Lighthouse Island by Paulette Jiles

I received this book from TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Lighthouse Island by Paulette Jiles takes us into a dystopian future that is kind of a cross between The Handmaid’s Tale and reality TV.  Jiles’s main character Nadia is amazing.  She’s witty and resourceful, charming and lying her way into any situation.  You can’t help but love her.

In essence, Lighthouse Island is the story of Nadia, orphaned at a young age and stuck in numerous not-so-wonderful situations.  Her one wish is to get to the mysterious Lighthouse Island, a place where water is plentiful and so is the food.  Plus, the view’s not too bad itself.  Nadia meets James, a demolition and cartography expert who was paralyzed in an accident.  Their chemistry is undeniable, but this isn’t a traditional love story.  It’s love mixed with survival.

Anyway, if I butchered this summary, check out a better version here: Goodreads.  I’ll just blame the summary mess on two things: 1. A fabulous complex storyline.  2. Pregnancy brain.

As for my thoughts . . . Like I said Nadia totally rocks.  She’s witty, resourceful, charming, and super confident.  She lies to survive, and it always works.  James is also a great character.  He’s complex and caring, also incredibly resourceful, and has a sixth sense of identifying what technological help Nadia will need from many miles away.

The story is complicated, which is both good and bad.  I love dystopian societies, especially realistic ones, and this one did not disappoint.  But I was left wondering if I missed some pieces of the story or if they just weren’t included in the novel.

Fun fact: Paulette Jiles lives in UTOPIA, Texas.  Can you get more perfect for a city to live in when you want to write about a dystopian future?  When I saw that it just made my day.

Want to hear more?  Check out the rest of the tour schedule.

 

Casebook by Mona Simpson

I received this book from TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review, and it’s pretty cool that I did because Lisa from TLC let us know that Mona Simpson is Steve Jobs’s sister! I didn’t know that!

Casebook by Mona Simpson is the story of Miles who loves to be a detective. He and his best friend Hector sneak around, trying to find out what is going on in his family. When his parents get a divorce, and his mother starts dating a new man, Eli, Miles makes it his mission to find out the truth about Eli.

Because sometimes he feels like Eli isn’t telling the truth, and throughout the years Eli and his mother date, it seems like he might have lied often.

Hector even convinces Miles to visit a private investigator. When he finds out some questionable information about Eli, will Miles be able to tell his mother without breaking her heart?

Casebook is an interesting story told from the perspective of a young/mid teen, who just wants the best for his parents. He’s curious and reminds me of a teenage male version of Harriet the Spy.

I enjoyed how the story was traditional, but also had a little edge. Hector and Miles turned their story into a comic, which ended up becoming very popular in this fictional book (which they tell you a little at the beginning, so that’s not a spoiler). It ended up being a cool way to explain the story of Miles and his family while giving the reason for the story as a background to the comic.

Miles used a lot of phone tapping to find out what was going on. What spy tactics have you utilized?

Interested in getting your own copy? Check it out on Amazon. I get a small percentage if you purchase from the link, and it doesn’t cost you any extra.

Also, check out the other tour stops!

The Free by Willy Vlautin

Photo Credit: TLC Book Tours

I received this book from TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.  

The Free by Willy Vlautin is an authentic novel following three individuals in difficult circumstances, who are all connected in various ways.

Leroy Kervin is a war veteran, young, but with a traumatic brain injury.  He’s living in a group home, not able to do most simple things on his own.  He’s unable to live with his situation, and puts himself in jeopardy with a suicide attempt.

Freddie McCall is divorced with two kids, has two menial jobs, and works very hard at both to pay his bills, which include huge medical bills covering his daughter’s needs.

Pauline Hawkins looks after her mentally ill father and has a nursing position at a local hospital.  Her life becomes entwined with some of her patients, including a young female whose drug abuse has put her life in jeopardy.

The Free is moving, a powerful story about real situations of three down-and-out individuals.  But there’s a sense of hope permeating the ending.  Even in tough situations, people can overcome.  And Vlautin proves that, with three characters who show how loving other people and working very hard can produce positive, but still realistic, results.

As a side note. . . I was blown away when I listened to the music and insights that accompanied the book!  Usually, I don’t click on those kind of things. . . but I did, and loved it.  Also, it says you can download it, but when you click on the link, you can also listen without downloading, so it’s worth the click.

Check out Willy Vlautin’s website and Facebook page.  Oh, and don’t forget the other tour stops!

Interested in getting your own copy? Check it out on Amazon & Indiebound. I get a small percentage if you purchase from those links, and it doesn’t cost you any extra.

The Supreme Macaroni Company by Adriana Trigiani

I received this book from TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I’m a big fan of Adriana Trigiani’s novels and have been reading them for years.  They’re light and usually focus on family in some aspect, with a big of a not-too-wimpy love story thrown in.  They also focus on a strong female character.

The Supreme Macaroni Company by Adriana Trigiani is no exception.  Valentine is a shoemaker, a fabulous designer, who has fallen in love with Gianluca, a tanner.  This is a modern story, focusing on Valentine’s romance with Gianluca, with the lesson that everything worth having isn’t always easy.  In addition, The Supreme Macaroni Company describes the process of expanding Valentine’s shoe empire.

Whether you are a long-time fan of Adriana Trigiani or brand new to her novels, The Supreme Macaroni Company is worth the read.

Check out Adriana Trigiani’s website, Facebook page, and Twitter account!

So let’s talk shoes. . . I’m a flats girl.  You?

Interested in getting your own copy? Check it out on Amazon & Indiebound. I get a small percentage if you purchase from those links, and it doesn’t cost you any extra.

Gracianna by Trini Amador

I received this book from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours exchange for a fair and honest review.

Gracianna is inspired by true events in the life of Trini Amador’s great-grandmother, Gracianna Lasaga. As an adult, Amador was haunted by the vivid memory of finding a loaded German Luger tucked away in a nightstand while wandering his great-grandmother’s home in Southern California. He was only four years old at the time, but the memory remained and he knew he had to explore the story behind the gun.

Decades later, Amador would delve into the remarkable odyssey of his Gracianna’s past, a road that led him to an incredible surprise. In Gracianna, Amador weaves fact and fiction to tell his great-grandmother’s story.

Gracianna bravely sets off to Paris in the early 1940s–on her way to America, she hopes–but is soon swept into the escalation of the war and the Nazi occupation of Paris. After chilling life-and-death struggles, she discovers that her missing sister has surfaced as a laborer in Auschwitz. When she finds an opportunity to fight back against the Nazis to try to free her sister, she takes it–even if it means using lethal force.

Gracianna by Trini Amador is a beautiful read, both written well and physically beautiful.  You can tell how much love the author has for this story and how much passion.  I mean, just look at the beauty of this book:

Not only is the book jacket beautiful, but also the book cover itself, etched in gold, and more maroon than it looks in the photo.  Then you have the pages announcing each chapter, and even the title of the book on the top right of each page in such intricate font.

Going past the beauty of the book itself, the novel is written in a fabulous way, with the historical fiction tale of Gracianna, a super tough, strong, and outstanding woman who fought for what she wanted.

And look: the author sent me an autographed copy, mentioning the Gracianna Wines that the family makes as well!

Be sure to check out the other tour stops, and more information at the Gracianna HFVBT site!

So, what kind of drink do you want to have with a fabulous read?

Interested in getting your own copy? Check it out on Amazon & Indiebound. I get a small percentage if you purchase from those links, and it doesn’t cost you any extra.

From Rum to Roots by Lloyd G. Francis

I received this book from Closed the Cover in exchange for a fair and honest review.

From Rum To Roots by Lloyd G. Francis is a dual narrative.  One story is told from the perspective of Linton McMann, the illegitimate son of a plantation owner in Jamaica.  The plantation owner, Major, keeps Linton’s heritage a secret, but kind of watches out for him.  Kind of because it only happens when it benefits Major, not when it would help Linton necessarily.

Linton gets fed up and decides to make a change, to go to America.

The second story is about Daisy, one of three daughters of an ice seller.  Daisy yearns to go to America like her older sister, and eventually will get there.

In America, Linton and Daisy’s stories converge.  While they seem to find the way to live the American Dream, they also have some issues in the way of their happiness.

I enjoyed From From Rum To Roots.  I like how the stories met in America and that the characters learn about the true meaning of happiness.

I do have to say that the Jamaican slang used in the novel was, at time, very difficult for me.  I read some of it out loud, and that helped.  It was kind of like when I read Uncle Tom’s Cabin and had a tough time with that diction.  Reading some of the phrases out loud was beneficial.

What do you think the American Dream consists of?

Interested in getting your own copy? Check it out on Amazon & Indiebound. I get a small percentage if you purchase from those links, and it doesn’t cost you any extra.

The Death of Bees by Lisa O’Donnell

I received this book from TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.  

The Death of Bees by Lisa O’Donnell hooked me from the start.  I read this book over the course of one day, totally unwilling to put it down.

Photo Credit: TLC Book Tours

I mean, seriously, the quote above is how the book begins!  How can you not get hooked?

The Death of Bees is about Marnie and Nelly, who have buried their not-so-wonderful parents in the backyard of their (potentially project) house.  Marnie is a 15-year-old, super smart but also kind of lazy teen, who enjoy cigarettes, occasional drug use, and being Nelly’s protector.  Nelly is a little “off,” an almost-normal girl, who just seems to have a little bit of social trouble.

Marnie and Nelly need to keep the secret and survive, especially once the welfare checks are cut off. . . and they do so with the help of their “sexual predator” neighbor, an elderly gay man named Lennie who had one incident that has labeled him for the rest of his life.

Lennie becomes a surrogate grandfather to the girls, and while he doesn’t know exactly where the parents are, he lets that go to both help protect Nelly and Marnie and also to have their company.

They all have secrets, and through the telling of The Death of Bees, you realize that sometimes family doesn’t always have to be who you are related to by blood.

The Death of Bees is a book I recommend.  It’s one you can read quickly, even at over 300 pages.

Check out the author, Lisa O’Donnell, on her website, Facebook page, and Twitter account!

Would you cover up a secret if you knew it was for the best interest of someone you loved?

Interested in getting your own copy? Check it out on Amazon & Indiebound. I get a small percentage if you purchase from those links, and it doesn’t cost you any extra.

The First Phone Call From Heaven by Mitch Albom

I received this book from TLC Book Tours, which is fabulous because it’s Mitch Albom!  I mean, I’ve reviewed a few of his other books, and when I got the opportunity to read this one BEFORE it came out, it wasn’t even a question about saying yes!

Keep it up, Mitch Albom, keep it up!  The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom is another hit by the amazing author.

All of a sudden, members of a small town begin to receive phone calls from their deceased loved ones, in their loved ones voices.  That’s impossible, though!  Are the phone calls really coming from heaven. . . or is this some sort of complicated fraud?

Sully, who lost his wife recently and has a son who is confident that his mother will be calling from heaven soon, is determined to find out the truth.

The First Phone Call from Heaven is a moving tale of belief and love, with a bit of mystery thrown in.  It’s classic Mitch Albom, and destined to be a hit like his other novels.

Check out my other thoughts on Mitch Albom reads:

• For One More Day by Mitch Albom
• The Timekeeper by Mitch Albom

What’s your favorite Mitch Albom read?

Interested in getting your own copy? Check it out on Amazon
& Indiebound. I get a small percentage if you purchase from those links, and it doesn’t cost you any extra.

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

I received this book from SheReads in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes is a unique novel to me because it is one that deals with World War I and stolen artwork.  I can honestly say that I never have read a book on that topic before!

The Girl You Left Behind is told with a dual narrative.  Sophie lives in France with her sister Helene, where they run their deceased parents’ hotel.  It also has a restaurant, which is frequented by the locals.  That is, until the Germans decide to commission the restaurant as their new dinner locale.

Sophie reluctantly becomes close to the German Kommandant who seems to have a crush on her.  She’s not a fan, but it’s in her best interests, and in the best interests of the family, to play along.  The Kommandant also has a fascination with a beautiful painting that Edouard made of Sophie.

Fast forward to almost present day, and we meet Liv, a young widow.  She lives in a huge home that her successful architect husband designed.  He has since passed away, suddenly, and it’s something Liv is having a tough time dealing with.

Turns out, Liv has the painting that Edouard made, but his family is trying to requisition it.  They claim that it was wrongfully taken and is therefore required under law to be returned to the rightful owners.  But Liv isn’t going to give up the treasured painting without a fight.

I loved Sophie’s story.  It was touching and kept me interested the entire time.  In fact, when the narrative switched to Liv, I was kind of disappointed.  But that’s because I had a really tough time liking Liv.

Liv felt like she had the right to keep the painting because her husband purchased it and because this potential thievery happened 100 years ago. But if it was stolen, then it doesn’t matter that Liv and her husband bought it.

For instance, if you purchased a car that was (unknowingly to you) stolen, you wouldn’t be in trouble, but you couldn’t keep that car.  So I had a tough time liking Liz for that.

Also, while this is WWI, not WWII, it still does not mean that requisitioned items should not be returned to their rightful owners.  When Jewish people had their things stolen and their houses taken during WWII, if they returned they were able to reclaim their home and (sometimes) some possessions.  I believe that is the right thing to do.  Liv felt the opposite about her painting.

Another thing that bothered me about Liv was that in one scene she said that she packed up bags of clothes to throw out.  “She throws out two garbage bags of old clothes” (p. 343).  Ahhhh!  Throw out?????  Why not donate?

Now you might say, “Well, maybe Liv just wasn’t very charitable.”  That would make sense, but it’s not true.  She made friends with the homeless “neighbor” and made her tea often.  So I find it disconcerting that Liv would trash clothing when she knows how much something as little as tea means to someone who has very little.

If Liv’s belief that she is right and should be able to keep the painting she purchased, even if 100 years ago it was stolen, isn’t something that will bother you, then you might enjoy The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes.  Sophie’s story is captivating, and I couldn’t wait to keep reading her sections.

Do you think a painting that was purchased fairly but had been stolen in the past should go back to the original owners?

Interested in getting your own copy? Check it out on Amazon & IndieBound. I get a small percentage if you purchase from those links, and it doesn’t cost you any extra.

The Sea-G-d at Sunrise by G. L. Tysk

I received this book from Closed the Cover in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

The The Sea-G-d at Sunrise by G. L. Tysk is an adventure story featuring two young Japanese boys who are shipwrecked, and the American whalers who find them.

Here’s an excerpt from the novel:

Blackness fell over the ocean. The wind died. The clouds curled up at the edges of the far horizon in a great circle, and we rocked there gently, two boats on an empty sea, the starless sky above us a dome encircled by a glowing ring of flame.

“This storm is quick,” I whispered to Takao. The sudden silence, the heavy hush of a forbidden sacred place, pressed on my ears. The only sound was the squeaking of Yojiro’s sculling oar, back and forth in its socket, thin and shrill.

“It is Ebisu,” Takao declared. “The fishing god is angry. See, these few days he has been laughing quietly at our misfortune, and now he shows himself.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

He jumped to his feet, rocking the boat on suddenly glassy waves, his voice shrill in the heavy air.

“Ebisu-sama! Ebisu-sama! Spare us!”

Yojiro snapped, “Sit down, Taka!” and then the thick bank of clouds parted and sunlight poured down upon us in terrible shafts of radiance, green and sickly. I fell back against the side of the boat, blinded.

Yojiro dropped the oar with a sharp intake of breath. I heard Takao’s choked scream, a thump as he fell to his knees, and Yojiro breathed, “Kannon-sama, oh, goddess, be merciful!”

I scrambled to the stern and saw Denzaemon’s boat, some distance away, sculling frantically not toward us, but away. The other men in my brother’s boat were shouting, jabbing at us with outstretched fingers. Fear bubbled up in my throat. “Anikya!” I cried, pounding at the gunwale. “Anikya! Wait!” I scrabbled backward with my hands, pushing madly at Yojiro’s shoulders. “They are leaving us,” I cried, “and how do we get to shore? Which way?”

“We have angered the gods,” Yojiro muttered. His face was pale against the yellow-black sunlight, the sharp rays throwing the hollows of his cheeks and eyes into jagged relief, a living skull. I wrenched my eyes away.

Takao whimpered, “I do not want to die, Anikya.”

I personally had a tough time getting into this novel.  I enjoyed Shima’s tale (about the plight of being shipwrecked and stuck on the whaling ship with people who can’t speak your language) more than the story of the American whalers.  Part of the reason for this is because I was very much uninterested in the story of the whalers themselves.  It’s not something that gripped me based on any of my interests.

However, I seem to be alone in my thinking.  According to the reviewers on Goodreads and Amazon the book is consistently rating between a 4 and a 5 star review, both from people who have received the book from the author and those who found it of their own accord.  This indicates to me that The Sea-G-d at Sunrise is a book you might need multiple opinions of.

Take a look at the reviews on Goodreads, check out the other tour stops, and decide for yourself.  Plus, enter the giveaway to win your own copy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what would you want to have with you?

Interested in getting your own copy? Check it out on Amazon & IndieBound. I get a small percentage if you purchase from those links, and it doesn’t cost you any extra.