Review: The Almond Tree by Michelle Cohen Corasanti

First --a HUGE THANK YOU to Goodreads, as I won this book in a FirstReads Giveaway!

What a powerful story! A story that will grip your heart and never let go--even after you finish reading it. Ichmad and his family have triumphs in knowing what love for family really means, with all they have to endure as Palestinians in Israel from the 1950's to present. As a reader, I am a WASP(is that term used anymore?). I am and have been so far removed from the ageless conflicts in Israel that I was shocked to read the depth of sorrow these families had to endure. Michelle Cohen Corasanti writes an amazing story; sharing perspectives and personal trials of Arabs and Jews. She takes the reader right to the characters' hearts and minds. Her book is not for the faint of heart. Graphic and very sad at times; heartwarming as well. All to get Ichmad's story told. I am grateful for all I learned through this book...and forever changed.

Rating:  5 stars!!!

Review: Depraved Heart by Kathleen Valentine

Oh Heavens, where to begin? Kathleen Valentine is truly one of my favorite authors! In Depraved Heart: A Novel, she spins a tale of twists, turns and dark secrets in the enormously wealthy Ravenscroft/Silver families throughout generations. The good, the bad, the ballerinas!
Saying all that to say this: I was not in love with this book.
The last 1/3 of the book I was completely swept up in "what is going to be revealed next?!" Kathleen writes so well, I was discovering secrets with awe as her reader should.

Initially, it was another story for me. I was introduced to too many characters with names so fanciful, I expected Fabio to jump out of the pages, tear his shirt open & declare his forbidden love for each of the women(and maybe the men--as they were beautiful and very rich) who crossed Hathor's dangerous estate. The excess, the art, the names of characters, were too hard for me to get past in order to enjoy the good and tangled story underneath.

I will continue to read Ms. Valentine's work. The Old Mermaid's Tale is more than a 5-star read! Depraved Heart: A Novel, I did not lose my heart to thee!

Rating:  3 stars.

Review: Mudbound by Hillary Jordan

An amazing book! Profound and impacting, very well written. Each chapter, a perspective from a different character; done in seamless transition from each point of view. I have read other books written in that manner that completely chop up a book--not so with Mudbound. The strong women in this novel: I felt for Laura, with the life changes and shocking events that transpired around her when she least expected. I loved her tender heart that she worried about expressing with the pervasive attitudes around her. Even her forbidden thoughts were real. I loved Florence for her strong presence and personality. She never apologized for her superstitious additions to her spirituality. The men all had a tug-of-war going on within themselves. Henry--his love for farming, yet struggle to provide for his family and make them happy. Hap--his desire to break out of what had been "the black man's" lot in life to this point in history, and be his own man by owning land. Jamie--oh Jamie, suffering inside with his relationship with alcohol; and his poor relationship with his father. Ronsel-a true unsung hero, who could not live his desires because of the color of his skin.  Last but not least-Pappy. Self absorbed to cover self loathing. Who could like him? I really think it is the picture of how awful things were for African Americans in the deep south in the 1940's. I was truly struck by the pictures Ronsel & Jamie painted of the racist, heinous Nazi's; then how whites treated blacks right in their own back yard. The night I finished this book, I had very vivid dreams just before I woke up. The strong impact of this novel is staying with me.

Rating:  5 stars!

Review: The Seance Society by Michael Nethercott

First, many thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC of this e-book!

A light mystery with a colorful cast of characters. It read kind of like the Clue game of the '70's --A mysterious death is investigated. The scene is in "The Parlor". Was it the odd, outspoken Mr. Kemple? The boisterous drama queen Miss Sassafrass? Mousey Ms. Chauncey? Mr. O'Nelligan and Detective Plunkett set out to find out. Good thing Lee Plunkett is surrounded by all these personalities, because as the central character, he is about as exciting as a flat soda. I liked the book; the references to Yeats & Shakespeare. I even liked all the goofballs thrown in who may or may not have been involved in a crime. My 2 cents: If Lee has more mysteries to solve, he needs more personality.

Rating:  A solid 3 stars.

Book Review: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

 

Oh my! I am so glad I read this book. I worked my way into Hazel & her family's lives. I met Augustus Waters; and Isaac; and the insufferable Peter VanHouten. I was humbled by the way the characters' challenges of living with cancer did little to stain their zeal for life. My problems are so much smaller, yet I am a hell of a lot more selfish. To author John Green: Thank you for writing this book! You have taught me much through Hazel's story. I could elaborate forever; I'd just end up sobbing, and promising to be eternally changed. You wrote from your soul & emerged among the very stars you fault. Brilliant, brilliant, BRILLIANT!

Rating: obviously 5/5 stars

Book Review: These Is My Words (Sarah Agnes Prine, #1) by Nancy E. Turner

I dearly loved this book! It is nothing short of amazing! Sarah Prine takes the reader on her amazing life adventure into the Arizona Territory in the late 1800's. She's a spit-fire young girl who transforms into an equally spit-fire woman. She adores and fiercely defends her family; she is a wicked shot with a rifle AND pistol; and true love finds her in the most unexpected of men. More than an engaging story, Ms. Turner authors a work of historical fiction that swept me off my feet & dropped me right on Sarah's doorstep at her Arizona ranch. I laughed with her; I cried with her; I was thrilled for her & I may have even coached her a little through births of her children; I held my breath when she faced death defying situations. First rate and 5 stars!

Book Review: Lowcountry Bombshell (A Liz Talbot Mystery, #2) by Susan M. Boyer

* a note of THANKS! to NetGalley, author Susan M. Boyer, and publisher  Henery Press for the ARC of this novel*

I liked this book.
It began with a bumpy start: A lot of characters with borrowed names--Calista, Moon Unit; and an improbable plot set-up--a lottery winner who's whole life was staged to mirror Marilyn Monroe's; a young female private eye, hired to help save Calista, the Marilyn wannabe, from herself & her enemies. Then the story became quite engaging. It was light reading, held some peril, danger, shady characters, more plot discovery, and mystery solved. It had me guessing the "who dunnit"; and I was wrong. Enough going on that the would-be Marilyn-ish Calista killer was not too predictable. Even a little of the spirit-world thrown in for good measure. A nice mix for a light mystery. 3.5 stars