Peeking Between the Pages

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2010 eBook Challenge

Book Review: Beach Roses by Jean Stone

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Beach Roses by Jean Stone was one of those books with the type of story I love. I read it with a few of my reading pals – Millenia & Nancy, from my book club The Reading Cove. Needless to say I really enjoyed it – it might have been a bit heavy for the Christmas season but that didn’t deter me in the least. It’s a sappy story but rich in the meaning of hope and moving forward.

Beach Roses takes place on Martha’s Vineyard and follows the lives of three women with breast cancer: Katie, Faye, Hannah and Rita; the woman asked to run a support group for them even though she’s never had cancer herself. She doesn’t really want to run this group but she’ll do pretty much anything for Doc Hastings so she agrees. Thus begins the journey that these women take that leaves them with the knowledge that sometimes it’s those we least expect to be there that are. They pull us from the deepest ends of sorrow and make our hearts lighter even if just by a little bit.

Katie is a rock star who at just over twenty years old finds she has breast cancer and is pregnant on top of that. She has to decide to do what’s best for her baby and herself. She is hit with a lot as she learns of betrayals from those she thought were the very people who cared about her. Will she learn to stand on her own feet and fight back? Will she be able to mend past relationships and learn to love again?

Hannah is a housewife who is harboring secrets of her own from her younger years. Hannah is one of those women who is always so concerned about caring for others that she forgets that she needs some tender loving herself. She is also the one woman in the group with the most advanced stage of cancer. Will she be around to see her kids grow up? Will she ever be able to realize her own dreams?

Faye could be considered the stuck up one of the bunch. This is her second round with breast cancer and she feels that this time is the end. She is also the most standoffish – she really doesn’t want to get involved with all of this. Faye is also living with demons of her own from her past to do with her children – one of which she doesn’t even know where to find him. Will she open herself up to the group – to these women? Will she find her son and mend the fences broken between them?

Rita was the one I liked the least although I did like her determination in protecting these women once she got to know them. She also really opened herself up throughout the story to these women and I liked that. However, she’s done a lot of things that she isn’t proud of and unfortunately for her one of them hits her in the face when she begins running the support group. Will she face up to what she did? Will she be forgiven?

This is a heartwarming story of the friendships and bonds that women form; sometimes when they least expect it. These women bonded over cancer but then it became so much more. It became about their families, hopes, dreams and the sharing of their innermost beings – those you just don’t often share with others. They supported each other through it all and it really turned out to be a story which warmed the heart and offered hope and love – I so enjoyed this book!

© 2010, Darlene of Peeking Between the Pages. All Rights Reserved. If you’re reading this on a site other than Peeking Between the Pages or Darlene’s Feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

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Book Review: Christmas Letters by Debbie Macomber

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For the month of December my book club, The Reading Cove, voted to read Christmas Letters by Debbie Macomber. It’s a light, fluffy read which makes it a pretty good choice for this busy time of year. I didn’t find it particularly Christmasy although it takes place at that time of year – more it is a cute romancey type of book.

Katherine O’Connor, called K.O. for short, is currently working at transcribing medical records while she applies for jobs but has a side business writing other people’s Christmas letters for them. K.O. loves Christmas and manages to make these people’s lives sound so much better than they actually are.

So one day when K.O. is talking to her sister, she finds out that Zelda has decided not to have Christmas this year. Why you ask? Well because she’s read this book by a Dr. Wynn Jeffries on child rearing and he feels you shouldn’t let your children live in a dreamworld by believing in Santa and all things Christmas. Well K.O. is livid – really beyond livid! How dare he ruin Christmas for her twin nieces.

Imagine her surprise when she gets home to her apartment building to find that Dr. Wynn Jeffries lives there as well up in the penthouse of course. K.O. can’t resist confronting him and reaming him out on all his hair-brained ideas on raising children. Needless to say they aren’t too fond of each other at this point. Later K.O. is invited to her neighbors for cocktails and who should be there as well? You got it – none other than Dr. Wynn Jeffries himself!

Worse yet K.O.’s neighbor has decided that they are meant to be together because in all the wisdom of her psychic powers she saw this in the kitty litter and her bran flakes. Obviously K.O. and Wynn don’t agree but decide to have dinner as their neighbor planned for them. Sparks continue to fly as their attraction to each other heightens but will it be enough for them to be able to both see past their differences in the matter of Wynn’s beliefs on raising kids?

Christmas Letters by Debbie Macomber was fun to read although very predictable. I found it pretty funny at times so I have to say I did enjoy it. Most of us in my book club found it an easy enough and pleasant read for this time of year!

© 2010, Darlene of Peeking Between the Pages. All Rights Reserved. If you’re reading this on a site other than Peeking Between the Pages or Darlene’s Feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

My copy of Christmas Letters by Debbie Macomber was purchased by yours truly.

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Book Review: Cream Puff Murder by Joanne Fluke

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Cream Puff Murder is the 11th Hannah Swensen mystery and I have to say I am still hopelessly addicted to these books even though I’m a little behind now. I’ve got three more books to go to catch up but they are really fast reads and I love to save them for when I just need something light and easy. Plus I’ve gotten to know all these characters so well now that they feel like family and that always makes for a comforting read.

Hannah runs the Cookie Jar bakery in Lake Eden, Minnesota and of course she loves to sample her creations – who wouldn’t? Imagine her horror though when she goes with her sister to try on dresses to wear to their mother’s book signing and hers is just too tight. Well Hannah knows she’s a bit chunky — always has, but it seems things are getting out of hand now. So Hannah decides to lose some weight and ends up joining the local gym although is quite certain after her first workout that she’s going to die.

As with all Hannah Swensen books there is a mystery to solve and this one is no different. One of the instructors at the gym shows up dead and the thing is she’s been none too popular with too many people as one of her pastimes was flirting with other women’s men. Hannah wasn’t too fond of her either but certainly didn’t want to see her dead. It seems everyone is a suspect though including members of the police dept and Hannah has to work even harder to solve the mystery.

So Hannah is busy solving the mystery with the help of her sisters Andrea and Michelle, her mom and Carrie and of course Norman. The thing is will she solve the mystery before she ends up in the clutches of the killer herself?

As with all the Hannah Swensen mysteries I enjoyed this one too. It wasn’t one of the better ones but still good and it kept me turning the pages. The only thing I wish is that Hannah would already pick between Norm and Mike. I’m on the side of Norm but Hannah seems to enjoy stringing both of these guys along – I’m beginning to wonder if she’ll ever choose… I’m looking forward to seeing what Hannah is up to in the next book and may just pick it up over the holidays for an easy read.

© 2010, Darlene of Peeking Between the Pages. All Rights Reserved. If you’re reading this on a site other than Peeking Between the Pages or Darlene’s Feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

My copy of Cream Puff Murder by Joanne Fluke was purchased by yours truly.

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Book Review: The King’s Daughter by Christie Dickason

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The King’s Daughter by Christie Dickason brings alive the life at court with all the treachery and betrayal that swirls through it. The King’s Daughter is about the life of Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of King James I of England and VI of Scotland, told through her own eyes.

From a very young age Elizabeth is aware of her place in the family as third in line to the throne. She would be matched in a marriage that would further benefit her father’s position. Elizabeth is kept very sheltered and away from court. Her father doesn’t want her to know anything that is going on there. Her mother has nothing to do with her. Her mother at one time tells her that there is no point in getting to know a daughter as they are soon married off and the mother’s heart is only broken if they are close. The only thing that Elizabeth truly treasures is the special relationship she shares with her older brother Henry, Prince of Wales.

King James is quite erratic and unstable at times; given to flying into rages. His biggest fear being that his children are trying to take over the throne. This is his main reason for keeping Elizabeth so secluded and for keeping Henry under his thumb as well. Elizabeth though is pretty gutsy and does at times stand up to her father especially when he threatens to marry her off to someone she can’t even stand the thought of being married to. She also, as she gets older, decides to send out spies in order to learn more about what is going on around her especially those matters to do with her. She learns many things; things about her father as well; things that finally give her more control over her own life and future.

The biggest fear Elizabeth had was that she would be married off to some old and mean man. There were many times she was put on display to would be suitors. There were a few that she outright refused to marry; standing up to her father’s rage. In this matter her brother Henry came to her rescue. He tried hard to find her a man that would make a good match for her; someone that would make her happy and succeeded. Without him, who knows who her father would have sent her off with.

I liked Elizabeth and enjoyed this novel being told from her viewpoint. Dickason weaves fact with fiction in such a way that kept me turning the pages in this book to see what Elizabeth would face next. Henry as well was a character I liked. He seemed a kind and caring prince regardless of his father. King James is painted in a bad light in this novel- he is unstable and mean; most often quite drunk.

As with most historicals I am always appalled by how little say that women had and very horrified at the young age they were married off at; most often to men much too old for them. They were used as pawns; nothing more. That a mother turned away from her children because it hurt too much to love them, only to lose them, breaks my heart and yet this is how things were. Elizabeth spent her days not knowing what would happen to her at any given moment. I was glad that she found love and a way to move forward in her life. If you’re a lover of anything historical, then Christie Dickason’s The King’s Daughter is definitely a book you’ll want to read!

I read The King’s Daughter by Christie Dickason for her book tour with TLC Book Tours. You can check out all the other tour stops here and also be sure to visit Christie Dickason’s website as well. You can purchase The King’s Daughter by Christie Dickason here in the US and here in Canada.

© 2010, Darlene of Peeking Between the Pages. All Rights Reserved. If you’re reading this on a site other than Peeking Between the Pages or Darlene’s Feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

My review copy of The King’s Daughter by Christie Dickason provided by TLC Book Tours and the publisher.

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Book Review: Glass by Ellen Hopkins

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Ellen Hopkins is fast becoming a favorite author for me. Even though I don’t normally like novels told in verse, I do really enjoy hers. After reading Crank, I had to pick up Glass right away and find out what came next for Kristina in her fight against the ‘monster’ (crank – crystal meth). I’ve been completely taken by Kristina’s life and struggles with her drug addiction. At times I am horrified by her behavior but you have to stop and think it’s the drug causing her actions. It’s such a highly addictive drug and lifestyle once you’ve been sucked into it.

Kristina has been doing pretty good where the crank is concerned. She’s trying to take care of her son Hunter while living at home with her mother and working at the local 7-11. The only thing is she’s feeling pretty unattractive after having the baby and she thinks, what can it hurt? Just a little here and there will help her lose weight and give her more energy to care for her son. This time though things fall into place much easier for Kristina. She finds it much easier to get the drugs and a better quality drug at that. In no time at all she is completely immersed in the ‘life’ again with no regard for her life and more importantly for her son’s life.

While Kristina has been assuming that nobody knows she’s back on the crank, she is surprised to find out that her mom and Scott knew all along. At one point Kristina puts her son Hunter in danger and her mother finally blows up. She tells Kristina to go and get her life together; that she can’t have Hunter until she is capable of properly caring for a baby. So Kristina leaves vowing she’ll get herself together and get her son back one day.

She ends up living with the cousin of her latest boyfriend and life turns into one continuous loop of drugs and sex. She knows she’s heading down a bad path but she hasn’t the power to stop it and just lives day to day – hit to hit. Selling drugs seems to be the best and easiest way to survive but that never leads to a good end. This installment leaves us knowing that there is more to come and that’s what we get with Fallout, which is available now.

As with Crank, Glass drags us full tilt into the world of a drug addict with first class seats. You can feel the hopelessness in the pages of Kristina’s life. I found Glass even more disturbing than Crank except for being relieved that her son was being taken care of. The life Kristina is living is horrific. There is no care for anything that we, as human beings, normally care about like a clean place to sleep, a job, food and proper care for our kids. She doesn’t care (the drug doesn’t let her/can’t let her) – she only cares about getting her drugs. Such is the life of a drug addict.

I already have Fallout and plan on reading it as soon as I can. I’m definitely anxious to find out how it will all end for Kristina. Will she get off the drugs? Will she get her son back? Will she rebuild her life? Or will she just sink deeper into the life of drugs?

Again, I think these are good books for teens to read but I would still recommend a parent reading them first. Not all parents are appreciative of the blunt directness with which Ellen Hopkins writes. As an adult, I was shocked by some of it but then again this is not a life I’m in any way familiar with. Glass by Ellen Hopkins is another great novel well worth reading and I’m glad I took Staci’s advice and gave both Crank and Glass a read.

© 2010, Darlene of Peeking Between the Pages. All Rights Reserved. If you’re reading this on a site other than Peeking Between the Pages or Darlene’s Feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

My copy of Glass by Ellen Hopkins was purchased by yours truly.

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Book Review: Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning

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Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning is the fourth in the MacKayla Lane series. This series has kept me hooked from the beginning with all the twists, turns and action always keeping me on the edge of my seat. My only complaint is I don’t yet have Shadowfever and I’m dying to know what happened after those last few lines I read in Dreamfever left me speechless. Just a warning: there may be an unintentional spoiler as it’s hard to review a fourth book without talking a bit about the previous ones.

This installment finds Mac learning even more about her past and her bloodline. It picks up right where Faefever leaves off so you don’t feel lost or confused at all. Dreamfever finds Mac leading quite the life in the beginning but I won’t go further with that as it’s best read, not told. I will say though that the beginning of this book is not for the faint of heart. However I will say that Barrons tries his best to get Mac back to the world of the living.

Once Mac is ‘back’, she is on a mission to find out more about herself and fight the dark powers that be that have destroyed what she’s come to think of as her city. Mac has really grown from the beginning of the series and it’s nice to see. She’s strong, courageous, and now she’s willing to accept help in her mission to fight the dark powers. Previously Mac thought she could do it all – she didn’t need anybody. I also love that she’s befriended Dani – a thirteen year old sidhe-seer. I like that she’s taken her under her wing even though Dani is quite capable of surviving most of the time on her own. It’s a nice touch in the series.

So Mac is pretty much where she has been in all the other books – still seeking out the Sinsar Dubh (the dark book). However we are left with a cliffhanger of epic proportions in this book and I almost wish I hadn’t read Dreamfever yet so I could have just moved on to the fifth and final book, Shadowfever, when I did. I’m hoping in the last installment that first I’ll get the answers to what happened in Dreamfever and secondly that all the unanswered questions of the whole series will finally be addressed. I can’t wait!

I read Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning for her book tour with TLC Book Tours. Be sure to check out the other tour stops here to see what others are saying about this fantastic series. You can also pop in and visit Karen Marie Moning’s website which is awesome. If you’re so inclined you can pick up your own copy of Dreamfever here in the US and here in Canada but you’d be much better off starting from the beginning of the series. You won’t be sorry!

© 2010, Darlene of Peeking Between the Pages. All Rights Reserved. If you’re reading this on a site other than Peeking Between the Pages or Darlene’s Feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

My copy of Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning provided for review from TLC Book Tours and the publisher.

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