The Lake House by Marci Nault

Marci Nault’s The Lake House is a tale of love, forgiveness, being true to yourself, and finding peace.

Victoria- one of the original Nagog residents. She and her girlfriends make the pact to never leave Nagog and live life there forever- with husbands, children, grandchildren. Then the war comes, the ladies sweethearts leave, and Victoria gets restless. She longs to experience life beyond the area of Nagog. Victoria breaks the pact and leaves- creating a rift with her friends. A rift, that for some, may never be able to be repaired.

Heather- from the outside she has everything. A career that she’s proud of, a man that cares for her, and a diamond engagement ring- Heather appears to be set for life. Except, she’s not. She doesn’t feel content or safe- and she longs to have a place, a life that is hers- a place where she won’t feel if she makes a mistake, life is over. Heather finds a place in Nagog and feels the stirrings of safety- so she buys the place.

Nagog, though, does not welcome either Heather or Victoria with open arms. Resentment burns through some of the community toward Victoria for past differences, misunderstandings and hurt feelings. For Heather, the residents do not want young people moving in the area- so they do everything to make the place least welcoming as possible.

Heather and Victoria strike up a friendship- and although neither are aware- both fill a need in each other’s life. As their friendship grows, secrets and advice are shared- and the bond deepens.

Can Victoria make amends to the community and people she left behind? Can Heather find the safety and happiness she has been craving? Read The Lake House to find out!

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Enjoyable read. Well thought out characters. Great setting. Wonderful storyline. A perfect read for pool-side or lake/beach-side. Victoria and Heather- characters that have had sadness- but deserve some happiness. You, as the reader, root for them to find their happy ending. Recommended.

The Engagements by J.Courtney Sullivan

A Diamond is Forever…. and what stories could a diamond tell if it could talk…..

J. Courtney Sullivan’s The Engagements tells the tale of 4 different people- 4 people who have experienced the range of emotions a marriage can provoke. The happiness, the sadness, and more. Each person in this book has a story about marriage- a reason for it, a reason for marriage and love not working, or a reason for never wanting to experience the life of being married. In between each story, we, the readers, meet Frances Gerety- a young ad writer for De Beers- who wrote the game changing line- A Diamond is Forever.

Evelyn has seen the bittersweetness of a a marriage and also the joys of one. Delphine learns that while passion may be hotter than a predictable man, passion fades and what is left is not always enough to sustain the long term. James, a paramedic, who has made some mistakes in life; but is trying to make life the best possible for his wife. And Kate- a woman who has watched countless friends get married- and yet has no desire to experience it herself.

J. Courtney Sullivan takes these stories, these experiences of marriage- the white- hot passion, the predictability, the love, the sadness, and all the good, bad, and ugly- and writes a story that is entertaining and heartwarming. J. Courtney Sullivan connects these characters, these characters that experience marital highs and lows, and connects them in surprising and satisfying ways.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Fantastic book. Loved how J. Courtney Sullivan revealed her master plot with The Engagements piece by piece to create a story that was smart, funny, heartwarming at times, and highly entertaining. Plus, I loved how she inserted Frances Gerety into the story- it was very interesting to hear more about role in the A Diamond is Forever tagline. Recommended.

* I won this book in a giveaway from the effervescent Sarah McCoy. Thank you Sarah for sending me a copy of The Engagements!

The Lemon Orchard by Luanne Rice

Bittersweet love story as two unlikely lovers are coping with grief of losing their daughters..

Two people, 5 years earlier, both lost their daughters. Julia lost her daughter in a car crash and Roberto’s daughter has not been found after they were separated crossing the border. Two people who share no connection, except grief and sadness about their daughters, meet 5 years later. Can a understanding of grief and sadness lead to a friendship between Julia and Roberto- who come from different backgrounds?

Julia and Roberto begin to share slices of their life with each other- Roberto tells the story of him and his daughter attempting to cross the border; Julia tells of stories of Jenny and her on anthropology trips. Julia even talks of her marriage and how it became broken. Roberto is careful, cautious with Julia at first. He knows he has a good job at the orchard, at her family’s place- and yet, he can’t deny a connection, an attraction he feels for Julia.

Julia begins and impossible search- a search for Roberto’s daughter, Rosa. Reaching out to her anthropology contacts, she knows it may be a long shot- but feels it is worth it. Searching for Rosa has also made Julia feel closer to Jenny, to bring back the memories of anthropology trips with Jenny when she was younger.

Five years earlier, Julia was at the beginning of the worst kind of grief a mother can experience. As the years went by, her grief grew. With Roberto- hearing his story, feeling an attraction to him- Julia begins to feel better, like the grief she feels for Jenny is not some overwhelming.

Together, Julia and Roberto begin to fall in love- although their future is uncertain- especially when there is a development in the search for Rosa. Both have choices to make- forge a life together or enjoy the love they share- even if it’s only for a short time.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Julia and Roberto’s story is a sweet love story- a love that was brought forth by their grief. Their love story, while bittersweet, still was enjoyable. The storyline was interesting. The characters were well thought out. And the setting was remarkable. Enjoyable- a nice read.

*This book was provided to me through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

Pickle in the Middle Murder by Jessie Chandler

Shay and her girlfriend, JT, are spending a day at the Renaissance Festival. While not normally Shay’s scene- JT enjoys them and Shay enjoys seeing her girlfriend happy. It’s a nice day until Shay finds a body- and then has to watch her girlfriend, a cop, get arrested in broad daylight.

The man that JT is accused of murdering is the scum of the Earth, JT was involved in a undercover case to bring his operation down, but because of her actions; he was let go. Did JT exact her revenge?

Shay doesn’t think so- and she sets out to find a way to prove that to everyone. With her friends, Eddy and Coop, Shay teams up them and others to find a way to clear JT’s name. Along the way, Shay learns about things that JT has not revealed- and a past incident that started JT on the path to becoming everyone’s protector.

Can Shay help clear JT? Or will the job be too much for Shay and her buddies? Read Pickle in the Middle Murder to see if Shay was able to clear JT out of the “pickle” she’s in!

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Harder edge mystery for a cozy-type book. Language and content are more graphic. While the book and the plot were fine, for me, I did not quite connect to the characters- so will probably not be reading more of Jessie Chandler’s books. However, if you are looking for a hard-boiled cozy- this could be it.

*This book was provided to me through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

Author Spotlight: Stephanie Evanovich

In a previous post, I blogged about meeting Stephanie Evanovich. Talking to her was so nice and she was so interesting- my notebook was filled with things to blog about- so I decided to make this a two-part post!

Author Spotlight: Stephanie Evanovich:

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Susan Elizabeth Phillips, S.E.Hinton, Catherine Coulter, Anthony Robbins and Jill Shalvis.

What’s going in your beach bag to read on vacation?

It Had To Be You by Jill Shalvis and Ladies Night by Mary Kay Andrews.

What is the best book of 2013 that you’ve read so far?

Stephanie alerted me to the fact that between edits of Big Girl Panties and touring- that she really has not read much this year. However, she did read the 50 Shades of Grey series- and said she liked it. As Stephanie said to me in the book store” 50 Shades of Grey wasn’t War and Peace– but she was entertained.” She also read Breathing Room by Susan Elizabeth Phillips and liked that as well.

How long did it take to write Big Girl Panties?

Three years- but not every day writing. About 9 months of working hard on Big Girl Panties.

What is your writing routine?

I write best from 5am-9am- and I do not write in coffeehouses. I have to have my own space to write!

While writing, did you have a soundtrack in mind for the book? Or to set certain scenes?

The whole time I was writing this book, I listened to Lifehouse’s album Who We Are. The songs that set the scene for Logan and Holly are songs 7,8,9. Song 7 is Easier to Be, Song 8 is Make Me Over, and song 9 is Mesmerized.

Do you have a #literarycrush?

Bobby Tom Denton in Heaven Fall.

Do you have a #literaryconfession?

When I was teen, I discovered S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders. After reading and loving the book, I used to pretend that S.E. stood for Stephanie Elizabeth (which is my name!)

*Special thanks to Stephanie Evanovich for answering these questions and revealing her #literarycrush and #literaryconfessions!

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight

Kimberly McCreight’s Reconstructing Amelia was June’s inaugural pick for Book Lovers Unite- and boy, was it a great pick. A compelling read, a good storyline, and a book that lead to a great discussion- Reconstructing Amelia had something for everyone.

Kate is a lawyer at a firm in New York City. In the middle of a meeting about a case that could make her career- Grace Hall, Amelia’s school, calls Kate to tell her Amelia has been suspended immediately for cheating. Kate knows her daughter prides herself on academic achievements- so this news is surreal. As Kate heads to Grace Hall to get her daughter and find out what happened, Kate notices a crowd and a police presence at Grace Hall. Kate works through the crowd and then faces the most horrifying news a parent should have to face- Amelia is dead.

Grace Hall states that Amelia jumped to her death due to being caught cheating- but Kate can’t quite believe that. Then she gets a text that changes everything: She didn’t jump.

That text sends Kate on a mission to find out exactly what happened to her beautiful daughter and why Grace Hall is closing ranks. Kate learns all about Amelia’ social media life- and begins to realize that there were parts to Amelia’s life she had not clue about. Kate gets stonewalled in her many of her attempts, but a mother’s love is strong. And this mother is determined to find out what happened to Amelia.

What Kate finds out is shocking………..

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Compelling. Enjoyable. Dark and mysterious. Suspenseful. Reconstructing Amelia is highly discussable and should be read by parents everywhere. Perfect for book clubs. With themes of the TV show, Gossip Girl and the movie, The Skulls- this book has something for everyone- especially folks who like to read great stories.

If You Were Here by Alafair Burke

Alafair Burke’s If You Were Here is a story that keeps twisting and turning till the last page. Each time I thought Alafair Burke was finished with a twist and turn of the book, she proved me wrong- and made the next twist even better. Alafair, with If You Were Here, is like a magician- she keeps the readers eyes right where she wants them focused and she is subtly setting up the next magic trick.

McKenna Jordan is a journalist for a New York magazine after her career as an Assistant District Attorney came to an end. McKenna accused a cop of planting evidence in a shooting that most thought was self-defense- and the boys in blue and her other law associates never really let her forget that mistake.

Years later, though, McKenna’s life is pretty good. Married to a man named Patrick, a man she met at one of her friends, Susan’s party, McKenna is pretty happy. Except for the fact that Susan disappeared- and McKenna wonders what happened to her. During a little news story about a woman rescuing a man from the subway tracks, McKenna gets a glimmer of hope about Susan. While everyone is wondering who the mystery woman is that saved the man from the subway- McKenna is sure that it’s Susan. The question is- if Susan is back in NYC, why has she not told anyone? And where has she been the last 10 years?

These questions set McKenna down a path that she must walk to find the answers- no matter how unpleasant the obstacles in her way. As McKenna’s happy life turns into something else (she’s fired from her job, her marriage hits a rocky patch, and McKenna begins to question everybody and everything she thought she knew)- McKenna can’t shake the thought that Susan’s disappearance is tied to some of the current events.

Why did Susan disappear? Did she reappear? Is McKenna being set up? And was McKenna closer to the truth 10 years ago when she went to the press and became a whistleblower about the cop shooting than she ever knew? If You Were Here answers all these questions and much more.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Twisty and wonderful. Each time I thought Alafair was finished with the twists and turns- she had another one planned. McKenna is an interesting character- bright and smart. Looking for a book filled with suspense, good characters and a believable storyline? You’ve found it with If You Were Here.

Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich

Stephanie Evanovich’s debut novel, Big Girl Panties, is a book about judging a book by it’s cover- or more accurately a person by their outward appearance.

Logan Montgomery, a personal fitness trainer with a body of a Greek god, is on a plane. In coach. Not his usual seat in first class, but he’s just ready to get home. Hoping to have an uneventful plane ride- he is less than pleased when he sees her walking down the aisle. She, who is not well dressed and is amply curvy. She who walks down the aisle with difficulty trying to not bump the aisle seats. Logan hopes that she will not sit by her- but his wish is not granted.

She is Holly Brennan. A widow at the age of 32, taking care of her dying husband has taken a toll on her. She’s always used food for comfort- but even more so in the wake of her husband dying. Holly is now at a size that she never dreamed she would be at- and sitting next to the hunk of physical perfection is creating an awkward feeling of trying to make herself as invisible as possible.

During the plane ride- Holly and Logan do strike up a conversation and Logan decides to help Holly. Turn her from the ugly duckling to the beautiful swan. Holly accepts and they begin to meet at Logan’s gym. Holly is determined to lose weight, to do the exercises, and to not fart while doing situps in front of Logan.

As they continue to work out, Holly begins to lose the weight and start to feel better about herself. Logan finds Holly funny and charming- and then one day realizes he likes her. Logan thought he was going to teach Holly a lesson or two about becoming a beautiful swan. But- it might just work out where Holly becomes the teacher and Logan becomes the student when it comes to love.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

I read this book pretty quickly. It’s a romance, it even has a life lesson about not judging a person based on their appearance. Holly has some great 1 liners. There is sex and even talk of a fetish in this book (it’s not just an overwhelming amount- but it is there). The story line is cute, and it’s nice to see a main character that is not perfect. I enjoyed Big Girl Panties– and feel it’s worth a read.

The Mourning Hours by Paula Treick DeBoard

Young love leads to tragic consequences……….

The Hammarstrom family is a normal and average family. Hard-working with a son, Johnny, who is gifted with sports and two daughters, Emilie and Kirsten.

Then Stacy Lemke walks into their life- and nothing is the same after that.

Kirsten meets Stacy at one of Johnny’s games and instantly likes her. Likes her looks, the way she smiles. So when Johnny and Stacy slowly begin to see each other- Kirsten and the family are happy. As Johnny and Stacy get more serious, though, his parents begin to get concerned about their relationship. Johnny’s parents try to convince him to slow things down with Stacy- there’ll be plenty of time for serious relationships.

Johnny doesn’t listen, though.

One snowy night Johnny and Stacy go to dinner and a movie. When Johnny is late for curfew, people are concerned. But Johnny returns home and he explains that the vehicle slipped off the road into a snowy ditch and that Stacy was at her house- having walked home since they were close to her house when it happened.

Except….. Stacy never returned home that night.

What happens next is a tale of the athletic golden-boy being dethroned and a family attempting to deal with town’s accusations that Johnny knows what happened to Stacy. As days and weeks go by- the town hungers to know what happened to Stacy. The Hammarstrom family would like to know, as well. Time passes and the family begins to derail. What was once a happy family is broken. Rumors and accusations tear the family apart.

Years later, a tragedy brings the family back together. During this time, the Hammastrom family learns more about hwat happened that fateful snowy night that changed their world forever.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Interesting. Especially interesting is that the majority of the books is detailed from Kirsten’s 9 year old understanding of things. Like a mystery with a family drama? This is the book for you!

*This book was requested through Netgalley. All above thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

Meeting Stephanie Evanovich, author of Big Girl Panties

A few weeks ago, I was checking the book signing schedule at Lemuria Books- and I saw the signing information for Big Girl Panties. With a name like that, I was curious- partly because I’d been reading tons of historical fiction and women’s lit that was good- but not always something light and funny (which I so desperately craved). So I marked it on my calendar and made plans to attend.

I arrive and after buying my book and checking out the aisles, I walk to the signing area. Sitting at the table is this woman with a big smile and a big laugh- and I just knew then that this event would be fun! I was not wrong! As Stephanie and I sat around talking about books, her experience in the publishing world and much more- it was not a feel of author/book blogger-reader, it was more like sitting and talking to a person who was fun and friendly- a person you would like to share a glass of wine with.

As we talked, I asked about if there was a possibility of Big Girl Panties being made into a movie- there is, but according to Stephanie, “it’s step 1 on a path of a million steps”. However, she did have her movie cast picked out: Channing Tatum could play all 4 roles- “because you can never have enough Channing Tatum” 😉 In all seriousness- this is the people that Stephanie would like to see in roles of Logan and Holly: Logan would be played by Channing Tatum and Holly- she likes Melissa McCarthy or Rebel Wilson. When asked if she would rather Holly be played by an unknown actress- Stephanie lit up and said that actually was a dream of hers- to be able to give a shot to an unknown actress to play the role of Holly would be a dream comes true. Stephanie further explains that for years, she tried to find her big break in acting- but there are not enough roles for women with ample curves- and casting Holly with an unknown could be a step in the right direction. Plus to help a woman out, to help a woman achieve her dream of acting- that would be great!

While talking, I asked Stephanie if she had a #literarycrush- and she thought for a minute- then said: Bobby Tom Denton, from Heaven Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Stephanie’s #literaryconfession is something else: When she was teen, she found this book by S.E. Hinton titled The Outsiders– in fact, it was the first book she’d ever read. And she loved it- had such a reaction to the book, thought it was such a great book, the characters and everything. Her #literaryconfession, though, is about the author’s name- S.E. Hinton. Stephanie’s initials are S.E. as well- so she used to pretend that S.E. Hinton and her shared the same name- Stephanie Elizabeth!

Stephanie said to me “all I wanted to do is entertain”. She had thought it might be as an actress- but she’s happy now that it’s in a book deal. Stephanie firmly succeeds in that goal in Big Girl Panties– because it is entertaining; with a life lesson or two thrown in the book.

Big Girl Panties is the first of 3 book deal with Harper Publishing- the second book will focus more on the secondary characters of Big Girl Panties, Chase and Amanda. The second book, untitled as of now, should be out in 2014.

*Liked reading about my meeting Stephanie Evanovich? Look for my review of Big Girl Panties this week on Traveling With T!

***Congratulations to Stephanie Evanovich- while we were having dinner that night- she got the news that Big Girl Panties had made it to the NYT list!