Happily Ever After?!

Beach Reads/Happy Endings/Feel-Good Books

Once and For All by Sarah Dessen

Actually, I really like everything by Sarah Dessen, but this is her newest. Her writing is sweet, and the premise for this one is just lovely. If the library hold list is too long, (like mine...45 holds, ugh!) you could go for That Summer. I would avoid Saint Anything if you're looking for an upbeat novel. That one is a little heavy.

Keep Me Posted by Lisa Beazley

I love the concept of this one as well, but to be honest, I haven't read it yet! Here's the blurb:

Two sisters share the surprising highs and cringe-worthy lows of social media fame, when their most private thoughts become incredibly public in this fresh and funny debut novel.

If you read it, let me know! I think I need one more recommendation to move this to the top of my pile. 

Until Summer Ends by Elana Johnson

This is one of my favorites! It is just available on Kindle (at least through Amazon) or Audible. I haven't heard the narration, so I can't vouch for that, but I can say the author is delightful. She's also my friend, so I would vouch for her any day of the week. I have read everything she's written. She also writes her romances under the pen name Liz Isaacson. If you want an awesome cowboy series, her Second Chance Ranch series is my favorite, and you can get lots of them for free or cheap on Kindle!

Other recommendations:

~Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson (also Blackmoore, but Edenbrooke was better)~

~Any book written by Rainbow Rowell - I wouldn't put these in the "clean" romances, but she cracks me up. I think my favorite by her is Attachments~

~Likewise, I always read Sarah M. Eden's stuff. She's super clean, heavy on the Regency romances, but she's very talented. She collaborates with other authors on the Timeless Romance Anthologies where you get six novellas, which are not always great, but a fun way to be introduced to new authors. 

Something old to something new

Decided to take a six year break from blogging? 😕 Buuuuut, thanks to Instagram, I'm back to haunt your nightmares with book reviews, and thanks to my minimal knowledge of web design, this is the only format I know how to operate. Please excuse my 2011-esque blog. Someday when I have more time I will...actually, I'll not make any promises. For now, this is what we've got to work with.

Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell

A few months ago, my boss gave me Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell to read and insisted that I would love it. He was absolutely right. With last weekend being Memorial Day weekend, I decided it was the perfect time to pick up the book as we remembered all of the people that serve our country.

Marcus Luttrell, a decorated Navy SEAL, writes his story in two parts. The first part of the story gives a detailed explanation of the training of a Navy SEAL, which was fascinating and very eye opening. The second part of the story is about Operation Redwing, a desperate battle in the mountains of Afghanistan. Luttrell speaks of the valiant and heroic efforts of his teammates as they fought against the Taliban.

The book opens with "..my name is Marcus. And I'm writing this book because of my three buddies Mikey, Danny and Axe. If I don't write it, no one will ever understand the indomitable courage under fire of those three Americans. And that would be the biggest tragedy of all."

This book is amazing and powerful. I have always had high respect and reverence for the United States military and for all that they have sacrificed. Lone Survivor gave me a better understanding and a deeper appreciation for the men who fight so valiantly and then face consistent criticism from some of those back home that they are sacrificing their lives for.

I will give the caveat that there is strong language throughout the book. If you are not comfortable reading the book, I suggest that you at least read about Marcus Luttrell's story somewhere, it is amazing.

Heart of Ice by Lis Wiehl

A year ago, I reviewed Hand of Fate by Lis Wiehl. Recently, I was given the opportunity to review Lis Wiehl's new book Heart of Ice, which will be released tomorrow.

Heart of Ice is a continuation of the story of three friends, one a crime reporter (Cassidy), one a federal prosecutor (Allison), and the third a FBI special agent (Nicole). Each woman is handling personal hardships and struggling in their individual ways.

Cassidy loves her job as a crime reporter but feels threatened by the new beautiful intern that will do whatever it takes to get the story. Cassidy turns to the friendly new boot camp instructor at her gym, Elizabeth. Elizabeth is conniving and knows exactly how to get what she wants by using people. But Elizabeth has much deeper and darker secrets that she is hiding. Secrets that will bring Cassidy and her two best friends into a dangerous game.

Allison is still struggling with her miscarriage when her delinquent sister shows up on her doorstep. Allison is caught between her need to help her sister start a new life and her fear of being taken advantage of. She is worried to bring her best friends into her problems and feels alone as she deals with her struggle for a child.

Nicole finds a lump in her breast and knows in her gut that it is breast cancer. She has always been independent but has a strong difficulty letting anyone into her trust after she was raped several years ago. She reacts by distancing her self from everyone who loves her and refusing to tell anyone of the lump, including her best friends and the man she hoped for a future with. She wonders if those around her will look at her with pity if they knew what was going on and prefers to just deal with it all alone.

I also really enjoy reading about the friendship between the three main characters because I think we all have moments that we are just like each of them individually. We have moments of wondering if our friends really care and if it better to just deal with things alone. We then have moments where we are selfish and demand all of the time and attention. And we have moments of caring so much that it hurts. But through it all, our true friends love us and handle our craziness. This is how these three women are and I love it.

I really enjoyed the book and I wish that the next book in the series was being released much sooner. If you like James Patterson novels or the like, I recommend this series.

Here's the thing.

I think about books. A lot. My mind is constantly whirling with story ideas that aren't really my own because all the books I've read become absorbed into my person. I think that's weird.

But that's not even what I have to say. I have an issue with books that have a brilliant title and then a not-as-brilliant plot. I just saw a title on Amazon and thought, "Ooh, baby. I want to read that like RIGHT NOW." And then I read the synopsis and found out that the novel is set in Ohio. And nothing happens in the book. I won't be reading it.

And, I received a book in the mail to review which has a scintillating title (Priests In the Attic) and it isn't at all what I expected. It was very self-serving, and in my English teacher brain, very poorly constructed.

So, if you're going to have a good title, make sure the book is good. Or else you just wasted a good title.

That is all.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

 

(Isn't the cover SO great?)

Favorite quote: "do you really understand what it means to be in love with an unsuitable woman?" "is there really any other kind?"

This is an absolutely gorgeous book...It came to me in a bit of luck, one of the Buy 2, Get 1 Free books at B&N. And, wow, I couldn't have been happier with my free book. The writing is philosophical but lovely, the characters are just SO well-crafted I kept waiting for them to come over for afternoon tea, and the storyline is slow in a wonderful way. I wa...moreFavorite quote: "do you really understand what it means to be in love with an unsuitable woman?" "is there really any other kind?"

This is an absolutely gorgeous book...It came to me in a bit of luck, one of the Buy 2, Get 1 Free books at B&N. And, wow, I couldn't have been happier with my free book. The writing is philosophical but lovely, the characters are just SO well-crafted I kept waiting for them to come over for afternoon tea, and the storyline is slow in a wonderful way. I was very surprised by how many times I was moved to the point of underlining, which I don't typically do in novels about people my mom and dad's age. :) This book is truthful and generous in its descriptions of how to age well.

I will definitely be recommending this to my smart friends. :)

Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

While I don't generally fall all over myself for YA lit, this book was touching and human and delightful. It may have been so influential because there is an English teacher and a 7th grader and Shakespeare...It spoke to me. I loved Mrs. Baker becoming a human in Holling's eyes as he learned life lessons from Shakespeare. I despised Mr. Hoodhood and was sick over the bigotry (not to mention the bad parenting) he exemplified. I loved how dramatic Holling is because isn't that just 7th grade? I would suggest this throwback novel to anyone who loves teenage interpretations of life.

See pickwickreaders.blogspot.com for more details/reviews of this book.