Genre: Comedy

Publisher: Zondervan

Published: April 2012

Reviewed by Jen Roman

Harriet Beamer, widowed salt-and-pepper shaker collector and expert cookie baker, can’t resist a bet. When she makes an incredibly stupid one with her daughter-in-law Prudence and loses, her “payment” is selling her house in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and moving to Grass Valley, California, with her son Henry, and Prudence. Other than to the Jersey Shore every summer, Harriet has no traveling experience, so she decides to rectify that by sending her possessions and beloved Basset Hound, Humphrey, ahead, and take public transportation to her destination. With the help of Amelia (as in Earhart), her trusty new cell phone, and the kindness of strangers, she is able to make a memorable trip of a lifetime while having experiences she’s never had. She is able to complete something of a catharsis by writing letters to her deceased husband, Max, in her journals.
From the first page to the last word, this book had my attention. I admit I was wary when I read about the main character being retired and a collector of salt and pepper shakers, but I quickly became engrossed in Harriet’s adventures. While I am nearly half her age, I have to admire her spunk and determination, which is what many of the people she meets on her journey say as well. She has inspired me to do more things because I never know when I won’t be able to. Harriet, in her own way, is a great role model for so many people who think that they can’t or shouldn’t follow her dreams. Magnin makes Harriet a likeable, although somewhat eccentric, grandmother-type person that readers can easily admire. She brings us into Harriet’s personal life and gives us a glimpse into Harriet’s relationships, which are probably similar to our own. Anyone looking for a change of pace in reading should thoroughly enjoy Harriet Beamer Takes the Bus.
Subject matter should be appropriate for young adults and up.

Genre: Comedy

Publisher: Salt River (Tyndale)

Publication Date: September 2011

Reviewed by Josh Olds

Matt Mikalatos has a problem. His neighbor is a werewolf. Honestly, it really isn’t his problem. The real problem when his adventure begins is the zombies that are chasing him. But they’re just zombies, so they’re dispatched easily enough. Matt’s a good guy and he’s devoted himself to helping other people, so he’ll stop at nothing to help Luther Martin get his life back on track and eviscerate his inner wolf…which leads him to some interesting characters.

Matt and Luther decide that the best way to get rid of the wolf is to go to church—Christians live redeemed lives, after all, right? Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! Or at least that’s what the good book says. But there’s something wrong with the church. Something’s amiss. The people don’t seem to think here, but just mindlessly believe what they’re taught. The people of the church soon begin manifesting their zombieness and are soon after Matt and Luther’s brains.

After a series of similar (mis)adventures that hold scattered insight into the transformed life of the Christian, Luther is finally faced with the only way to rid himself of the beast within. For I am crucified with Christ, and I no longer live. But that would require facing the father he hates and the death of the spirit he loves.

Through it all Matt discovers a series of monsters ranging from the unthinking zombie hordes, to werewolves who struggle to control their base desires, to vampires who put their needs before the needs of others. Matt even discovers a bit of the monster inside himself. The Night of the Living Dead Christian is a humorous, campy monster parody/allegory that combines both fiction and non-fiction to ask the question: What does a transformed life really look like? Ranging from wildly absurd and hilarious to deeply serious and thought-provoking, Matt Mikalatos’s newest novel (following Imaginary Jesus) is a blending of genre to create a unique reading experience.

The idea of humanity as monsters isn’t a new one. Some of the great classic novels of the horror genre were meant to teach us about the shortcomings of our own natures. But the Mikalatos twist of making it humorous and campy really makes the novel. Once I got used to the writing style and the fact Mikalatos doesn’t always take himself seriously—and once I saw Mikalatos’s themes wouldn’t be so much implicit but overblown to be obvious—I was able to really enjoy his novel.

Don’t be expecting a serious treatise or a serious novel from The Night of the Living Dead Christian, but do expect to come away with some serious thoughts. Amid the humor, Mikalatos manages to ask some deep and relevant questions about what it means to be a Christian.

Genre: Satire/Classics

Publisher: Quirk Classics

Publication Date:  March 2011

Reviewed by Jennifer S. Roman

Following up to the hit, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Dreadfully Ever After catches up with Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy as recently married.  Elizabeth is not looking forward to starting a family, and even with her love Fitzwilliam with her, she feels something is missing.  Since it is socially unacceptable for a married woman to fight zombies, she must play the part of the gentleman’s wife.  Her husband is unexpectedly bitten by a zombie, and she fears the end is near until she hears of a possible cure.  Willing to do anything to protect her beloved, she travels to London with her father and sisters Kitty and Mary in order to get that serum at all costs.  Of course adventures ensue while the family works to carry out its plan.  They meet colorful characters, reunite with previous acquaintances, and learn terrible secrets.

Fans of Jane Austen will have a rousing adventure reading about the new path that the Bennets have undertaken.  Written in fun and colloquial language, the book is difficult to put down because it is so entertaining.  Austen herself would probably enjoy seeing her masterpiece re-written in such a tongue-in-cheek manner that is so against social proprieties of the time.  Readers of “monster” stories will get a kick out of seeing familiar villains written into classic literature in an updated and quirky fashion.  All in all, this is a fun story that will make readers guffaw out loud.

Because of the nature of the subject, the book does contain fairly graphic violence.  Teen readers will appreciate the “grossness factor,” but for those readers who don’t like gore and violence, it may not be the book for them.  In addition to describing the fetid, nasty zombies, Hockensmith also talks about the methods of their demise.  There is no sex or profanity to speak of, as the book is written in the times of King George III, in the late 1700s and early 1800s.  Other than the violence, which some parents might object to, there is nothing that would prevent a mature young reader from enjoying this book.  Adults as well will find the book humorous and fun.

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Publisher: Dutton Adult

Publication Date: April 2011

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Jennifer and Beth work at the same newspaper. They’re also best friends. They share everything together. Unfortunately, they usually use their work email to share it.

Lincoln works at the same newspaper but Jennifer and Beth don’t know him. They’ve never heard of him and they have no clue that Lincoln is tasked daily to read their email. As an internet security expert, it’s Lincoln’s job to make sure that everyone at the company is using their email for a specific purpose: work. Beth and Jennifer use their email for a specific purpose and it’s got little or nothing to do with work. The more Lincoln reads, the less inclined he is to warn them off of using their email even though that’s his job. You see Lincoln has become a silent third partner in their friendship.  He has found himself personally invested in their lives.  And trust me, he knows how absolutely creepy and strange it is. That’s why he’ll never approach either Jennifer or Beth about what’s happening. It just muddles things further when Lincoln realizes that he’s fallen in love with Beth.

Attachments is an absolutely delightful old fashioned love story wrapped up in modern day technology. In fact at one point, one of the characters makes mention of how much easier life was during Jane Austen’s time without technology.

I adored this book. It’s hit my list of top ten favorites for 2011 already. The writing is absolutely delightful, the situations are Austen-ish in the way that they meet and fall for each other and by the end, you’ll want to go through and read it again because it was so fun. You cannot help but fall in love with a book that says “She laughed and the sound was like a giggle falling off of a chair.”

I read this book and instantly went onto every social media platform I have (Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr) and recommended it to all of my friends. And though I review books constantly, I never do that.

If you’re looking for a sweet (without being saccharine!) romance with a lot of laughs and fun, check this one out. But be warned, if you read it in public, you will laugh out loud. Rowell’s writing is utterly entertaining, brilliant and the plotline is perfectly cool for the summer heat. Two thumbs way up on this book!

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Literary, Comedy

Publisher: The Dial Press

Publication Date: January 2011

Reviewed by Jonathan Schindler

Why would Cyrus Ott, a wealthy businessman known for his savvy investment skills, leave his family and his home and sink a substantial fortune into an international newspaper doomed to fail? The answer to this question, while known to the reader, is hidden from Ott’s descendants, who assume his love of the news is what has compelled him to start this venture in Rome. They double their efforts to keep the newspaper afloat for over fifty years in Ott’s memory. Their misunderstanding provides the backdrop to The Imperfectionists, Tom Rachman’s hilarious novel-in-stories that catalogues the misadventures of the final batch of employees at Ott’s newspaper.

The Imperfectionists is divided into eleven stories, each bearing a headline from the newspaper and each story following a different character in some way connected to Ott’s newspaper. The stories follow editors, correspondents, a reader, an accountant, one of Ott’s descendants—a motley cast of characters, to be sure, but one that reveals the broad scope of the newspaper’s reach. After each story follows a short bit of history about the founding of the paper. I liked this shift from the present back to an earlier period because it allows the story to develop and gain momentum, rather than revealing the necessary facts at one shot.

What I really appreciate about The Imperfectionists is not only the breadth of characters included but also the range of situations in which we are able to see them. Characters amble in and out of each other’s stories, and a character we meet in one is likely to appear in another. I like this approach because it mirrors real life in many ways: the people we meet wear many different hats, and who they are at work is not always who they are at home. Seeing the characters in different lights fosters empathy where it might otherwise be absent.

I said at the beginning of this review that The Imperfectionists is hilarious, and it is. There are several lines and situations that had me laughing out loud, and several dry sentences that perfectly captured the working-in-an-office experience. (One of my favorites, for example: “Nobody throws anything away here; nobody knows whose job that is.”) But for a book that is in many ways comedic, The Imperfectionists is surprisingly poignant. Rachman shows the reader the funny side of life and work at a subpar paper, but he presents the characters honestly, exposing all their failings and weaknesses yet without passing judgment on them. Sometimes readers will laugh, sometimes they will want to cry, but they will always feel, and normally they will feel with the characters.

In conclusion, I will say that part of the reason why I loved this book is how I related to it. I’ve had some experience with newspapers and editorial curmudgeons (and might even be one myself), and as far as my (limited) experience will take me, I can see the accuracy (or at least the caricatured accuracy) of Rachman’s account. Sensitive readers should be warned that there are some adult situations and language in The Imperfectionists, but for readers desiring an entertaining, well-written, and character-driven look at the underbelly of a fading, albeit well-respected, institution, I can’t recommend The Imperfectionists enough.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Mystery, Comedy

Publisher: L&L Dreamspell

Publication Dates: June 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Laurel McKay really isn’t sure she’s interested in dating at all. Divorced and barely holding her job and her family together, adding dates to the mix doesn’t seem like a wise idea. But still, she decides that instead of trying internet dating, she’ll give a higher end ‘love club’ a try. With an extensive security process and more elite clients, she’s sure that it’s going to work better than previous dates she’s had. Unfortunately, this one sets a record for nearly the worst date ever. After he tries to go too far with him, she smashes him in the face with his cell phone and the next morning? He ends up dead. She, of course is covered in his blood from the night before and her fingerprints are all over the inside of the car. Not good.
What’s worse for Laurel is that the detective investigating the crime is a soccer dad whose daughter plays against Laurel’s son and whom Laurel doesn’t really like very much. So when Detective Hunk…er Hunter, hits the case, Laurel isn’t sure what to think. He makes a joke about following her on her next date to make sure the homicide count doesn’t rise. Hah. Hah.

Remember when I said that her earlier date was almost the worst date ever? Her second Love Club attempt turns out worse. How can it be worse than a date showing up dead the next day? How about dying mid-date – while Laurel is in the bathroom with no alibi!

Cindy Sample’s story is funny, smart and has a fast paced plot that keeps you guessing. Could it be her boss? Her ex-husband? Some random killings? And how does Laurel manage to hold herself together in the midst of a serial killer’s work?

Sample’s characters are realistic and quirky without being over the top. They are easily relatable and as you’re reading, it would be easy to see yourself hanging out with them. As her heroine balances life, divorce, romance and mystery solving, she does it with grace, panache and just enough humor to keep you laughing along.

I enjoyed reading this book and found it to be a fun weekend read. Light, funny and clean enough to be shared amongst friends without apologies or remorse, Dying for a Date will keep you laughing, intrigued, and very very happy that Cindy Sample isn’t writing your life story.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Comedy

Publisher: Little, Brown & Co.

Publication Dates: September 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

A tongue in cheek collection of short stories, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk is a hilarious, sometimes uncomfortable, yet constantly entertaining look at today’s society.  Stories and phrases that can be overheard at any local restaurant suddenly take on a completely new tone when they are uttered from the mouths of animals.

When a young bear loses her mother, it shapes every single second of her future life. While catching fish, entertaining and even speaking with a dancing bear in a circus, nothing is nearly as bad as the fact that she lost her mother when she was young. A purebred dog, often used as a stud, needs to explain to his wife that it’s really only just a job and it means nothing. But her dalliances with the bulldog across the street very much do count as cheating. Still, he loves her just the same.

Sedaris pulls together an interesting and entertaining commentary on society with this collection of short stories. A quick read, it will stick with you long after you’ve finished it. You may find yourself laughing out loud while reading it though, so be prepared to answer questions if you read it in public. With witty dialogue, fantastic characters and a lot of fun, Sedaris manages to make an exceptionally clever outing that keeps you chuckling and most of all, thinking.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Mystery, Comedy, Romance

Publisher: Touchstone

Publication Dates: August 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

I thought I was the only person in the world who had really bad days at work. I’ve dealt with potty training, broken down vehicles, crying kids in the background of important conference calls…but those were all nothing compared to Lilly Hawkins and her bad day at work. You see, hers involved a lot of murder, death, beating, extortion, frame ups and gang warfare. And that was in like ten minutes. (Okay well maybe not, but it does seem that way for a while!)

Lilly is a photojournalist who, for some reason, has been having a lot of mess ups at work lately. Though they’re minor things, they’re still enough to be annoying to her and for her co-workers to start choosing other people for their teams. All of the hard work she’s put in over the past years has begun to crumble and it’s starting to eat away at her. So when she gets the chance at a hot breaking news story, she jumps at it. Knowing that this is likely a last chance at redemption for her job, she sneaks around the police tape and gets right into the crime scene. Unfortunately, she isn’t able to get much footage, but what she does get is golden.

When she arrives back at the station, she’s proud of what she’s gotten until they put the tape in the machine and everything is black. After her string of mistakes in the recent past, everyone believes that she’s accidentally made a rookie mistake that wouldn’t allow her to record. She even wonders how it’s possible that something like this happens. And then she gets home, gets beat up, threatened, nearly killed, followed, beat up again and…yeah. The day goes downhill from there.

An engaging mystery with interesting characters, A Bad Day’s Work is a fun read with twists and turns that will keep you guessing. Lilly Hawkins is funny, interesting, and someone that would totally fit into my circle of friends. The characters that populate the story are quirky and weird and exactly the sort of off the wall people that you meet every day. At one point I did wonder if she knew anyone who was really ‘normal’ but then again, normal is a relative concept. And in the television news industry, there might just be more weird than normal.

The story was fast paced (sometimes mind bogglingly so) and fun enough to keep me delightfully entertained the entire time I was reading. No downtime in Lilly Hawkins life and no slow times in this story. This was a fun read for a weekend. I enjoyed the adventure and the mystery and would recommend it for anyone who loves a fun, light mystery.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Humor, Fantasy

Publisher: NAL Trade

Publication Dates: November 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

If the Fates were real and not just myth, what would they be like? Would they have nicknames like Dennis or Fabio? Would they walk around in all red sleazy outfits or would they quietly help and assist their humans along the appropriate path?

When Fabio, (or Fate) becomes fed up with his job of watching humans make miserable life choices and starts to become jealous of Destiny, what should he do? He considers applying to Jerry (God) for another job, but getting that to happen is tough. So he presses on and keeps trying his best to move life ahead without affecting the humans.

And then there’s Sara. The beautiful woman with a great laugh that makes everyone around her take pause and smile before heading back to their incredibly mundane lives. What is it about Sara that has everyone paying such close attention to her? More importantly, why is Fabio running into her all over the city? New York City at that. It’s unusual to run into the same person twice in a year let alone several times over a matter of weeks. And then it hits him. Fate has fallen in love with a human. DISASTER ALERT!  Even Karma can’t figure a way of this one. And trust me. Fate’s asked.

S.G. Browne takes a comedic look at heavy topics of destiny, death, Karma and religion in this book. He gives them a light spin and allows you to laugh at things that most people spend their lives trying to puzzle. There are moments when you can’t help but laugh out loud. (Karma as a loud American tourist being obnoxious in a restaurant and ‘zapping’ people with a point of his finger is one example. Or Dennis, the relatively quiet and generally easy to get along with guy that is really Death.)

Be warned. There are moments that will likely offend. For example, God being referred to as Jerry (a short version of Jehovah) and a continuing commentary of the ‘real’ stories behind the tales we know in the Bible will probably set a lot of readers on edge.  I had a hard time with it and I consider myself relatively open minded, so it’s definitely not a book for all readers.  I wish he’d stuck with the Fates and the Greek Gods and stayed away from religions currently practiced, but then it probably wouldn’t have been the same book and it would definitely not have shared Browne’s feelings on the world.

If you’re passionate about your faith, this isn’t the book for you. Then again, if you’re passionate about your faith, you’ve probably already met at least one or two of these characters personally and have no need for a book to tell you more – even if it is funny.

If you’re looking for a light read and you don’t have any ties to religion or feel deeply passionate about the way the world should be, you will probably like this book and may even want to add it to your Christmas list.

Review copy provided by publisher.

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: Comedy, Romance, Supernatural

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: May 2010

Jake Chism’s Review:

Kemp McAvoy has pulled some fast ones in his time, but nothing like his latest brainchild. Movie star Olivia Hayden has just been hospitalized after a car wreck, and Kemp is the nurse assigned to her in the ICU. Disgusted with is own life and lack of wealth, Kemp develops a get rich quick scheme involving his famous comatose patient and his own impersonation of an angelic being. If all goes according to plan, Olivia Hayden will wake up with a message from an angel that must be published and Kemp and his fellow conspirators will make a fortune from the proceeds. Unfortunately, Kemp will soon find out that impersonating an angel isn’t always the best idea.

Tim Downs takes a break from bugs and cadavers to treat his fans with a quirky tale that is fun to read and impossible to put down. On the surface, this plot seems extremely far-fetched, but Downs really nails this one with his tightly woven storylines and unforgettable characters. Kemp McAvoy might just be the most annoying character I’ve ever read, yet at the same time I had so much fun following his every ill conceived move. Perfectly nestled amongst the shenanigans is a nice little love story and a subtle, yet strong theme about belief in things unseen.  There isn’t a wasted word in this novel and Downs’ research really gives this story the depth it needs to hold the reader’s attention.

I had no idea what to expect from this story on the front end. To be sure this was a risky move on Tim Down’s part, especially after the cliffhanger ending of his last Bug Man novel. However, I’ve walked away from this one with an even greater appreciation for Down’s storytelling ability. Bugs and cadavers or angel impersonating con men….if Tim Downs’ name is on the cover you can be sure I’ll be reading it.

Tim George’s Review:

Kemp McAvoy is drop dead handsome, a medical school graduate, and a genius. If you don’t believe the genius part just ask him and he’ll tell you. Kemp is a nurse, which should give you an idea something went wrong after medical school. What he comes up with to finally make it big is also a clue our non-hero is only a genius in his own over-inflated ego. The scheme is simple – convince an actress in a drug induced coma after a car wreck to believe he is an angel come to give her a new message for the world, get her to write a book about it when she wakes up, and rake in the millions after the fact. Thus begins the funny and yet insightful Wonders Never Cease by Tim Downs. If you are one of those who get mad when a reviewer gives away the plot, take a breath; it’s the characters and how Downs tells the story that makes this novel worth reading.

Most of the people in this story are as vapid as the city they live in, Hollywood. Among them are the actress’s agent that has been watching his cash cow slowly dry up over the years, a book publisher desperate to find a replacement for his one best-seller (Lattes with God), and a loan shark from the east coast who has already extended far more credit to Kemp than he ever should have. Were it not for Kemp’s girlfriend, her six year old daughter, and a hospital custodian named Emmet one might give up on the whole human race.

Did I mention the little girl really does see angels?  The irony is her Christian school insists she have counseling after she tells her story during a See and Say Session in class. One can hardly miss the satire of the whole thing. On one side we have a greedy confederation of users with no qualms about duping the whole world with fake messages from a fake angel and on the other side people who say they believe in the supernatural but fall all over themselves in questioning the validity of the girl’s visions. As the plot plays out we are given a too real vision of the consumer driven pop-culture religion of our day. Downs throws in everything from Oprah to Dr. Oz to make his point.

Tim Downs is best known for hard boiled suspense like Plague Maker, Head Game, and his popular Bug Man series. Good for him for stepping out of his comfort zone and giving us this sometimes charming, sometimes cutting parable of greed and faith. The writing is sharp with some of the best dialogue the author has ever written. Wonders Never Cease will make you laugh out loud and hang your head in shame all in the same moment. And the ending? I didn’t see it coming until it was almost on top of me. It will make you wonder if perhaps you have entertained angels unaware this very day.

Don’t miss our interview with Tim Downs.

Review copies provided by Thomas Nelson.

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Publisher: Touchstone

Publication Date: April 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Jane Austen is amazing. Pretty much everyone on the face of planet Earth knows this information right? The facts support this. Movies, books, active fan clubs…  There’s even an eHow site that tells people how they can best become an Austenphile. No matter whether you’re a fan or not, you have to admit that those are pretty impressive numbers for a woman who has been dead for almost two hundred years.

The problem is that Georgina Jackson, award winning and critically acclaimed author, has no clue about anything to do with Austen. She’s never read any of her books and she knows nothing about her life. Why is Georgina’s lack of knowledge such a problem? Because when several hand written pages come to light as the beginning of an unpublished Austen novel, her publisher and agent pressure her into completing the novel. Over her head and pushed for 120,000 words on deadline that would make even the most prolific author crumple into a ball of despair, Georgina does the best thing she can. She runs.  Unfortunately in England, there’s nowhere that she can escape from Jane Austen. Even her best friend has started a business that is Austen-centric. Without intending to, she finds herself learning more and more about the grand lady herself and her followers.

I love Austen. Anyone who has seen my reviews on the site knows that. I am, however, cautious about books having to do with Austen. In my personal reading, I have found that it is a huge gamble when you dive into anything modern that has to do with Jane Austen. Sometimes you can come across some absolutely brilliant Austen-centric work but other times, you may have to slog through what feels like very bad Austen Fan Fiction. (Fan Fiction – amateur writers giving their own slant or views to already published work, most often found in film and television shows.)

Obviously Elizabeth Aston has come across the same thing. With her expertise in all things Austen (she’s got six Austen sequels/adaptations of her own on the market) Elizabeth Aston does a masterful job of capturing not only the heart of Austen’s writing, but also the passion of her fans. From the casual fans that only recognize Colin Firth to the rabid fans who know every intimate detail of Austen’s life, Aston has done an incredibly brilliant job at sharing with the reader a thumbnail sketch of what Austenphiles are really like.  It’s a hilarious and endearing and anyone who even has a passing admiration for Austen’s work can’t help but be entertained.

The heart of this book is about finding out who you are, what you love and how to connect with yourself. Georgina is a woman on a search to discover who she is. No matter whether you’re an Austen fan or not, this is definitely a theme that resonates. Who hasn’t questioned this in their own lives at some point?

Aston’s writing is rich, funny, entertaining and her knowledge of Austen is mind boggling. I thoroughly enjoyed this journey into the mind of a writer taking on such a daunting task. I was delighted, thrilled, and can’t wait to see what else Aston has up her literary sleeves in the future.

Review copy provided by Touchstone.

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: Suspense, Comedy, Drama

Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Kevin Quinn is a man. He’s not extraordinary. He’s a liberal. He’s older. He’s on his way to Austin for a job interview. It’s a job he’s not really sure he even wants, but he knows he wants a change. He’s not married. He’s not a dad. He’s a little scared. And he’s a wealth of fantastic comedic and dramatic material. He’s so rich with observations and memories that this entire novel encompasses only eight hours of Kevin’s life. Just eight hours. And despite that, it’s an amazingly full story of a man with a very complete beginning, middle and end.

James Hynes delves into the mind of this character with such clarity that you sometimes find yourself laughing out loud and at others you’re stunned into silence. You may even find your mouth hanging open in shock as you page back and reread passages again to find out if that really happened or if it’s something just rolling around in Kevin’s vividly creative mind.  Sometimes his thoughts can seem too implausible to believe and you want to laugh out loud at the audacity. Seconds later though, Kevin’s thoughts might mirror your own and you’ll shake your head as he backtracks and apologizes in his own mind for even thinking such things.

Hynes’ descriptions are vivid, beautiful and stunning. Echoing with shades of Updike, his word choices are sweet and rich and they melt across your tongue like ice cream in the Austin heat. They beg for you to savor them, roll them around in your mouth, speak them out loud and then share them with someone else because they’re so utterly delightful. (My husband had large passages of this book either read aloud to him or forced on him as I was reading because it was just too entertaining not to share.)

The book takes a turn at one point that is so stunning it will spin you180 degrees at breakneck speed. You may even find yourself having trouble holding on to the reality in the book. It took me several times rereading passages to fully comprehend how quickly and completely everything had changed and even then I was left speechless.  Like I’d been on a rollercoaster ride, zooming toward the bottom of a long hill and then suddenly, without warning, found myself without tracks, I flailed a little at first. Then I wondered at how well Hynes managed to capture the reality of life turning on a dime and sometimes being completely out of our control.

Since Hynes dives into the deep end of a man’s mind without any filters, expect some forays into very deeply personal moments and memories. If you’re uncomfortable with frank discussion of sexual ideas or thoughts, this may not be the book for you. Though thankfully, Kevin’s thoughts do not follow the traditional understanding that men think about sex every few seconds, it is a thread of memories and description that is woven throughout the book. If you’re bothered by this, you might not want to try it. But on the other hand, if you want to know what the average American male who’s just slightly past his prime is thinking, this is definitely an interesting and adventurous read.

Review copy provided by Reagan Arthur Books.

Genre: Classic s Revisited

Publisher:  Quirk Classics

Publication Date:  March 2010

Reviewed by Jennifer Roman

In a take on the classic Pride and Prejudice, Hockensmith takes a leap from the original Bennet saga and turns the privileged family into zombie-killing warriors.  While the proper Mrs. Bennet fusses and frets, Mr. Bennet transforms his five daughters from silly, socialite girls into nunchuk-wielding, sword-bearing, killing machines.

At a local man’s funeral, the girls notice that the “deceased” is actually coming back to life as a zombie.  Their father rushes to the front of the church and cuts off the “dreadful’s” head before he can do more harm, but this change from dead to undead announces the coming of many more undead.  Knowing what the future holds, Oscar Bennet enlists the help of his five daughters: Elizabeth, Jane, Kitty, Mary, and Lydia.  He also summons help from the King’s Army, which arrives just in time to train for the battle of its life.  The ensuing training and killing are actually quite hilarious.  In one scene, the girls awaken in the middle of the night because they hear a noise.  Thinking it is a zombie, they rush down the hall just in time to catch their mother trying to enter their father’s bedchamber for a romantic interlude.  After realizing what they interrupted, they are more mortified than if they HAD seen a zombie.

There are some parallels to the original Pride and Prejudice, but the changes turn the once-classic into a campy romp of fun and hilarity.  While keeping some of the same style of language, Hockensmith manages to update the text and make it a pleasant, quick read.  The reader gets to see the English propriety as somewhat silly and frivolous: Mrs. Bennet and her “high society” friends get into a disagreement over the girls’ training.  There is to be a ball, and it is Elizabeth’s début.  Because of her “scandalous” training, however, the hostess of the ball refuses to invite her.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls is innocuous for just about any reader.  Keeping with English propriety, there is no foul language.  In fact, the girls are not allowed to say the word “zombie” because it is improper.  Instead they call them “the Zed word.”  There are allusions to sex, but only in the vaguest form.  There are descriptions of beheading and the cutting off of limbs, but not in a grisly, raw manner.  Even those with the weakest of stomachs should be able to handle that.

Hockensmith manages to combine the old with the new in PP&Z with wit and humor.  He makes fun of late 1800s English propriety and throws in some political satire as well.  The story is quirky and fun, and most of all, an easy read.  Those looking for some fun and humor should enjoy this off-the-wall tale.

Genre: Humor

Publisher: Back Bay Books/Little, Brown and Co.

Publication Date: 2007

Reviewed by Jaci Miller

In an insightful look into the world of advertising, Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris shows the inner workings of a struggling ad agency in a bumpy economy. Ferris is borderline prophetic in this 2007 publication; he forecasts what many shops in the ad world currently face today.

The novel focuses on the creative department of a Chicago agency whose employees spend their mornings twiddling their thumbs, playing pranks and meddling in each others’ business while they wait/hope for work to arrive. As the looming layoffs become a reality to more and more of the agency’s members, readers encounter more of the employees’ lives and the individual crises they face: Carl’s rocky marriage, Tom’s unstable personality, Amber’s intra-office pregnancy and stoic employer Lynn’s rumored battle with cancer which unifies the book and the cast as well. The dynamic roster of characters Ferris has created draws the reader in to the ad world and into the characters’ lives.

As a member of a creative advertising team, I found this book to ring true in tone and content. The hijinks, the projects, the atmosphere. It reminds the reader a bit of “The Office” for ad agencies, but with a gentler humor and greater subtlety of dialogue. Ferris uses the first person plural, “we,” to capture the camaraderie as well as the corporate nature in his novel; I found it very effective. Although a bit jarring at first (it is an unusual point-of-view), it quickly captured the essence of corporate life—this, along with savvy observations of office nuances.

Then We Came to the End is a National Book Award finalist and justifiably so. It’s a surprising and excellent effort from a first time novelist.

Genre: Comedy, Mystery

Publisher: Viking

Released: October 29, 2009

Reviewed by Jonathan Schindler

If you are like me, then you too think that the Christmas season is far too short. The four or so weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are not nearly enough time for all the music that needs listening, lights that need viewing, eggnog that needs drinking, and holiday books that need reading. Christmas is a special season when, despite the hustle and bustle of shopping and parties and the moaning of an overburdened schedule about to buckle, the images of the cozy hearth and hot drink reign in my mind.

And cozy is exactly the word I would use to describe A Rumpole Christmas, the newest (and, unfortunately, posthumous) release of Rumpole stories from John Mortimer. All of these stories have appeared before in one form or another, but it is the combination of Christmas capers that gives this collection its cozy feeling.

Rumpole—barrister, Old Bailey hack, and a bit of a Scrooge himself—doesn’t care too much for Christmas. As he explains, “I suppose what I have against Christmas Day is that the courts are all shut and no one is being tried for anything.” Still, while the courts may be on hiatus, crime never takes a break, and it is up to Rumpole to solve the mysteries necessary to perform his duty to justice (and get his clients off). As if solving crimes weren’t enough, Rumpole must also navigate the dangerous waters of a “health farm” (where he encounters “a bicycle that you could exhaust yourself on without getting anywhere”); an arctic Norfolk Christmas (which finds Rumpole “hugging the radiator”); a British pantomime, for which Rumpole feels deceptive nostalgia; and the other whims of She Who Must Be Obeyed, his wife, Hilda.

It may seem odd to call a collection “cozy” when the stories involve murder and adultery, blackmail and robbery. Yet it is Mortimer’s particular brand of genius that makes them so. Mortimer keeps the sordid details to a minimum, allowing Rumpole’s singular voice to steal the show. Rumpole as a narrator is humorous without being flamboyant, dry without being boring, intelligent without being stuffy. American humor, I’ve found, tends toward outrageous narrators; Rumpole is much more subdued, the “straight man,” but he is no less enjoyable to read. The Rumpole stories make me think of what P. G. Wodehouse’s Jeeves and Wooster stories would be like if they were narrated by Jeeves instead of Wooster. And, in addition to Rumpole’s warm narration, the Christmas spirit, continually mentioned and observed, and a cast of recurring characters to share it with provide the firelight for this cozy collection.

A Rumpole Christmas is sure to delight this Christmas. I read that this volume is perfect as a stocking stuffer; its merit makes it better suited to be a main gift in its own right. A Rumpole Christmas is likely to become for me a holiday staple, alongside Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Henry Van Dyke’s Story of the Other Wise Man, stories that display and embody the Christmas spirit they spread.

Genre: Comedy, Sci-fi

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Released: October 20, 2009

Reviewed by Jonathan Schindler

American fiction suffered a great loss in April 2007 when Kurt Vonnegut passed away. Thankfully, his fans have not been forgotten, as two posthumous volumes of his writings have so far been released. The second of these, Look at the Birdie, a collection of previously unpublished short fiction, hit shelves in late October.

The stories in Look at the Birdie were not written anywhere near the time of Vonnegut’s death, and for having sat around unpublished for nearly fifty years, they hold up pretty well. The curmudgeonly Vonnegut of latter days is virtually absent from this book. Instead, we find an almost uncharacteristically optimistic Vonnegut. The problems in the world that he later subjects to satire and black humor are here met with hope in the goodness of human beings (hope he might later deem misplaced). While this results in a generally bright collection, Vonnegut occasionally falls into bouts of sentimentality, something fans of his later works might be unaccustomed to. But there is enough here that is vintage Vonnegut—quirky, off-kilter, incisive, and hilarious—that should satisfy his readers.

My favorite story in this collection is probably “FUBAR,” which provides us with a look at Fuzz Littler, whose life has been Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition, “not by malice but by administrative accidents.” Littler “became fubar in the classic way, which is to say that he was the victim of a temporary arrangement that became permanent.” Littler is a bumbler in the same way that many of Vonnegut’s great characters are, but this bumbler, entering the universe with Vonnegut’s optimism in control, comes to a better end. I also enjoyed “Little Drops of Water,” in which a spurned woman gets the best kind of revenge on her fastidious jilter: marriage. “Shout It from the Housetops” provides an interesting look at the life of a wildly popular writer and the damage her fame does on her personal life, something Vonnegut may have known something about.

Vonnegut’s trademark explorations of the bizarre and excursions into sci-fi territory are certainly present here. In “Confido,” an inventor finds creates a device that provides a constant conversation partner for the wearer. Unfortunately, the conversation is not always what one wants to (or should) hear. In “The Nice Little People,” a small, knife-shaped space ship arrives on earth, and the tiny aliens it contains begin to worship the man who gives them peanut butter and cheese. There are appearances by murder counselors, hypnotists, civilized ants, and real and counterfeit geniuses, and these characters combined with Vonnegut’s playful storytelling and penchant for twists make for novel, entertaining stories.

Look at the Birdie is peppered throughout with Vonnegut’s surreal illustrations, and the introduction by Sidney Offit is a fitting tribute to one of the masters of American fiction. An introductory letter that Vonnegut wrote to Walter J. Miller in 1951, which he describes (in the same letter) as “sententious crap, shot full of self-pity . . . the kind of letter writers seem to write,” helps set the stage for what is to follow. While I wouldn’t say Look at the Birdie is Vonnegut’s strongest work, it was certainly a joy to read and, best of all, reminded me of why I read his books in the first place. Kurt Vonnegut will truly be missed.

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: Sci-Fi, Comedy

Publisher: Hyperion

Publication Date: October 2009

Reviewed by Jonathan Schindler

The last time we saw Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect, they were on the earth as it was exploding…again. It would seem that the complete destruction of the earth in every dimension and timeline, along with the majority of the cast, would effectively seal the fate of the franchise. This, at least, was what Eoin Colfer was working against in And Another Thing…, the sixth book in Douglas Adams’s Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series. And while Colfer’s method of resurrecting the series is clever and his task of continuing Adams’s legacy is admirable, he ultimately falls short of the magic of the original books.

First of all, this is not a standalone book. Readers unfamiliar with the original Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy books will probably not understand And Another Thing… If you haven’t read the original books, quit reading this review and go read them now (at least the first three; if you want a gold star, read So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish; I wouldn’t blame you for leaving Mostly Harmless alone). So, now that you’ve read the original books, we can proceed.

The book opens with earth poised on the edge of destruction, again. I won’t spoil how Arthur, Ford, Trillian, and Random miraculously survive—again, again—but they do. And in the process, they reunite with their old pal Zaphod Beeblebrox, the loose cannon former president of the galaxy. They also reunite with a perhaps not-so-recognizable character from their past, Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged, the unhappy immortal on a mission to insult the universe.

Their meeting Wowbagger—and his particularly insulting insult of Zaphod Beeblebrox—is what starts the plot moving. In response to Wowbagger’s unforgivable slander, Beeblebrox vows the impossible: he will kill an immortal.

But killing an immortal requires more than just two heads. Zaphod must reconnect (and hopefully reconcile) with his former rock-star protégé, the thunder god Thor. Thor and Zaphod have had their problems in the past (mainly referencing a viral video of Thor in a bustier), so getting him on board with any project—even one with murderous intentions—will be a bit of a challenge.

Add in a colony of displaced earthlings in search of a god to worship; an unlikely series of (interrupted) tender moments between a woman and an alien; a jealous and scheming daughter with an infinite supply of credit at her disposal; a man with an unlucky tendency to be on planets scheduled for demolition; and a crew of vindictive Vogons, hell-bent on destroying any trace of earth left in the universe, and you have a promising premise for a continuation of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

Unfortunately, there seem to be some problems in execution. The original problem with the book, at least in my opinion, is not Colfer’s fault. The previous final book of the Hitchhiker’s series, Mostly Harmless, didn’t really leave him with much to work with. Mostly Harmless is the weakest of the Hitchhiker’s books, and this continuation is forced to pick up where that book left off. Because of this, it takes a long time to repair the damage done in that book and get into the flow of the present story. There were several points early on where, had I not simply wanted to say I’d read every Hitchhiker’s book, I might have abandoned it altogether.

In addition to its taking a while to get going, the book’s pacing is hard to adjust to. My favorite part of the original books is the interspersed entries from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (the book within a book). Colfer has picked up on this being the fans’ favorite part, but he seems overzealous in implementing it. While one should not go into the Hitchhiker’s series expecting a fantastic plot, the plot is what holds the book together. (It’s similar to the straight man on a TV show—Kramer, George, and Elaine may be the funnier characters on Seinfeld, but there wouldn’t be a show without Jerry.) In And Another Thing…, Colfer’s intrusions are more of an annoyance than a delightful aside (not in all cases, but in many). It was almost too much of a good thing, and it made it hard to get into the clever and funny plot that was there.

Despite these criticisms, there are some true flashes of genius in this book. First, the plot that Colfer has created is interesting (at least in concept). The interviews with out-of-work gods are certainly worth reading. Colfer’s description of the Vogon vessel Business End are inspired. And as the book progresses, Colfer seems to grow more comfortable writing about these characters he’s acquired secondhand. What the characters say and do seem a plausible extrapolation of Adams’s creation, especially toward the end of the book.

Eoin Colfer is not Douglas Adams, and no one really expects him to be. Still, while Colfer is throwing out various nods to the original series, using the right terminology, and employing similar storytelling methods, it is hard to shake the feeling that there is something askew in what is happening—the universe is not quite the way we remember it. (The closest analogy I can think of is Darth Vader at the end of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. Yes, he looks like Vader, sounds like Vader, and the impostor might fool a newcomer to the series, but anyone who has seen the originals knows that what’s on the screen is a cheap imitation.)

I didn’t expect this book to be as good as the others, or even “Hitchhiker’s canon” (which Colfer admits at the beginning this book is not), but I had high hopes for a further exploration in Douglas Adams’s universe. Ultimately, I’m content with the original Hitchhiker’s books, and this book reminded me what I love about the originals. While I don’t think And Another Thing… will win any converts to the series, it may prove an amusing distraction to the already initiated and bring them back to the books that started it all.

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.

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: Satire

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: July 1^st, 2009

Reviewed by Jake Chism

The end of the world is coming. At least, it’s coming to Goodland, Kansas, a small town that has been chosen as a test run for the rapture. Caught right in the middle are Will Henderson and his family. One fateful night Will sees a face in the cornfield that reveals three signs that the rapture is imminent. After Will shares his signs and his predictions come true, he is shoved in the middle of the spotlight and his reluctant family right along with him. Chaos soon unfolds in Goodland and the Henderson’s are left fighting not only for their sanity, but their family as well.

Rob Stennett had me on the floor in stitches with his debut, The Almost True Story of Ryan Fisher. This latest offering doesn’t have as many laugh out loud moments, but the story is every bit as intriguing. This story concept is so off the wall, yet Stennett manages to sell us with his dry wit and subtle jabs at our own fascination with the end times. I found myself both laughing and cringing at the behavior of the Goodland citizens throughout as they made an absolute mess of an outlandish situation.

The real strength of the novel lies in the story of the Henderson’s. Despite the world falling apart around them, this endearing yet fallible family fights to stay together. Beneath the dark humor and irony, Stennett effectively gives us a bright reminder to hold on to what truly matters. Instead of looking to the skies with fear and uncertainty, perhaps our time is better spent cherishing the ones we love and ensuring we’re ready for the end by the way we live now.

Genre: Comedy

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: March 2008

Reviewed by Tim George

Michael Snyder’s debut novel, My Name is Russell Fink, is a departure from the norm in today’s Christian fiction. Perhaps that is because “normal” isn’t a part of Russell Fink’s life. In his mid-twenties, Russell has led a mediocre life and is proud of it. His father is a fallen faith healer bent on making it back to the big time. His mother is a not-so-closet alcoholic still putting on the front of a doting minister’s wife. Peter, his occasionally con-man brother, is an aspiring novelist intent on jotting down every one of his family’s sorry secrets for a future Pulitzer Prize winning memoir. In short Russell’s family is what by any definition is normally labeled, dysfunctional.

Russell’s problems are compounded by a job he hates yet can’t seem to get fired from, a camera hound fiancée he can’t manage to dump, and the fact the only level headed member of the family is his grandfather (in prison for killing Russell’s grandmother).  It’s little surprise that faith and God have faded into the annoying fringes of our hero’s life. That is until, Sonny his psychic Bassett Hound, appears to have been murdered. That event leads Russell on a search for his best friend’s killer in which he finds more than he bargained for, including the girl he always really loved and should have married. His greatest discovery is the meaning of forgiveness and reconciliation.

This is one of the books that is, I think intentionally, hard to classify. Is it Chick Lit? Is it comedy? Is it a mystery? It’s the kind of book that a guy like me wouldn’t normally crack the front cover if paid to. And, it’s one of those books that reach a point of critical mass and you know there’s something good out there you can’t afford to miss by putting it down. If you are part of the 10 percent of the population that has lived a perfect life, My Name is Russell Fink will totally mystify you. And, if you are one of the unfortunates in life with no sense of humor this story might even offend you. But for those of us who have experienced disappointment, frustration, disillusionment, and even failure we say, “Thank you Russell Fink!”

A review in Publisher’s Weekly finds fault with the number of “crazy characters and rampant story lines” in Snyder’s hilarious novel. That is what I applaud it for. Only a few of us have perfect families. Only a few have lived lives with perfectly plotted, three-act storylines. This is a book for the rest of us.