2011•ARC Tracking Challenge

Silver Dew by Suzi Davis is the continuation of the story of Grace and Sebastian, first started in Amber Frost (my review) which are both part of The Lost Magic series. It is a Young Adult paranormal novel but I’m definitely not young and both novels really appealed to me. I really loved Amber Frost and Silver Dew is just a fantastic sequel to it! Silver Dew moves at a faster pace than Amber Frost and had me turning the pages quickly while praying everything was going to turn out alright for Grace and Sebastian who I’ve come to really like.

At the end of Amber Frost Grace had learned that she, in fact, possesses great power, a power that comes from thousands of years ago. Sebastian is now remembering memories that have been locked away in the recesses of his mind for thousands of years. Grace is frightened by this magical power she seems to have and has a hard time figuring out just how it should be used. She knows that the answers lie in the tattoos that Sebastian has but her mind just won’t yet remember what these intricate patterns mean.

Sebastian and Grace have had to flee as they are being hunted down by The Others. The Others possess their own magical powers and they sure aren’t out to do any good with them especially towards Sebastian and Grace. As they run, they begin to discover more and more things about the past – their past lives- that threatens to undo all they have together today. This begins a harrowing journey to where it all began in Ireland and back to a time when ancient magic ruled the land and the people … back to a time when Grace was Caoillin and one of the most powerful priestesses in existence and Sebastian was Seamus, the normal boy she fell in love with.

I really like Sebastian and Grace and I love how the author weaves a love story in her tale without it overwhelming the story. The love between Grace and Sebastian is a pure and enduring love yet Grace wonders if they would still love each other if they didn’t have this past connection. Would they have met? Would they have fallen in love? Well that unfolds in the pages of the book and it’s quite the journey. Suzi Davis writes in such a vivid and descriptive way that you, very often, find yourself feeling like you’re living in the pages of the book. You’re feeling the emotions of Grace and Sebastian and you’re seeing the landscapes and the ancient ruins and it’s all very fascinating and well worth reading!  My only complaint is I think this was the end of the line for this series and I still want more!

I loved both Silver Dew and the first book Amber Frost although I have to admit that Silver Dew kept me on the edge of my seat a lot more. Amber Frost was more of a build up to this novel but that doesn’t take away from it all – it was great too. Silver Dew could stand on it’s own but really I think that you would get so much more from the whole story by reading Amber Frost first. Both of these books come highly recommended if you enjoy a good paranormal novel and a sweet romantic love story.

You can find Suzi Davis on her website, blog, Facebook and Twitter.  Your own copy of Silver Dew by Suzi Davis can be purchased here in the US and here in Canada.

Source:  Review copy provided by the author via publicist.  No compensation was received for this review and all opinions are solely my own.

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It is present day and Jane Elliott is living and working at Lavendar Hall as a nanny to eight year old Rochelle. Jane had been living living in a convent for the past 10 years but, because of an unstable Mother Superior, she had been asked to leave. Thankfully she found a position where she had room and board. One of Jane’s great loves is the classic Jane Eyre; really because she’s always felt that she and Jane Eyre share so much in common in their lives. It really shouldn’t have come as any surprise to Jane, that after she’s hit by lightening while reading Jane Eyre, she awakens to find none other than Jane Eyre standing over her.

It seems that she and Jane Eyre have been brought into each others lives in order to help each other but wait, Jane Eyre is a fictional character, is she not? Jane is quite certain she must be losing her mind and yet, over the next while Jane Eyre appears to her many more times. They begin to form a friendship with each other sharing their troubles which strangely seem very similar. The thing is though that Jane knows what is going to happen to Jane Eyre – she’s read the book. Several times Jane Eyre tells Jane that she’s going to steer off the path and this sends Jane into a tizzy. She simply must follow the path set out for that Charlotte Bronte created in her beloved novel.

Nevertheless, Jane must live her own life as well. Despite trying hard to keep to herself, she finds her attraction to Mr. Bentley growing. However there are other things at Lavendar Hall that are seriously troubling her like those awful screams in the middle of the night that it seems nobody but her is hearing. Every time she mentions it to anyone they brush her off. Eventually Mr. Bentley wins her heart and being plain Jane as she is, she is overwhelmed with love for the man. They marry and everything seems fine for a while. However, it’s not long before everything falls apart for Jane and she must decide what is best for her future.

This novel follows closely with the original story of Jane Eyre although set in a more modern time. Modern day Jane is the same as Jane Eyre in that she’s lived her life without love or friends. Much of the same happens to both women although with a little different of a twist for modern day Jane. If you love the novel Jane Eyre as I do then it’s likely you’d enjoy this novel. I’m not sure it offers any major difference between the two novels as some spin-offs do, but it is a good read and I really enjoyed it. I really liked the idea of the parallel lives. How cool would it be to have your favorite fictional character pop into your life one day? As I said, if you’re a lover of Jane Eyre, then you should definitely check out Jane!

You can find Marielena on Facebook and you  can pick up your own e-copy of Jane for your Kindle or your Nook for only $2.99!

Source: Review copy provided by the author. No compensation was received for this review and all opinions are mine alone.

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Who doesn’t dream of going to Paris? I know I sure do but the odds of me going aren’t the greatest but that doesn’t mean I can’t live vicariously through Karen A. Chase as she takes me on a trip through Paris in her novel Bonjour 40: A Paris Travel Log (40 years, 40 days, 40 seconds). This trip was Karen’s present to herself for her fortieth birthday. She was going to go to Paris for 40 days to experience the food, art, and atmosphere to it’s fullest and that’s just what she does! This book is based on the blog that she kept while on her travels so she could keep everyone at home informed plus it was a perfect way of recording her memories – that and pictures, of course. As Karen herself said, ‘My days were filled with creating, writing, cycling, photographing, walking, learning, loving, and experiencing’ (pg 46).  Really, could there be a better way to spend the big 4-0? I don’t think so.

This 40 day travel journey of Karen’s takes us through her days while she’s in Paris.  She describes the places she visits and the people but best of all is the food. Oh, the food. I think I died and went to heaven just reading about it, let alone eating it. Her talk of the fresh breads and cheeses had me drooling as these are two of my most favorite things in the world. Then there is the coffee and pastries – more heaven. Of course Karen mentions that the French never seem to gain weight eating like this but as she points out they take a meal seriously. It is meant to be savored and enjoyed, therefore a meal lasts hours not minutes as it does us here in our end of the world. That and of course they walk a whole lot out there and apparently very quickly.

One place that Karen visited that I would love to see is a bookstore called Shakespeare and Company. It sounds simply divine for a book lover like me and so many of you. This description alone – ‘I don’t think you can call this simply a bookstore. It is a delightfully wild land of literary abandonment and insanity —a page-filled palace overflowing with words, phrases, novel writers, readers, and inspiration’. (pg 61) I know that Paris has so much for a person to experience but I’m not entirely sure I’d want to leave this bookstore. Another thing that I loved about Karen’s travel memoir was the pictures scattered throughout. For the reader it really made you feel more like you were there experiencing Paris with her.

This is a great travel log for people planning a trip to Paris or for those like me who may never get to go and can experience it through Karen. After reading Karen’s book I feel as though I would know what to expect if I were to take a trip to Paris. It’s a relatively short book at just 134 pages and they fly by because, of course, you’re anxious to know what she’ll be experiencing next. For Karen, renting an apartment there and living for 40 days with the love of her life coming out for the last 10 of those days turned out to be one of the best experiences of her life. It will certainly give her memories forever and what could be better than that!

Be sure to check out Karen’s website, blog,  and you can find her on Facebook and Twitter as well.  Bonjour 40 is available for purchase for your Kindle and your Nook.  I’ll leave you now with the book trailer to enjoy…

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I just happen to have an e-copy of Bonjour 40 by Karen A. Chase plus 1 – 5×7 prints of Karen’s photos up for giveaway. To enter…

• For 1 entry simply leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
• For 2 entries, follow my blog.  If you already do, thank you, and please let me know so I can pass the extra entry on to you as well.
• For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway and spread the word.

This giveaway is to US residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, January 7/12.  Good luck everyone!

Source: Review copy received from author via publicist.  No compensation was received for this review.

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The Shell Keeper by Robin P. Nolet is one of those books that warms your heart and leaves you feeling as though you just made some new best friends. I laughed, I got weepy eyed; but mostly I just enjoyed this delightful novel. Sometimes I get nervous when I accept books for review from authors who are trying hard to get their book out there but even from the description I felt this would be a book for me.  I was right! Nothing makes me feel better than when I can gush over a book and help out an author at the same time – one who is very polite and nice to work with as well. The Shell Keeper is about three women – three very different women – who fate brings together but friendship holds them there.

Gwen owns her own bakery in Blue River and loves it but it isn’t always easy to make ends meet. To top it off her husband’s job isn’t all that stable right now with a strike looming. Claire, a real estate agent, has her own set of problems. She’s tough as nails to the outside world but inside is a woman who only wants the best for those most important to her. She and Gwen start talking in the bakery one day when one of Claire’s most difficult clients stomps out and leaves Claire raging. While they’re talking back and forth, they hear this big crash which just happens to be Del and she has managed to hit one of the big flowerpots lining the road. Gwen rushes to call 911 and Claire goes out to see if she can help. Now Del is just starting to go through a divorce from a cheating creep and she’s just frazzled which clearly shows when she comes into the shop and sits down. When they part these women still don’t know that they will become friends but the seeds are planted; these ladies already care what happens to each other.

As the women begin to spend more time together they realize they are becoming friends and really all of them are a little scared. They are all reserved and protective of their feelings for their own reasons. Yet as time passes the walls start to come down between these women and they start to share their hopes and fears with each other. Gwen ends up facing a tough decision that will affect her and Andy’s life as well as the friendship she’s built with Claire and Del. Claire is faced with a problem too – he comes in the shape of a man whose name is Bob. Claire doesn’t need any complications in her life and Bob is most definitely a complication and yet she finds herself more and more attracted to him. Del is busy juggling taking care of her two kids and working at her new job, not to mention that new man who has just happened to sweep into her life and make her feel worthy of love again. Together these ladies will navigate life and friendship together and it’s a wonderful journey.

Often I find that I will only be drawn to one of the women in a novel such as this but I liked all of these ladies. They were all very real people that I could see myself knowing and liking. I really liked Gwen though, maybe because she just kind of seemed the mother hen of everyone. For the most part she was always calm and cool – well except for that one incident in the bakery with that snobby lady – but we won’t hold that against her. She is just one of those people who likes to take care of everyone. Claire I liked because of her tough attitude, as for the most part it came through as really amusing to me. And Del, she was the softie of the group. Scared and alone, trying to get used to being divorced, she begins to find life again. Del is another one who continually looked out for the feelings of her friends. All in all, I could see myself being friends with them and when I turned the last page of the book I knew without a doubt I was going to miss them and I do.

The Shell Keeper is a beautiful novel of friendship. Friendship enriches our lives and means even when the world feels as though it’s falling apart, we know those people are there for us. The Shell Keeper is well worth the read for those of you who love stories about the friendships of women or love a story that will warm your heart and leave you wanting more. I really, really enjoyed it!  Oh, and as a note the title of the book fits the story perfectly but I don’t want to give that away.  You’ll just have to read it for yourself to find that out!

Please be sure to visit Robin’s blog and you can find her on Twitter as well.  The Shell Keeper can be purchased here in the US and here in Canada.  The Shell Keeper is also priced great at 99 cents for both the Kindle and the Nook.  Be sure to stop by tomorrow as Robin joins us with a guest post and a giveaway of The Shell Keeper!

Source: Review copy received from the author. No compensation was received in exchange for this review.

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