Little Bee - Chris Cleave

Little Bee
By Chris Cleave

This book was difficult for me. I enjoyed the story – well, it’s not that I enjoyed it as much as I appreciated it. I was a powerful story with a huge message behind it and I think the story that unfolded did a great job of portraying that.

That said, I think the writing left something to be desired. I felt all the emotions were put into the wrong moments. I would be reading about a heartbreaking moment in the story and the only reason I had any idea that was going on was because it said “I was crying.” I have a specific example but I’m not going to put a quote because I don’t want to give part of the story away. On the other hand, so much of the minor details became lost in the in-depth descriptions. There would be a page about something so minor (for example the ocean, I understand, symbolism, blah, we’ve gone over this, can we move on already?) I found myself skipping over parts.

I really loved what Little Bee said about scars and that was something that I remembered throughout the book but I also felt disconnected because the story was told as if she were telling it to someone from England and there was a lot I didn’t connect with because of that. I think that part of the story I enjoyed the most was the inside view on journalism and even some politics in London. I was fascinating to me. Although this was not what the story was about, it helped bring it to life.

**Source: I bought this book with my own sweet loot.

Fireworks Over Toccoa - Jeffrey Stepakoff

 

Fireworks Over Toccoa

By Jeffrey Stepakoff

Holy crap I love this book!!!  From the first chapter, NO from the first page I fell in love.  The moment I read on the back cover that Stepakoff had been involved with many wonderful TV shows, including Dawson’s Creek, I was very curious about the story.  I don’t know if that is the reason I could not stop relating the book to other books, TV shows and movies but every time I turned the page I was reminded of something else I loved.  I caught myself – unsurprisingly – remembering some of my favorite moments in Dawson ’s Creek (Grams’ one great kiss). Fireworks Over Toccoa has the Southern charm of a Sarah Addison Allen novel but the way it was told kept reminding me of Titanic.

I continued to think I would find something, just one negative thing, because this book couldn’t really be this good and finally, towards the end, I knew it was going to be a bit too predictable (which isn’t even the worst thing I can say about some books) and then BAM! my whole predictable ending was shot down, as well as a chance of finding a flaw in the story.  This was truly a lovely, delightful and delicious story.  It made me want to sit down with a Coca-Cola in a bottle and watch some fireworks.

I love that the story came about after Stepakoff began research for a TV pilot that never came to be.  The characters were so real, and I was so lost in the story that I forgot to wonder which parts of the story were actually real. 

Love it!!

**Source:  ARC from publisher

Still Missing - Chevy Stevens

Still Missing
By Chevy Stevens


A story about a woman who is abducted and taken to a house where she is abused in many horrifying ways can really be a toss-up. There would have been so many ways to let the horrors of the story take over and make it unreadable or to get caught up in the drama and have it be just a predictable abduction story. Luckily, none of that happened here.

Chevy Stevens crafted a heartbreaking and unique story that horrified but also had me laughing out loud. I could not put this book down. The entire story takes place in the therapy sessions Annie goes through, so we know she got away from her abductor, but that fact doesn’t take away from the suspense of the story, it may, in fact, add to it because more questions arise as she tells her therapist more and more.

Although Annie is obviously disturbed and embraces her self-proclaimed bitchiness, I love her! I could hear her voice and feel her personality lifting off the page during every therapy session. She rants about what happened to her while she was captive as well as the present day events taking place between the therapy sessions. She was so real to me as I read the story.

I will warn you that this isn’t a story for the faint of heart. Stevens goes into details of Annie’s abduction that are difficult to read but not overdone, making it more readable, while also more real (which is both good and bad in this situation). All of the difficult reading is worth it in the end because it makes for an incredible story that comes to life with the pain, sorrow, joy, confusion, anger, and intensity that you would expect from this type of an event. Still Missing is an extremely powerful book.

**Source: ARC from publisher

"Waiting On" Wednesday

Jill at Breaking the Spine hosts "Waiting on" Wednesday, a place where we can voice the books we are patiently - okay probably impatiently - waiting to be released.





The Queen of Last Hopes: The Story of Margaret of Anjou
By Susan Higginbotham
Pub. date: January 1, 2011

From author's website:
 
When fifteen-year-old Margaret of Anjou journeys from France to marry England’s Henry VI, she hopes that her wedding will mean a lasting peace between England and France. Instead, England’s losses of French territory infuriate the people, resulting in the horrific murder
of Margaret’s first friend in England, William de la Pole.
 
Pregnant at last after eight years of marriage, Margaret places her hopes in her coming child. Then the worst happens: the gentle, ineffectual Henry suddenly goes mad and cannot even recognize his longed-for son. As feuding nobles rush to exploit the situation, Margaret determines to protect the rights of her husband and her child.

Undaunted by exile, poverty, danger, and the slanders of her enemies, Margaret remains loyal to her cause even as those around her falter in their allegiances. For the man and the boy she loves best, she will risk everything—her reputation, her safety, and the future of England itself.

"Waiting On" Wednesday

Jill at Breaking the Spine hosts "Waiting on" Wednesday, a place where we can voice the books we are patiently - okay probably impatiently - waiting to be released.





Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book: Based on the Film Phenomenon
By Bruce Foster (Creator) and Andrew Williamson (Illustrator)
Pub. date: Nov.16, 2010

From Amazon:

This collectible Harry Potter pop-up book, based on the creative development of the films, features exquisite original artwork by Andrew Williamson, concept artist for all eight movies. With dynamic pop-ups animating memorable moments and locations — like the Triwizard Tournament, Diagon Alley, and Hogwarts Castle — Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book offers a 3-D glimpse into the amazing world, as seen in the films. This deluxe book will delight Harry Potter fans with dynamic pop-up ingenuity, insights from the creative team who turned JK Rowling’s stories into movie magic, fascinating facts about the magical universe seen in the movies, and Harry Potter memories and memorabilia packed into every page.

 

In the words of Liz Lemon..."I want to go to there!"

I already know 3 people who are going to receive this for Christmas...okay,2 people if you don't count me because I am so going to own this!!!

It's a Celebration!!!

I thought Halloween was my favorite black and orange. I was so wrong...

  
                                                  

Victory is even sweeter because my in-laws live in Texas!!!

Crescendo - Becca Fitzpatrick

Crescendo (Hush, Hush)
By Becca Fitzpatrick

Crescendo is the sequel to Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. I reviewed Hush, Hush previously and I did not enjoy it. I am happy to say that Crescendo was so much better. Remember all those things I said about Hush, Hush that annoyed me? Almost none of it existed. Fitzpatrick’s writing was so much better, her descriptions weren’t overdone but instead painted an intriguing picture. Best of all, Patch had already been introduced so I didn’t have as many issues with his personality.

Nora’s friend, Vee, also had a bigger role in Crescendo and I loved her personality and the humor she brought to the story. The story was a bit predictable but I was still anxiously reading to see how everything was going to play out.

I can say that I will be reading the next book in the series – which will definitely exist because Crescendo had a very open ending. I actually really enjoyed the ending because many of the questions raised throughout the book were answered so I wasn’t left wondering about them as I wait for the next book to come out.

All in all, I was pleasantly surprised with Crescendo. So, if you read Hush, Hush and didn’t love the book but you were still interested, you will not be disappointed.

**Source: ARC from the publisher for review.