Fiction Addict

Genre: Chick Lit

Publisher:  Viking

Publication Date:  May 2010

Reviewed by Jen Roman

Twelve-year-old Nora is sent from London by her mother to live as an evacuee in the countryside of Kent.  Upset at being abandoned, she decides that she hates her mother.  At Kent, in the “round up,” Nora is chosen by a pastor and his family to live with them.  She is elated that they have a daughter, Grace, who is Nora’s age.  She loves the countryside and all it has to offer: clean air, places to play, food, daily home-school lessons from Reverend Rivers, and, most of all, people who love her.  After a while, however, Nora notices that Reverend Rivers spends all of his days at the church and Mrs. Rivers locks herself into the music room, where she plays the piano over and over and over.  Left to their own devices, Nora and Grace spend their days reading, swimming, exploring, and just enjoying life.  As they grow into their teens, however, Nora is guilt-ridden because she starts to have romantic feelings toward Grace.  She never acts upon them, however, but instead hides them and is consumed by guilt.

The story is told alternately from Nora as a young girl and Nora as a cancer-stricken, older woman who tells her story to the young, single, homeless mother who lives across the street from her.  She invites the young woman to live with her and as their lives intertwine, she shares some of her deepest, darkest secrets.

From the way this book is described, one would think it has to do with the guilt and conflicts one feels as a lesbian in the early 1940s.  While this is certainly a point of the story, it mostly revolves around the coming-of-age moments that shape Nora’s life.  It is more about loving someone so deeply and honestly than about a sexual preference.  It shows the wonderful bonds of friendship and how those bonds hold no matter what.  Nora demonstrates just how strong those bonds can be.

The book is well-written and told in a very honest voice.  The reader sees the good and the bad of people, and how others react to such behaviors.  The story is immediately captivating and heartwarming while moving along at a good pace.  As each chapter ends, the reader is left eager to continue to the next one.  It’s definitely a bittersweet story.

There really isn’t any foul language in the story, as Nora is sheltered quite a bit by a religious family.  Even later, when she is living in London, there is rarely any swearing.  Sex is implied in both a young girl’s pregnancy and the abundance of hookers standing in doorways of the London streets, but there are no graphic scenes to cause discomfort.  There is one scene in which a young lady has an abortion, and subsequently bleeds out, and that can be uncomfortable for the reader, especially one who does not want to read about abortions.  It deals with many adult themes and should not be read by children.   Otherwise, the book is fairly innocuous.  Days of Grace is an interesting, bittersweet book that makes for a fairly quick read.

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Publisher:  Simon & Schuster

Publication Date:  June 2010

Reviewed by Jen Roman

Jasmine Bush is devastated when her four-year-old daughter, Jackie, is missing at the mall while Christmas shopping.  Jasmine immediately contacts the authorities and waits, and waits…  She is concerned that her less than desirable past has caught up to her and someone from that past has stolen her child.  She contacts her ex-lover, Brian, who is Jackie’s father, for support instead of leaning on her husband, Hosea, to draw strength.  In the midst of all this, Brian is trying to repair his broken marriage to Alexis, and while he feels the need to comfort his daughter’s mother, he is stuck between a rock and a hard place.  Hosea, the pastor at one of New York’s largest churches, gathers friends and family and anyone who will help for assistance in finding their little girl.  Everyone uses the power of prayer.

Sins of the Mother shows just how difficult life can be sometimes.  It shows just how deeply grief can affect us and make us do things we wouldn’t normally do.  We turn to the wrong people and don’t turn to the right ones.  We act irrationally and with a great deal of emotion.  We question every move we make.

While not as intriguing as it could be, Sins of the Mother shows that when the going gets tough, it’s best to make an effort and rely on God’s strength.  It gives the message that there is hope no matter what, and that people must have faith.  For all the conflicts in this story, there are some quick resolutions that don’t quite follow real life.  Yes, this is fiction, but the book seems to rely too much on creating a lot of obstacles and then, at the last minute, wrap everything up neatly.  There isn’t always a happy ending.

Sins of the Mother uses a religious theme quite a bit throughout the story, and it shows characters trying to follow the Word.  For the most part, therefore, there is little swearing; however, there are several sexual scenes that describe the act in great detail.  Readers not interested in that aspect of the storyline should be aware of those scenes.

The book jacket is meant to entice someone into reading this book, and in this case it did, but the book fell flat and just did not promise the fascinating reading it promised.  It was hard to tell if it really was a Christian book, or a romance novel disguised as a Christian book.  For anyone wanting a quick and easy read, however, it would be adequate.

Review copy provided by Simon and Schuster.

Genre: Chick Lit

Publisher:  Simon & Schuster

Publication Date:  June 2010

Reviewed by Jen Roman

While shooting a movie in Rome, It-Girl Mercy Talbot is seen climbing a fountain in the city center.  Before she has her chance to slip and fall to her untimely death, Juliette Greyson rescues her and takes her back to her family’s rustic Italian estate.  There Mercy falls in love with the grounds and insists that the rest of the movie be shot there.  Along with her own childish and drug-induced behavior, she brings along with her more self-absorbed actors, neurotic filmers, writers, and producers, and her recovering-addict, former rock star “self-help guru.”  With all these people on the grounds, Juliette and her cousin must deal with murder, mystery, and narcissism, just what they hate.  Julia is at her estate for a break from her own hectic life in the hotel industry of Hollywood, and Mercy brings even more.  Just what everyone needs!

This reader finds The Starlet to be just what it is advertised as being: narcissism, Hollywood-eque, and backstabbing.  There are plenty of drug-induced behaviors to keep readers entertained for a while, and there are even a couple of murders.  HOWEVER, this reader is not interested in the gossipy storylines of People, US Magazine, and such.  The murders don’t seem to flow well, and they are interrupted so many times by immature behaviors that it is hard to follow any mystery or murder.  For readers interested in a quick and fluffy read, this may be for them, but for an honest-to-goodness, get-into-a-good-plot story, it lacks.  If superficial is the way to go, then The Starlet delivers.

As mentioned before, there are a great many scenes in which the characters do drugs.  This is not the gritty, back-alley drug scene; this is glamorizing drug use to the highest.  People glamorize the drugs (OxyContin and cocaine) and rely on them as a way to get through the day.  And the night.  And the next day.  Sex is also common in this story, and Juliette gets carried away by two different men in almost as many days.  The descriptions are pretty intense and nothing is left to the imagination.  One man is rather promiscuous, and this is also described in detail.  Curse words abound in the novel, and the F-bomb makes a regular appearance.  For anyone looking for these “deadly sins,” the reader has found the jackpot.  For those less adventurous, they may choose to stay away from this book.

The book is what it is: for readers looking for sex, drugs, and murder, this is the perfect summer or beach read.  For those looking for something a little more substantial with a more down-to-earth plot and characters, The Starlet will not deliver.

Reviewed by Simon and Schuster.

Genre: Historical Fiction/Chick Lit

Publisher:  Algonquin

Publication Date:  January 2010

Reviewed by Jen Roman

In 1907, widower and wealthy businessman Ralph Truitt places an ad in the paper for a “reliable wife.”  Catherine Land’s response is chosen because she mentions that she is an honest woman and includes a photo of a plain woman.  When she arrives on the train platform in winter in Wisconsin, however, Ralph is surprised to see that she is actually very attractive.  She explains that she used her cousin’s photo so he would get to know the “real” Catherine instead of bypassing her because she is beautiful.  Each person agrees to the marriage because of a desire: he wants someone to track down his long-lost son, and she wants to poison him and take his money.  She then plans to reunite with her lover (who is Ralph’s long-lost son!).  Along the way they change their perspectives and get involved in suspenseful and dangerous situations.

A Reliable Wife starts out slowly, and without reason.  There is a great deal of time spent on how Ralph feels about what the townspeople think of him, both in general and because he is sending away for a new wife.  Catherine’s thoughts are also described in detail.  While it is good for the reader to get to know the characters and encounter some suspense, it does not work in this case.  The story flows well once the two meet, however, and the reader quickly gets engrossed in the story.

It’s hard to believe that there is such rampant drug use in the early 1900s, but there is.  That, combined with the prominence of prostitutes, makes for some less than innocuous reading.  There are descriptions of the sexual act throughout the book, and prostitutes are not glossed over because of what they do.  For one not initiated comfortable in that world, the reader should exercise caution.  One especially difficult scene shows Catherine’s sister, an addict and prostitute, dying of what one would assume is AIDS.  She is cold, hungry, and desperate for drugs.  When Catherine tries to help her, all she can ask for is money for her next fix.  Sadly, when Catherine leaves money and a new fur coat with her sister, someone else takes the money and coat without any regard for the dying body owning those items.  The less desirable traits of human nature prevail in some very depressing situations.

What starts as a slow novel quickly turns into an interesting, colorful, and suspenseful read.  It is not a difficult book, so it would make an excellent choice for a weekend.  Readers caught up in A Reliable Wife will enjoy it once they get past the first couple of chapters.

Review copy provided by Algonquin.

Genre: Fantasy, Chick Lit, Comedy

Publisher: Touchstone Books

Publication Dates: June 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Ellie Jerome does not like being old. There isn’t one single thing about it that makes her happy. The only thing she currently loves about her life is her granddaughter, Lucy. She sees Lucy often and knows that the carefree choices Lucy has are miles away from where her life and choices were at that age. So on her 75^th birthday, she wishes that she could have a do-over. She’d like to be 29 again for just one day. And the next morning when she wakes up, she is.

So what happens next? Chaos ensues. With only ‘old woman’ clothes and an ‘old woman’ life, Ellie tries to maneuver the vastly different world of young people nearly half a century after she was that age. Trips to the bakery, dress shop and even underwear shopping are vastly different. It’s one of the most delightful and entertaining journeys I’ve been on in a long time. For those who are sensitive to such things, there is some language in the book and very honest discussion about physical relationships and attributes. It’s not overwhelming, but it is present.

Ellie’s trek through this 24 hour period of being a young woman again is absolutely hilarious. Halpern’s brutal honesty about aging and the feeling of regret is tempered by wry humor and a beautiful exploration of what makes each person the way that they are. How does Barbara, Ellie’s daughter, turn into someone that is so difficult to get along with while Lucy, her granddaughter, is a free spirit?

As I was reading, I wondered how it was that Halpern had captured the relationship between my mother, grandmother, and myself so succinctly. It was almost as if there was a hidden camera in my home for the past three generations and she was now bringing it to light. I was amazed at how such a fun, lighthearted romp could take such a turn as to be introspective and heart wrenching as well. The relationships between mother and daughter throughout the generations were explored with such insight as to give me pause about my relationships.

Though I started reading prepared for humor and a fun ride, I was surprised at the end by the depth of emotion involved. Rather than just throwing all of her previous decisions in life to the wind and embracing everything wild and crazy, Ellie became introspective. She spent time wondering how her daughter had gotten to be the way that she is and how she could get along with her better. It became much more of a mending and healing journey than just a romp through younger years without consequences. Never heavy handed, she handles hard subject material with grace and style.

29 is the perfect book to tuck into your bag for a read at the beach or for a long car trip. Halpern’s story delights, entertains and may even change your opinions about the relationships in your own life.

Review copy provided by Touchtsone Books.

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Chicklit

Publisher: NavPress

Publication Date: July 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Maya Davis is back!!! I can’t believe I started this review with that sentence followed by three exclamation points.  I will not, despite my college writing professor’s voice clamoring in my head, remove even one of those exclamation points. I may even add another at some point. I enjoyed this book that much.

Maya’s life at this juncture is all about change. She’s now dating Jack who is also one of her best friends. This transition is strange for Maya, but so far she thinks it’s a good change. She’s still trying to sort out those feelings when Jack starts at another job. She knows this means she won’t be seeing Jack all day every day at Cool Beans.  Unfortunately it doesn’t take long for her to discover that she may have to go days and sometimes even a week without seeing Jack. To say the very least, this does not sit well with Maya. And just who is this Presley chick that Jack keeps talking about? No, it does not sit well at all. Oh and did I mention that her roommate Jen is getting married to Maya’s ex-boyfriend. And just to mix it up a little bit more, Jen’s mom is not pleased about the pairing. In fact, she comes to visit and ‘take care of things’ and this visit lasts much more than their usual three day rule. Anyone remember that old adage about fish and houseguests stinking after three days? Point proven in this book.  Poor Calvin the Beagle doesn’t even know what to do with himself.

Having recently discovered the wonder that is Erynn Mangum’s writing, I have had the pleasure of devouring two of her books faster than Rocky Road ice cream disappears on a girl’s movie night. My poor husband wasn’t even allowed anywhere near the laptop for several days while I ravenously consumed my advanced e-copy of this fantastic book. I enjoyed Latte Daze even more than I enjoyed Cool Beans. I am now a certified Maya Davis fan and more than that, an Erynn Mangum fan.

Now don’t start thinking this book is perfect. It’s not. Like its delightful characters, it has inconsistencies and flaws, but they aren’t enough to take away from the overall package. The plot doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles. There are no secret romances or surprise twist endings. A few times in the book you might catch your breath and be surprised, but those little spins and tricks aren’t what makes this book such a fun read. It’s the characters that make these books special. Complete with flaws, insecurities and quirks that make them more real than paper and ink, each character has the potential to teach you something that may help you become a better person. How can that possibly be fun? Learning life lessons? Really Lori? I’m sure you’re thinking it’s as unpalatable as eating vegetables and ‘health’ food, right? But trust me; it’s not like finding some way to disguise the taste of green veggies so you can choke them down. Mangum confronts her characters with their own flaws and inadequacies in day to day struggles that most, if not all of us, face. And when the characters deal with it, they’re very open about the tools they use to get past them.  Even if it isn’t the character herself that helps you to learn (Mrs. Mitchell, I’m pointing at you right now) it may simply be the way that the people around that character react that teaches you something.

Another thing about the story, you can see the resolution to many of the conflicts during the first moments you see the conflict. And really, there were a couple of storylines that I expected to go somewhere but didn’t venture beyond just a couple of pages. In fact I walked myself back through the previous pages to see if I’d missed something, but I hadn’t. Perhaps because of the types of books I’ve been reading lately, I found myself looking beyond the snafus in Maya’s life and imagining that they were going to be much bigger or more dramatic than they really were. It seems that sometimes a twisted knee is just a twisted knee and not something that will lead to a bigger situation. It became refreshing and allowed me to relax more deeply into the adventure.

This isn’t complex or difficult reading. Layered with sweet flavors that define comfort food, Latte Daze is a satisfying hot fudge sundae garnished with plenty of nuts and a cherry on top.

Review copy provided by NavPress.

Genre: Chick Lit

Publisher:  Bantam

Publication Date:  March 2010

Reviewed by Jennifer S. Roman

Orphaned after her mother’s death, Emily Benedict relocates to Mullaby, North Carolina to live with her grandfather in his sprawling house.  It and the town have magical secrets: the moving lights in the garden at night, the wallpaper that changes themes, and why the townspeople hate Emily’s mother, Dulcie.  Emily befriends her grandfather’s next-door-neighbor, Julia, who went to school with Dulcie.  She is able to shed some light on Dulcie’s past, but it is the son of the mayor who can really tell Emily what she needs to know.  In the process, he opens old wounds and shares some of his own family’s deep secrets.

This story, as described by other readers, is sweet.  It’s magical.  It’s charming.  Readers will enjoy the secrets of an old Southern town.  They will enjoy remembering the fun AND the pain of high school.  They will love falling in love in the summer.  The will love to hate the snobby, stuck-up “society” people in town who try to rule others over stupid reasons.  The book is a quick and easy read that is sure to please the beach reader or the reader who just wants to enjoy something before turning in for the night.  It’s not deep and it’s not profound.  Instead, it’s a charming story mixed with a little magic.  Yes, the reader needs to suspend disbelief for a while, but it’s all in fun.  By the end, the reader experiences forgiveness and the triumph of the generosity of the human spirit.

The novel does not have a lot of objectionable content.  There are a couple of romantic scenes at the end; one is a sweet kiss between teens, and but the other one is a bit more steamy between consenting adults.  There is no offensive language or violence.  All in all, it is a sweet story sure to capture a reader’s heart.  Older teens and adults should be able to enjoy this book.

Review copy provided by Bantam.

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Publisher:  Doubleday

Publication Date:  January 2010

Reviewed by Jen Roman

As her seventeen-year-old daughter announces, “I’m pregnant,” Susan Tate relives the exact same scenario as she tells her mother she is pregnant.  As she finds out that her daughter and her friends have a “pregnancy pact,” she is dismayed because they are so young.  The girls are all smart, accomplished, and headed to college—until this life-changing event.  Susan, the local high school principal, has to deal with local outrage because of the “pact behavior,” and her job is jeopardized as people believe she is a bad role model.

Not My Daughter addresses several issues that have become hot topics today.  She addresses teen pregnancy and family reaction.  She addresses the role a mother plays in her child’s life, and how long a mother had influence over her child.  There is the “pact” behavior, and just as important, the town’s judgment on someone in an authority position.  While she addresses some well, there are others that miss the mark.  For example, when the girls first tell their parents they are pregnant, the parents react with the expected shock, dismay, and disappointment.  However, not long after, they start to look forward to the babies arriving.  They in no way indicate that it is easy living with their daughters’ newborns, but they just seem to shake it off as though the girls got a bad grade on a test.

What are especially frustrating are the attitudes the girls have towards being teen moms.  They think it will be “fun” to raise their babies together and think that because they served as nannies the summer before, that they will be “wonderful” moms.  When one of the mothers points out how expensive babies are the girl replies that her parents have good jobs and good insurance.  While it’s probably not the best move to throw a pregnant girl out into the street, the girl should understand just how much is sacrificed, both financially and emotionally.  With the typical optimism of youth, the girls just don’t understand what an undertaking carrying a baby to term and being a mother can be.  Sadly, in this writer’s opinion, these issues are only slightly addressed, and when they are, they all work themselves out.  For example, the girls think that raising a baby will be easy.  As it turns out, one experiences a scare regarding her baby’s health, but he turns out to be fine and is actually an “easy” baby.  The girls have to forego attending college right away, and it feels a little odd when their friends return on breaks, but their college friends spend so much time cooing and paying attention to the babies, that it doesn’t seem to be that bad.  Overall, I was disappointed that the consequences of the actions were thoroughly discussed.  Reading this book as a teen, I would think that having a baby at seventeen is a breeze.

Besides the concerns mentioned above, there is little objectionable content in the line of foul language or inappropriate situations.  There are a handful of implications toward sexual intercourse, but it is not graphic.  The biggest caution in this story is the lack of seriousness when facing the consequences of being a teen mother.

Review copy provided by Doubleday.

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Chicklit

Publisher: NavPress

Publication Date: April 2010

Lori Twichell’s Review:

Maya Davis loves coffee and is not a big fan of eating healthy. She will gladly drink her body weight in caffeine and eat frozen foods for every meal of every day.  She’s not looking for love. She’s happy in her job as a barista at a local coffee shop (Cool Beans). She loves her friends. She loves her dog. In short, she’s completely content where she is.

Until her roommate, Jen, brings her new boyfriend, Travis, to meet Maya. Then things get a little sticky. You see Jen’s new boyfriend is Maya’s ex, but Jen doesn’t know that and apparently, neither does Travis. Since he and Maya dated years ago, she has cut and dyed her hair and lost some weight. This presents an interesting dilemma for Maya. Should she tell Jen and risk hurting Jen’s feelings or should she wait it out and see how serious things get? Or should she just go get another cup of coffee and forget about the stress for right now? Which choice do you think is the right one? And now, the better question, which one do you think Maya chooses?

If you picked getting a cup of coffee and forgetting about the stress you got the right answer. Well, as far as Maya is concerned.
Maya Davis is a snarky fun young woman who has a great way of viewing the world and Erynn Mangum expresses her values and views in a non preachy but totally realistic way. Instead of Maya being a perfect person who always chooses the right thing because the Bible says so, Maya is very realistic in her attitudes. She does what most of us in the world do. She avoids situations that make her uncomfortable or that might hurt people she loves. Oh and did I forget to mention a potential love interest in the middle? And it’s not Travis either. It’s a mixed up plot with a lot of fun inner monologue from Maya and interaction between Maya and those around her. Though the story isn’t full of angst, heavy romance or drama, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Mangum’s characters are heartwarming, delightful and fun with just enough conscience to make you cringe in sympathy at their troubles and distress. The pacing of the story is light and fun, easy to read (or devour) and at the end, it feels like time well spent. Even though I’m not a coffee drinker, I found myself craving the smell and flavor of a medium roast or dark roast. I longed for a girl’s night in pajamas with my best girlfriends and a movie (and did that last night actually – I credit Maya for the inspiration!) and a fun place to work like Cool Beans.

It appears that this is the first of a series of books from Maya’s perspective. I cannot wait to dive into Latte Daze, the next book, and find out what trouble comes Maya’s way this time.

Shaun Stevenson’s Review:

One thing is for sure: Erynn Mangum must love coffee. And chocolate. And watching Runaway Bride in pajamas. Because all three definitely appear in her new book, Cool Beans: A Maya Davis Novel. Maya Davis is twenty-four, single, working daily at the local coffee shop, Cool Beans, and loving life. That is until her roommate and best friend Jen starts dating. But she’s not just dating anyone. She’s dating Maya’s ex-boyfriend, Travis, from five years before. And thus, Maya’s perfect little world is flipped completely over. Can she deal with this new awkward relationship, her ever-annoying brother Zach moving back to town, and just sleeping through the night without her dog waking up the entire apartment complex?

Mangum returns after finishing her Lauren Holbrook series with a new setting, new characters, and more humor and relationship drama. At times, Maya is very similar to Lauren from the previous series, with many of the same quirks and habits, and it was hard to distinguish the two characters from each other. The basic construct of Maya’s world felt very similar to Lauren’s, with single’s group on Wednesday nights, a coffee shop, and church every Sunday. But that’s about where the similarities in plot and character end. About a fourth of a way through, Maya begins to emerge as a character of her own.

The writing moves along swiftly. Most of the chapters are made up of dialogue between Maya and her friends, and Mangum uses these conversations to advance the story. A few of the ending “twists” are pretty easy to see coming, but the characters are so enjoyable that they make up for the weaker plot. The reason for Maya’s breakup with Travis in the past is built up throughout the novel, but when the reality is revealed, it was almost a bit of a let-down, as we’ve been expecting something quite different from the truth. The drama never completely envelops the story, and things stay pretty light-hearted throughout.

Fans of Mangum’s earlier books (Miss Match, Rematch, and Match Point) will enjoy a new outing with funny characters and hints of Robin Gunn Jones-esque drama. All said, reading Cool Beans was often like sipping through a cup of coffee – warm and satisfying through to the end.

Don’t miss our interview with Erynn Mangum here.

Review copies provided by NavPress.

Genre: Chick Lit

Publisher:  Pamela Dorman Books

Publication Date:  January 2010

Reviewed by Jennifer S. Roman

Cecelia “CeeCee” Honeycutt lives in Euclid, OH (a suburb of Cleveland) in the late 1950s with her mother and traveling salesman father.  Her mother develops a mental illness and does things that embarrass CeeCee: she dresses up in thrift store party and prom dresses and wears her bright red heels with the dresses.  She thinks she is still the Miss Vidalia Onion Queen from her younger days in the South.  She runs down the street in these clothes and the neighbors laugh.  CeeCee’s father travels a great deal, and as his wife’s illness progresses, he is away more and more.  Both CeeCee and her mother even believe that he has a girlfriend in Detroit.  CeeCee responds to her horrible situation by withdrawing to her room to read.  She is an intelligent little girl who absorbs all information she gets.

CeeCee’s life takes a sharp turn one day when her mother, out in the street in her fancy dress, is hit by a truck and dies.  Her father decides that he is not best to raise CeeCee, so her mother’s wealth aunt, Tootie, comes to take CeeCee to live with her in Savannah, Georgia.  Still reeling from her mother’s death and the feeling that her father is abandoning her, CeeCee leaves all she knows behind to start her life over.  She meets Aunt Tootie’s friends and becomes good friends with them.  Aunt Tootie has a housekeeper/cook, Oletta Jones, who also befriends CeeCee.  The summer her mother dies, CeeCee learns from all these strong women in her life.

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is such a sweet story.  While there are plenty of sad moments, there are so many uplifting and humorous parts to it that the reader is enchanted.  Similar in feistiness to the ladies of Steel Magnolias, the women who make up Aunt Tootie’s family are strong role models for a young lady growing up at such a politically advancing time.  Oletta teaches CeeCee the strong words of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Aunt Tootie’s next door neighbor teaches CeeCee the true meaning of friendship and kindness to others.  What could be troublesome, though, is that several times in the story, CeeCee is worried about inheriting her mother’s illness, and nobody really addresses it.  When she brings it up to Aunt Tootie, Aunt Tootie responds by saying, “I know in my heart that it won’t happen to you.”  There is no concrete proof or medical opinion to help console CeeCee.  It’s true that there weren’t many medical advances in the field of psychiatry at the time, so maybe that’s why it isn’t discussed, but it still can be a detriment to the story.

There really isn’t anything objectionable in this novel.  There is no cursing, and nobody commits any gruesome murders.  There is the mention of a death, and some derogatory terms, but nothing that is extremely offensive.  Anyone looking for a heartwarming story with some humor and honest-to-goodness caring thrown in should be happy with Saving CeeCee Honeycutt.

Review copy provided by Pamela Dorman Books.

Genre: Chick Lit

Publisher:  Algonquin

Publication Date:  January 2010

Reviewed by Jennifer S. Roman

Told from many different perspectives, The Girl Who Fell from the Sky recounts how a young mixed-race girl ends up living at her African-American grandmother’s home in the Pacific Northwest.  Her father, while in the military, meets a Danish woman and marries her.  Together they have Rachel and her siblings.  Her mother and siblings die tragically and her father doesn’t believe he is fit to raise Rachel, so she lives with her grandmother in a predominantly African-American neighborhood.  The “white” girls tease her for being “black,” and the “black” girls tease her for being “white.”  In addition, she is studious, so Rachel has a terrible time fitting in to any certain group.  Rachel’s story examines how people react to certain racial groups and how deep down, people just want to be liked.

Told in the third person, the reader gets many different perspectives on Rachel’s story and how it unfolds.  At first, it is very difficult to understand what is happening and to whom.  We are transported from the Pacific Northwest to Chicago and back, learning bits and pieces about several different people.  Once the main story is established, the reader is left wanting to know what happens next.  The story moves along at a quick pace and doesn’t get too bogged down in unnecessary details.  Overall, it is a touching, insightful reflection on the life that so many people lead.  There is quite a bit of sadness as the characters end up doing things that have bad consequences.

The Girl Who Fell from the Sky is fairly innocuous in general.  There are some racial slurs and some sexual situations.  Most likely to be disturbing, however, are a few scenes depicting child abuse and drug use.  There is a scene describing the death of a small child in a fire and another one describing a mother and her children falling from the top of a building and perishing.  It is believed to be a murder/suicide.  Those not wanting to experience such situations should avoid the book, but those able to handle it will find a touching and compelling read.

Review copy provided by Algonquin.

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Publisher: Mira

Publication date: May, 2009

Reviewed by Jennifer Roman

Debbie Macomber brings back her beloved characters in Summer on Blossom Street.  Its usual residents, Anne Marie, Lydia, and Alix and their friends once again face trying personal issues: Lydia tries to deal with her mother’s memory loss and a difficult foster child; Anne Marie meets someone from her newly adopted daughter’s past; and Alix needs to stop smoking so she and her husband can have a baby.  Lydia decides to create a “Knit to Quit” class so people can substitute their vices for knitting.  In addition to the regular group, Macomber introduces some new people in the class: Phoebe, who is trying to get over her philandering ex-fiancé; and Bryan, an executive trying to bring calm into his life through knitting.  Of course the group has its usual challenges, but together they offer each other support, a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, and solutions to problems.  Regular readers will get their usual “happy ending,” of sorts; there are some complications to the situations but Macomber gives creative and interesting ways of dealing with their life’s challenges.

Macomber demonstrates again why she is a best-selling author; she makes an easy-to-read dialogue that’s entertaining and thought-provoking.  Her writing presents situations that her readers can easily empathize with and understand.  Oftentimes, her readers have similar situations of their own.  Macomber’s best trait is that she reaches into a reader’s heart and makes her feel as though she is part of the situation.  She manages to tell a story without using profanity or explicit sex.  All in all, Macomber creates an engaging story that keeps readers interested up until the wrapped up, happy end.

Genre: Holiday, Chick lit

Publisher: Ballantine

Publication Date: 1996

Reviewed by Jen Roman

If someone is looking for a heartwarming, sweet story during the holiday season, A Return to Christmas is it.  Eleven-year-old Artemus Holiday lives in a comfortable, upper-middle-class neighborhood with his parents and sister.  The holidays are almost nonexistent in his household, however, because of a tragic accident on Christmas day eight years before.  His twin brother, Andrew, drowns in a river.  Because his birthday is on December 20, Artemus also loses his birthday celebration.

During a shopping trip right before Christmas, Artemus comes across a vagabond child roughly his age.  While he is trying on clothes in a department store, the vagabond tries to steal his regular clothes.  Rather than let the vagabond steal his clothes, Artemus takes chase.  The boys run out into the street and into the path of an oncoming truck.  Artemus is thrown into some nearby bushes, but the vagabond, who looks eerily similar to Artemus, is found.  He is mistaken for Artemus and is taken to the hospital, where his family meets him.  The family doesn’t realize the injured child isn’t Artemus and takes him home and treats him as though he is their child.  Meanwhile, Artemus is found by the con-artist Boone, who is thought to be the vagabond child’s uncle.  He is expected to participate in the con’s schemes, as the other child had done.  Realizing he is in the wrong place, he vows to get back home to his real family.  What unfolds is the story of hope and understanding of God’s love during a holy season of miracles.

This story is saccharine and predictable, yet it is warm and charming.  It’s a small book and only 198 pages, so it’s a quick and easy read.  Audiences should be happy with its sweet message.

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Publisher: Harper

Publication Date: June 2009

Reviewed by Ashley Barrett

Calla Lily Ponder grows up under the close care of her enchanting mother, the other colorful residents of La Luna, and a deity figure named The Moon Lady. After experiencing some coming-of-age heartbreak, she pursues a career in cosmetology and moves to the big city of New Orleans, where she eventually becomes the apprentice of world-class beautician, Ricky. With Ricky’s help, Calla learns both the craft and art of styling hair and soothing broken hearts, including her own.

Calla, although likeable at the beginning, is so perfect and perky I found her as believable as the Tooth Fairy. Calla is the most beautiful girl in the whole town and falls in love with the high-school quarterback, who loves her deeply and wins a scholarship to Stanford. She attends the best beauty school in the country, naturally. She is the best in her class and the instructor chooses her for his sole partner at a new salon. (Perhaps a world-class beautician would have opened his own salon already?) And, of course, by the end all the loose ends are nicely tied up and everyone goes to a big party.

Those who live a fairy-tale life might enjoy this book. Those who live in the real world may find it shallow and uninteresting.

Rebecca Wells wrote the bestselling Ya-Ya series; the most popular book, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, hit number one on the New York Times Bestseller list. Although I hadn’t read any of the Ya-Ya books, I’d heard great things about them and eagerly dove into The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder. My enthusiasm quickly waned.

The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder contains very little coarse language and no violence, but readers who dislike over-the-top love scenes may want to avoid this book. Although warm and funny in places, I would not recommend The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder, even to readers who enjoyed Wells’ previous work. Those who loved the Ya-Ya series should wait until the next book and hope for improvement.

Genre: Chicklit, Romance

Publisher: Summerside Press

Publication Date: October 1, 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

For someone who doesn’t like Christmas, it’s not easy for Bryce Stone to live in North Pole, Alaska. Throw in the fact that he’s just returned from Iraq where he was blinded in one eye and that he has no clue what to do with the family business, and all you need is a spunky independent woman to make a perfect romance. That’s what Loree Lough has pulled together in this installment of the “Love Finds You” series from Summerside Press.

When Sam Sinclair packs up and moves her entire life to Alaska to take a job, she’s more than unhappy to find out that the job has already been given to someone else. This leaves her with no job and Bryce with a lot of loose ends in his life. Thankfully he’s got an Aunt who always has her eye out for his best interests and she hires Sam to manage the family’s Christmas store. It’s not long before Sam and Bryce are delightfully driving each other up the wall. I laughed out loud at several of their discussions and couldn’t help but get a kick out of some of the flaws that the two of them discover in each other.

With gentle twists, nudges, and beautiful heart wrenching moments, Loree Lough introduces us to beautiful characters that are flawed, beautiful, complicated, and yet still easy for everyone to understand.  Her writing style is beautiful and descriptive while being comfortable enough to make you feel like you’re sliding into your favorite pair of blue jeans.

This was the first Loree Lough book that I’ve read, though she has a bajillion of them on the market. Okay, maybe not a bajillion, but enough that one should stand up and take notice. I’m delighted to say that I have another waiting here to read and more to come in the future. If you need a break from reality that’s heartwarming and beautiful while giving you the desire to travel to a new place, give Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska a try.

Genre: Comedy, Chicklit, Romance

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Publication Date: May 5, 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

As part of my continuing Jane Austen kick, I decided to dive into What Would Jane Austen Do? I won’t lie to you. The cover art caused me to raise an eyebrow. Instead of a traditional bodice ripper, this one seemed to have a button down ripper?!  Okay, that’s a twist.

Eleanor Pottinger is a modern day expert of Regency fashion and therefore knows almost everything there is to know about Jane Austen. So when she attends a modern day seminar in England about the Regency period, she believes she’s fully prepared. Unfortunately, the inn where she’s meant to stay has lost her reservation and must put her in a suite of rooms that is never used. Why? Supposedly the rooms are haunted. Eleanor soon finds out that there’s no ‘supposedly’ to it when she meets Deirdre and Mina Cracklebury, the former owners of the home and ghosts who are unable to ‘rest’ until some circumstances that happened in their lives get set straight.  Can you see where this is going?

Eleanor goes to sleep in modern times and wakes up facing the real life women behind the ghosts. Of course they have no idea where she’s from or who she is and they assume that she’s a long lost cousin who has come over from the Americas.

There’s mystery, romance, adventure and of course, a few fleeting moments with Jane Austen herself in this novel. A perfect read for a long trip or a vacation, this book is for anyone who enjoys romance and a little bit of adventure with a dash of time travel thrown in the mix. With a mystery that keeps you wondering and twists that are unexpected and delightful just the same, Brown does an excellent job of capturing what a modern day woman would think if tossed into the middle of a Jane Austen novel. With a few fun modern references and some very modern feelings about the men around her, Eleanor is a wonderful central character that you want to follow.

Laurie Brown has created fun characters, seemingly impossible situations and conversations with Jane Austen that are realistic and not overblown. I expected the novel to have more interaction with Austen or to have more about her, but when all was said and done, I was very glad that it didn’t. Where it would be easy to give in to the tendency to bestow Austen with her own words or thoughts, Brown resists the temptation. Instead, she gives us a wonderful slice of a possible moment in time with Jane Austen.

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: October 2009

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

In six weeks, Brad Cutler will marry the woman of his dreams. Laura, perfect for him in every way, shares the same faith, morals and goals. Unfortunately, the past Brad thought he buried long ago breathes down his neck threatening to ruin everything he’s built.

Brad travels back to North Carolina to find Emma, the ex-girlfriend he abandoned nine years earlier after the bad choices of a fateful summer led to an unwanted pregnancy and abortion. He hopes to atone for his past wrongs, but in doing so, he risks everything. Laura now wonders if she even knows the man she is about to marry.

In Shades of Blue, Karen Kingsbury once again delicately weaves a story of love, faith and redemption. She tackles difficult issues and expertly shows how the choices we make change our lives forever, not only affecting us, but also those we love the most. Brad’s character demonstrates how bad decisions can lead to a lifetime of pain and regret. At the same time, though he cannot change the past, he shows that the hope of forgiveness and redemption always exist.

Not your typical romance, Shades of Blue focuses mostly on Brad and Emma’s broken past and journey to restoration while Laura struggles with anger and forgiveness miles away from her fiancée. Some Christian clichés do come through, making the narrative feel forced in places, but Kingsbury makes up for it by dealing with a complex issue, such as abortion, with gritty realism that palpably draws readers in.

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Chicklit

Publisher: Guideposts Books

Publication Date: February, 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

A couple of weeks ago, I went off on a total Jane Austen binge. I contacted Jake here at Fiction Addict and gave him a list of books that I wanted to read – almost all of them involving Jane Austen’s wonderful writing. (Watch for What Would Jane Austen Do, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Vampire Darcy’s Desire…all coming up for review soon!)  Jake was awesome (as usual) and within just a couple of days, my mailbox was overflowing with big oversized envelopes stuffed with books. All of them inspired by the great lady herself, Jane Austen.

I reached for this book first because really, what self respecting woman hasn’t wished for Mr. Darcy or even the somewhat less spectacular Mr. Bingley to rescue them from the modern dating scene? (Although I suspect that some of my friends and myself have been just as much in love with Colin Firth as with Mr. Darcy, but that’s a different review now isn’t it?) Regardless of this, I felt an immediate kinship and sympathy with this title. (I feel like I should say here that I’m married to a wonderful man who puts up with my adoration of both Mr. Darcy and Colin Firth in such a way as to make me love and adore him even more. That’s pretty impressive.)

So now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, shall we attend to the book that we are here to discuss? Indeed!

Emma Douglas has spent her entire academic career studying, lecturing on, and writing about Jane Austen. She is, in short, the quintessential Janeite.  She is quite pleased with the way her life is going until, in one shattering and slightly queasy moment, she discovers her husband and her teacher’s assistant involved in something very biological on the kitchen table. Things go downhill from there. He and his mistress accuse her of plagiarism and thus, not only do we meet our heroine in the middle of a personal crisis, but a career crisis as well.

Instead of giving up on everything she’s ever known, Emma decides that now is the time to separate from everything she’s become comfortable with and, on a lark, she gets rid of a lot of material items and finances her own trip to England to track down Jane Austen’s lost letters.

Here is where I need to back up and give a little history lesson. Jane Austen, being a writer, was an avid and prolific letter writer. It is believed by scholars that during her lifetime, she wrote over three thousand missives to a variety of people. Upon her death, her closest and most beloved fan, her sister Cassandra, destroyed a majority of her letters and allowed the others to be made public. Now that you know that fact, we can move on with the review.

Emma has received information that a very special group of people in England still have ALL of Jane’s letters and that they were not, in fact destroyed. This is not only intriguing to Emma, but it casts her a lifeline in the middle of her chaotic life. The discovery of these letters could mean the revival of her career in academia. She chases after these tidbits of information with the smallest whisper of logic and an incredible measure of passion.

Along the journey, she discovers more about Jane Austen than she’d ever thought possible and also begins to look at her beloved works of writing in a completely new light. On top of all of this, she learns more about herself than she’d understood before.

This book was a delight to read. For anyone who loves Jane Austen it is an absolute must. With exquisite attention to detail, Pattillo uncovers Jane Austen’s life for the reader who hasn’t had the opportunity to research on his or her own and she laces it through with a fictitious story that is delicious and wonderful to follow. Several times while reading this book I thought “Why didn’t I put those pieces together?!”

A little bit Pride and Prejudice mashed up with Sense and Sensibility and a chase worthy of National Treasure or Indiana Jones, you’ll delight in the world that Pattillo has created around a beloved international author and the stories she chose to tell and some she didn’t.  I was disappointed when the story ended. Not because it ended badly, but simply because it ended. I wanted to know more and follow what happened next. Thankfully there is a sequel due soon. I can’t wait to get my hands on Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart.

Genre: Drama

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Publication Date: January 6, 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Tullyandkate. They’re the main characters of Firefly Lane. Actually, it’s Tully and Kate, but they’re really two opposite peas in the same pod. This is their story.

Growing up in the seventies, living through the mad crazy hair and wild colors of the eighties, into the nineties and through to the turn of the century, we follow these two girls through heartache, rejection, high school, college, careers, marriage and kids. In one word, life.

From the first moment that I started reading Firefly Lane, I was absolutely hooked.  A little younger than the girls in the book, I grew up in the 70’s and the 80’s and 90’s were my decades. (Yes, I claim both of them for various reasons.) Even now, like one of the characters in the book, I’m a mom of three kids. In other words, I relate.

I think that’s what was amazing about this book. It wasn’t an over the top soap opera drama. It wasn’t science fiction or a bodice ripper. It was real. Honest. Open. A woman who hasn’t had a hair cut or color in a long time because she’s too busy being a mom. Or a girl who can only see that her mom won’t let her do anything and misses the love that’s behind the protection.  And then there’s the girl who refuses to let other people define her while at the same time struggling for acceptance.

This book was stunning in its simplicity. It’s an easy read. I got it in the mail on Thursday and despite the heft of its 500+ pages, I had finished it before Saturday evening. That includes the three kids and the job.  This would make you think that the whole thing is light hearted and easy going, but it’s not. Though she mixes humor and romance in, Hannah does not skim over the hard topics. She explores not knowing when or how to say you’re sorry. Or saying you’re sorry too often. And then there’s unrequited love.  The pain of rejection.  Misunderstanding. Feeling like you’re not as good as you could be. Hannah hits it all and does it with such brilliance that by the end of the book you’re sobbing and wondering where Tully is now.  Is she alright? Did she find what she was looking for? Is Marah okay….?

And then you remember. It was fiction. They aren’t real. They may be based on real people, but they’re still fiction. It was a book. Something that you read and put on the shelf. Not someone that you call when you need a hug.

But this was so much more than ‘just a book.’ This was a wonderful exploration of everything in life that matters. At the end, it felt like I’d made a new friend. When my journey with Firefly Lane was over and I closed the cover, I popped in “Dancing Queen” and danced with my kids. Thank you, Kristin Hannah, for making it so much more than it would have been before I read the book.

Genre: General Fiction

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: October 2009

Reviewed by Ashely Barrett

Emory Chance is reeling in the aftermath of her daughter’s murder. Daisy’s absence forces her to face the truth about her own negligent parenting and drug addiction.

While nursing her Texas-sized regrets a mysterious cross-stitch proclaiming God’s judgment appears on her porch. Shortly after, Daisy’s fourth grade picture disappears. And someone begins mailing her typed prayers about grace and the love of Jesus. The messages of love and encouragement confuse and sometimes anger Emory while the messages of looming doom from the cross-stitch and the Defiance townsfolk frighten her, though Emory anticipates judgment from God and people.

But who would steal a picture of Daisy? Is Daisy’s murderer trying to make a statement? Is he the man she saw in a vision with snake tattoos slithering up his arms?

A Slow Burn, the second book in the Defiance Texas Trilogy is by no means a sagging sequel. The intensity keeps the reader absorbed until the very last page. I love the people in this story and their struggle to both give and receive God’s grace. Unlike Daisy Chain, the first book in the series, A Slow Burn is narrated by Emory Chance, Daisy’s troubled and enigmatic mother.

If you loved Daisy Chain, A Slow Burn won’t disappoint. If you haven’t read Daisy Chain and you enjoy women’s fiction go back and read Daisy Chain before you begin A Slow Burn.

I only regret finishing A Slow Burn because now I have to wait for the final book in the trilogy. I hope it’s released soon!

Genre: Comedy, Chicklit

Publisher: David C. Cook

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

It’s not often that you see a coming of age novel that isn’t about a teenager, but Stretch Marks fits the bill. Mia Rathbun is nearing the end of her twenties, set in a career and a relationship. Even though she seems to have everything going her way, she’s not quite settled in her life. The two main relationships in her life are rocky at best. Her live in boyfriend, Lars, is a free lance writer who’s more often free than lance these days. Their relationship is familiar, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s comfortable or better yet, growing. Mia has a habit of suppressing concerns and masking issues in order to keep the peace. This is a habit that most likely developed due to her mother’s decision to leave the family when Mia was younger. This brings us to that other big relationship in her life…

Mia’s mother, a cruise director on a ship, has been an in and out influence in her daughter’s life. More often than not she has a million things going on and calls Mia to dispense advice in a manner not too different from a candy machine in a grocery store lobby. A few hits. A few misses. And every now and then you get something good.

This is the life into which Stuart introduces a new character and with it, much conflict. Mia’s baby. As with real life, a pregnancy changes everything and it can really challenge where you are in your life. Mia’s views on the world and her relationships all begin to come into question. Especially when she shares her unexpected pregnancy with Lars… And things don’t settle down any further when her mother decides to visit. Can we say chaos?

From there, everything spirals into control. That’s right. As life seems to be spinning further and further out of control, Mia’s focus sharpens and she finally begins to pull things together and face issues she never even realized she had.

With a heavy topic like unplanned pregnancy, Stuart could have gone easily into the dramatic realm and preached a hard line. Instead, she infused the story with humor and light dialogue while balancing serious topics. The result is an enjoyable journey that deals with real life stress and chaos in a very relatable way.  Stuart’s sharing of other people’s faith is never heavy handed or preachy and the book leaves you feeling very hopeful. People make mistakes every day. We all do. And yet no matter what the mistake is, there’s always hope that we can learn and grow through what we’ve done. Perhaps we can even come out better for it on the other side.

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Chicklit

Publisher: Random House

Publication Date: July 21, 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Lara Lington is having a mid-life crisis. Her boyfriend just broke up with her, her business is failing and her great Aunt Sadie just died. Well the great aunt Sadie part doesn’t really add into Lara’s crisis except that a twenty year old version of Sadie is now haunting her. Sound a little mundane and outrageous all at once? Then you know that you’re reading a Sophie Kinsella novel.

Lara is a simple girl. She’s not drop dead gorgeous and not a world class genius, but she is, most importantly, relatable.  As I mentioned previously, Lara’s great Aunt Sadie has died at the ripe old age of 105. Lara didn’t know Sadie nor does she really care about her when she attends her funeral at the beginning of the story. She’s more concerned with her ex-boyfriend and trying to figure out how she can get him back while trying to convince her family that she’s not deluded or a stalker. So when, in the middle of the funeral, a beautiful young woman in twenties style clothing sits next to her and starts talking, Lara isn’t impressed. It’s not until she discovers that the beautiful young woman is the same woman who is currently the corpse in the coffin that things start to get interesting. It seems that Aunt Sadie can’t go to her ‘rest’ without her favorite necklace and since Lara’s the only one who can hear or see her, it’s up to Lara to find it or be driven insane by Aunt Sadie constantly screaming in her ear.

In Twenties Girl, you get exactly what you expect from reading a Kinsella novel. Adventure, humor, romance and a brilliant way out of an utter mess are the formula for Kinsella’s books and Kinsella always pulls it off with aplomb and style. Though the situations in Twenties Girl are even more extreme than the normal insanity you’d expect, Kinsella still manages to keep belief just barely suspended enough to hold your interest throughout.

As with her other books, Kinsella discusses adult situations and there is some brief language, but she does it with grace and a lack of intimate details such as to make it not overwhelming or too uncomfortable for a conservative reader. All in all, I got everything I expected when I cracked open the cover on this book. It was a delightful read that gave me some laughs, some embarrassment on the heroine’s behalf and a nice warm fuzzy feeling when it all ended.  Sometimes this is all that’s needed from a book. When I’m in need, I’ll always happily turn to a Kinsella heroine for my entertainment getaway.

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Publisher: Random House

Publication Date: January 1, 2001

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

I’m not a shopper. The words Jimmy Choo shoes never come out of my mouth strung together in one sentence. So really, there’s no reason for me to identify with or even enjoy Rebecca Bloomwood’s tales of retail therapy. But I do. I love Becky Bloomwood. She’s crazy, illogical, completely addicted to shopping in any form, and despite all of her faults, I completely adore her.

Becky Bloomwood can tell you what the rush is like when you hear the ding of the cash register or when you find the absolute perfect blouse. She can also tell you, with entirely too much experience, that telling a bank or financial institution that you’ve suddenly developed typhoid fever is not a legitimate excuse for lapse of payment. Neither is ‘accidentally’ dropping all of your bills in a garbage dumpster outside your apartment or pretending that your Aunt Ermintrude has died. As Becky so sadly learns, retail therapy does have its price.

Oh and did I tell you what Becky does for a living? She’s a financial reporter. That’s right. Becky’s life is about writing stories that help people keep their finances straight. So you can see where this is going…right?

Sophie Kinsella has created, in Becky Bloomwood, one of the most beloved characters in all of ‘chicklit-dom’. And yes, that’s a word. I’m sure it is.

Written in the first person, the reader has a delightful front row seat to Rebecca’s sometimes warped and entirely hilarious thought process. You can’t help but laugh out loud and shake your head as Becky falls into (and sometimes runs headlong into) some of the worst messes you could imagine and then finds her way back out again. Usually her path out of the problem is far cleverer and better imagined than what you’d expect from a lighthearted journey like Rebecca’s.

Kinsella does an exceptional job of keeping the tone light and clean and though there are a few instances of adult language and discussion throughout, they in no way permeate the story or go into detail enough for the reader to be  uncomfortable.

Thankfully, Becky Bloomwood has many more journeys ahead of her. Future novels take her abroad, into the sometimes disastrous world of a bride and even beyond that, into motherhood. Rebecca learns her lessons, takes her knocks and  Kinsella does a brilliant job of making us love and adore her no matter how wacky or crazy the situation might be.

Genre: Fiction, Family Drama

Publisher: Henry Holt

Publication Date: June 23, 2009

Reviewed by Ashley Barrett

Emily Ascher and her likeable fiancé, Clay, plan to marry in the Berkshires, where the Aschers’ country home once stood. For the ceremony site, Emily chooses the wooded grove where years earlier she, with her parents, Joe and Laura, scattered the ashes of Thomas, her older brother.

Joe bears the weight of Emily and Laura’s blame for Thomas’s death. Will Emily’s wedding give him a chance to explain what really happened to his daughter and now ex-wife?

The events of that winter night haunt all the Aschers. Even after Emily’s graduation from law school and Laura’s remarriage to Earl. In flashbacks throughout The Embers, the reader lives with the Ascher’s through Thomas’s illness, Emily’s reckless teenage years, and Joe’s superceding ambition as a playwright in New York City.

The collision of past and present brought on by wedding planning, and the news of an old friend’s death makes Emily question everything, her parents, her identity and even her feelings for Clay.

Hyatt Bass wrote, directed and produced the film 75 Degrees in July; The Embers is her first novel. As a reader, I could tell this author wasn’t an experienced novelist. Although the writing flows well most of the time and the characters are complex and believable, the dialogue often sounds fake. But despite that, I cared about the Aschers and their story. The Embers contains some strong language and the sexual misconduct of a minor, although the author’s use of language and sex was neither graphic nor gratuitous.

Overall, I enjoyed reading The Embers and would recommend it for someone who enjoys the endearing complexity of family relationships. I would consider reading a second book by Hyatt Bass, if she writes one.

Genre: Chicklit

Publisher: Waterbrook Press

Publication Date: June 2005

Reviewed by Kaci Hill

Betsy Blessed is an associate pastor fighting for acceptance.  It’s a tough challenge, too.   She’s been hurt before and shy about getting hurt again—understandably, and she’s lost the confidence she once had.  As if that weren’t enough, she’s abruptly launched into the role of senior pastor—which both thrills and overwhelms her. But now the main battle is brewing, swelling, closing in on her, and she may well drown if she doesn’t get her heading.

Heavens to Betsy has everything from light, sassy humor to the lightly jaded “church humor” that any kid raised in church knows.  Pattillo starts out with something you don’t see often in Christian fiction—a female pastor, then tosses in some of the famous church politics (complete with the traditional crowd), a thief, and a fellow pastor Betsy just happens to have an eye for.

Of course, the little twist at the end is . . . Well, I don’t dare write about that here lest I give something away. I read this and Dreaming in Black and White back to back, which proved to be an amazing experience, a bit of a reprieve from all the heavier books I’d been reading. Honestly, I hadn’t just laughed in a long while. The dialogue is well-executed the whole way through, and even if humor isn’t your thing, the ending is enough to appease even the skeptics in the crowd.

Admittedly, chicklit is not my usual preference. But, as you see from the Walker review and this one, there’s always an exception.  Heavens to Betsy had me in stitches.  I laughed so hard that my grandmother wanted to know what in the world I was cackling about. I felt it was too hilarious to keep to myself and read sections to her—which sparked thoughtful conversation about presumptions and universal tensions within the church.

Can Betsy reclaim her confidence while reconciling her clerical robe with high heels and the right shade of lipstick? This is a fun-loving look at a single girl’s life on the other side of the altar.

Genre: Chicklit

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: March 2005

Reviewed by Kaci Hill

Dreaming in Black and White was the first of four books I was given to read for review.  I’d seen it before—I worked at a bookstore, but my tastes tend to run toward darker suspense so I hadn’t considered trying other genres. That is until the package arrived.

Phoebe, our beloved protagonist, is an absolute riot. At age thirty she’s a witty writer who is searching for Mr. Right and her happy movie ending. Just when she thinks she’s getting her break life happens. Through a series of events, she’s forced to go to the one place she wants to avoid: home.

To add to her humiliation, the jerk who fired her shows up in her hometown and becomes everybody’s favorite person—except Phoebe’s.

If only her life was a movie, where everything is neatly wrapped in a little bow by the end. Then she’d have her dream-guy, a neat little house, and the writing job she’s always wanted. What more could a girl ask?  Instead she gets herself into awkward situations time and again–in front of the one person she wants to make disappear.

Dreaming in Black and White has a light, witty humor I found much needed in my reading life. I had a good time getting to know very loveable characters who know more about classic romance movies than any human being should be allowed.

And under the humor, Walker has woven some very subtle, but powerful, truths about life.  She gets into everything: jobs, family life, social life, the girl/guy relationships, everyday blunders, and a few classic tensions, just for grins.

I just hope you can keep up with the movie buff; she’ll keep you on your toes for certain.  Luckily, ladies and gentlemen, the author has listed many movie facts in the back.

I hate to say too much, or I spoil everything.  If you enjoy laughing, this book is a must-read. And I must say, I’m going to find the sequel.