend is thrown in jail, and her Ma's alcoholism hits an all-time low.  Can Maddie learn to ignore the numbers or will she use her gift to help those in need?

The Lost by Sarah Beth Durst

Fleeing her mother’s potentially bad test results, Lauren Chase skips out of work, gets in her car and drives straight East out of LA.  When the radio will only play static and there hasn’t been a turnoff or even another vehicle in what feels like hours does Lauran come out of her trance and realizes she needs to turn around.  After an inconvenient dust storm, an off ramp appears that leads Lauren to a small town with a ‘Welcome to Lost’ sign.  Since it’s getting late, Lauren pulls into a crumbling motel to rest for the night before heading back to her mother.  She encounters some very strange folk in her short stay in Lost.  On her way out of town in the morning she gets caught in the dust storm again and is lead back to Lost.  Again and again until she runs out of gas.  It’s official:  Lauren is Lost.

This was a stay up late read for me.  Like Wonderland and Oz, Lost is a magical place that can be both magnificent and dangerous.   I definitely got lost in this book (lame pun intended, sorry).  

The Martian by Andy Weir

What. A. Fricken. Amazing. Crap-your-pants. Thrill-Ride of a Book!!!! I loved every page!  You must go get it now!

One Past Midnight by Jessica Shirvington

Every night, at exactly midnight, Sabine switches lives. She's still Sabine, 17 year old girl on the cusp of graduating high school.  However, her families are different, her location is different and her future in both lives is definitely different. Sabine's physical presence crosses over too, so when she breaks her arm falling down in one life, she spends all day trying to figure out how to make a broken arm look like an accident in her second life without throwing herself down the stairs. But when she Shifts at midnight with two functioning arms she knows something has changed. She now believes the opportunity to choose her better life is finally available. Will Sabine make the right decision?

One Past Midnight is a great book that shows it's not always greener on the other side.  Also, I love Shirvington's other series: The Embrace Series.

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

In Open Road Summer, we get to ride along on a music tour across the country with America's Sweetheart, country music star, Lilah Montgomery and her BFF.  However, Lilah, Dee to her closest friends, is not the headliner or this fun summer read but rather her troubled best friend Reagan O'Neill.  Both girls are working on getting over a tough time in their lives and what a better way to do it than a girls' road trip complete with sold out concerts, live TV appearances, and magazine photo shoots.

However, when a photoshopped picture of Dee and her ex-boyfriend is leaked, her PR team needs to do some major damage control while Reagan needs to step up as Dee's best friend after years of their roles being reversed.  But when the PR team's answer is to bring in good guy Matt Finch as Dee's opening act and to let the rumor mill believe Dee and Matt are an item, Reagan has a difficult time keeping her feelings for Matt under control so as not to ruin Dee's public image any further.  What transpires is a feel good story of two best friends who are there for each other first and foremost despite fame.

Jennifer's Way by Jennifer Esposito

As someone who has recently been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, I was intrigued by Jennifer’s Way and what an actress could possibly tell me about my new disease.  I was astonished to learn how far her condition had gone and what terrible symptoms she was plagued with.  Not to mention the many years of dead ends she ran into within the medical field.  It was very disconcerting to hear how many doctors and nurses have no idea what Celiac is. 

My symptoms were mild in comparison.  However, when I was diagnosed I was given a vague message and a "start a gluten-free diet" recommendation and no more guidance than that.

Jennifer was able to put words to some of my thoughts and feelings that have come along with my diagnosis.  Especially in the case of going to restaurants and trying to continue a social life without being “difficult”.  Even trying to talk about it with people is tricky because no one will ever understand until they have to turn their lives upside down too. 

I certainly don’t wish anyone to have this disease however I’m appreciative to see someone in the spotlight share their journey.  Hopefully her words can help change the opinions of the misinformed and be a voice for those that have the disease.  Thank you, Jennifer!

The Chapel Wars by Lindsey Leavitt

Holly's favorite person in the world, her Grandpa Jim, just passed away. Unknown to everyone in the family, he left his beloved, but deeply in-debt, Las Vegas wedding chapel to his granddaughter. He also left her a letter to be hand delivered to his chapel-owning rival's grandson. Across the parking lot sits the theme wedding performing Cupid's Dream, the antithesis to the traditional Rose of Sharon.  It's a Shakespearean tragedy that these two chapel families hate each other because Dax Cranston is one handsome rival, even in his cowboy get up. With Grandpa Jim gone and Holly in charge she's going to do everything in her power to help save the chapel even if she can feel her Grandpa rolling over in his grave.

I just finished this wonderful and touching story with a sniffle.  Leavitt writes Holly as a down-to-earth, normal girl and the dialogue between Dax and Holly is adorable yet realistic. I loved this: "We're all messed up," [Holly] said "I think life is just about finding the right people to be messed up with." I loved that these characters have faults and their own troubles to get through.

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

A short time ago, the Valorians conquered the Herran empire and either killed or enslaved the Herrani civilians.  Kestrel, as the Valorian General's daughter, at 17, must choose to either marry or join the military.  Neither option entices Kestrel.  While in the city market one day she feels an unexplainable connection with a slave being auctioned off and spontaneously decides to outbid everyone with a large sum of keystones.  Kestrel's new slave, Arin, starts work as a blacksmith making horseshoes for the military horses.  Eventually becoming an escort for Kestrel and keeping her company; neither recognizes the relationship slowly growing between them.  Kestrel soon learns that Arin is the leader of a planned rebellion and, as the General's daughter, she has been set up.  She'll be forced to discover the true meaning of the Winner's Curse.

The world and the characters are so well written you can't help wanting to root for both of them.  The story line is so perfectly paced you can't help to keep reading late into the night.  And with just enough romantic tension threaded throughout you can't help to feel empty till the second book arrives. 

Lone Wolves by John Smelcer

Deneena Yazzie, Denny to most, is a 16 year old native Alaskan.  Don’t call her an Eskimo, she’s an Indian.  Her closest friend is her grandfather, who has been teaching her their native language, seldom spoken by anyone other than the dwindling elders.  She spends most of her time, other than school where she doesn’t fit in, mushing.  Eight dogs pull the wooden sled her grandfather hand-built years ago, while he follows nearby on his snowmobile.  Her grandfather encourages Denny to compete in her first dogsled competition where she takes third place, qualifying her for the longest, toughest dog sled competition known to man.  Unfortunately, Denny will have to travel the 1,100 mile trip across the Alaskan wilderness without the support of her community.  There’s so much more about the storyline I want to add but won’t to keep you all in suspense.  

Denny is a unique and inspiring character; a great role model for young girls.  Not only because she perseveres while her whole village refuses to support her, but also that she wants to learn her heritage and preserve her culture.  The author tells Denny’s story in such a way that makes you crave to learn more about Alaskan history and culture.  The best kind of book. 

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

If I had read this book in print, I think I would have finished it in one sitting, maybe two.  However, I listened to the audiobook, in my car, mostly driving to and from work.  In other words, I dragged it out over several weeks.  This delayed gratification may have been the cause for my giddy excitement over this story.  Now enough about me...

Cath is a freshman at college.  Her twin sister, Wren, after spending the last 18 years in the same room with Cath, decided to live elsewhere.  Cath's roommate, Reagan, immediately reacts as though Cath's presence is a burden and Reagan's high school boyfriend is constantly hanging around their room.  Cath isn't sure college is for her, she's a quiet introvert who would much prefer to be writing fan fiction for the much loved Simon Snow series she has been reading since she was a kid.  You'll be so glad you came along for this coming of age story.

World Book Night: April 23, 2014

I think it's crazy to be talking about 2014 already but, alas, World Book Night applications are now being accepted!  It's a great list of books this year so get your applications in fast.  I'm a huge fan of World Book Night as a great opportunity to meet others in your community while spreading the love of reading.  Can't wait to do it again.  Get your application in soon! 

Six Months Later by Natalie Richards

Have you ever forgotten what you ate for dinner the night before?  What about that thing you did last weekend?  Well, how would you feel waking up to realize six months have gone by and you have no recollection whatsoever of those months? 

In May, Chloe Spinnaker was just an average Junior coasting through high school.  Come November she has the highest SAT scores of her school, has one of the best GPAs and is dating her crush and one of the most popular guys in school.  She has no idea how she went from taking a nap in study hall one day to this strangely perfect life.  Despite being newly popular, Chloe has no one to trust, her best friend won’t answer her calls and ignores her in the hallways and her boyfriend Blake makes her feel uneasy.  How is she supposed to find out where her six months went?  A suspenseful and intriguing read. 

The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo

In the British ruled colony of Malaya in 1893, an opium addicted father tells his daughter he received an unusual marriage proposal for her.  The wealthy Lim family has a son that recently passed away and they want Li Lan to marry him.  To marry the living to the deceased is an uncommon practice but nonetheless it is custom in order to placate a spirit.  Li Lan would then be taken care of in the family’s home for life.  Although, with zero other marriage prospects, Li Lan is not pleased with this proposal.  Things are even worse when Lim Tian Ching begins to haunt Li Lan in her dreams.  Choo creates a detailed parallel world of the dead in which Li Lan finds herself trapped.  I hadn’t ever considered tales of the Chinese afterlife to be so desirable but Choo writes on such a level to make the supernatural alluring. 

Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

Anna lives in 1995 Evanston, IL while Bennett primarily lives in present day San Francisco although he can travel back and forth in time at will.  Bennett likes taking his sister with him into the past to 90’s alternative concerts.  It’s during one of these concerts that Bennett ‘falls’ back to his present 2012, leaving his sister behind in Illinois.  He must travel back and stay for an extended period of time in order to find his sister and bring her home.  This is when he meets Anna, the first person he trusts enough to share his secret with outside his immediate family.  Anna has longed to travel period.  Her dad bought her a map of the world so she can track her travels with red push pins.  She has one push pin and it’s in Michigan.  Lucky for Anna her new boyfriend can take her exotic places but at a cost.