My take on: The Doll

I've never read a book by Taylor Stevens. I would compare the latest book in the Vanessa Michael Munroe series, The Doll, to watching an episode of Scandal. What do I mean by that? If I'm ever going to like Scandal I have to watch all the episodes or in this case read all the books from the beginning to really get what is going on. I know something really thrilling is happening and I kept reading until the end, but I need to go back to the beginning to truly understand these characters.

Taylor Stevens gets straight to the action in The Doll. Vanessa Michael Munroe has a particular knack for hunting down people. She can understand and speak various languages. And...she can kill you without a weapon. I liken her to a female Jason Bourne with a little Macgyver mixed in. No matter the amount of danger, Munroe is always looking for ways to outsmart or overpower her opponent. A person with skills like that is extremely valuable. The Doll Maker, who makes his living in human sex trafficking, is in dire need of Munroe's skills. But there's no way she would come willing for a man like him. The only way to snare Munroe in his elaborate scheme is to kidnap her. But Miles Bradford, her lover, and the rest of the team at the Capstone Security Consulting firm are determined to find Munroe.

I was engrossed in the story, but I felt like I was missing something. Once again I have to reference Scandal, a show that I've seen two episodes of. The show is very fast-paced and while I was interested in the episodes, I felt like I was missing something. In The Doll, the characters have quirks, language, and relationships that I don't quite understand. The central plot was very sinister and strange at the same time. The Doll Maker forces Munroe to transport Neeva Eckridge, a missing Hollywood starlet, to a very demanding client. If she doesn't, Logan, someone very dear to Munroe's heart, will die. Munroe knows that this assignment is morally wrong, but another life is at stake. Sound creepy? It is.

Neeva isn't exactly a willing participant. Neeva's captors have done everything under the sun to break her spirit. Starvation, sexual and emotional humiliation, and physical abuse have pushed Neeva to her wits end. But there is still a little fire in her, a flame that not even Munroe can put out quickly. This trip to Neeva's next tormentor is no easy feat for Munroe. Any little bit of kindness on Munroe's part is challenged by Neeva. It's hard for Neeva to believe that Munroe isn't her enemy. I think these were some of the best scenes in the book. Both women can to see another side of the other person. Munroe can totally understand how Neeva feels, but she can't fail at this assignment. The Doll Maker has already demonstrated his power over Munroe.

There are two other books in the series, and I definitely have to read them. I don't really get why Munroe is the way she is. I think my experience with this book would have been different if I had read the previous books. Overall, it was an exciting, dark, and gritty thriller.

Rating: Give it a try

Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher (Random House) at the request of Wunderkind PR

My take on: A Trick of The Light

Sometimes that little voice in the back of your mind is wrong. It can make you do things you don't want to. But sometimes that voice is so strong, you have to listen to it. Sometimes listening to that voice will cause more harm than good, leaving you struggling internally.

In just a few short chapters of A Trick of The Light, author Lois Metzger pulls you into the tortured mind of 15-year-old Mike Welles.

Mike always does the right things. He gets good grades. He plays on his high school baseball team. He has a great relationship with his best friend Tamio. He has a crush on the new girl Valerie. It sounds like he has all his ducks in a row, but he doesn't. His home life isn't so neat and orderly. His mom, who makes a living as a professional organizer, is a woman in transition. She spends more time at home in bed than working with her clients. When Mike's dad isn't at work, he's spending his time at the gym or locked in his office at home. Mike tries his best to get some control at home, but it isn't easy. Any attempt Mike makes at father-son bonding time is rebuffed. His mother would rather wallow in her own sorrow. No one at home is paying any attention to Mike. No one except that little voice in his head. That voice is constantly talking to Mike. That voice wants him to take action. That voice wants him to do something extreme. If he listens to that voice, what are the consequences?

To talk about this book further, I have to reveal a major plot point. You can call it a spoiler, but I disagree. The actual narrator of this book isn't Mike, it's anorexia. Mike is struggling to ignore that voice, but anorexia can and will take over. It took me a few chapters to understand who or what was narrating the book. I think this a rather unique way to bring light to a rarely told story. I've seen plenty of television and print stories discussing eating disorders, but 99 percent of time they were about women. It's refreshing to read a different perspective on such a complex health issue.

In this book, anorexia is very strong. Mike did all he could to ignore anorexia, but his parents' impending divorce was the final breaking point. Amber, the strange girl at school, has all the answers for Mike. She knows what to eat, when to eat, how to eat, how to hide food, and how to deceive not just the doctors but his own parents.

"Mike goes to the mirror. He feels better. He can see muscle and taut skin. He thinks about his body, the structure of it, how each part is splendidly connected to the next; it is a work of art, like sculpture; it possesses power and energy. Your mind is soaring!" Pg. 80

What he sees in the mirror and what is reality are two different things. A once healthy kid turns into a moody rail-thin kid. Is the person he used to be gone forever? You begin to wonder. Everything about Amber and anorexia that was once strange suddenly makes sense. Exercising to the point of exhaustion makes sense. Eating five bites at dinner and hiding the rest makes sense. Lying to his family and friends makes sense. There's nothing wrong with him. Everyone else has a problem. Anorexia was right. Anorexia is making him feel better and happier than ever before.

The book does an excellent job of portraying how a disease can completely control a person. Mike is young and impressionable. Who does he listen to? His friends? His parents? Anorexia? Anorexia wants control of not just his body, but his mind. It's a powerful story, told in just a scant 189 pages. I actually wish it were longer. I don't think Mike's story is finished. There has to be more to the story. Overall, this a frightening and brutally honest portrayal of a devastating illness.

Rating: Superb

Note: I received a copy of the book from FSB Associates in exchange for an honest review.

My take on: A Far Piece to Canaan

Sam Halpern is more than that cantankerous old man quoted in his son's book Sh*t My Dad Says. Sam Halpern is a really good writer. Inspired by his own childhood in Kentucky, A Far Piece to Canaan is a story of friendship and one man's attempt to reconcile with his past.

Retired professor Samuel Zelinsky is a man in transition. His wife Nora has died of cancer. But before her death Samuel promised her he would return to his childhood home. The book alternates between the past and present, which in this case takes some getting used to. Samuel, the child of sharecroppers, came of age in 1945 rural Kentucky. His language back then is extremely different from the man he is now. If you're not used to reading slang, like me, it can take some time to get into the narrative. But once I did, I was completely absorbed in the story.

Growing up, Samuel developed a deep friendship with Fred Mulligan. Their characters reminded me of the phrase, "boys will be boys." They have fun living and working on the farm. They also go to places where they shouldn't and they see things that they shouldn't. In their minds, loyalty is more important than ratting out a friend. That sounds like teenagers everywhere. They act first and think about the consequences later. But when one of their lives is put in danger, they have to tell the truth.

I know other bloggers have said what I'm about to say, but it's worth repeating. This immediately reminded me of the movie Stand By Me, which is based on Stephen King's The Body. Stand By Me is one of those movies I can watch over and over, and A Far Piece of Canaan falls into that same category. I could read this again and again. This book reminds you of the power of friendship and how it can shape your entire life.

Rating: Superb

Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher (HarperCollins) as part of a blog tour with TLC Book Tours

My take on: The Lavender Garden

Emilie de la Martinières has spent a lifetime distancing herself from her family legacy. She never wanted anything to do with the social mores of the French aristocracy. More than anything Emilie wanted to be loved by her parents. When her father was alive and not absorbed in his own hobbies, including his beloved rare book collection, he showed Emilie as much love and affection as he could. Her mother, however, was a different story. Emilie's mother was more interested in spending money and showing off her wealth. 

Now that both of her parents are dead, Emilie will have to return to her childhood home, a large chateau on the South of France. She will have to face her past. And...Emilie will uncover family secrets, including a connection to a young woman sent into Paris as a spy during World War II. All of this blends together in Lucinda Riley's latest novel The Lavender Garden.

Emilie struck me as a cold, but at times naive and vulnerable woman. When the book opens, her mother has just died but Emilie shows very little emotion. I thought she might be in shock. Maybe she was bottling up her feelings, and she was just about to burst. But that didn't happen. I guess it's hard to feel a deep sadness when you grow up with inattentive parents. I found her to be a bit naive and vulnerable when she met Sebastian Carruthers, a man with connections to Emilie's father. Sebastian is very eager and willing to help Emilie with sorting out her mother's estate. I found myself questioning his intentions. Does he have an ulterior motive? Does he really care about Emilie? When they fall in love and get married, I'm still questioning his character. He just seems too good to be true.

Sebastian's connection to the Martinières is told through the eyes of Jacques, a long-time employee of the family. The story he tells is captivating. The contemporary part of the book is engaging, but I love reading about past history. In this case, you get an insight into life in World War II Paris during the Nazi occupation. Constance Carruthers, Sebastian's grandmother, was a British office clerk, but her fluency in French proved to be a useful asset during the war. She was sent into France undercover, but the mission goes sour leaving Constance searching for a safe haven. That safe haven was provided by Emilie's father. This part of the book felt like a bit of a thriller. You get invested in Constance and her well-being. She's young but was willing to put her life on the line.

I'm not always a fan of dual narratives, but I think it works here. It has the right blend of history, family drama, and complex relationships. If you like historical fiction, you should give this one a try.

Rating: Superb

Notes: I received a copy of the book from the publisher (Atria) in exchange for an honest review.

In the spirit of honesty, I have to tell you all something. Currently I'm an editorial intern for Atria. I accepted this book for review before I applied for the internship. I spoke with the editor and publicist of this book, and both gave their approval for my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

My take on: The Banks of Certain Rivers

After reading just a couple of pages of The Banks of Certain Rivers, I was totally captivated by the writing of Jon Harrison.

In an instant, life as you know it can change. What if the person you loved the most was suddenly taken from you? Physically they're alive, but in every way that counts the person you once knew is gone forever. Would you have the strength to move on? If you did move on, would you be consumed by guilt? At what point do you allow yourself to be happy again?

A freak accident leaves the wife of Neil Kazenzakis in a permanent vegetative state. He is left to raise their son Christopher alone. He has a network of family and friends to help him, but they can't fill the void left by Wendy. He finds some comfort in alcohol and prescription pills. He would rather numb the pain than actually feel it. It's hard to get over someone you've been in love with since the ninth grade.

Neil has always done things right. Upon discovering Wendy was pregnant, Neil gave up the chance at a promising career in Japan. Instead he stayed in their small Michigan town, he became a teacher and did everything he could to provide for his family, becoming a popular teacher and track coach. He did everything by the book. E-mails Neil writes to Wendy offer a unique look into their relationship. Neil knows Wendy will never see his words, but it's therapeutic to get his feelings out. He can still connect with her. In his own way, he can still confide in her. When Neil finally starts to heal, life hits him hard again. Is this a sign? Is someone or something trying to prevent him from being happy?

Neil has a lot on his plate. Not only is he a single father, but he also has to look after his mother-in-law Carol, who is descending into dementia. Lauren, one of Carol's nurses, develops a special bond with Neil. They're both in at a crossroads in their life. Lauren is just coming out of a bad relationship and Neil is wondering if he deserves a fresh start. Secret dinners, stolen kisses, and late-night sleepovers give Neil some hope at a happy life. But what about Wendy? Wendy's mind is long gone, but what if there is some part of her that is angry? What if there is some part of her that can still feel? What about Christopher? Will his relationship with Lauren hurt Chris? He has to tell Chris the truth some time. But when is the right time? Will it ever be the right time? Just when Neil thinks the timing is right, his professional career is sent into a tailspin. A devastating accusation puts not just his career in jeopardy, but his freedom. How much can one person take?

I love reading books about the family dynamic. The majority of similar books I've read were told from a female perspective, but it's refreshing to get a different point of view. A story like this would make a great movie. This was an engaging and emotional roller coaster.

Rating: Superb

Note: I received an e-book in exchange for an honest review.

My take on: The Perfume Collector

Why have I not read a book by Kathleen Tessaro before? I was immediately pulled into The Perfume Collector.

The life of newlywed Grace Monroe is in a state of flux. She's having trouble fitting into the 1950s London social scene. She doesn't know the right thing to say or do. She wants a life that isn't all about her husband. Grace is thinking about getting a job, but her friend Mallory tries to dissuade her. Grace isn't supposed to want anything for herself. She is supposed to attend society parties, look pretty on her husband's arm, and start a family. Is something wrong with Grace because she wants more out of life? I guess it was during this time period.

Of course life takes a turn for Grace, otherwise what would be the point of the book? Grace's husband isn't the man she thought he was. Her husband cheated on her, and she finds out in a very embarrassing way. She's questioning everything in her life. An inheritance from Eva d'Orsey, a complete stranger, in Paris offers Grace the chance to get away from it all. But why would a stranger leave Grace anything? It's an interesting premise. There has to be something special about Grace.

We get to learn about Eva as well. Her narrative spans several cities, and several decades, from 1920s New York, to Monte Carlo, Paris, and London. She came from nothing, working her way up from chambermaid to perfumer. Her story was an engaging trip for the senses. How one makes perfume is a fascinating story. If you've read M.J. Rose's reincarnationist series, you know what I'm talking about. The descriptions in this book are very vivid. Grace finds her strength by going on this quest for answers. She doesn't know right away why Eva chose her, but their personalities are very similar. In a way, there were ahead of their time. Both of them go against the norm. They go against society's standards for women. If you're a fan of historical fiction, this is the book for you.

Rating: Superb

Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher (HarperCollins) as part of a blog tour with TLC Book Tours

My take on: Lucky Bastard

As fictional characters go, Lucky O'Toole knows Vegas. If you need an upgrade on your hotel room at the Babylon, she can help. If you need a good table at the hottest restaurant, she can help. If you need tickets to the hottest show on the strip, she can help. And....if you need help clearing yourself of murder, she can help with that, too. The newly appointed vice president of Customer Relations for the Babylon hotel is back for another adventure in Lucky Bastard by Deborah Coonts.

A young woman's body is found splayed across a Ferrari in the Babylon's on-site car dealership. The method of murder? A fancy shoe, with the heel planted in the victim's neck. That would shock most people, but for Lucky it's just another at the Babylon. The victim was discovered by Paxton Dane, a one-time suitor for Lucky's affections. The plot thickens when Paxton reveals the victim is his estranged wife Sylvie. Hmmmmmmmmm??? Did he do it? It seems mighty suspicious. Certainly my mind went straight to him, but that's just too convenient. In books like this, it's hardly ever the first suspect thrown in our direction. You have to peel back the layers to get at the truth, something Lucky O'Toole is an expert at.

Although, Lucky is reluctant to believe anything that comes out of Paxton's mouth. Lucky's own life is in a state of flux. She's still reeling from her breakup with Teddie, who is now a big-time singer. She's unsure if a new relationship with Jean-Charles, a drop-dead gorgeous chef, is worth the investment. Her mother, Mona, is pregnant and hormonal. Her father, the Big Boss, is still flexing his muscle around the hotel. Lucky hardly ever has time for herself. Sleep is a luxury for mortals. With each new book in the series, Lucky just seems superhuman. Nothing seems to faze her. One moment she is investigating a murder with Detective Romeo and the next she is helping a guest arrested for solicitation....of his own wife. Yeah I had to laugh at that last one. A lot of strange things go on in Vegas.

Of course Sylvie's murder is part of a much larger conspiracy, involving robbery and high-stakes poker. It took me a while to figure out the conspiracy. A lot of the characters have a language that seems native to Las Vegas. They have their own lingo. They have their own metaphors. I found myself wondering what everyone is talking about. Lucky is a good character, but sometimes her banter, fast talking, and one-liners can wear thin. I prefer the moments when Lucky can slow down and take a breath. Those are the moments when she appears less like a superhero and more like a vulnerable woman going through the motions.

In my opinion, the book ends with a major cliffhanger. Deborah Coonts definitely left me wanting more from this series. I have to know what happens next. If you want to know what I'm talking about, you're going to have to read the book!!

Rating: Give it a try

Note: I received a copy of the book from JKS Communications as part of a blog tour.