The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

The Girl Who Chased the Moon

By: Sarah Addison Allen

Published: March 2010

Published By: Books on Tape

Format Read: Audio Book

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Magical Realism 

Rating: 4/5

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Emily Benedict is sent to live with her Grandfather, after her Mother’s untimely death. Not only is he a real life giant, but the small South Carolina town of Mullaby is home to many magical secrets. One of which was the catalyst for Emily’s Mother leaving town. She befriends neighbor Julia Winterson, owner of a local BBQ restaurant and baker of the most delicious cakes.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen is a contemporary novel with dusting of magic. Normally fantasy or magical realism isn’t my cup of tea, but I decided to give this one a shot anyway. And in the end I was happy that I did.

The author painted a beautifully magical picture of the small southern town of Mullaby. The characters were charming with detailed backstories. Rebecca Lowman was a good fit as narrator for this book and kept me engaged throughout.

While I really enjoyed the contemporary romance story-line, I found that the explanations behind the mystery and magic to be a bit underwhelming. I had hoped it would be more exciting or shocking.

Still I think that The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen was a good book and worthy of a 4 star rating. I would recommend this book to fans of lightly magical contemporaries. I will consider reading more from this author in the future. 

"If You're Gone" Inspired Playlist

Every once in a while I hear a song that reminds me of a certain book that I have read. Recently I had the chance to read and review If You're Gone by Brittany Goodwin (click on the link to read my review).
Book synopsis from Goodreads:

Lillian White was planning for the perfect summer- spending every waking minute at the lake with her heartthrob boyfriend, Brad Lee. But her world is shattered when Brad mysteriously disappears the night of his graduation ceremony- the same night he tells her he loves her for the first time. After law enforcement dismisses the case, classifying Brad as voluntarily missing, Lillian becomes desperate to prove that he couldn’t have just walked away. Not from his family. Not from his friends. Not from her.

Heartbroken but determined to find answers, Lillian begins to uncover secrets from Brad’s past that force her to question everything she thought she knew about him and their relationship. Will the truth lead her to him? Or are Brad’s lies just the beginning of the mystery? 

 Upon visiting the authors website I discovered that she had compiled a playlist herself for the short story.

Goodwin's playlist included songs from Daughtry, David Cook and Nickelback (among others). However my personal favourite is A Thousand Years by Christina Perri:

Here are some other songs that reminded me of If You're Gone:

Fix You by Coldplay

A Little Bit Stronger by Sara Evans

When You're Gone by Avril Lavigne 

Be sure to check out author Brittany Goodwin's post for her If You're Gone Playlist. 

If You're Gone by Brittany Goodwin

If You're Gone

By: Brittany Goodwin

Published: June 2016

Published By: Edge of 22 Publishing

Format Read: eBook

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Christian Fiction, Mystery

Rating: 3.5/5

🌟🌟🌟.5

I was sent a copy of If You’re Gone by Brittany Goodwin by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Lillian White never would have imagined that she would fall in love with the school bad boy, but a chance encounter with neighbour Brad Lee would change everything. After 6 months of bliss, Brad finally tells Lillian that he loves her on the night of his high school graduation. The next morning she awakes to a frantic message from Brad’s mother saying that he has gone missing without a trace.

Brittany Goodwin’s If You’re Gone is a short story that shines the light on missing youth. Instead of focusing on the details of the investigation into Brad’s disappearance, it follows the hardships Lillian, their friends and families faced. This character driven plot sets this story apart from other mysteries that I have read in the past, which tend to be plot driven.

Although naive characters like Lillian aren’t my favourite, I found that I was able to relate to her love for Brad and their relationship was similar to my own. While her family and friends dealt with her grief in different ways, I was able to understand why she was feeling the way she did and how it affected her. The author did a good job of fitting all the details into such a short story. It was quite an emotional read for me and I flew through the pages.

For those who are interested in learning how Lillian fared in the years after If You’re Gone, they are encouraged to visit Brittany Goodwin’s website where she has posted a hidden chapter.

I would recommend this short story to fans of young adult contemporary fiction. 

Visit Brittany Goodwin's website at the link: http://www.brittanygoodwin.com 

The Littlest Cowboy (The Texas Brands #1) by Maggie Shayne

The Littlest Cowboy (The Texas Brands #1)
By: Maggie Shayne

Published: July, 2014 (Originally Published: May 1996)

Published By: Thunderfoot Publishing 

Format Read: eBook, Kindle for PC

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: 1.5/5

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Sheriff Garrett Brand and his siblings are awoken one night to find an abandoned baby on their doorstep.

Chelsea Brennan arrives in Texas to identify the body of her deceased sister, but learns that her 6 month old nephew is missing.

Meanwhile baby Ethan’s father a well-known criminal will stop at nothing to find his son. Even murder. 

The concept of this story with the orphaned baby, the family who take him and the aunt who comes to find him caught my interest. It had been quite a while since I read a cute contemporary romance. Or at least that is what I thought I was in for when I started reading The Littlest Cowboy. And there were parts that fit that bill, however Maggie Shayne threw in some elements of mystery and suspense as well. In some cases these elements work well together, but unfortunately this instance wasn’t one of them.

Although Garrett seemed like a very attractive man (who doesn’t enjoy a hot cowboy?) I felt like he was portrayed as too perfect. The main female character Chelsea was quite traumatized by her abusive childhood. This added depth to her story, however I felt that her personality traits and opinions were very inconsistent. She started out as a fierce woman, but became more of a damsel in distress. It was almost like she was two different characters. As I read along I began to dislike Chelsea and Garret more and more. Readers will discover the baby will take a backseat to strange relationship that would bud between his aunt and the man who took him in. 

I hung on and read to the end of this story, but unfortunately it never did capture me. The ending sealed the deal for me, earning The Littlest Cowboy a 1.5 star rating. 

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

A Man Called Ove
By: Fredrik Backman

Published: July. 2014

Published By: Atria Books 

Format Read: eBook, Kobo

Genre: Contemporary 

Rating: 3.5/5

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After the death of his beloved wife, a man called Ove, just wants to end his life and be reunited with his love. Fortunately and ironically his attempts are thwarted by a colourful cast of neighbours.

A Man Called Ove was the first monthly selection for a local book club that I recently joined. I had heard of it before, but went into it knowing very little about the plot.

The ironic humor the author infused into this book was right up my alley and reminded me of The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson. Both of these books have been translated from their original language Swedish.

Ove was an interesting character: a curmudgeon who was very set in his ways, yet knew right from wrong. I especially admired his devotion to his wife Sonja. Amid the humor, A Man Called Ove really did have a lot of meaning behind it and although I enjoyed it, I found myself wishing I had a more emotional reaction to the story.

I would recommend this book to fans of contemporary fiction. 

Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley

Highly Illogical Behavior

By: John Corey Whaley

Published: May 2016

Published By: Dial Books

Format Read: Hardcover 

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary 

Rating: 5/5

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16 year-old Solomon Reed hasn’t left his house in the three years since his very public breakdown in his middle school’s water fountain. The secluded routine he created for himself allows him to keep his panic attacks at a minimum and he is content. That was until Lisa Praytor and Clark Robbins suddenly appeared in his life.  Unfortunately and unbeknownst to Solomon, Lisa’s intentions are more-so for her own benefit. The aspiring psychologist sees the “crazy fountain kid” as an opportunity to earn a full scholarship to one of the top colleges in the country. Lisa is determined to “fix” Solomon, no matter how immoral the approach may be.

Recently I have seen several Book Tuber’s mention John Corey Whaley’s Highly Illogical Behavior, but it wasn’t until I came across a copy at my local library that I paid much attention to it. I admit I picked it up on a whim, mostly due to the fact that it looked like a quick read. Little did I know that it would turn out to be one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.

Knowing of the serious mental illness subject matter this book touches on, I expected the tone of the writing to be somber. However I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it is much more light hearted than that and oftentimes comical.

“Solomon lived in the only world that would have him. And even though it was quiet and mundane and sometimes lonely, it never got out of control.” Pg 1. 

As someone who has dealt with my fair share of mental illness myself, I found Solomon to be so relatable. Although his situation was far more severe than mine, I was still able to understand how he felt not being able to leave the house. The approach the author took with this character was interesting in that, Solomon was content with his situation. In his mind he had everything he needed, right there in his own home. It was his safe haven.

“This is how it always started. Everything would be fine and then a sudden sinking feeling would come over him like his chest was going to cave in. He could feel his heart bumping up against his rib cage, wanting out, quickening with every beat and then radiating down his arms and up to his temples..” Pg. 28

Another aspect of Solomon’s situation I was able to empathize with was the guilt he often felt. He felt guilty that there were many other people in this world who suffered more than he did. Personally I felt such a strong connection to this character. John Corey Whaley’s descriptions of panic attacks were spot on.

 Lisa on the other hand, was an interesting character, but her ulterior motives were most definitely immoral. Thank goodness for the inclusion of her boyfriend Clark, who was another wonderful character and I enjoyed watching his friendship with Solomon grow.

I don’t think that I have ever read another book where I have noted so many different passages, that I relate to. I found myself re-reading parts over and over again. It was a great reading experience and one that wasn’t triggering in the least. Instead I took Solomon’s story as a pick me-up, one that I intend to revisit whenever I am in need.

I would recommend John Corey Whaley’s Highly Illogical Behavior to fans of young adult fiction that are looking for a novel that is both comical and reflective. 

TLC Book Tour: The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan

About The Bookshop on the Corner

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (September 20, 2016)

  “Losing myself in Jenny Colgan’s beautiful pages is the most delicious, comforting, satisfying treat I have had in ages.”—Jane Green, New York Times bestselling author of Summer Secrets

Nina Redmond is a literary matchmaker. Pairing a reader with that perfect book is her passion… and also her job. Or at least it was. Until yesterday, she was a librarian in the hectic city. But now the job she loved is no more. Determined to make a new life for herself, Nina moves to a sleepy village many miles away. There she buys a van and transforms it into a bookmobile—a mobile bookshop that she drives from neighborhood to neighborhood, changing one life after another with the power of storytelling. From helping her grumpy landlord deliver a lamb, to sharing picnics with a charming train conductor who serenades her with poetry, Nina discovers there’s plenty of adventure, magic, and soul in a place that’s beginning to feel like home… a place where she just might be able to write her own happy ending.

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Jenny Colgan

Jenny Colgan is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous novels, including Little Beach Street Bakery, Christmas at Rosie Hopkins’ Sweetshop, and Christmas at the Cupcake Café, all international bestsellers. Jenny is married with three children and lives in London and Scotland. Find out more about Jenny at her website, and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

I was sent a copy of The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan, from HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. 

Jenny Colgan’s The Bookshop on the Corner was a delightful story of a woman who forges a new life for herself after losing her job.

I was able to relate to the main character Nina, in so many ways. Not only am I the same age as her, but her need to create a new life for herself mirrors my own situation. Even though The Bookshop on the corner is fictional, it is inspirational in that starting over is possible.

I enjoyed the authors laid back writing style, which made for a quick and entertaining story. This book was host to a cast of wonderful characters. The rural Scotland setting and the culture was beautifully described.

My one problem was that the title is a bit misleading, as Nina’s business is mobile and ran out of her van. The Bookshop on the Corner implies to me that it is an actual shop in a building. Thankfully this didn’t take away from the story for me.

Nina’s passion and knowledge of books will be very appealing to readers. I would recommend The Bookshop on the Corner to fans of contemporary fiction. I look forward to reading more from Jenny Colgan in the future. 

The Obituary Society (The Obituary Society, #1) by Jessica L. Randall

The Obituary Society

By: Jessica L. Randall 

Published: 2014

Published By: Kindle Edition

Format Read: Kindle for PC

Genre: Mystery, Chick-Lit, Contemporary

Date Read: August 16, 2016

Rating: 3.5/5

At twenty-four years old Lila Moore is left to plan her beloved Grandfather’s funeral, which brings her to his hometown of Auburn Nebraska. The very same hometown in which he abruptly left many years prior. Although a charming place where everybody knows each other, Auburn holds some dark secrets that shroud Lila’s family and their home the she inherits. While she begins to renovate the Depression era house she begins to get to know the townsfolk, including a group of her Great-Aunt Ada’s friends who call themselves the Obituary Society. She also befriends a local handsome lawyer and an awkward single father. When strange occurrences begin happening to Lila at the old house, she learns that not all her new friends have the best of intentions.

I was initially attracted to this novel by its title; The Obituary Society and the eye catching cover image of a woman holding a delicious-looking dessert.

Jessica L. Randall’s humorous writing style and the descriptions of Auburn immediately drew me in. I loved the cozy tight-knit community and its colourful case of characters. Great-Aunt Ada’s friends in the Obituary Society were among my favourite characters and they sure proved the devotion to their friendship. I only wish they would have had a bigger part in the story.

Although I found the mystery interesting, I didn’t particularly like the supernatural occurrences and felt it took away from my enjoyment in this novel. There were also a couple of instances involving bird attacks that made me feel very uncomfortable.

Setting those specific points aside, I found The Obituary Society to be a quick and engaging novel that I would recommend to fans of chick-lit. 

Blaming the Wind by Alessandra Harris

Blaming the Wind
By: Alessandra Harris 

Published: May 2016
Published by: Red Adept Publishing, LLC.
Format Read: PDF, Kobo, eBook
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Dramatic Fiction
Date Read: July 11, 2016

Rating: 4/5

I was sent a copy of Blaming the Wind by Alessandra Harris, from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

 Blaming the Wind follows two couples as they deal with their own individual life crises'. As neighbours they turn to each other for support and guidance. Sophia Douglas lost her high-paying job and discovers she is pregnant, something she is dreading sharing with her husband Terrance. With money already tight, he has some news of his own to tell. Meanwhile next door, Josh Fisher has taken on the role of stay-at-home dad, after a devastating work accident ends his construction career. His wife Tara becomes the sole bread-winner while fighting demons of her own.

This book came to me at just the right time, as it was exactly what I was in the mood for. My initial reaction to the cover was that this would be a darker suspense story, so I was surprised to discover that it read more like a contemporary. In fact I was reminded of Emily Giffen, an author who I just recently started reading. But don't let that contemporary comparison fool you, because Blaming the Wind does touch on some very serious subject matter.

Alessandra Harris offers a bit of a role reversal with her characters by portraying the male leads in a more compassionate light. This was a refreshing point of view as men are often made to look like the bad person. I actually preferred Terrance and Josh over their wives due to the decisions they made throughout the story.

The bonds of friendship was a strong link between the four characters. I loved how they supported each other during the turbulent events they all faced.

I really enjoyed this story, although it was slightly over-dramatic at times. By the final section I was glued to the pages and couldn't put it down due to a surprising turn of events.

I would definitely recommend Blaming the Wind by Alessandra Harris to fans of dramatic contemporary fiction.  

Becoming Phoebe by J. Michael Neal

Title: Becoming Phoebe
Author: J. Michael Neal
Published: February, 2016
Published By: Melancholy Donkey Press
Format Read: PDF, Kobo, eBook, Overdrive
Genre: Contemporary, New Adult
Date Read: May 4, 2016
Rating: 3.5/5

I was sent a copy of Becoming Phoebe by J. Michael Neal from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

Phoebe Rose became a ward of the state of Ohio as a small child and her only dream aside from getting adopted was to play hockey for the University of Minneapolis. After a very traumatic upbringing in foster care and playing for a talent-less boys high school team she finally gets her chance to prove her talent. 

First Impressions

What initially excited me about this book was the fact that it was about hockey. A topic I am somewhat familiar with being Canadian. The added bonus was that it focused on women’s hockey. So naturally I began Becoming Phoebe anticipating to be empowered.

Inspiring

My initial anticipation wasn’t in vein as this book was full of strong hardworking young women, none more so than the main character Phoebe. Her determination and never ending effort was inspiring even despite her past trauma.

About Phoebe 

I admire the author for creating a character who although made a university hockey team, wasn’t the best player on the roster. This story could have been interesting had Phoebe been a phenomenal player, but by chronicling her struggles both on and off the ice brought great depth to the book.

Phoebe is a very intense and intimidating character and for good reason. Reading this book gave me a real understanding of what a team is supposed to be; a family. The women banded together and supported her, creating lifelong friendships. Becoming Phoebe is a fairly lengthy novel that I surprisingly flew through. While I had trouble connecting to the main character, I was engrossed throughout.

About the book

Aside from my lack of connection with Phoebe, I did find organization of the chapters to be confusing at times. Divided into two parts, the timeline jumps around. In the first part the story follows her first couple of years at university and the path she took to get there. Meanwhile the second part chronicles her last years in Minnesota and the years that follow.

Caution and recommendations 

Becoming Phoebe was an emotional reading experience as it touches on so many difficult and heartbreaking topics. Due to this subject matter I would suggest caution to those who may be triggered by traumatic experiences. Otherwise I would recommend it to anyone looking for a diverse new adult fiction with strong female characters. 

Smokin' Seventeen (Stephanie Plum #17) by Janet Evanovich

Title: Smokin' Seventeen (Stephanie Plum #17)
Author: Janet Evanovich
Published: November, 2011
Published By: Bantam
Format Read: Paperback
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Romance
Date Read: April 12, 2016
Rating: 3/5

Smokin’ Seventeen picks up where Sizzling Sixteen left off; where the bail bonds office once stood is now an empty lot awaiting to be rebuilt and Stephanie is still going from Ranger to Morelli. Then several bodies are unearthed in the empty lot and Stephanie’s mother tries to play cupid again.

Smokin’ Seventeen was an enjoyable continuation of the Stephanie Plum series. I enjoyed that Mooner played a role in this installment, but wished he had a bigger part.

The who-done-it mystery was easy to figure out, but that was to be expected. Unfortunately there wasn’t any character growth, which is also to be expected.

Still I will continue on with this series as I find it amusing. I would recommend this book to those who have read the previous 16+ in the series. 

Click the link below to be taken to the Stephanie Plum series listing on Goodreads:

Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich

Summer of Roses by Luanne Rice

Title: Summer of Roses
Author: Luanne Rice
Narrated By: Karen Ziemba
Published: May, 2007
Published By: Simon and Schuster Adult Publishing Group
Format Read: Audio Book
Genre: Contemporary, Women's Fiction
Date Read: March 31, 2016
Rating: 3.5/5

Summer of Roses is a continuation of the characters in Luanne Rice’s Summer’s Child. Upon hearing that her grandmother had fallen ill, Lilly comes out of hiding risking the chance of potentially encountering her abusive ex-husband. The man she ran away from without a trace all those years before. The same man she hid their daughter from, taking refuge in an ocean side Nova Scotia town. Meanwhile another abused ex-wife of the same man, is hiding out with her young daughter in the same town.

I picked up the audio version of Summer of Roses from my local library, not realizing that it was a continuation of another story. Had I known this I probably wouldn’t have picked it up. Thankfully the author included some background information on the characters previous situations, so I was able to get an idea of what I missed.

It took me quite some time to get into this story especially that of Lilly’s storyline. I felt like the characters were so overloaded with personal trauma that it didn’t feel believable. I didn’t particularly connect with Lilly, although leaving her abusive husband was the right decision.

The secondary storyline which involved Marissa and her daughter was far more interesting to me. Not only was the location of Nova Scotia captivating, but the excitement around the Celtic music festival really kept my attention. These parts of Summer of Roses are what kept me listening until the end.

I thought that Karen Ziemba did a good job narrating this book and was glad to hear that she didn’t try to overdo the distinctive character voices.

Although I lacked connection with Lilly, I found Luanne Rice’s descriptions of the settings and the season to be quite beautiful. I also thought that the physical descriptions of the characters really helped set the tone of the story.

I look forward to reading more from this author in the future and hope that I have a better connection with some of her other characters. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy contemporary women’s fiction.  

The Red Door Inn (Prince Edward Island Dreams #1) by Liz Johnson

Title: The Red Door Inn (Prince Edward Island Dreams #1)
Author: Liz Johnson
Published: March 1, 2016
Published By: Revell
Format Read: Trade Paperback
Genre: Contemporary, Christian Fiction
Date Read: March 24, 2016
Rating: 3.5/5 

I was sent a copy of The Red Door Inn (Prince Edward Island Dreams #1) by Liz Johnson from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A traumatic incident has left Marie Carrington in need of a safe haven and what better place to go than the place the held all of her childhood fantasies: Prince Edward Island. Sitting at the ferry-boat terminal, she counts her meager dollars, knowing she doesn’t have enough to pay her fare. It is then that she would meet an older man by the name of Jack Sloane. Out of the goodness of his heart he would pay for her fare and then go on to offer her a place to stay in his home. After all it was what his late wife would have wanted him to do. 

Marie would accept his offer for room and board in exchange for her help with the renovations of his new bed and breakfast. Along with Jack’s heartbroken nephew Seth, the unlikely trio work to meet the looming opening deadline, while tackling an array of setbacks. 

More about the story:

Marie and Seth have a tug-of-war storyline throughout as they help Jack prepare to open his bed and breakfast. They both struggle with letting each other get too close due to their past experiences. Aside from their struggle is a cast of wonderful secondary characters which include; the man of few words –Jack, a local antique store owner –Aretha Franklin (no relation to the singer) and a young baker named Caden Holt.  

First impressions:

I was instantly drawn to this book by the title of the series: Prince Edward Island Dreams. Like our main character Marie, that beautiful island is one of my dream locations and has been ever since I read Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic Anne of Green Gables. Each mentioned of the beloved author and her little red headed orphan brought a smile to my face as I read along.

Island hospitality:

Author Liz Johnson did a good job of portraying the welcoming hospitality of the maritime people. I enjoyed the seaside setting of North Rustico and the mention of locations I’ve have the opportunity to visit myself: Charlottetown and Cavendish.  The bed and breakfast renovation also appealed to me as a lover of HGTV. The idea of staying in an old charming Victorian home with a delicious spread of baked goods each morning is just wonderful. 

Marie’s panic attacks:

Although The Red Door Inn was an enjoyable story as a whole, I really struggled with it in the beginning. The reason for this is because of the severe panic attacks that often came over Marie, as a result of her past trauma. As someone who experiences panic attacks myself, it was absolutely nerve wrecking to read about. At times I had to put the book aside and calm myself down before continuing. At times I thought of not finishing it, but my love for Prince Edward Island kept me reading. 

Being able to entice emotions within a reader is a strong writing quality and the mark of an effective author. I do look forward to reading more from Liz Johnson and continuing with this series, even though I struggled with this book.

 

Recommendations:

The Red Door Inn is a Christian novel and therefore wasn't graphic, however Marie’s trauma may be a trigger for those who have had similar experiences. For this reason I wouldn’t recommend it to those who may be uncomfortable with difficult subject matter. Although I would recommend it to others who enjoy the contemporary Christian fiction genre.