Review: Friendship Bread

Summary: An anonymous gift sends a woman on a journey she never could have anticipated.

One afternoon, Julia Evarts and her five-year-old daughter, Gracie, arrive home to find an unexpected gift on the front porch: a homemade loaf of Amish Friendship Bread and a simple note: I hope you enjoy it. Also included are a bag of starter, instructions on how to make the bread herself, and a request to share it with others.

Still reeling from a personal tragedy that left her estranged from the sister who was once her best friend, Julia remains at a loss as to how to move on with her life. She’d just as soon toss the anonymous gift, but to make Gracie happy, she agrees to bake the bread.  

When Julia meets two newcomers to the small town of Avalon, Illinois, she sparks a connection by offering them her extra bread starter. Widow Madeline Davis is laboring to keep her tea salon afloat while Hannah Wang de Brisay, a famed concert cellist, is at a crossroads, her career and marriage having come to an abrupt end. In the warm kitchen of Madeline’s tea salon, the three women forge a friendship that will change their lives forever.

In no time, everyone in Avalon is baking Amish Friendship Bread. But even as the town unites for a benevolent cause and Julia becomes ever closer to her new friends, she realizes the profound necessity of confronting the painful past she shares with her sister.

About life and loss, friendship and community, food and family, Friendship Bread tells the uplifting story of what endures when even the unthinkable happens. -- Ballantine

The cover of FRIENDSHIP BREAD by Darien Gee alone made this book a must-read for me (isn't it gorgeous?); however, the description didn't hurt either. This novel sounded like a book that I'd love -- one that deals with love and loss, relationships and the strength of friendship. I am always drawn to heart-warming stories like this one!

I really enjoyed FRIENDSHIP BREAD. This might sound corny, but the book acted as a sort of comfort food for me -- just like real Amish Friendship Bread. I loved how I felt while reading this book because it made me grateful for the relationships I have in my life. It also made me feel good about our society in general because it demonstrated how individuals can make a difference in people's lives. Not only did characters in this book make new friendships and help people to heal, but they also pulled together to make a major difference in a community that was affected by flooding.

FRIENDSHIP BREAD tells the story of a group of women whose lives are brought together (and forever changed!) over friendship bread. I appreciated each of the women and even loved a few of them (like Madeline, the woman who owned the tea shop), and I thought Ms. Gee did a wonderful job developing each one of them. All of the women had their fair share of "issues," but it was through their sharing of Friendship Bread and the starter that allowed each one of them to really deal with the hardships in their lives. I especially loved so many of the messages in the story about the strength and resilience of the human spirit. Many characters learned to effectively deal with loss and grief while also developing new (and rekindling old) relationships. Needless to say, I was deeply touched by these messages!

FRIENDSHIP BREAD is ultimately a feel-good book, but I have to warn you about a few things when you read it! This book might make you cry. Many of the characters are experiencing life events that readers will relate to -- for me, it was the loss of a child that affected me the most; however, others might be touched by the woman whose husband left her for another man or the woman who lived with extreme guilt or even the sisters who hadn't spoken for years. Having said that, I appreciated FRIENDSHIP BREAD because it could make me feel so much! Another little warning: you will be hungry while reading this book. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to drop everything and make a batch of the starter so I could try some of the recipes mentioned in this story. Ms. Gee has a unique knack for describing the desserts and I swear I gained weight just thinking about all the delectable treats!

I also want to mention another thing that I loved about FRIENDSHIP BREAD although it doesn't actually appear in the novel. There is a fantastic website devoted to all things related to Amish Friendship Bread -- it's a Friendship Bread community, if you will. Of course, there is additional information about the book and the author, but there are also discussion threads and over a hundred amazing recipes. Who would have thought this little starter could make such wonderful desserts as Pumpkin Scones, Almond Joy Friendship Bread, Carrot Cake Bread with Cream Cheese Icing, and even a Weight Watchers Friendship Bread? In addition, this site also has some great stuff for book clubs which leads me to my next thought.....

FRIENDSHIP BREAD would make a perfect book club selection for groups made of women. I think that most females who read this book will be able to relate to the characters and their stories, and there's always the added benefit of serving variations of Amish Friendship Bread at the meeting. There is a reading guide available which delves into some of the themes presented in this novel. Some topics you might want to explore include loss, grief, healing, mother/child relationships, guilt, friendships, marriage, regrets, forgiveness, and redemption. There are really so many great things for your group to discuss!

If you are like me and love feel good books about female relationships, then FRIENDSHIP BREAD is a must-read book. It's also an ideal gift for Mother's Day to show the women in your life how special they are to you!

Thanks to Pump Up Your Book for providing a review copy of this novel.

Review: Impatient with Desire

Summary: A great adventure.

A haunting tragedy.

An enduring love.

In the spring of 1846, Tamsen Donner, her husband, George, their five daughters, and eighty other pioneers headed to California on the California-Oregon Trail in eager anticipation of new lives out West. Everything that could go wrong did, and an American legend was born.

The Donner Party. We think we know their story—pioneers trapped in the mountains performing an unspeakable act to survive—but we know only that one harrowing part of it. Impatient with Desire brings us answers to the unanswerable question: What really happened in the four months the Donners were trapped in the mountains? And it brings to stunning life a woman—and a love story—behind the myth.

Tamsen Eustis Donner, born in 1801, taught school, wrote poetry, painted, botanized, and was fluent in French. At twenty-three, she sailed alone from Massachusetts to North Carolina when respectable women didn’t travel alone. Years after losing her first husband, Tully, she married again for love, this time to George Donner, a prosperous farmer, and in 1846, they set out for California with their five youngest children. Unlike many women who embarked reluctantly on the Oregon Trail, Tamsen was eager to go. Later, trapped in the mountains by early snows, she had plenty of time to contemplate the wisdom of her decision and the cost of her wanderlust.

Historians have long known that Tamsen kept a journal, though it was never found. In Impatient with Desire, Burton draws on years of historical research to vividly imagine this lost journal—and paints a picture of a remarkable heroine in an extraordinary situation. Tamsen’s unforgettable journey takes us from the cornfields of Illinois to the dusty Oregon Trail to the freezing Sierra Nevada Mountains, where she was forced to confront an impossible choice.

Impatient with Desire is a passionate, heart-wrenching story of courage, hope, and love in hardship, all told at a breathless pace. Intimate in tone and epic in scope, Impatient with Desire is absolutely hypnotic. -- Hyperion Voice

When I saw IMPATIENT WITH DESIRE by Gabrielle Burton on the monthly Library Thing Early Reviewers list, I immediately requested it because I thought the book sounded very interesting. I'm completely fascinated by the idea of an entire family leaving behind the relative comfort of their home to head to the unknown West (I guess you could say that I'm not exactly adventurous.) But when I was notified that I would be receiving a copy of IMPATIENT WITH DESIRE, I admit I had to do a double-take. Based on the book's title, it didn't sound like one that I would have asked for -- I mean it does kind of sound like a romance book. It wasn't until I re-read the book's description and remembered that it was the story of the Donner Party that I realized I was very excited to actually be getting a copy of this historical novel.

For those of you who don't know about the Donner Party (and that included me before reading this novel), they were a group of around 90 pioneers who wanted to head West via the California-Oregon Trail in 1846. Their trip didn't go exactly as according to plan, and they became trapped in the snow for over four months in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Almost half of the group ended up dying and the rest had to do whatever they could to stay alive (and some of those things were pretty gruesome to say the least.)

Needless to say, the story behind these families is an incredible one. I certainly think the Donner Party story proves that truth can be stranger than fiction. Having said that, IMPATIENT WITH DESIRE is a definitely a work of fiction -- but it is heavily based on the few known facts about the Donner Party. The rest of the story is made up by Ms. Burton, and I have to say that I think she did an excellent job. The story felt real to me, the characters seemed very believable, and overall I thoroughly appreciated this book.

One very pleasant surprise for me was Ms. Burton's writing style. I don't know that I had a lot of expectations going into the book, but I was extremely impressed with how Ms. Burton told the story of the Donner Family. I thought this book was very well written, and the presentation was more literary than I was expecting. I appreciated how Ms. Burton went back and forth between the present (which was really 1846) and the times leading up to the decision for the Donners to head West. Her transitions were smooth, yet very interesting. I also liked how the back and forth nature of the story provided the necessary information for further character development.

I am in total awe of Tamsen Donner as a woman. She gives a new name to strength and resilience. While I'm still not sure I totally understood her need to put her entire family (including her very young daughter) in danger to head out on the California-Oregon trail, there is no doubt that Tamsen was a very special woman. She did everything in her power for her husband and children even when it meant going without for herself. Parts of this book and Tamsen's story absolutely broke my heart, but I still think I was left with a message of hope when I finished it.

I think the background to this novel is almost as interesting as the book itself. The author, Gabrielle Burton has had a long-time fascination with the Donner Party and especially Tamsen Donner. You could even call it her passion. She has researched the Donner Party for years and has even walked along the trails that the Tamsen Party did in 1946. I think her devout interest in Tamsen Donner is very evident throughout the book. Ms. Burton even says in the Author's Note section, "What I wanted to do was capture Tamsen Donner's spirit." After reading IMPATIENT WITH DESIRE, I can definitely attest that Ms. Burton did indeed capture Tamsen's spirit!

Make sure you come back on Sunday because Ms. Burton will be stopping by with a guest post for my Book Club Exchange feature!

Thanks to the Library Thing Early Reviewers Program for sending me a copy of this novel.

Review: Truly, Madly

Summary: Lucy Valentine is as smart as can be, as single as you can get, and sonot qualified to run a matchmaking service. But when her parents temporarily step down from the family business, Valentine, Inc., it’s Lucy’s turn to step up and help out—in the name of love.

Plus, her rent is due.

Here’s the problem: Lucy doesn’t have the knack for matchmaking. According to family legend, every Valentine has been blessed by Cupid with the ability to read “auras” and pair up perfect couples. But not Lucy. Her skills were zapped away years ago in an electrical surge, and now all she can do is find lost objects. What good is that in the matchmaking world? You’d be surprised. In a city like Boston, everyone’s looking for something. So when Lucy locates a missing wedding ring—on a dead body—she asks the sexy private eye who lives upstairs to help her solve the perfect crime. And who knows? Maybe she’ll find the perfect love while she’s at it… -- St. Martin's Paperbacks

I recently read a very cute mystery called TRULY, MADLY by Heather Webber. I thought it was perfect for this time of year since the main character is Lucy Valentine, and she comes from a family of matchmakers. This novel was very entertaining -- the basic premise of the book was adorable, the character of Lucy was extremely likable, there were lots of funny moments, and the mystery kept me guessing until the very end. I really couldn't ask for much more from this book!

Lucy comes from a long-line of matchmakers who have all been given a "special gift" in the form of psychic abilities. Although members of her family have the ability to find true love for couples, they don't have much luck in finding their own true love. In fact, Lucy and her parents both suffer from this problem! When Lucy's father has a heart attack on a beach with one of his girlfriends, Lucy has to step into his shoes and run the family matchmaking business. The only problem is that Lucy doesn't have the psychic ability which assists couples in finding their soul mates. Lucy does have a psychic ability though -- when she touches someone, she can find their lost objects! Pretty cool talent -- but not exactly useful for running a matchmaking service! Or, is it?

Lucy's unusual skill does come in handy when one of her father's clients comes in and Lucy shakes his hand -- she immediately has a vision of an engagement ring on a buried, dead body. Lucy decides that she has to uncover the mystery; and she enables the help of her upstairs neighbor Sean, a very sexy private eye. The sparks fly -- literally! As if running her father's business, trying to solve a murder mystery, and becoming involved with a new love interest isn't enough, Lucy also becomes involved in helping with the disappearance of a young boy!

TRULY, MADLY is very cute -- it's action-packed and full of mystery; however, I think I most enjoyed this book because I just adored Lucy. She was smart and spunky and also very funny! I think she's going to make a great new heroine! I found myself rooting for her and wanting her to find some romance (even though she thinks she is cursed!) I especially enjoyed Lucy's ethical dilemmas surrounding her psychic abilities and how she was eventually able to solve all of the mysteries in this novel!

TRULY, MADLY is the first book in a new series of Lucy Valentine books; and I know I will be checking out the next ones. I definitely recommend this book if you enjoy fun mysteries or if you enjoy Janet Evanovich!

Thanks to Library Things Early Reviewers Program for sending me an ARC of this book.

Review: Lost Boy

Summary: In the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS), girls can become valuable property as plural wives, but boys are expendable, even a liability. In this powerful and heartbreaking account, former FLDS member Brent Jeffs reveals both the terror and the love he experienced growing up on his prophet’s compound—and the harsh exile existence that so many boys face once they have been expelled by the sect.

Brent Jeffs is the nephew of Warren Jeffs, the imprisoned leader of the FLDS. The son of a prominent family in the church, Brent could have grown up to have multiple wives of his own and significant power in the 10,000-strong community. But he knew that behind the group’s pious public image—women in chaste dresses carrying babies on their hips—lay a much darker reality. So he walked away, and was the first to file a sexual-abuse lawsuit against his uncle. Now Brent shares his courageous story and that of many other young men who have become “lost boys” when they leave the FLDS, either by choice or by expulsion.

Brent experienced firsthand the absolute power that church leaders wield—the kind of power that corrupts and perverts those who will do anything to maintain it. Once young men no longer belong to the church, they are cast out into a world for which they are utterly unprepared. More often than not, they succumb to the temptations of alcohol and other drugs.

Tragically, Brent lost two of his brothers in this struggle, one to suicide, the other to overdose. In this book he shows that lost boys can triumph and that abuse and trauma can be overcome, and he hopes that readers will be inspired to help former FLDS members find their way in the world. -- Broadway

I was pretty happy when I found out that I was being sent a copy of LOST BOY by Brent W. Jeffs with Maia Szalavitz as part of the Library Thing Early Reviewer Program. I am a regular viewer of the HBO series Big Love, and I'm strangely fascinated with the beliefs of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS.) I knew this book was going to be one of those tell-all books, but I had no idea just how amazing Brent Jeffs' story is.

It's difficult to say that I could actually enjoy a book like this, so I'll say that I found it very interesting and almost unbelievable. When I use the term "unbelievable," I don't mean that I didn't find the book truthful; rather I am just blown away by Brent Jeffs' story. As I read this book, I was utterly disgusted by how much damage Warren Jeffs did to so many people. I almost hate to admit this, but one of the main reasons I wanted to read this book was to get details about Warren Jeffs. I'm not going to go into specifics here because I don't want to give away too much of Jeffs' story; however, suffice it to say, that the mental and physical abuse that took place in this church is horrific.

I guess what amazed me most about this book was that ultimately, it wasn't just a sensationalized account of Warren Jeffs and the FLDS. As sad as this book was (and it is very, very sad), I actually found this book to be uplifting. I have so much respect for Brent Jeffs. I am amazed by how he was able to work through his problems (unlike so many members of his family) and eventually find love and happiness. I can't imagine even surviving what Brent Jeffs went though, but that he was able to open up and share his story with so many others is remarkably brave to me. Even when he decided to go after Warren Jeffs, his motives were about saving others -- he didn't do it for financial gain.

I also thought it was very interesting how the author portrayed his parents. Despite their questionable parenting skills, he shows them as loving parents who were caught up in a bad situation. It was clear that he has a good relationship with both of his parents and loves them despite their lack of support when he was young. He also showed how difficult the FLDS rules were for his parents to follow, and I eventually found myself feeling sorry for them (once I got over my anger for certain aspects of their behavior.) I think the love of his family and his respect for his parents helped him work through his abuse and start a new life.

I was a little bit surprised that Brent Jeffs wrote this book with another author because at times, I didn't really think the writing was polished. I thought the first part of the book was much rougher than the second. I'm not sure if the writing detracted from my appreciation of the book because it read like Brent Jeffs was telling his story to me -- maybe that was the authors' and editors' intent. All I'm saying is that I was surprised to find that someone helped him write it.

Check out the LOST BOY book trailer:



Just seeing the places that Brent Jeffs talked about in this book is very interesting to me. I can't imagine how difficult it was for him to go back and re-visit that place. I don't know what I was expecting, but seeing it on video really made it real for me. It's so hard to imagine how devastating this lifestyle was to so many young men and women.

If your book club enjoys reading non-fiction or memoirs, then LOST BOY might be a good fit for your group. I was slightly surprised that there is a reading guide available for this book, but the more I think about it, the more I can see the value in discussing this book. I thought the discussion questions were very thought-provoking, and I think it would be very interesting to hear my friends' opinions on Brent Jeffs and his family. In fact, as I was reading this book, I kept telling my family and friends things that happened in this book because I so wanted to talk about it with someone!

Review: Everyone is Beautiful

Summary: Lanie Coates’s life is spinning out of control. She’s piled everything she owns into a U-Haul and driven with her husband, Peter, and their three little boys from their cozy Texas home to a multiflight walkup in the Northeast. She’s left behind family, friends, and a comfortable life–all so her husband can realize his dream of becoming a professional musician. But somewhere in the eye of her personal hurricane, it hits Lanie that she once had dreams too. If only she could remember what they were.

These days, Lanie always seems to rank herself dead last–and when another mom accidentally criticizes her appearance, it’s the final straw. Fifteen years, three babies, and more pounds than she’s willing to count since the day she said “I do,” Lanie longs desperately to feel like her old self again. It’s time to rise up, fish her moxie out of the diaper pail, and find the woman she was before motherhood capsized her entire existence.

Lanie sets change in motion–joining a gym, signing up for photography classes, and finding a new best friend. But she also creates waves that come to threaten her whole life. In the end, Lanie must figure out once and for all how to find herself without losing everything else in the process.

Katherine Center’s Everyone Is Beautiful is a hugely entertaining, poignant, and charming new novel about what happens after happily ever after: how a woman learns to fall in love with her husband–and her entire life–all over again. -- Ballantine Books

I was so excited that I was selected to review EVERYONE IS BEAUTIFUL by Katherine Center as part of the Library Thing Early Reviewer Program. I have read so many terrific reviews about this book and couldn't wait to read it. I read Ms. Center's other book THE BRIGHT SIDE OF DISASTER and liked her writing style, so between that and all the glowing reviews, I just knew it was going to be a wonderful read. And, I'm so happy to say that I wasn't disappointed. I absolutely loved EVERYONE IS BEAUTIFUL!

As a stay-at-home mother of two, I could certainly relate to Lanie. I have, at times, felt as if my life were spinning out of control (and I only have two kids with a five year gap between them.) So many of Ms. Center's descriptions of the chaos in Lanie's life were hilarious, and I'm pretty sure that most moms will identify with one or two of the stories. I loved the part where Lanie says a bad word and her son picks up on it immediately. Isn't it so true that you can teach them the same word a hundred times and they can't remember it, but say a curse word once and it sticks?

Lanie was a terrific character and I love that the story was told in first person narrative by her. It was so enjoyable to hear Lanie's insights about life in general (especially motherhood), and I couldn't help put love her -- screw-ups and all. What I found so refreshing about this novel was Lanie's honesty, sometimes to the point of brutal honesty. I think that's one of the reasons this book spoke to me and I found it to be so real.

The beauty of this book is that so many women (and especially mothers) will see parts of themselves in Lanie. While I promised myself that I would always shower each day no matter how frantic my life when my kids were small, I could still relate to Lanie and her perceived frumpiness. What mother hasn't smelled like spit-up, had boogers on her pants, and found crushed food in her pockets? I also totally understood why Lanie had such a negative body image -- I felt the exact same way for years! And the parts of the story where Lanie feels like she gives so much to her family that there is nothing left for her are absolutely what every mother has felt at one time or another.

One thing that I loved about this book is that Lanie eventually realized that all these feelings she has about herself exist inside her mind -- that she ultimately has the power to change herself and find happiness. I almost stood up and cheered when Lanie decided to start going to a gym; and then when she signed up for the photography class and fought for scholarship money, I was like "you go girl!" Just feeling as if you are not a victim, but rather in control of even a few small things in your life is so empowering. What a wonderful message for any woman to hear!

Another thing that I liked about this book was that Lanie realized that you don't have to be perfect to be beautiful. In fact, Lanie discovered that her best friend Amanda who seemed to have everything -- the perfect body, perfect house, perfect daughter, perfect husband, etc. -- definitely didn't have the perfect life. I also loved that Lanie's goals about her body image were realistic. She decided to eat healthy, work out regularly, and still eat a piece of chocolate cake every week. Definitely do-able!

I just had to share the book trailer with you -- it's very special:



As I read EVERYONE IS BEAUTIFUL, I couldn't help but smile. The writing is fantastic, the characters are charming, and the message is just something I can never hear too often -- everyone is beautiful! Lord knows, I never see myself as beautiful; but this book reminded me that there is something beautiful about myself (I just have to look for it and be aware of it!)

Review: Etta

Summary: Beautiful, elusive, and refined, Etta Place captivated the nation at the turn of the last century as she dodged the law with the Wild Bunch, led by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Her true identity and fate have remained a mystery that has tantalized historians for decades. Now, for the first time, Gerald Kolpan envisions this remarkable woman’s life in a stunning debut novel.

Kolpan imagines that Etta Place was born Lorinda Jameson, the daughter of a prominent financier, who becomes known as the loveliest of the city’s debutantes when she makes her entrance into Philadelphia society. Though her position in life is already assured, her true calling is on horseback. She can ride as well as any man and handle a rifle even better. But when a tragedy leads to a dramatic reversal of fortune, Lorinda is left orphaned, penniless, homeless, and pursued by the ruthless Black Hand mafia.

Rechristened “Etta Place” to ensure her safety, the young woman travels to the farthest reaches of civilization, working as a “Harvey Girl” waitress in Grand Junction, Colorado. There, fate intervenes once more and she again finds herself on the run from the ruthless Pinkerton Detective Agency. But this time she has company. She soon finds herself at the legendary hideout at Hole-in-the-Wall, Wyoming, where she meets the charismatic Butch Cassidy and the handsome, troubled Harry Longbaugh, a.k.a. the Sundance Kid. Through a series of holdups and heists, Etta and Harry begin an epic and ultimately tragic romance, which will be the greatest of Etta’s life. Then, when Etta meets the young and idealistic Eleanor Roosevelt, her life is changed forever.

Blending a compelling love story, high adventure, and thrilling historical drama, Etta is an electrifying novel. With a sweeping 1900s setting, colorful storytelling, and larger-than-life characters, Etta is debut that is both captivating and unforgettable. -- Ballantine Books

When I first saw ETTA by Gerald Kolpan listed on the Library Thing Early Reviewers December batch of books, I decided to sign up for it. I'm not exactly sure why because I've never been a big fan of books (or movies) about the Wild West, but something about this book intrigued me. I'm guessing that it was most likely because the perspective of this novel was so unique -- it told the story of a woman living in the Wild West who was part of the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid gang (better known as the Wild Bunch.) Needless to say, I was very excited when I saw that I was selected to review an ARC of this novel.

Prior to reading this book, I knew absolutely nothing about Etta Place. In fact, I have not even seen the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (although I have now saved it on my TiVo.) I guess I wasn't at that much of a disadvantage though, because there is actually very little known about Etta Place. I can't decide if this lack of knowledge made Mr. Kolpan's job easier or more difficult when writing this novel; but either way, I thought he did an amazing job. I was so impressed with how he took the few facts known about her life and wove them it into a very entertaining story. In fact, I found the author's note and the Q&A in the back of the book to be fascinating. His development of Etta's characters and her life events were all very well thought out and actually seemed to me as if they could have happened -- I found the flow between the real events and the "made-up" ones to be seamless.

Even though I wouldn't consider myself a huge fan of western fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The book was extremely entertaining and moved at a very fast pace. I thought the story that Mr. Kolpan created for Etta's early life made a great deal of sense and definitely contributed to the woman she became. I also thought the book was very well written. Not only was the story well-told, but Mr. Kolpan's writing style was wonderful. I appreciated all of his descriptions; and I loved how he told the story through a variety of methods including journal entries, letters, and newspaper accounts.

ETTA will be available on March 24, 2009, and I highly recommend adding it to your book wishlist. I wasn't able to find any discussion questions at this time, but don't let that stop you from considering this novel for a future book club meeting -- I'm sure there will be a readers' guide soon. There are a great many issues and themes to discuss; and I think it would be very interesting to hear what my friends have to say about her life.

Thanks again to Library Thing Early Reviewers Program for allowing me to read this novel.

Review: The Fireman's Wife

Summary: It’s June 1970. As the low country of South Carolina burns in a seven-month drought, Cassie Johnson longs for escape: both from her husband, Peck, the town’s newly promoted fire chief, who seems more interested in saving everyone else’s life than in living his own, and from the low country marshes where Cassie has never quite felt at home. But as Peck and Cassie drift apart, their teenage daughter, Kelly, finds herself torn between her parents and her desperate need for normalcy. It will take a tumultuous journey back to the North Carolina mountains before Cassie can begin to understand the complicated love that resides, unrecognized, deep in her heart.

From a masterly voice in Southern fiction, The Fireman’s Wife is an emotionally bare and moving novel about one woman’s struggle to do what’s right–for her family, for her love, and for herself. -- Ballantine Books

I was pretty excited when I was selected to read THE FIREMAN'S WIFE by Jack Riggs as part of Library Thing's Early Reviewer Program. I am usually drawn to novels that take place in the South, and I thought this one sounded particularly good. While I ultimately did enjoy this novel, I have to admit that it took me at least 100 pages or so before I really got into the story. Once I did get into it though, I definitely was hooked.

I realize that I don't have to love the characters in a novel to make it an enjoyable read, but I have to admit that when I can relate to them, I seem to like the book a little more. I think I had some problems with this story because I just didn't like Cassie for the better part of the book. Instead of feeling any sympathy towards her, I just kept getting more and more frustrated with her behavior, especially as it related to her teenage daughter. (And, I really had a hard time with her boyfriend too.) It wasn't until the end of the novel that she somewhat redeemed herself in my eyes. As I read her chapters, I kept telling myself that she had been through a lot in her life and had suffered many disappointments; but I still found myself wanting her to be less bitter and more grateful.

On the other hand, I really did like the character of Peck, Cassie's husband -- maybe that's another reason why I was so upset with Cassie. It's not that I didn't think Peck was flawed because he definitely used his job as a way to escape; it's just that he seemed to really love his wife and daughter. While both Cassie and Peck always seemed to escape rather than deal with their issues, for some reason I was more tolerant of Peck.

I have never read a novel by Jack Riggs before, but I wouldn't hesitate to read another one. I enjoyed how he wrote the chapters from both Cassie and Peck's viewpoints. I thought this style provided the reader with some insight into both of the characters. In addition, I thought he did a wonderful job of describing both the coastal and mountain parts of South Carolina. His vivid descriptions were beautiful and I loved how he tied the differences in the locations with the differences in his characters. When he talked about the stifling heat and humidity of the coastal areas, I could almost feel it -- the descriptions were that good. I also thought his chapters about the fires and the firefighters were amazingly realistic. Mr. Riggs' research on firefighting definitely showed through in these sections. If you'd like to learn more about Mr. Riggs and this book, take a look at this very interesting interview.

I do think that many readers will really enjoy THE FIREMAN'S WIFE; and the novel would be a terrific book to discuss. I have a feeling that many people will find both the story and the characters to be very real. There are so many thought-provoking issues including marriage, adultery, responsibility, parent-child relationships, and being true to one's self. THE FIREMAN'S WIFE will be available on December 30th.

Review: Hell Bent

Summary: With his personal life at a bit of a cross-roads, Boston attorney Brady Coyne finds his own past coming back to haunt his professional life when his ex-girlfriend Alex Sinclair turns up looking for a lawyer to represent her brother. Augustine Sinclair was a notable photo-journalist, happily married to his high-school sweetheart with two small children – until he returned from a stint a freelancer photographer in Iraq missing a hand and suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – now he’s lost his career, his peace of mind and his family. Brady is brought in to help him handle the divorce so that he does lose any more but before they get very far, the photographer is found dead in his rented apartment, an apparent suicide.

But something isn’t right about the suicide – the details are just a bit off – and Brady starts to think that his client has been murdered, the suicide staged. With very little to go on and with nearly everyone wanting to quickly close the books on a case that has all the classic indications of suicide, Brady soon finds himself in the midst of one of the most dangerous situations of his entire life, facing people who will stop at nothing to keep from being exposed. -- St. Martin's Minotaur

I received HELL BENT by William G. Tapply as part of the Library Thing Early Reviewers' Program. I probably wouldn't have picked up this book on my own since I'm not reading a lot of mystery/suspense books right now; however, I am happy to say that I really enjoyed this book. The book was a very quick read, mainly because the plot draws the reader in right from the start and the story keeps moving at a very fast pace.

I think one of the main reasons that I liked this book was the Brady Coyne character. Brady Coyne is a Boston lawyer who agrees to take on the divorce case of his ex-girlfriend's brother. I found Brady to be extremely likable and quite human considering he is a lawyer (just kidding -- some of my best friends are lawyers!) I especially liked that the author allowed the reader into Brady's personal life and shared Brady's feelings about his ex-girlfriends.

Mr. Tapply did a terrific job of setting up the story for the reader, both in regards to Brady's character as well as the mystery aspect. As I read this book, I knew there was going to be some sort of mystery, but it wasn't until about half way through the book, that a "crime" was actually committed -- Brady's client was found dead by an apparent suicide. Brady's ex-girlfriend is sure that her brother didn't kill himself (despite all the evidence that shows he did); and Brady promises to try to find out the truth. The second half of the book details Brady's investigation and his final resolution of the crime. I was so drawn into the novel by this point that I couldn't put it down.

While I did predict that Brady's client would "kill" himself, I wasn't able to figure out who the murderer was. I can't say that I was shocked by who committed the crime, but it's always easy to say that after the fact. In addition even after I knew whodunnit, I was still totally wrong about the motive for the murder. I love a book that keeps me guessing, and that's probably one of the main reasons that I enjoyed this book so much.

In addition to the murder mystery aspect of the novel, I also liked following Brady's personal life and his romantic interests. Since I found myself liking the character of Brady, I was rooting for him to find a good woman and some happiness. I also enjoyed the side story about an elderly couple who had retained Brady's services to help them recover damages from their moving company. Their story provided some humor into the novel as well as a happy, feel-good ending.

HELL BENT is the 24th novel by Mr. Tapply with the character of Brady Coyne. I don't know where I've been for the last 24 years, but I was not familiar with this author or this series. While there were references to some things that happened in Brady's past, this book definitely stands on its own. It's probably not realistic for me to say that I'm going to go back and read the first 23, but I have a feeling that I'd really enjoy them. Let's put it this way, I will certainly be on the lookout for any books in the Brady Coyne series!

A big thanks goes out to St. Martin's Minotaur and Library Thing Early Reviewers' Program for the opportunity to read and review HELL BENT.

Review: Lookin' Back, Texas

Summary: Betty Lynne Davidson is planning her husband’s funeral while overlooking one thing: he’s not dead.

When Suzanne Mullins, forty-two, gets the call from her father to come back home to Texas because her mother has gone off the deep end, she knows it will mean having to look at the faulty foundations of their marriage as well as her own. Betty Lynne has always upheld a perfect facade of home and family, and Suzanne has followed suit. But her life with husband Mike and son Oliver is cracking under the pressure of its own unspoken history.

Looking her past in the eye once and for all, Suzanne hopes that trusting in God’s love and mercy will set all of this craziness straight—even if it does mean having to watch her father give the eulogy at his own funeral. -- B&H Publishing Group

I received LOOKIN' BACK, TEXAS by Leanna Ellis through the Library Thing Early Reviewers' Program. It was the first book that I've been able to score through them; and I was beginning to think that it wouldn't ever come -- it took quite a few weeks. When I received it, I was a little surprised to find that it was Christian fiction. I'm not sure that I knew what I signing up for, but I was pleasantly surprised by this novel.

I am not a big reader of Christian fiction until very recently (and I still haven't read very many), so I'm probably not the best judge of the Christian aspect of this novel; however, I can review it as a women's fiction book (which, by the way, is how Ms. Ellis describes it on her website.) Based on the story and the humor, I felt that this book does have a lot to offer.

The premise of the story: a woman returns home to find that her parents troubled marriage has finally fallen apart. So much so, that her mother is planning her father's funeral because he left her (Get it? He's dead to her as far as she's concerned.) Not only does Suzanne feel that she has to repair her parents' marriage, but she is also beginning to doubt her own marriage and wonder if her son is heading towards trouble. If those weren't enough to worry about, she is also forced to come to terms with some secrets from her past, including her relationship with her high school boyfriend Drew. It's because of these issues that Suzanne's faith really comes into play.

I felt that Ms. Ellis did a good job of developing the characters of Suzanne and Mike. They were very believable to me, and I felt that I could understand their motivations and actions. I wasn't as impressed, however, with how Ms. Ellis developed the character of Drew. I didn't think his character really warranted his own chapters (in first person voice), but it didn't actually take away from the novel. Most of the other characters in the book (the Luckenbachites?) were quirky, yet memorable. I especially got a kick out of Suzanne's mother and her friends; and I thought they added to the charm of the story.

My favorite parts of this book were the scenes involving Suzanne's mother Betty Lynne. Betty Lynne is what most people would call a "riot." She was a woman who was definitely more concerned with appearances than she should have been. Her behavior and comments to her daughter, her grandson, and especially her husband were so ridiculous; and yet, I thought they were hilarious -- I even laughed out loud a few times. The funeral scene was positively hysterical, and I could totally visualize everything from the hall to the flowers to the food!

I would probably be remiss if I didn't mention the Christian angle of the story. I know some people may have been a little offended with some of the references, but Ms. Ellis probably isn't really writing for that audience anyway. I actually enjoyed the messages that LOOKIN' BACK, TEXAS provided to the reader -- marriage is sacred, honesty is best policy, and confession will result in mercy (I'm really paraphrasing here, but you get the idea.)

I do think that this novel would be a fun book to discuss for a book group, especially one that appreciates Christian literature. Check out the discussion questions here.

I definitely enjoyed LOOKIN' BACK, TEXAS; and I wouldn't hesitate to read another one of Ms. Ellis' books.