The #1 New York Times-bestselling author presents a riveting novel where a canine search and rescue volunteer fights danger and finds love in the Pacific Northwest wilderness. To most people, Fiona Bristow seems to have an idyllic life-a quaint house on an island off Seattle’s coast, a thriving dog-training school, and a challenging volunteer job performing canine search and rescues. Not to mention her three intensely loyal Labs. But Fiona got to this point by surviving a nightmare… Several years ago, Fiona was the only survivor of the Red Scarf serial killer, who shot and killed Fiona’s cop fiancé and his K-9 partner. On Orcas Island, Fiona found the peace and solitude she needed to rebuild her life. But all that changes on the day Simon Doyle barrels up her drive, desperate for her help. He’s the reluctant owner of an out-of-control puppy, foisted upon him by his mother. Jaws has eaten through Simon’s house, and he’s at his wit’s end. To Fiona, Jaws is nothing she can’t handle. Simon, however, is another matter. A newcomer to Orcas, he’s a rugged and in-tensely private artist, known for the exquisite furniture he creates from wood. Simon never wanted a puppy-and he most definitely doesn’t want a woman. Besides, the lanky redhead is not his type. But tell that to his hormones. As Fiona embarks on training Jaws, and Simon begins to appreciate both dog and trainer, the past tears back into Fiona’s life. A copycat killer has emerged out of the shadows, a man whose bloodlust has been channeled by a master with one motive: to reclaim the woman who slipped out of his hands…

This is a perfect summer read! I love Nora Roberts and her ability to pull the reader into a great story, with realistic characters and heart-stopping action. The mystery element of all of her novels put her on every reader’s MUST READ list and her latest will not disappoint. Fiona Bristow is the only survivor of a serial killer who strangled women and then buried them with a red scarf. Years later, when a copycat killer starts creeping into Fiona’s life, she realizes she may be the next intended victim. Not only does Nora Roberts tell a great story, but she tells a complete story. There is never any weak moments in her plot. Her characters are fully fleshed out and the romance angle doesn’t ever make you cringe.

I whole-heartedly recommend THE SEARCH as the perfect beach book (or rainy day book)!

The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman

Heralded as “a modern day Jane Austen” by USA Today, National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author Allegra Goodman has compelled and delighted hundreds of thousands of readers. Now, in her most ambitious work yet, Goodman weaves together the worlds of Silicon Valley and rare book collecting in a delicious novel about appetite, temptation, and fulfillment.

Emily and Jessamine Bach are opposites in every way: Twenty-eight-year-old Emily is the CEO of Veritech, twenty-three-year-old Jess is an environmental activist and graduate student in philosophy. Pragmatic Emily is making a fortune in Silicon Valley, romantic Jess works in an antiquarian bookstore. Emily is rational and driven, while Jess is dreamy and whimsical. Emily’s boyfriend, Jonathan, is fantastically successful. Jess’s boyfriends, not so much–as her employer George points out in what he hopes is a completely disinterested way.

Bicoastal, surprising, rich in ideas and…

This weekend, the New York Times Book Review featured Allegra Goodman’s THE COOKBOOK COLLECTOR. It was also reviewed on one of my favorite book blogs, BOOKINGMAMA.

I’m starting it this week and will let you know what I think…in the meantime, here are some quotes from additional reviews of THE COOKBOOK COLLECTOR.

“Allegra Goodman’s new novel has so many compelling ingrediants.  Where, then, to start?  Perhaps, as with food labels, it would be best to begin with the biggest:  an irresistable story . . . If you’re hankering for a feast of love, let yourself fall under the spell of Allegra Goodman’s delicious tale.  You won’t leave hungry.”
—The New York Times Book Review

“Allegra Goodman mixes up a lively stew of characters from the cotcom-era bubble: bold young software titans, Berkeley tree-huggers, bibliophiles and a pair of investment savvy rabbis.  The plot may be IPO-centric, but the novel is old-fashioned and wildly romantic.”
—Time

“a midsummer’s dream of a novel . . . Goodman’s nimble language, usually displayed in her characters’ sharp readings of one another, is one of the great pleasures of her writing. The other is her ability to integrate serious metaphysical questions into her entertaining comedies of manners.”
—Maureen Corrigon on Fresh Air

“wry, astute, and gratifying.”
—The New Yorker

“a smart, witty treat.”
—The Christian Science Monitor

“Proves that a story combining romantic complications with nefarious plots involving Internet start-ups is a delicious mix.”
—Town and Country

“Allegra Goodman has Austen’s gift for articulating the dynamics within a closed social system.  Like Charles Dickens, she pens enjoyable reads rich with many characters, myriad subplots and kernels of social commentary.”
—Miami Herald

“enchanting and sensuous . . .  a romance that dissects ambition with a jeweler’s precision.”
—Boston Herald

“In her new novel, she works on a larger social canvas than ever before, armed with an awareness that to comprehend all the scheming and the sorrow, wit is indispensable.”
—Slate
“It is the women you’ll love, because their differences–hard-driving dot com exec Emily versus latter day hippy Jessamine, for example–are eclipsed by the connectedness that comes from being both female and family.”
—O.Magazine

“Now in her early 40s, her skills and style are finely honed, her range improved. “The Cookbook Collector” captures the whimsy of youth and newfound wealth, the coarsening of middle age, fringe groups of Judaism and ecology. And she does so not through connected stories or novellas, but through a grand sweep of narrative that pushes beyond a character study of Jess and Emily and into their companies and companions.”
—Portland Oregonian

“The Cookbook Collector will appeal to readers who seek the pleasures of a beach read – romance, lovers’ betrayals, depictions of jet-setting people with money and power – but who also crave substance: solid prose, well-crafted scenes, developed characters, abundant literary allusions and plenty of food for thought.“She captures the world with intensity and humor, using characters who become dear, but never flat. The cookbook collector of the novel’s title refers to one who would rather collect cookbooks than cook, someone who would stand apart from the world instead of participating in it.”
—Dallas Morning News

“This is a story of people coming to fully participate in life. On the way, fate brings some unexpected turns, but the work ends in a way that seems balanced and realistic, but also right. It’s a hard balance to strike, and Goodman succeeds wonderfully.”
—Denver Post

“enchanging and sensuous . . .expertly prepared, delectable and satisfying.”—Kansas City Star

“The world she weaves practically vibrates with humanity–and it’s hard not to imagine that if Austen were to drop in for a visit, she’d pull out a laptop and feel very much at home.”
—People (four star review)

“Allegra Goodman captures that frenzy with charm and authority . . .Goodman’s characters strive to do what’s right and we care about them.”
—Providence Journal

“. . . a sprawling, fiercely smart, socially astute drama set in the dot com era.”
—Portland Mercury

“. . . a graceful writer and such an uncommonly astute observer of human foibles that when she focuses her steady gaze on the Bach sisters, her novel is pure delight.”
—National Public Radio

“I can’t think of anyone else who manages that precarious tone so well, balanced with Zenlike tranquillity between genuine mirth and heartfelt despair. She describes modern life in stories as witty and astute as Zoë Heller’s or Claire Messud’s but without a drop of bitterness . . . Goodman is a fantastically fluid writer, and yet for all her skill, she’s a humble, transparent one who stays out of the way, never drawing attention to her style or cleverness.”
—Ron Charles in The Washington Post

“Goodman is quite wise about human nature, but fond of it nonetheless. Her characters vie for their chance, full of foibles and endearments, hoping to fool each other even as they effortlessly fool themselves . . . a gentle, comedic touch, a nicely carpentered plot and characters who swell our hopes for their happiness.”
—Cleveland Plain Dealer

“devilishly clever”
—Sacramento Bee

“a delightful tale . . . With humor and a keen ability to maintain tension, Goodman lines up all the many pieces for a tidy resolution.”
—New Jersey Star Ledger

“[in] her latest and best book . . . Goodman uses the theme of hunger and appetite to refract the giddying facets of this period, and she does so to great effect. . .

A power-hungry young mogul is so intent on exhorting his troops with empty optimism that he cannot hear his business partner shouting across the room that their site has been compromised by hackers. A perfect peach serves as the vehicle for an extended seduction as subtle and sweet as fruit’s flesh.

The book is worth reading for these scenes alone, or for the fairy tale ending, but the biggest payoff for most readers will be a bittersweet nostalgia for that recent past when it seemed all appetites could be fulfilled.”
—The San Francisco Chronicle

“In her sixth novel The Cookbook Collector, she ups the stakes with a deft literary hat trick, expertly braiding disparate threads involving dotcom start-ups, environmental radicalism, and rare-book collecting into one consistently engrossing narrative . . . Goodman delivers a novel of impressive élan and real emotional resonance.” A–
—Entertainment Weekly

“captivating”
—Vogue

“Fans of Goodman’s lovely, nuanced novels have a treat in store with this tale of two sisters.”
—Entertainment Weekly summer preview

“Goodman is especially admired for evoking smart and subtly nuanced characters, and Emily and Jess are so emotionally authentic that I almost tried to Google them. She also perfectly captures what it felt like to be an optimistic, idealistic twentysomething during one of the most optimistic, idealistic periods in American history—when anyone who didn’t risk everything felt like they were missing out on the main chance. . . .  Unlike many of the companies of the First Digital Age, The Cookbook Collector is enormously satisfying and well worth the investment.”
—Elle

“Sisters find that love can be wondrously, or tragically, accidental. Goodman is a romantic realist who dazzles with wit, compassion and vegan recipes.”
—Wall Street Journal summer preview

“Goodman (Intuition, 2006, etc.) . . .  Frequently laugh-out-loud funny but always fundamentally serious, the novel takes a clear-eyed look at the competitive instinct and the profit motive as they clash with our equally strong need for love and connection . . . .  A witty, warm and wise look at the human condition in the digital age.”
—Kirkus (starred review)

“Goodman (Kaaterskill Falls) is remarkably successful in creating rich, engaging characters and a complex story of love and identity that reads like life itself. Highly recommended.”
—Library Journal (starred review)

“If any contemporary author deserves to wear the mantle of Jane Austen, it’s Goodman, whose subtle, astute social comedies perfectly capture the quirks of human nature. This dazzling novel is Austen updated for the dot-com era . . . Enjoyable and satisfying, this is Goodman’s (Intuition) most robust, fully realized and trenchantly meaningful work yet.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A glimmering tale, spiked with hilarious banter, of ardent individualists, imperiled love, and incandescent interpretations of the mutability and timelessness of the human condition.”
—Booklist (starred review)

]]> http://bookfinds.com/blog/2010/07/25/the-cookbook-collector-by-allegra-goodman/feed/ 0 http://bookfinds.com/blog/2010/07/21/8-in-the-box-by-raffi-yessayan/ http://bookfinds.com/blog/2010/07/21/8-in-the-box-by-raffi-yessayan/#comments Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:42:03 +0000 Administrator http://bookfinds.com/blog/?p=2107

8 in the Box by Raffi Yessayan

The harrowing scene is always the same: the home of a single woman, no signs of forced entry, no evidence of an intruder, and no victim—only a bathtub filled with blood. Newly promoted homicide detective Angel Alves wants to make his mark in the department and a difference on the streets, but tracking this elusive serial killer sorely challenges his commitment and skills. Meanwhile, assistant DA Conrad Darget has his own hands full mentoring an ambitious young law student and rallying his fellow attorneys in their daily courtroom battles. With each new attack the twisted mystery only deepens, and the hunger for answers—and action—intensifies. No sane mind could comprehend the dark design behind it all. And no one can anticipate the final fateful strokes that will lead to a shocking endgame.

Right from the start we learn that Eight in the Box is a legal term, referring to the number of people sitting on a jury. There are, quite literally, eight people in a box, in a courtroom, waiting to hear a trial and determine the fate of one person. There is a reason television shows like Law & Order have lasted as long as they have and keep multiplying, people love the dark side of the law. Raffi Yessayan writes about this gritty world with accuracy and doesn’t hold anything back. Yessayan, a former Boston prosecutor and now defense attorney, has walked the dark streets of Boston and writes from experience. In Eight in the Box we are immediately greeted with a brutal murder, a bathtub filled with blood and a serial killer, aptly named the “Blood Bath Killer.” Yessayan presents the reader with the facts and lets the story slowly unfold with spine-tingling details and a mysteriously cloaked killer named Richter. Yessayan will leave you turning the pages faster than you can say “Pahked the cah.” Move over Dennis Lehane, Boston has a new voice in crime fiction. ]]> http://bookfinds.com/blog/2010/07/21/8-in-the-box-by-raffi-yessayan/feed/ 0 http://bookfinds.com/blog/2010/07/19/angel-star-by-jennifer-murgia/ http://bookfinds.com/blog/2010/07/19/angel-star-by-jennifer-murgia/#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:41:16 +0000 Administrator http://bookfinds.com/blog/?p=2096 Seventeen-year-old Teagan McNeel falls for captivating Garreth Adams and soon discovers that her crush has an eight-point star etched into the palm of his right hand-the mark of an angel. But where there is light, dark follows, and she and Garreth suddenly find themselves vulnerable to a dark angel’s malicious plan that could threaten not only [...]]]>

Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia

Seventeen-year-old Teagan McNeel falls for captivating Garreth Adams and soon discovers that her crush has an eight-point star etched into the palm of his right hand-the mark of an angel.
But where there is light, dark follows, and she and Garreth suddenly find themselves vulnerable to a dark angel’s malicious plan that could threaten not only her life, but the lives of everyone she knows.
Divinely woven together, Angel Star takes readers on a reflective journey when one angel’s sacrifice collides with another angel’s vicious ambition in a way that is sure to have readers searching for their own willpower.

Angel Star is the first book from Jennifer Murgia, a brilliant new YA author. What if you met your guardian angel? What would happen if you fell in love with him?

It is a story about a girl with a normal life going to school and dreaming about what all girls dream about…the perfect boy to come along and fall in love. Teagan never imagined a world beyond her own. Until…a transfer student appears and shares with her a secret no other human knows. There are angels, guardian angels, that are there our entire lives. Teagan’s guardian angel, Garreth, is allowed to reveal himself and the world of angels to Teagan only because Teagan has powers unknown to her that will help save humanity.

Teagan learns that Garreth has given up his wings and will become human in eight days in order to declare his love for her and prepare her for the darkness. Garreth will no longer be able to protect her as he has all her life from the shadows. The struggle between the light and the dark become personal when those around her are touched by the darkness.

Can Teagan grasp her hidden power and hold on to her true love, or will the darkness overcome her and lead her down a dark path? Temptation to do so is strong, but can Teagan harness her powers to see the Truth?

Hadrian, a dark angel, is very alluring and beautiful in his in own right. She encounters Hadrian in a painful struggle to save Garreth, her guardian angel. In the end she has to choose between Garreth and Hadrian … learning that some people have more than one angel. Could one of them be a dark angel that pulls at the darkness within us?

The story pauses at this point where Teagan knows that Hadrian is watching her too. Lemniscate (2011), the sequel to Angel Star, will continue Teagan’s story…

I could not put this book down. It was fast paced, action packed, with a brilliantly woven love story… This book is one of my new favorite-must-keep books and I am eagerly looking forward to the sequel. I look forward to reading more of Jennifer’s book in the future. She has a fantastic and imaginative writing style, which paints the most detailed scenic pictures. I could picture the stone chapel in the woods and every scene Teagan experienced.

Wonderful book, Jennifer! Congratulations on realizing a dream. I truly look forward to many more books from you…

We are really digging the cover of debut author Allie Larkin’s STAY (Dutton, June 2010). I don’t know if it’s the lovable look of the pup on the cover, the color contrast between the dog and the beautiful blue sky background or the heart dog tag dangling precariously from the title. All in all, it’s a winner and one we would definitely gravitate towards on the NEW BOOKS table at our favorite bookstore. Here’s the description of Allie’s debut novel, STAY:

Savannah “Van” Leone has loved Peter since the day they met. The problem is, Peter has loved Van’s best friend, Janie, since the moment they met. And now they’re walking down the aisle, with Van standing nearby in a Halloween orange bridesmaid dress, her smile as hollow as a jack-o-lantern. After the wedding, Van drowns her sorrows in Kool Aid-vodka cocktails and reruns of Rin-Tin-Tin, and does what any woman in her situation would do: She buys a German Shepherd over the internet.

The pocket-sized puppy Van is expecting turns out to be a clumsy, hundred-pound beast that only responds to Slovakian. Van is at the end of her rope—until she realizes that this quirky giant may be the only living being who will always be loyal to her, no matter what. And thus begins a friendship that will alter Van’s life in ways she never imagined.

Joe leads Van to Dr. Alex Brandt, a rugged vet with floppy blond hair and winning smile. But just as things are starting to heat up, the newlyweds return from their honeymoon, forcing Van to decide just how much she’s willing to sacrifice in order to have everything she ever wanted. Warm and witty, poignant and funny, Stay marks the arrival of an irresistible new voice.

Be sure to check this one out! Here’s the trailer for STAY.

Fallen by Lauren Kate

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

Where to start!? This book is a can’t-put-it-down type of book. The plot is original, creative, and captivating. Lauren Kate, the author, draws you into the world of Luce and Daniel with such dramatic visions of an unknown, uncontrollable darkness that has followed Luce all her life. Luce’s life seems tragic and destined for a dark ending. Until she arrives at the reform school, after a terrible incident involving death, Luce sees Daniel and she feels an unbelievable pull, and a knowing him that she can’t explain. No matter how mean and off putting he is, she is drawn to him. As the dark shadows befall Luce again and are increasingly more dangerous, Daniel appears to be more present to save her or guide her. Luce starts researching Daniel’s past as she is drawn to him. She has to know everything about him. This only leads to more shadows appearing and hurting those around her. Ultimately, Luce figures out why she has these vivid dreams of her past and of being with Daniel and realizes they have been together in past lives and no matter what they do they find each other, but they are soon driven apart upon Luce’s death. She only lives for 17 years each time and Daniel is heartbroken but so in love he falls for her each time. This time though things are different and Luce doesn’t die when Daniel and others expect her to and Daniel is doing everything he can do to keep her safe and break the cycle of losing Luce. As the angel war begins, Daniel is doing everything he can to keep her safe because they need her.

As the reader, we don’t find out in the book why they need Luce and what her importance is to the fallen angels, but both sides of angels need and want her and that is where we are left… with Luce safe and Daniel watching over her until he and his angel friends can figure out how to save her and win the war… One character alludes that the sanity of the world shouldn’t revolve around the love of two sick lovebirds (Luce & Daniel)… so we are not sure how important that Luce and Daniel be together really is. We are left with a lot of questions and so eager to continue the story.

I hope to hear more about Luce’s past lives and her purpose in the world of the fallen angels. Lauren Kate has such a great writing style. The story is vivid. I felt like I was there in every scene. This story would make an amazing movie if the screenwriter could capture the story and world Lauren has created.

Torment, the sequel to Fallen, comes out in August-2010. It is already pre-ordered! I cannot wait to continue this story. I was completely on the edge of my seat with this story and I did not want to turn to that last page. It was hard to close the book and have the story end. My anticipation is boiling over for this next book…hurry up August!!

The Lost Summer by Kathryn Williams

For the past nine years, Helena Waite has been returning to summer camp at Southpoint. Every year the camp and its familiar routines, landmarks, and people have welcomed her back like a long-lost family member. But this year she is returning not as a camper, but as a counselor, while her best friend, Katie Bell remains behind. All too quickly, Helena discovers that the innocent world of campfires, singalongs, and field days have been pushed aside for late night pranks on the boys’ camp, skinny dipping in the lake, and stolen kisses in the hayloft. As she struggles to define herself in this new world, Helena begins to lose sight of what made camp special and the friendships that have sustained her for so many years. And when Ransome, her longtime crush, becomes a romantic reality, life gets even more confusing.

If you could capture summer in a book, this is it! Helena Waite is thrilled to be returning to her favorite place in the world, Southpoint. This summer she is coming back as a counselor but her best friend Katie Bell, having missed the cut-off by a few months, will have to spend one more summer as a camper. That tiny twist wreaks havoc on the girls’ tight bond and causes both to question what it means to be a child and what you have to give up to be an adult. The themes in this story are those that anyone can relate to and will have you wishing you too could return to those simple, carefree childhood days. They go by so quickly and unfortunately, Helena is reminded of that all too frequently during her first summer in the “adult” world.

Kathryn Williams has written an extraordinary book about the power of friendship, the dilemmas we face as we outgrow our childhood selves and the tug-of-war we often feel between our adult self and our childhood memories. The depiction of young love is honest and real and will have you rapidly turning the pages to find out what happens. The characters are so vivid and true that they honestly jump right off the page. An absolutely perfect read!

The Daughters by Joanna Philbin

The only daughter of supermodel Katia Summers, witty and thoughtful Lizzie Summers likes to stick to the sidelines.

The sole heir to Metronome Media and the daughter of Karl Jurgensen, outspoken Carina Jurgensen would rather climb mountains than social ladders.

Daughter of chart-topping pop icon Holla Jones, stylish and sensitive Hudson Jones is on the brink of her own music breakthrough.

By the time freshmen year begins, unconventional looking Lizzie Summers has come to expect fawning photographers and adoring fans to surround her gorgeous supermodel mother.  But when Lizzie is approached by a fashion photographer who believes she’s “the new face of beauty,” Lizzie surprises herself and her family by becoming the newest summers woman to capture the media spotlight.

The Daughters is the debut novel by Regis Philbin’s daughter, Joanna Philbin. I almost feel bad opening up the review with that statement because the book is so much about separating yourself from your famous parent and creating your own destiny. But in the same way that living in the shadow can cause a child to question where they begin and their parents end, for a writer it can provide great material! That is exactly what Joanna Philbin did with her debut novel. She took her own personal experience and wove it into an enjoyable journey for the characters of Lizzie, Carina and Hudson.

The Daughters, the first in a series, focuses on Lizzie Summers. What could have been a simple story about an ugly duckling living in the shadow of her super model mom, became a story with an interesting and complex journey. Lizzie is insecure about her looks but instead of writing an extreme makeover type of book, Philbin wrote one about fully accepting yourself, flaws and all. This is a well written story with real characters and enough drama to keep you flipping the pages (I read it in a day because I couldn’t put it down).  Philbin excels at portraying teens honestly and there isn’t a fake note in this entire book. The drama in the boy department doesn’t disappoint either. It ends on a cliffhanger that will have readers desperate for Carina’s story, which I hear comes out in November. I whole-heartedly recommend this book for both teens and adults.

]]> http://bookfinds.com/blog/2010/07/12/the-daughters-by-joanna-philbin/feed/ 0 http://bookfinds.com/blog/2010/07/12/promises-to-keep-by-jane-green/ http://bookfinds.com/blog/2010/07/12/promises-to-keep-by-jane-green/#comments Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:39:04 +0000 Administrator http://bookfinds.com/blog/?p=2042 Callie Perry is a successful family photographer living in upstate New York. She adores her two daughters, has great friends, and actually doesn’t mind that her workaholic husband gets home at 9 p.m. every night-that is, when he’s not traveling six months out of the year. Callie’s younger sister, Steff, on the other hand, has never [...]]]>

Promises to Keep by Jane Green

Callie Perry is a successful family photographer living in upstate New York. She adores her two daughters, has great friends, and actually doesn’t mind that her workaholic husband gets home at 9 p.m. every night-that is, when he’s not traveling six months out of the year.

Callie’s younger sister, Steff, on the other hand, has never grown up. She’s a free spirit, living in downtown Manhattan and bouncing between jobs and boyfriends. Lately, she’s been working as a vegan chef, even though she can’t cook.

Lila Grossman is Callie’s best friend and has finally met the man of her dreams. Eddie has two wonderful children, but also a drama queen ex-wife who hates Lila. And then there are Callie and Steff’s parents, Walter Cutler and Honor Pitman. Divorced for thirty years, they rarely speak to each other.

The lives of these colorful characters intersect when they each receive a shocking note that summons them together for one extraordinary summer in Maine and changes their lives forever. This novel is about the hard choices we have to face, about having to be your parents’ child long after you’ve grown up, and about the enduring nature of love.

The queen of women’s fiction is back with her most emotional and powerful novel to date. Jane Green’s Promises to Keep is the story of Callie Perry, a successful family photographer in upstate New York. Callie’s younger sister Steff is a free-spirited city girl who has yet to land (in life, in love, or in work). And to complete the trio is Lila, Callie’s best friend who has finally found love (and unfortunately her love has a nightmare of an ex). The heart of the story comes when Callie is given a brutal diagnosis and must come to terms with the finality of life. This is a novel about surviving, about love and friendship and the enduring power of the human spirit. Promises to Keep is an emotional journey that is well worth the trip. It will give readers a renewed appreciation for the life we live, the friends we make, and the promises we keep. A truly wonderful story.

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

Twelve-year-old CeeCee is in trouble. For years she’s been the caretaker of her psychotic mother, Camille— the crown-wearing, lipstick-smeared laughingstock of an entire town. Though it’s 1967 and they live in Ohio, Camille believes it’s 1951 and she’s just been crowned the Vidalia Onion Queen of Georgia.

The day CeeCee discovers Camille in the front yard wearing a tattered prom dress and tiara as she blows kisses to passing motorists, she knows her mother has completely flipped. When tragedy strikes, Tootie Caldwell, a previously unknown great-aunt comes to CeeCee’s rescue and whisks her away to Savannah. Within hours of her arrival, CeeCee is catapulted into a perfumed world of prosperity and Southern eccentricities—a world that appears to be run entirely by women.

While Tootie is busy saving Savannah’s endangered historic homes from the wrecking ball, CeeCee encounters a cast of unforgettable, eccentric characters. From the mysterious Thelma Rae Goodpepper, who bathes in an outdoor tub under the watchful eyes of a voyeuristic peacock, to Oletta Jones, the all-knowing household cook, to Violene Hobbs, the loud-mouthed widow who entertains a local police officer in her yellow see-through peignoir, the women of Gaston Street keep CeeCee entertained and enthralled for an entire summer.

But CeeCee’s view of the world is challenged in ways she could have never imagined: there are secrets to keep, injustices to face, and loyalties to uphold. Just as she begins to find her ballast and experiences a sense of belonging, her newfound joy collides with the long-held fear that her mother’s legacy has left her destined for destruction.

Laugh-out-loud funny, at times heartbreaking, and written in a pitch-perfect voice, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is a spirited Southern tale that explores the intricate frailties and strengths of female relationships while illuminating the journey of a young girl who loses her mother but finds many others.

I absolutely adored this book and I think Beth Hoffman is a writer who is going to be delighting readers for years to come. But this particular post is about much more than just her novel, SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT, it’s about her journey as a debut novelist. Beth recently guest-posted on The Book Lady’s Blog about the importance of book bloggers and the impact they have on the success of a book. Essentially book bloggers are readers who like to share the good books they’ve read. Read the essay here and check out Beth Hoffman’s website here.