Review: Lucky Stiff

Summary: Lucky O’Toole--Head of Customer Relations at The Babylon, premier mega-resort on the Vegas Strip--thinks it’s just another night in Las Vegas.  A tractor-trailer has spilled its load of a million honeybees, blocking not only the Strip but the entrance to her hotel... the District Attorney for Clark County—apparently the odd man out of a threesome on the twelfth floor—is hiding in the buff in one of the hotel’s laundry rooms... and Numbers Neidermeyer--one of Vegas’ less-than-savory oddsmakers--is arguing with Las Vegas’ ace private investigator, the Beautiful Jeremy Whitlock.

The next day, Lucky discovers Ms. Neidermeyer was tossed into the shark tank at the Mandalay Bay Resort as a snack for the Tiger Shark.  When the police show up at the Babylon with a hastily prepared search warrant, applied for by the District Attorney himself, and Jeremy lands in the hot seat, Lucky realizes her previous night was far from routine.  

Amid the chaos of fight weekend, the hiring of an eccentric new French chef, and her madam mother's intentions to auction off a young woman’s virginity, Lucky is drawn into a deadly game where no one is what they seem, a game that will end only when she discovers who made fish-food out of Numbers Neidermeyer.

Lucky O’Toole and Fabulous Las Vegas—life doesn’t get any better. -- Forge

Yesterday, I reviewed the first book in a new-to-me mystery series called WANNA GET LUCKY? by Deborah Coonts. I absolutely adored it and couldn't wait to dig into the second one called LUCKY STIFF. Not only was I looking forward to another Las Vegas based mystery, but I was also dying to know how some issues in Lucky's personal life were going to play out.

I think it's a fair to say that my expectations for this novel were fairly high, and I'm so happy to say that LUCKY STIFF lived up to them. In fact, I might go so far as to say that I even enjoyed this novel more than the first one. I just love it when an author follows up a great book with another one -- and that's exactly what Deborah Coonts did in my opinion.

Despite really enjoying this novel, I pretty much think yesterday's review kind of sums up my feelings about both books. (I've found that it's really difficult to review multiple books in a series!) Once again, I thought the mystery was great, and I loved how it unfolded. The story kept me guessing and it sure is a good thing that Lucky has more skills in solving crimes than I do. I did think the premise of this murder mystery was pretty darn creative and perfect for the Las Vegas setting -- a woman's body (or should I say partial body?) was discovered in the shark tank at Mandalay Bay. Only in Vegas, right?

And I still really love the cast of characters in this novel. Lucky is my absolute favorite -- I just love her toughness and her smarts, but I also like that she has a tender side (not that anyone gets to see it very often.) And I'm a bit reluctant to admit this, but I think I might like the drama surrounding Lucky's life even more than the mystery aspect of these books.  Lucky's relationship issues (not only the ones with her love interest, but also the ones with her mom) are just so entertaining.

I can't deny my love of Lucy, but I have to say that the secondary characters are some of the best I've encountered in books like this. They are a terrific supporting ensemble and they actually provide a great deal of entertainment in their own right. Lucky's mom, the brothel owner, is a hoot in this novel; and I gained an even greater appreciation for Lucky's assistant. This might sound strange, but after finishing LUCKY STIFF, I now have a picture in my mind of these characters; and I've been trying to cast them for a possible movie or television series.

I'm really excited about discovering the Lucky O'Toole series, and there is just so much opportunity for this series to be a good one. The characters are definitely unique and I'm certain that their lives (and their pasts) will continue to surprise me. (I can't wait to see the direction the books take when it comes to Lucky's mother...and father.) In addition, I think Lucky's love life and her attempt to find a balance between her personal life and her career will be a constant theme throughout the novels. And finally, I can't give enough credit to Ms. Coonts for selecting Las Vegas as the setting of these novels. The absolutely extravagance and glitz of the city plays well in these humorous novels as does the potential for wacky murders!

Based on the past two days, I'm sure you already know how fun I thought these books were. I highly recommend the Lucky O'Toole series to fans of light (and sexy!) mysteries.

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this novel.   

Review: Wanna Get Lucky?

Summary: A young woman plunges from a Las Vegas sightseeing helicopter, landing in the Pirate’s lagoon in front of the Treasure Island Hotel in the middle of the 8:30 Pirate Show.  Almost everyone writes her off as another Vegas victim.

But Lucky O’Toole smells a rat.  She’s head of Customer Relations at The Babylon, the newest, most opulent mega-casino and resort on the Strip, so she’s got a lot on her plate: the Adult Film industry’s annual awards banquet, a spouse-swapping convention, sex toy purveyors preying on the pocket-protector crowd attending ElectroniCon….  Still, Lucky can’t resist turning over a few stones.  

When a former flame is one of the snakes she uncovers, Lucky’s certain she’s no longer dealing with an anonymous Sin City suicide.  To top it all off, Lucky’s best friend Teddie—Las Vegas’ finest female impersonator—presses to take their relationship to the next level.  Leave it to Lucky to attract a man who looks better in a dress than she does.

Lucky must manage the Babylon’s onslaught of outrageous festivities, solve a murder, and struggle to keep her life and libido from spinning out of control… not to mention keep her balance in six inch heels. -- Forge

I'm sure you'll relate to the saying that there are "so many books, so little time," but I've been especially feeling this sentiment the past few weeks. Since I started blogging, I've read more books than I ever did before, but I also realize that I'm still missing out on loads of fantastic books. Another thing I've noticed is that my reading habits have changed -- I seem to read less and less mysteries every year. And that's kind of ironic because I do enjoy good mysteries and thrillers!

Recently, I read a very entertaining mystery called WANNA GET LUCKY? by Deborah Coonts. I absolutely adored it and can honestly tell you it was the most fun I've had reading in a book in a long time (that is until I read the second book in the series. But more on that tomorrow!) WANNA GET LUCKY? had an intriguing mystery, but it also had a great setting (Las Vegas), terrific characters, lots of twists and turns, humor, and even some sexy romance. It truly was a book with a little bit of everything! It even was chosen as one of the New York Times Notable Crime Books of 2010.

I kind of knew when I picked up WANNA GET LUCKY? that it was going to be a light read -- almost chick lit if you will. To be honest, I was thinking along the lines of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series -- a series that I enjoyed at the beginning but that has kind of fizzled out for me. However, WANNA GET LUCKY? was really a pleasant surprise for me. It did have the fun elements of chick lit, but it also had a fairly complex mystery and even some suspense. I also really appreciated the humor that was woven into this story from the vivid descriptions of the Las Vegas hotels and some of its patrons, to the Adult Awards Industry's actors and awards ceremony, to Lucky's constant hassles as head of PR at the Babylon, and even to Lucky's relationship with her mom!

And these items would have probably been enough to make this book a hit in my eyes, but I think what I appreciated the most were the variety of characters. Of course, Lucky was my absolute favorite one and I loved how complex she was (I certainly wasn't expecting that.) Like many women, she has issues with her mother (although most women probably can't claim that their mother is absolutely gorgeous and runs an extremely successful brothel.) But she also has some other issues like an unknown father, a demanding boss, an unhealthy addiction to her job, and relationship/commitment issues. I truly loved that this book explored Lucky's character as much as it did, and I have a feeling that readers are going to see her "mature" throughout the rest of the series.

As likable as I thought Lucky was, the supporting characters were equally fun. In fact, this series has an amazing cast of characters. Lucky's mother is an absolute hoot as is Lucky's personal assistant. Lucky's boss and owner of the Babylon is also intriguing, and I'm almost certain he has a pretty interesting past. And for those of you who enjoy a little sexual tension in your books, there are also quite a few "hot" men who cross Lucky's path. There is a Texan security guy, an Australian private eye, and my favorite Teddy. Teddy is Lucky's best friend who just happens to make his living as a female impersonator.

If you enjoy light (and fun) mysteries, then you won't want to miss WANNA GET LUCKY? It's just an extremely entertaining book and it's even available in mass market paperback -- so it's totally a bargain!

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this novel.

Review: The Human Stain

Summary: It is 1998, the year in which America is whipped into a frenzy of prurience by the impeachment of a president, and in a small New England town, an aging classics professor, Coleman Silk, is forced to retire when his colleagues decree that he is a racist. The charge is a lie, but the real truth about Silk would have astonished even his most virulent accuser.

Coleman Silk has a secret, one which has been kept for fifty years from his wife, his four children, his colleagues, and his friends, including the writer Nathan Zuckerman. It is Zuckerman who stumbles upon Silk's secret and sets out to reconstruct the unknown biography of this eminent, upright man, esteemed as an educator for nearly all his life, and to understand how this ingeniously contrived life came unraveled. And to understand also how Silk's astonishing private history is, in the words of The Wall Street Journal, "magnificently" interwoven with "the larger public history of modern America." -- Vintage

I really didn't think I was going to write a review forTHE HUMAN STAIN by Philip Roth. My book club read this book for February, and it wasn't a pleasant experience for me. I'm not referring to the meeting because I thought it was a terrific one. I am referring to the hours I spent reading this novel -- the tedious, frustrating (and yes, even painful) time I had trying to complete this book.

Well, I am happy to say that I did finish this novel despite setting it down numerous times and swearing that I wouldn't pick it up again. I thought I had the perfect excuse to abandon it when my husband told me that he was going to be out of town the same night as our meeting. However, a few days later (actually only a few days before our meeting), he announced that his trip was canceled. Darn....I felt as if I had to give THE HUMAN STAIN and Mr. Roth's verbose prose another try. (I don't mean darn that his trip was canceled -- I love my husband!)

I really don't want this review to be one where I trash what many consider to be an excellent novel. Just check out the reviews on Amazon, and you will quickly see that I'm in the minority. All I'm saying is that I didn't enjoy this novel -- it just wasn't for me. There were many things that I didn't appreciate about this novel -- from the sentences that went on for almost a page, to the character development (or lack thereof), to the stereotypical characters, to the misogyny (or at least what I interpreted as that), etc.; however, I can honestly say what most upset me was the idea that I'm just not intellectual enough to appreciate a Philip Roth book. And that really gets my goat!

Despite all of my misgivings about this novel, our book club meeting was a big success -- you can read more about it here. THE HUMAN STAIN, while not an easy read for me, did bring up a some great topics for discussion as you can clearly see in the reader's guide. There are lots of references to late twentieth-century American culture, including the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal, as well as some jabs at academia. Some other themes you might want to explore include racism, the effects of war, revenge, attraction, deception, morality, and secrets. Believe me when I say that there is a tremendous amount to discuss about human nature and our motivations.

THE HUMAN STAIN definitely wasn't the book for me. In fact, I'm reluctant to even try another Philip Roth novel any time in the near future. (I'm still recovering from this one!) If you've read THE HUMAN STAIN or any of his books and enjoyed them, can you please enlighten me? I'm feeling rather dumb right now!

Review: Madame Tussaud

Summary: The world knows Madame Tussaud as a wax artist extraordinaire . . . but who was this woman who became one of the most famous sculptresses of all time? In these pages, her tumultuous and amazing story comes to life as only Michelle Moran can tell it. The year is 1788, and a revolution is about to begin.

Smart and ambitious, Marie Tussaud has learned the secrets of wax sculpting by working alongside her uncle in their celebrated wax museum, the Salon de Cire. From her popular model of the American ambassador, Thomas Jefferson, to her tableau of the royal family at dinner, Marie’s museum provides Parisians with the very latest news on fashion, gossip, and even politics. Her customers hail from every walk of life, yet her greatest dream is to attract the attention of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI; their stamp of approval on her work could catapult her and her museum to the fame and riches she desires. After months of anticipation, Marie learns that the royal family is willing to come and see their likenesses. When they finally arrive, the king’s sister is so impressed that she requests Marie’s presence at Versailles as a royal tutor in wax sculpting. It is a request Marie knows she cannot refuse—even if it means time away from her beloved Salon and her increasingly dear friend, Henri Charles.

As Marie gets to know her pupil, Princesse Élisabeth, she also becomes acquainted with the king and queen, who introduce her to the glamorous life at court. From lavish parties with more delicacies than she’s ever seen to rooms filled with candles lit only once before being discarded, Marie steps into a world entirely different from her home on the Boulevard du Temple, where people are selling their teeth in order to put food on the table.

Meanwhile, many resent the vast separation between rich and poor. In salons and cafés across Paris, people like Camille Desmoulins, Jean-Paul Marat, and Maximilien Robespierre are lashing out against the monarchy. Soon, there’s whispered talk of revolution. . . . Will Marie be able to hold on to both the love of her life and her friendship with the royal family as France approaches civil war? And more important, will she be able to fulfill the demands of powerful revolutionaries who ask that she make the death masks of beheaded aristocrats, some of whom she knows?

Spanning five years, from the budding revolution to the Reign of Terror, Madame Tussaud brings us into the world of an incredible heroine whose talent for wax modeling saved her life and preserved the faces of a vanished kingdom. -- Crown

I have been in a reading slump the past week or so and haven't really done much reading. I have a lot going on in my personal life right now and I just couldn't seem to find the time to read. And then when I picked up a book before bedtime, I found myself nodding off after just a few pages. I am so glad that I decided to read
MADAME TUSSAUD: A NOVEL OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION by Michelle Moran in anticipation of today's release date. I am a huge fan of Ms. Moran's and I always know that I'm in for a treat when I read one of her books. This wonderful book was exactly what I needed to get back in my reading groove.

MADAME TUSSAUD was just fantastic and encompassed everything I've come to know and love about a Michelle Moran novel. I have to admit that when Ms. Moran told me she was working on a novel about Marie Tussaud, I wasn't exactly thrilled -- isn't that awful to admit? I guess I was just extremely ignorant because I had no idea how fascinating Marie Tussaud's story would be. I was pleasantly surprised to learn about the role Madame Tussaud and her family played in the French Revolution. And I found it interesting to learn the history of her wax museum (I had no idea that the exhibit was actually a way for the people of France to learn about current events.)

There were so many great things about this novel that I barely know where to start. I loved the story and Ms. Moran's writing, but I also liked how much I learned about the French Revolution while reading this book. (You already know that I do like to get my history lessons from historical fiction!) I have only read a few novels about the French Revolution and this entire time period, but I loved how original the perspective was in this book. Because of Marie's family and their business, Marie was in a rather difficult position. On one hand, she was tutoring the King's sister and had ties to the royal family. And on the other hand, her family was entertaining major players in the revolution. Needless to say, Marie was kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place, and I found her balancing act to make quite a suspenseful story.

Another thing that I most enjoyed about this novel was the character of Marie. She was such an intriguing individual, and Ms. Moran did a wonderful job of developing her character. I'm not sure that I always liked Marie (or could relate to her), but I did appreciate her drive and dedication to her career. There is no doubt that Marie was a savvy businesswoman who was way ahead of her time (she even had her husband sign a prenup which was very unusual in those days!) However, it was that very same dedication to the family business that kept her from finding true happiness in a relationship. I did feel a great deal of sympathy for Marie throughout the novel, but because Marie was such a strong woman, I also found myself questioning some of her actions. What I'm trying to say is that Marie's character was extremely complex, and I loved that about her.

And what more can I really say about Michelle Moran that I haven't already said in my reviews of her other novels (you can see more gushing here and here.) She is definitely one of my favorite historical fiction authors (and probably one of my all-time favorite authors too!) Her writing is so easy to read and she makes history, which isn't one of my favorite subjects, incredibly interesting. I love how she takes real characters and enhances their stories to make me really care about them. In addition, the historical aspects of her novel are so well done. It's apparent that she heavily researched Madame Tussaud and the French Revolution prior to writing this book. I thought her descriptions and details of the time period were superb and really added to my understanding of the story.

I'm pretty sure that MADAME TUSSAUD will make an excellent book club pick although I wasn't able to find many discussion questions... yet. I know a lot of book groups only like to select paperbacks because of the expense, and I'm sure by the paperback release there will be an excellent guide. In the meantime, I found a few questions in this reading guide which was written by Ms. Moran. I honestly don't think you'd need a formal guide to discuss this novel because Marie was such an interesting character. In addition, the events surrounding the French Revolution are fascinating. I, for one, could talk about Marie and her family's actions for hours.

I also want to mention that Ms. Moran is available for author chats to discuss any of her novels. My group was fortunate enough to "meet" with her a few years ago and she was extremely gracious and so much fun to talk to. The chat definitely enhanced our reading experience.

Of course, it's obvious how much I adored MADAME TUSSAUD and I highly recommend it to fans of historical fiction and especially readers who are interested in the French Revolution. Trust me -- this is a book that you don't want to miss!

Thanks to the author for sending me a copy of this novel.

Review: Pardonable Lies

Summary: A new Maisie Dobbs novel from award-winning author Jacqueline Winspear
 
In the third novel of this unique and masterly crime series, a deathbed plea from his wife leads Sir Cecil Lawton, KC, to seek the aid of Maisie Dobbs, psychologist and investigator. As Maisie soon learns, Agnes Lawton never accepted that her aviator son was killed in the Great War, a torment that led her not only to the edge of madness but also to the doors of those who practice the dark arts and commune with the spirit world. Determined to prove Ralph Lawton either dead or alive, Maisie is plunged into a case that tests her spiritual strength, as well as her regard for her mentor, Maurice Blanche. The mission will bring her to France and reunite her with her old friend Priscilla Evernden, who lost three brothers in the war, one of whom has an intriguing connection to the case.

Set against a finely drawn portrait of life between the World Wars, Pardonable Lies is "a thrilling mystery that will enthrall fans of Jacqueline Winspear's heroine and likely win her new ones" (Detroit Free Press). -- Picador

I'm still Mad for Maisie! And maybe even more so after reading the third book in the series PARDONABLE LIES by Jacqueline Winspear. If I had to chose, I'd probably say that this novel was my favorite in the series so far. This book encompassed everything that I've loved about the first two books, but it just seemed to be a little bit better.

PARDONABLE LIES had everything I've come to expect from a Maisie Dobbs novel. The mystery aspects were terrific and kept me guessing long after Maisie had everything figured out. In addition, I just love how Ms. Winspear establishes the setting. The details of post-war London are so interesting as are the descriptions of the effects that the war had on its victims. I also just adore how well Ms. Winspear describes the fashions of the time from the hair styles to the clothing to the shoes. It really is a special treat to those of us who enjoy learning more about the time.

Despite all of the great things about this novel, my favorite part of PARDONABLE LIES is still Maisie. I just love her! Just when I think I am beginning to understand Maisie and what makes her tick, Ms. Winspear throw me for a loop. In this novel, she definitely added even more complexity to Maisie's character by making her have a breakdown. It's difficult enough for Maisie to still be experiencing the after-effects of working as a nurse in the war; however, she is also facing some other serious issues that really have her all out of sorts. My heart really went out to her when she realized that her mentor Maurice wasn't exactly who she thought he was.

My only small regret with this novel is that there weren't many scenes with Billy or Maisie's father -- two characters whom I adore! I can't say I'm surprised because they were both featured in book two, BIRDS OF A FEATHER; however, I did miss them. I'm assuming since I have five more books to read that there will be plenty of opportunity to see more of them. And I'm also hoping that there will be some more story lines concerning Maisie's love life and potential suitors.

PARDONABLE LIES would make a very interesting book club pick. I have to wonder, though, if one of the reasons that I appreciated it so much was because I had already read the other books in the series. I'm not saying that PARDONABLE LIES won't work as a stand-alone novel -- because it will. I just think seeing how Maisie's character has evolved is such an integral part of this story. There is a reading guide available which is just fantastic. In fact when I read the questions again before writing this review, I was reminded of just how many serious topics this book explored. Some of the topics you  might want to discuss include guilt, absent mothers, adolescence, homosexuality, truth/honesty, deception, class differences, and the effects of war.

As you probably already know, I am most definitely Mad for Maisie and I highly recommend the entire Maisie Dobbs series. Why not join in the fun? It's still not too late to join in all the fun at Book Club Girl's Mad for Maisie readalong!

Thanks to Book Club Girl and the publisher for sending me a copy of this novel.

February 2011 Book Club

Summary: It is 1998, the year in which America is whipped into a frenzy of prurience by the impeachment of a president, and in a small New England town, an aging classics professor, Coleman Silk, is forced to retire when his colleagues decree that he is a racist. The charge is a lie, but the real truth about Silk would have astonished even his most virulent accuser.

Coleman Silk has a secret, one which has been kept for fifty years from his wife, his four children, his colleagues, and his friends, including the writer Nathan Zuckerman. It is Zuckerman who stumbles upon Silk's secret and sets out to reconstruct the unknown biography of this eminent, upright man, esteemed as an educator for nearly all his life, and to understand how this ingeniously contrived life came unraveled. And to understand also how Silk's astonishing private history is, in the words of The Wall Street Journal, "magnificently" interwoven with "the larger public history of modern America." -- Vintage

A few days ago, my book club met to discuss THE HUMAN STAIN by Philip Roth. I have to be honest -- it wasn't my favorite book. It was a terribly difficult read for me and I'm still debating if I will even review it. I'm kind of done with it already, but I will say that I'm very proud of myself for finishing it when I really wanted to quit.

Because THE HUMAN STAIN was such a tedious book, I was very curious to see how many of us would actually finish it. I was pleasantly surprised that the majority of us did. (I think that's really saying something about the awesomeness of my friends!) Most of us didn't really appreciate Mr. Roth's writing style; however, two members kind of liked the novel -- or at least liked parts of the story.

Despite my misgivings about THE HUMAN STAIN, I thought our discussion was excellent. There is no doubt that there is a great deal to discuss within the pages this novel. And maybe that's the beauty of this story -- it did make us think about human nature. Having said that, I still didn't enjoy the book. But I did enjoy our discussion!

Next month we will be reading a book that I'm very excited about -- MAJOR PETTIGREW'S LAST STAND by Helen Simonson. I have been wanting to read this book for quite awhile and I love that I now have an excuse to read it! I'm pretty sure it will be a hit with our group and I have to think that it's a lighter read than THE HUMAN STAIN. For that reason alone, I'm pretty sure we'll all appreciate it!

Summary: In the small village of Edgecombe St. Mary in the English countryside lives Major Ernest Pettigrew (retired), the unlikely hero of Helen Simonson’s wondrous debut. Wry, courtly, opinionated, and completely endearing, the Major leads a quiet life valuing the proper things that Englishmen have lived by for generations: honor, duty, decorum, and a properly brewed cup of tea. But then his brother’s death sparks an unexpected friendship with Mrs. Jasmina Ali, the Pakistani shopkeeper from the village. Drawn together by their shared love of literature and the loss of their spouses, the Major and Mrs. Ali soon find their friendship blossoming into something more. But village society insists on embracing him as the quintessential local and regarding her as the permanent foreigner. Can their relationship survive the risks one takes when pursuing happiness in the face of culture and tradition? -- Random House

Kid Konnection: All You Get is Me

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. Today, I'm going to share with you another new young adult book that I thought was very cute.

Summary: A summer of love, loss, and justice.

Things were complicated enough for Roar, even before her father decided to yank her out of the city and go organic. Suddenly, she’s a farm girl, albeit a reluctant one, selling figs at the farmers’ market and developing her photographs in a ramshackle shed. Caught between a troublemaking sidekick named Storm, a brooding, easy-on-the-eyes L.A. boy, and a father on a human rights crusade that challenges the fabric of the farm community, Roar is going to have to tackle it all—even with dirt under her fingernails and her hair pulled back with a rubber band meant for asparagus. -- Harper Teen

Lately, I've started reading more Young Adult books. It's not that I ever stopped liking them, but there are just so many good books out there and so little time. A few days ago, I decided that I need something light and quick to read so I picked up ALL YOU GET IS ME by Yvonne Prinz. (I had just finished THE HUMAN STAIN by Phillip Roth and my brain was extremely fuzzy.) I am so happy that I picked this sweet coming-of-age novel.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed ALL YOU GET IS ME. I hesitate to use the work "surprised" because I wasn't really expecting not to like it, but I found this novel to be a very pleasant read. I thought the main character Roar was just terrific. She was not only very likable and real, but I also think she's one that teen girls are going to be able to relate to. While her background is probably very different from most readers, she still encompasses all those things that I remember from being a teen -- dealing with peer pressure, boys, parents, etc. And perhaps why I liked Roar the most is that she was at that stage of her life where she was just trying to figure out who she was and what she wanted to be -- who doesn't remember feeling that way?

In addition to appreciating Roar, I also liked that ALL YOU GET IS ME covered some social issues. Roar had recently moved from San Francisco to the country because her father wanted to try his hand at farming. While her father's primary job was working the farm, he still held tightly to his roots as a defense lawyer for the less fortunate. So when an accident occurs between a wealthy woman and an immigrant worker, he rushes to the aid of the immigrant's family to help them fight for their rights. ALL YOU GET IS ME highlighted the tensions in the farm community as well as the plight of rural farmers. In addition, it showed the issues that many illegal immigrants face on a regular basis.

I do think ALL YOU GET IS ME would make a good book club book for teens or even moms and daughters. I couldn't find a discussion guide, but I don't think one is necessary -- there are so many things to discuss. Some of the topics you might want to explore include illegal immigrants, the United States immigration policy, civil rights, farmers, parent/child relationships, friendship love, justice, truth, honesty, and forgiveness. There is a website devoted to ALL YOU GET IS ME where you can read an excerpt or check out the soundtrack.

And this part of my review is for all of you moms (and dads) out there. I really enjoyed ALL YOU GET IS ME and, in so many ways, it would have been an ideal book to hand to my middle grade daughter. The story was sweet, Roar was a great character, and there were some good messages in this story. However, the book did have a few "adult" situations like underage drinking and teenage sex. I tend to be more conservative than many parents with what I like my daughter to read (I figure she has the rest of her life to read books like this.) Needless to say, I don't think I'll be passing on ALL YOU GET IS ME for a few more years.

ALL YOU GET IS ME is a very fun book and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. It's a light read with some serious issues thrown in -- just the kind of book that I would have loved in my younger days!

Thanks to Megaphone PR for sending me a copy of this novel.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!