Photo Credit: Grand Central Pub
This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.
Little Black Lies
Dr. Zoe Goldman is a resident in training at the local psychiatric ward. Helping people is something that gives her joy- and she feels that she is good at her job. Even though she definitely picks up on the fact that one her supervisors is not always her biggest fan. Continue reading
Photo Credit: Goodreads
This book was sent to Traveling With T in exchange for a honest review.
Something Yellow
Holly has returned to her mountain home in Virgina. It is not a happy return- Holly’s mother is dying and Holly returns to help take care of her in the last months of her life. Holly is upset about her mother, but her life has changed drastically for other reasons, too. Holly has lost her job in Atlanta, she’s put her effort into work and now feels she doesn’t have much to show for all her hard work- no job, no life of her own, and no love life.
Not long after Holly returns to Virginia- a 9 year old girl is reported as missing. Holly has a sense of dread- especially when she finds out that her ex, Houston, is in town. This isn’t the first missing child in Virgina- Holly’s sister, Rachel, has never been found. And Hunter was the last person to see her. Is it just a coincidence that Houston is in town? Or is Houston being in town connected to the missing girl?
Holly, facing her mother’s death, knowing Houston is back in town and the missing girl bringing up memories of Rachel and frustration at never knowing what happened is making Holly reassess life. Reassess why she left and what her next step is. When Holly’s brother comes back- Holly is happy to have the help with their mom. Oliver, though, is distracted at times- and there is a distance between them. Is it a growing apart distance or how siblings relationships are altered after disaster?
Houston proclaims his innocence to Holly- over and over. Should Holly believe him? Has Holly been so blinded by her belief that Houston hurt Rachel that she’s missing the real story?
Traveling With T’s Thoughts:
I’ll be honest- when Laura Templeton emailed me to ask to consider SOMETHING YELLOW for review, I almost said “no”. My review schedule was stacking up, I had been in a reading slump, and I just wasn’t sure. But, I was intrigued- so I said yes. And I’m glad I did.
SOMETHING YELLOW was not perfect- however, it was a good debut. There was a plot twist that I saw coming and some other small things- some of the story was resolved a bit too easily- however, the whole package was perfectly fine.
For me, I say a definite debut worth reading- Laura Templeton has a flair for words and I’m curious to see her next work.
Enjoyable and interesting- SOMETHING YELLOW encourages you to look beyond appearances and to examine what you want in life.
*This book was sent to Traveling With T by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.
Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,
T @ Traveling With T
Photo Credit: Red Adept Publishing
Today, Kate Moretti, author of Thought I Knew You stops by Traveling With T. Kate wrote a guest post about opening lines (and I must say that I clapped my hands when I read it!) Somehow, when me and Kate were discussing the guest post and what her topic should be- she understood my general reference to “something book-ish” and made a guest post that is smart, funny, and charming!
But it’s not fair for me to talk about how much I love this guest post without showing you readers, right? So….. Here it is! Psst.. There is a giveaway (look at bottom for details!)
I’m a little obsessed with opening lines. Sometimes at a bookstore I’ll pick up ten or more novels, just to read the first sentences, before I even read the back copy. Stephen King has spoken about his affection for the first line and said, “An opening line should invite the reader to begin the story. It should say: Listen. Come in here. You want to know about this.” I’m with him. I immediately want to think: who are these people, what have they done or what has the world done to them? As a reader, anything is possible – characters haven’t disappointed me yet, the plot hasn’t gone awry, there’s a chance for pure enchantment.
As a writer, I keep a document of these single snatches that come to me when I’m driving, or showering, or other likely places where I have little hope of being able to write it down. Most of them involve a “he” or a “she” and mean absolutely nothing – there’s no story context, even in my mind. A shocking number of them involve someone’s moment of death, which may just be a nod to my preferred genre – the thriller. My favorite, but one I haven’t been able to cultivate a backstory to is: When Nick Montana was pushed in front of the speeding C train during rush hour he was holding a lottery ticket worth two hundred thousand dollars. Well, two hundred and eleven thousand dollars to be precise. I know this because after the medics came, and later the coroner, and the crowd stayed on, huddled and whispering as though they were being careful not to wake him, I slipped the ticket into my purse, without knowing its worth, and walked away. I have no idea who these people are, but one day I might figure it out. Either way, Nick Montana is a completely bad-ass name, so I’m really almost forced to write the whole story.
When I sat down to write Thought I Knew You, I had barely a germ of an idea. The first line came to me out of nowhere, like they frequently do, and I crafted the bulk of the story around it. Greg and Cody disappeared on the same day. When I typed it out, I had no idea who Greg or Cody was, other than that one of them would be the family dog and the other would be the narrator’s husband. Where did they go? Are they together? The first line holds its magic as a writer as well as a reader. Everything is still perfect, there are no plot holes or weak characterizations or overused words and it’s all just infinitely possible.
Do other people have this love of novel beginnings? There are classic first lines of course – Call me Ishmael, It was a dark and stormy night, It was the best of times, it was the worst of times – but for me there’s a thrill in opening a novel, whether it be well-known classic, a bestseller, or an undiscovered indie, and discovering a perfectly crafted, completely gripping first sentence. And as I sat to write this blog post I realized I had quite a few memorized. They’re from a wide range of genres, with varying popularity, but they’ve stuck in my mind, and maybe they aren’t universally great first lines, just that they spoke to me personally. Most of my favorites are macabre – moments of death and murder, but then again, that’s the central plot of a lot of my favorite books (and a topic for a different blog post!). Here are my top ten, in no particular order:
Did you add any to your TBR? What are some of your favorite opening lines?
Photo Credit: Red Adept Publishing
Kate Moretti lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids, and a dog. She’s worked in the pharmaceutical industry for ten years as a scientist, and has been an avid fiction reader her entire life.
She enjoys traveling and cooking, although with two kids, a day job, and writing, she doesn’t get to do those things as much as she’d like.
Her lifelong dream is to buy an old house with a secret passageway.
Liked Kate’s guest post? Kate can be found: website, Facebook, and Twitter.
Giveaway Details: Kate has generously offered 1 print copy of Thought I Knew You (signed!) and 1 e-copy! The giveaway is open to US only. Giveaway begins December 17- December 29th. Winner will be notified by email December 30th. Comment on this post (easy-peasy!) While you do not have to- if you have been enjoying the content that Traveling With T has been providing- won’t you “like” me, maybe? 😉 “Like” me at Facebook!
Photo Credit: Goodreads
Today I have an interview with David Deutsch, author of Sh*t Falls Up– a chick lit book from the male perspective.
1. Sh*t Falls Up is your first published book (Congratulations, by the way!) As a debut author- how are you using social media to connect with the book community? Have you been able to use social media in a positive way to connect with people who have read your book?
One of my favorite things to do it to connect with people that read my book. Today, we have so many options to connect with fans, readers and authors. I think Twitter is the most effective way to connect with everyone and anyone. It allows people to direct message to ask questions about my book, tell me their favorite parts or just to say hi! People can follow me or message me @gslacks
I also follow publishers, authors and book lovers. I enjoy hearing about new books, reading reviews, joking around and chatting with other book lovers.
2. Sh*t Falls Up is described as a romantic comedy/chick lit from a male perspective. I have to ask: Why? Many men write books about murders, mysteries, and the like- not so many write a book like this. What compelled you to write this book?
Very funny! I didn’t start out trying to write a romantic comedy/chick lit book but as I started writing the novel the characters took on a life of their own and before I knew it they were getting into all sorts of funny romantic situations. In addition, the main character’s life has all the hallmarks of a chick lit story. My novel tells the story of David from a first person point of view with him focused on finding the right job, his soulmate, fame, friendship and all while living in New York City, tackled in a funny way.
3. How are fans of chick lit reacting to your book? Are they enjoying it?
My female fans, that traditionally read chick lit, love the book! I think it is refreshing to see a male character stumble through the same problems that a female lead character typically experiences in a chick lit novel. There are strong female characters in Sh*t Falls Up that occupy traditional male roles. So, the main character has his world turned upside down when it comes to love. I think my female readers enjoy that role reversal.
4. Do you have a writing space? A writing routine?
Believe it or not I write at my kitchen table. Usually with my three year old and my five year old running around. I think I like chaos or there’s something wrong with me! When I’m writing a book, I try to write a couple of hours a day, editing my prior day’s work first.
5. Do you have a #literaryconfession?
My #literaryconfession is that I loved the Hunger Games Trilogy! Most guys my age aren’t bragging about loving a young adult novel series. Now that I’m saying this out loud, I think I might be in immediate need of some help.
6. Do you have a #literarycrush?
I have a few #literarycrush(es). I’ve got a crush on Katniss Everdeen. But more like Katniss when she turns a fictional 30. I also love most of the femme fatales from whatever Elmore Leonard book I happen to be reading. And I would probably be attracted to Lisbeth Salander, from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, if she didn’t scare me so much!
Summary from Goodreads about Sh*t Falls Up:
One morning, David Michaels awakens at his sister’s studio apartment and ponders how it all went wrong for him. Three weeks earlier, he had a beautiful girlfriend, a fabulous sub-let apartment in Manhattan and a seemingly secure job at a top, New York investment bank. After losing everything, including his hair, all he has now is a place to sleep, albeit on a twin-size mattress that he must inflate every night. However, this is better than his other, only true option – returning for a third time to his parent’s house.
David’s life-long aspiration is to be a writer, and he has notebooks filled with stories and ideas. One story – the only story he has published – won him a prize while in law school. Unlucky at love, his friends set him up with a woman who bases her life on insights gained from reality TV, and he reluctantly (and hilariously) joins an online Jewish dating service. Frustrated with his career choice of law, he happily accepts a job as a lowly sales clerk at a women’s shoe store. When he becomes manager, he decides once and for all to regain control of his life. On a daily basis, he shuts himself in his office, keeps the booze flowing and pounds out a short story on the absurdity of his life.
When his short story suddenly garners high acclaim, he is left again to pondering. Does he settle down with his hot, volatile, socialite girlfriend, who helped him get his story published? Or does he pursue a woman whom he believes is his soul mate, though he can’t stop lying to her?
At times, gut-wrenchingly funny, other times, soulful and touching, Sh*t.Falls.Up. places the reader in the mind of a man who does his best thinking on an inflatable air mattress.(
To connect with David Deutsch, please visit his Twitter page.
Kelly Harms, author of The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane, stopped by Traveling With T for an interview today. She will be back later this week to reveal her #literarycrush and #literaryconfessions!
Interview with Kelly Harms, author of The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane
Kelly, how did the idea of The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane happen?
The premise of the book came through obsessive and certainly excessive viewing of the HGTV network, where they give away a Dream Home every year. I wanted that house, and I knew someone had to win. Alas, it was not me. So I gave it to my imaginary friends. That’s healthy, right?
Is any of the characters in The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane like you, Kelly ?
Hah! They all are, I imagine. They are all seeds of the secret selves of me, grown into full blown people. We all have a shy side, a careless side, a daring side. These three women are expressions of mine—but by page six they had taken off running on their own, and I let them.
How long did it take to write The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane?
It took me six months to write it. And two years to edit it. I liked the writing part much, much better.
Kelly, is there a writing room or a writing space that you use when working?
No! I’m on my sofa right now, looking out over a sea of brightly colored toy construction trucks. My beloved little toddler calls the room in which I write “my living room.” As in, his. I’m just lucky he lets me use it after he goes to bed.
The cover of The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane is really pretty and eye-catching. How did the cover get chosen?
Thank you, on behalf of Thomas Dunne Books. It’s beautiful and I had very little to do with it. Years in publishing have taught me, at the very least, how to stay out of my own way when it comes to all things visual. Left to my own devices the cover would have been an actual shipwreck.
Do you think The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane would make a good movie? Have you ever wondered who could make up the dream cast?
Well, I do love romantic comedies. So would I like to see mine on the screen? Naturally. The dream cast would be any actor who cared for the story. Janey and Nean are very visually amorphous in my mind. They could be anyone who brought their hearts to life. Though, I would tell the director, if she asked, not to make a mockery of Aunt Midge. Old broads deserve respect.
What are you working on next, Kelly? Are you still gathering ideas or do you have a book in mind?
I have been tapping away at something I feel pretty passionately about. But I’m wildly superstitious. I’ve gotten it into my head that if I tell anyone the plot, the story will leak out of me and into the air and I will never be able to pin it back down to the page.
I say things like this and think, my God, what an author I’ve become. Still, there we are. I’m writing, but I can’t tell you what.
*Special thanks to Kelly Harms for agreeing to be interviewed!
When Kelly is not writing in her son’s living room, or watching HGTV- she can be found on Twitter, Facebook and her website. Kelly is currently working on her second novel.
I had the opportunity to review Holly Goddard Jones debut novel, The Next Time You See Me, and I really enjoyed the book! So much so that I decided to ask Holly if she would come by Traveling With T for an interview- and lucky for me, she said yes!
Interview With Holly Goddard Jones
Holly, how did the idea of The Next Time You See Me happen?
I read a story about a little boy going into the woods and getting scared by a hermit, and it got me to thinking about a little scraggly, undeveloped area near the subdivision where I grew up. As a girl, I went into that wooded area sometimes to explore, play pretend, gather bugs and leaves for school science projects. My parents didn’t like me going—partly because it was private property, partly because they didn’t like me venturing so far out of sight of adults—and of course that was part of the attraction and the thrill. When I was a girl, about eight, a woman’s dead body was found about half a mile from my home, and so I always wondered what would happen if I’d have been the one to find the body. So the book took off from that premise: a girl finds a body. In this case, she makes an unusual choice about what she finds.
Are any of the characters based on you, Holly?
All of the characters I write have some of me in them. The story above might make you think that the little girl, Emily, is based on me, and she has a few things in common with my 13-year-old self. Or you might see me in Susanna, an English teacher in her late 20s. But I identify as much with the characters in the book who aren’t obviously like me: Wyatt, Tony, Sarah. In fact, if there are tender truths about me in my fiction, I tend to place them with unexpected characters, as a way of forging a connection with them.
How long did it take to write The Next Time You See Me?
About four years.
Gillian Flynn wrote a blurb for The Next Time You See Me. How was having an author like her, months after her Gone Girl success, writing a blurb for your book?
I was so grateful to her. I loved Gone Girl, and so it was an honor.
Do you think The Next Time You See Me would make a good movie? Have you ever wondered who could make up the dream cast?
I think it would make a better television show than a movie—something in the vein of Twin Peaks or The Killing. As for casting the characters, I find that really hard. I have a vision of each of them in my head, and they’re not really people who’d fit some typical Hollywood standard for beauty. Anna Kendrick could maybe play Susanna, just because she’s close to the right age and to me she’s pretty but very real looking. I had to think hard to come up with that one. It seems to me that there’s someone obvious out there who’d be great as Wyatt, but I’m drawing a blank. Wyatt’s supposed to be 55 in the novel, but I think he’d have to be played by someone older, since your average overweight Kentucky factory worker is going to wear 55 a lot differently from, say, Kevin Bacon, who is 55 according to IMDB. Maybe Phillip Seymour Hoffman in 10 years.
Do you have a writing space? A writing routine?
I just moved my office to a downstairs bedroom, so that’s where I’m writing now. I don’t have much of a routine. I wish I did.
Holly, are there any upcoming events that fans can attend to meet and greet with you?
I’ll be doing some festivals this fall: The Eudora Welty Writers’ Symposium, the Kentucky Book Fair, and the Southern Festival of Books. All that info will be up on my website at some point.
The ending- did the ending of The Next Time You See Me reveal itself as you were writing? Or, Holly, did you know how the book should end from the moment you began writing?
I had a vague sense of what the tone of the ending would be, but I didn’t know the specifics until about two thirds of the way in. Then I had the idea for the Thanksgiving epilogue. I skipped ahead to write that—I hardly ever write out of order—then went back and wrote to the end. If you write a character-driven novel, I do think that the book you write has to teach you what it’s ending will be.
What are you working on next, Holly? Are you still gathering ideas or do you have a book in mind?
I’m working on a new novel and am perhaps a quarter or a third of the way into the rough draft.
*Thank you Holly Goddard Jones for agreeing to be interviewed!
Holly Goddard Jones debut novel, The Next Time You See Me, was published February 2013 by Touchstone Publishing. To connect with Holly, please visit her website or Facebook page!
Emily Liebert, debut author of You Knew Me When, has stopped by to talk today about her book- and to make someone very happy: She’s graciously offered to give away a book and the Zoya nail polish that was created especially for this book! A great book AND pretty nail polish- oh be still my heart!
Interview with Emily Liebert, author of You Knew Me When
What was the inspiration for You Knew Me When?
I’ve always been interested in female friendships and how bonds can be severed and mended over time. When I was younger, I had a best friend who promptly dumped me as soon as I started dating my first serious boyfriend. We reconnected years later, but it was never the same.
Emily- the role of an author is changing. At one point, before social media, an author did not have Facebook or Twitter. Now, most authors have, at the minimum, those 2 services. In your opinion, why is social media so important for authors? Is it more or less important for debut authors?
Social media plays a major role in publicity for most authors and especially for debut authors. It’s the fastest and most efficient way of targeting a large group of people all at the same time. And, if you’re posting information via a fan page, even better—you know you already have a captive audience. For obvious reasons, Facebook was integral in promoting my first book—Facebook Fairytales. Now, with my debut novel, I regularly use Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. I’m also getting into Instragram. Social media is also an excellent tool in the way of networking. I’ve met so many professionals through these various outlets who’ve helped me along the way and vice-versa. I’ve long maintained that there seems to be a generosity of the human spirit via social media that doesn’t necessarily exist in the “real world.”
How long did it take to write You Knew Me When?
I’m fast! So it took me about five months. I just finished writing my second novel in about four months. Of course, that’s only for a first draft. After that, there’s an editing process which takes a couple of months.
How involved were you in the choosing of the cover for You Knew Me When?
I’ve been so fortunate that my fabulous publisher, Penguin, has allowed me to be a part of the process every step of the way. When it came time to design the cover, my editor and I brainstormed and came up with two directions we thought would work. Then she took our ideas to Penguin’s talented designers and they ran with one of our concepts. When I first saw the cover, I was blown away by how they transformed our nugget of an idea into something so vibrant and eye-catching. Right now, we’re in the process of discussing ideas for the cover of my second novel—so fun!
Do you have a writing space? Or a writing routine?
Oh yes! I have a routine for everything and writing is no exception. I work out of a home office which is far removed from the main area of the house—I have two little boys (ages 3 and 4), so it would be difficult to concentrate if my office was right near, say, their playroom. It’s really the best of both worlds. Working from home allows me the time to write in privacy and—at the same time—take lots of breaks to have meals with my kids, play with them, and pick them up at school and camp. I like to think of myself as a full time author and a full time mom, even though I have help in place! When I’m in working mode, I usually write for about four hours/day—in the morning and early afternoon. The rest of my working time is spent on publicity, partnerships, conference calls and all the other things (outside of writing) that go with publishing a book! If I get a lot of writing done Monday-Thursday, sometimes I’ll give myself Friday off from writing to give my brain time to “think.”
You Knew Me When is a debut novel. Do you have advice for other writers who have debut novels releasing soon? Did someone give you advice that really helped during this time?
My advice is to be your own best publicist and to hire one, if you have the means. I have an excellent in-house publicist at Penguin, but one person can’t do everything, especially when they have other books to concentrate on. So I hired an independent publicist for five months surrounding the launch. And I pound the pavement every day devising ways to get the book in front of as many eyes as possible. You can write a masterpiece, but if no one knows it exists, you’re in trouble! I also tell debut authors that you have to stay passionate and believe in yourself. This is not the time to be modest! I’ve had so much great advice from friends and colleagues—including my dear friend Kerry Kennedy whom I worked with on her book, Being Catholic Now. She gave me a wonderful quote for the cover of You Knew Me When. My literary agent, Alyssa Reuben, has offered invaluable advice along the way, as has my editor, Kerry Donovan. My author friend Jill Kargman has been a huge supporter as well.
When writing You Knew Me When– did you, Emily, ever think about the book potentially being made into a movie? Do you have a dream cast in mind?
I always think big! So, yes, I have thought about it in great detail. Not only that, but there are producers/production companies currently reading the book. As it happens, I do have a dream cast in mind! I’d love to see Emily Blunt in the role of Katherine, Kate Hudson in the role of Laney, Helen Mirren in the role of Luella, and Jake Gyllenhaal in the role of Grant. Don’t worry, if they’re not available, I have plenty of other names!
How did you create the characters in You Knew Me When? Do you have a favorite character?
I based them on people I know. (So watch out!) It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I’d have to say Katherine. I see a lot of myself in her and also a lot of things I’d like to change about myself in her!
If you were asked to inscribe You Knew Me When at a book signing with your favorite line from the book- what would it be?
“Every woman needs a best friend or a sister.”
Will you be going on a book signing tour with You Knew Me When?
Yes! I already have 10 appearances lined up—from multiple stops in New York to Vermont to Connecticut to California for the launch at Barnes & Noble at The Grove in Los Angeles! And there will be many more to come. They can all be found on the events page of my website: http://www.emilyliebert.com/events/
Emily- what are you working on next? Can you reveal any hints about your next book?
I have a second novel coming out in September 2014! I just finished writing the first draft and sent it to my editor. This book is also about friendship and about finding happiness. The characters and plot are very different, but the themes of love and relationships remain the same.
*Special thanks to Emily Liebert for agreeing to be interviewed!
Emily Liebert is an award-winning author, New York Times bestselling editor, and TV personality.
Liebert’s debut novel, You Knew Me When, will publish on September 3, 2013 and a second novel to follow will publish in September 2014, both with Penguin Group USA.
Her first book, Facebook Fairytales, is available across the globe.
Liebert has been featured by: NBC’s Today Show, The Rachael Ray Show, Anderson, FOX News, NBC’s LXTV, Oprah Radio, Martha Stewart Radio, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Woman’s Day, The New York Post, The New York Daily News, The Chicago Tribune, Boston Herald, and Celebrity Parents Magazine, among many others.
She has also served as a spokesperson for Microsoft, appearing on TV and radio stations nationwide.
If you liked my interview- be sure and come back on Wednesday for an Author Spotlight! If you’ve read You Knew Me When– drop by and tell Emily you LOVED it! Here’s the info: website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Goodreads, Instagram and Pinterest.
Giveaway information: Simply comment on this post- make sure to include your email address- you may use the AT and DOT. Giveaway is open to US residents only (sorry!) Giveaway begins September 2nd and ends September 9th at 11:59pmEST. Winner will be announced September 10th.
Look for my review of You Knew Me When to be posted this week!
Photo Credit: Amazon
The Never List- first, let’s look at the cover- the cover definitely tells that there is something creepy about this book (because, the title- could be taken in 2 ways-fun & lighthearted or creepy). The cover lets readers know what side this book is on!
Sarah and Jennifer-BFF, like peanut butter and jelly, they are 2 peas in a pod. Together they coin a list, called The Never List. This list has all the things they should not do for safety’s sake. One day, the girls are in a car crash- and this crash has everlasting effects. Both still adhere to The Never List- but after surviving a crash like that- one could think that is the worst thing they will face,
One would be wrong, though.
The girls are in college, still keeping up with The Never List- but college life begins to lull them into a sense of security- and the wanting to fit in, to be a carefree college student is a hard temptation to resist. One night, the girls, Jennifer and Sarah go to a party. Being planners, they make sure to have a way to get home- a safe way. Except, this time their careful planning is for nil. Jennifer and Sarah are being taken, against their will, and when they wake up, they are in a dark, cellar. With other women. Chained.
Their captor plays mind games- and one night, Jennifer never returns. The ladies in the cellar can only assume the worst (and they do!)
Years later, Sarah has changed her name to Caroline. She lives in NYC, a place where someone is always around to hear a person’s screams. Sarah is agoraphobic, in therapy, and trying to recover from years of torture- and what that torture did to her. When the FBI agent in charge of the case comes to Sarah to let her know that the captor’s parole hearing is fast approaching- she’s reluctant to help. She wants to put the past behind her. Except she wants to know what happened to Jennifer. She wants Jennifer’s body to be found.
Sarah sets back out to Oregon, to begin to hunt for clues. She reunites with the other captive ladies- all of them not wanting to be with the other- yet, knowing they need to find the clues he’s been sending them for years to keep the monster behind the curtain.
The problem: Some monsters refuse to stay behind the curtain. And sometimes, there are even scarier monsters waiting in the wide, open plain.
Traveling With T’s Thoughts:
This book has many good moments. A dark, creepy psychological thriller- a character trying to rebuild her life. The sadness of not knowing what happened to her best friend. This book has much to recommend about it. Koethi Zan shows us this: There are some sick people in the world. People who will torment and torture just for the thrill. But, Koethi also shows this- that when the chips are down and you have to decide how things are going to be- we might all have a pinch of sicknesses in us. Some of us just nurture it more than others. Recommended if you like creepy, psychological twists, and never being quite sure what character you can trust as a reader.
*This book was provided to me through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.
Photo Credit: Amazon
Sometimes all you need is love…..And blueberries.
Ellen Branford. High-powered Manhattan attorney. Engaged to a man who is from a family with a good name and who has political aspirations. From the outside looking in, Ellen’s life is perfect. Ellen feels pretty good about her life and future, as well.
Then Ellen’s grandmother dies. Ellen is heartbroken because of the strong bond her and her grandmother had- one might even say they had a stronger bond than Ellen and her mother. Right before her grandmother dies, she asks Ellen to take a letter to a man from her hometown of Beacon.
Ellen readily agrees- it is her grandmother’s dying wish. What should be a 1 day, 2 day trip, tops- turns into so much more. Ellen, while touring the town, falls through a rickety dock and nearly drowns. Her rescuer saves her life- and she rewards him with a kiss. Little does she know, this man is going to be a good person to know in Beacon.
As Ellen tries and tries (and tries some more) to take care of the business she has in Beacon- things happen that make it almost impossible, And yet, Ellen finds herself enjoying Beacon- the town, the people, and finding out about her grandmother’s past.
During the search for the man to give her grandmother’s letter to, Ellen finds out that her grandmother had a “the road not taken” section to her life- and Ellen finds herself at a similar crossroad. Is there more to life than Manhattan? Can a born and bred city girl be happier with a slower pace of life? Read The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop and Cafe to find out!
Traveling With T’s Thoughts:
Mary Simses debut is cute. Fun. Light reading. Enjoyable. I read this book while sitting poolside and was delightfully entertained. The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop and Cafe may not be for every reader- but if you are a reader who enjoys a light read with a dash of romance and family secrets- then you have found the right book.
Traveling With T 