The Taker Trilogy by Alma Katsu

On the midnight shift at a hospital in rural Maine, Dr. Luke Findley is expecting another quiet evening of frostbite and the occasional domestic dispute. But the minute Lanore McIlvrae—Lanny—walks into his ER, she changes his life forever. A mysterious woman with a past and plenty of dark secrets, Lanny is unlike anyone Luke has ever met. He is inexplicably drawn to her, despite the fact that she is a murder suspect with a police escort. And as she begins to tell her story, a story of enduring love and consummate betrayal that transcends time and mortality, Luke finds himself utterly captivated.

Her impassioned account begins at the turn of the nineteenth century in the same small town of St. Andrew, Maine, back when it was a Puritan settlement. Consumed as a child by her love for the son of the town’s founder, Lanny will do anything to be with him forever. But the price she pays is steep—an immortal bond that chains her to a terrible fate for all eternity. And now, two centuries later, the key to her healing and her salvation lies with Dr. Luke Findley.

Part historical novel, part supernatural page-turner, The Taker is an unforgettable tale about the power of unrequited love not only to elevate and sustain, but also to blind and ultimately destroy, and how each of us is responsible for finding our own path to redemption.

Now Alma Katsu delivers the highly anticipated follow-up to her haunting novel about an immortal woman learning firsthand that the heart wants what the heart wants…no matter how high the stakes. Fans of The Taker can finally indulge in their next juicy fix with the second book of the trilogy, The Reckoning. In this gripping, pulse-pounding supernatural sequel, discover what happens to Lanny, Luke, Adair—and Jonathan. The Reckoning picks up where The Taker leaves off, following Lanny on her path to redemption—and creating a whole new level of suspense. (out June 19th)

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Croissants and Jam by Lynda Renham

Croissants and Jam made me giggle, laugh, and chuckle with each chapter.  A romantic comedy for sure.

Annabel “Bels” Lewis has 2 days to get to her wedding in Rome where she is all set to marry the man of her mother’s dreams, handsome, successful, and rich.  From the beginning of her travels she finds herself part of one catastrophe after another  After missing her planes, Bels finds herself driving across France and England with Christian, an adventurous and handsome stranger. Christian  and Bels cross paths over and over causing many humorous mishaps These mishaps cause her to miss her initial meeting with her fiancés parents and her rehearsal dinner. Will Bels make it to her wedding on time?

Croissants and Jam is a wonderful romantic comedy.  With each of Bels mishaps, starting with her misplaced boarding pass, I found myself laughing.  By the time the car breaks down my husband is wondering what I am laughing at.  I loved how Christian just rolled with whatever happen to Bels and himself, never getting really rattled just figuring out how to fix the problem.

This book was a fun read.  The scenic descriptions made me feel as though I was traveling with Bels and Christian through France and England.  The happily ever after ending was not what I expected, but was a nice surprise.

If you are looking for a light and easy read with plenty of laughs and a little romance this is definitely a book for you.

Reviewed by: Charlotte

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lynda-Renham/170503619694017

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Whole Latte Life By Joanne Demaio

Sarah Beth and Rachel, best friends since 8th grade, are in New York City to celebrate their 40th birthdays. Sitting at the restaurant table waiting to start lunch, Rachel is handed a note by the waiter. The note changes everything. Sarah Beth had simply disappeared. Rachel begins to search the city for her dear friend wanting to desperately to help her, while Sarah Beth was reaching out to her mother who’d passed away.

When Sarah Beth reenters the land of the living, she seems almost shocked that her disappearance had upset and confused those around her. She just wanted to rethink her life, maybe reinvent herself. Instead she has disturbed her children’s lives, shaken her marriage and violated her friendship. Once home, she seems to continue her downward spiral by calling an old boyfriend and hiding things from her husband.

While Sarah went looking for something new, Rachel found it. Rachel, a widow, finds a new man who came riding his horse right into her life. He is instrumental in helping Rachel see Sarah Beth’s side of things. Even though he and Rachel seem great together, there are so many obstacles in their way.

I’m trying really hard not to give too much of the story away, which is always hard when you want to sit with a couple of girlfriends and talk about the great book you just read! I think what I loved most about Whole Latte Life it could have gone in so many different directions. The characters were all imperfect.

I never really connected to Sarah Beth. I would have guessed I would relate to her since I lost my own mother, married with kids (and large age gaps). I suppose had I lost my mom suddenly I would have had a really tough coping with the suddenness of it. I just didn’t understand the whole not opening up to her husband or to her best friend. I suppose both Rachel and Sarah Beth's husband Tom were dealing with other things in their lives. 

Now the romance between Michael and Rachel, this was the story I was most interested in. I was surprised by Michael’s past. I really thought there story was just really sweet and seemed so natural.

I was surprised there wasn't more discussion about Rachel being a widow. I felt like she would have brought it up with both Michael and Sarah Beth because she also clearly understood how life can change fast and without warning. I would have also thought she would have had issues to deal with since this was her first relationship since her husband's death. 

I know I just pointed out some negatives, but I think it’s because I felt really invested in this story (which I think is a really good thing). I would definitely recommend Whole Latte Life by Joanne Demaio, especially for a book club—lots to talk about!

Reviewed by: Laura Kay

http://www.wholelattelife.com/

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Downward Dog Upward Fog By Meryl Davids Landau

WOW!  What an eye opener.  On every page something popped out and made me think about myself and how I react to events around me.

Thirty three year old, Lorna Crawford is realizing she wants and deserves more then what life is giving her right now. While struggling to find her spiritual side, she attends a silent retreat and ends up making friends that have similar goals.  After the retreat, Lorna returns to the “real world” having to find a way to live with the negativity of her co-workers, her boyfriend’s difference in goals, and the relationship with her mother.  She works hard to stay positive and often helps others around her become positive.

Lorna is definitely a character I can relate to.  Although I am not overly spiritual, I love the calm and positive ways she dealt with the world around her.  The negativeness of the world around her gets her down, but she manages to turn it around into a positive.  I found myself learning by her examples.  Smiling at strangers, changing a negative thought into a positive thought, or just sitting and listening to myself.

Downward Dog Upward Fog is a definite good read.  Even if a person is not spiritual or into yoga, they would thoroughly enjoy this book.  This book is not just about spirituality, it is a book about relationships with your mother, boyfriend, co-workers, and yourself.

Unique Spiritual/Yoga Women's Novel a Book-of-the-Year Finalist

The most prestigious small-press book-of-the-year award, sponsored by the industry publication Foreword Reviews, just released its list of finalists for its book of the year contest, and Meryl Davids Landau's unique women's novel, Downward Dog, Upward Fog, is on the short list in the general fiction category. 

Reviewed by: Charlotte

For more information please visit: www.downwarddogupwardfog.com

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THE FIVE W’S Of Meryl Davids Landau

Meryl Davids Landau has written for national magazines for more than 20 years. Her work has been published in O, the Oprah magazine, Reader’s Digest, Glamour, More, U.S. News & World Report, Self, Redbook, Prevention and Whole Living. Some of her articles have focused on yoga, meditation, hypnosis, energy healing, chakras, and other alternative fare. I'm very excited to introduce you to:

The Five W's of Meryl Davids Landau

Thanks so much for inviting me to your blog!

WHO? 
I've always been a person who loves exploring new ideas, which is why I adore my other writing hat doing pieces for magazines (I've been published in most women's magazines, including Oprah, Redbook, Glamour, and More), where I get to to interview people and find out what they do and what they know. And I love exploring my own inner essence--via yoga, the stillness of meditation, and even chanting (although I confess you wouldn't want to hear me; my voice is awful!). I'm also a wife and a mom to two teens, which keeps life interesting, to say the least.

WHAT? What do you enjoy doing other than writing in your spare time?
A perfect day for me would start with a meditation and a long yoga session (it's no coincidence this becomes something my protagonist treasures), then I'd go to the beach for a walk on the shoreline (the best part, for sure, of living in South Florida). Afterwards, I'd meet my husband, kids and maybe some friends at an outdoor café, followed by a museum visit or a good read on a park bench.

WHEN? When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I've loved writing since the fourth grade, although when I see my high-school-aged daughter forced to squeeze her essays into those stilted formats, I'm amazed any of us survived school with that love intact. I went to college intending to study newspaper journalism, but found that type of writing too rigid, too. (One professor said, "Newspaper sentences should be comprised of subject, verb, object, period.") Magazine feature writing turned out to be my love for the next two decades, until I discovered the joys of making everything up via fiction. Now I treasure both my magazine and novel writing.

WHERE? Where do you write? 
I still write for magazines, and I blog on holistic health and spiritual topics, so I write in my home office, during regular work hours. After I completed my novel I took a long break from writing fiction, but now I've started the sequel so I'm back to that, too. I usually work on the novel in my home office, also, although occasionally I'll steal off with my laptop to Barnes & Noble or Starbucks, or even a park.

WHY? Why do you write?
It's so satisfying to know that something I've written informs or, even better, moves the person reading it. That's been especially true with Downward Dog, Upward Fog; I've heard from so many women that the novel inspired them to take up their own spiritual practice, whether it's yoga and meditation like Lorna does or something else. The idea that words I typed into my computer with my little fingers have that power provides an incredible high that I'll never get tired of.

Thank-you so much for joining us here today Meryl! It was great getting to know more about you. I've can't help but believe tapping into yoga would be an awesome way to relax and really clear my head. Make sure to stop by tomorrow to read Charlotte's review of Downward Dog, Upward Fog!

http://www.downwarddogupwardfog.com/

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All The Difference by Kaira Rouda

Kaira Rouda, author of Here, Home, Hope, takes us back to Grandville in her newest release, All The Difference. We are introduced to a number of new residents and someone has a secret. Unlike Rouda’s first novel, this one is darker and mysterious. Throughout the novel we not only learn about these new characters there are also flashbacks for one young girl and we don’t know who it is.

Three women entangled with the same two men makes for some pretty interesting reading. There is Laura, a tv anchor who has no intention of sticking around Grandville. She is waiting to break into a big city television station and she isn’t afraid to step on anyone’s back she needs to in order to get her to the top.

Then there is Angie, Laura’s roommate. She knows what she wants out of life too and she’s willing to lay on her back to get her dream life. Angie appears to be young and a little naive, but she doesn’t care who gets hurt in the process of finding her Mr. Right.

Last there is Ellen. Ellen is making a home for her and her husband and wishing for a baby of her own. Poor thing is married to a tomcat that doesn’t really care if she likes it or not. Ellen realizing her dreams might not come true decides to go back to work and find happiness. The only thing these three women have in common are two men—two men that will change their lives!

Kaira has written another great book! I really enjoyed All The Difference. I will say at the beginning there are a number of characters and situations setting up, I did struggle with getting everyone straight at first. By the time I was finished reading I couldn’t help but feel like Grandville is a little like Knots Landing (ok aged myself a little). I hope Rouda continues to visit Grandville and we get to see more and more out of these characters! I loved the dual mystery going on in the story. Who is having the flashbacks and was there a murderer? The more I read the harder I found putting the book down. A recommend! And you don’t have to read Here, Home, Hope first, but I also recommend you read it!

I wanted to take a moment and thank both Kaira Rouda and Samantha at Chick Lit Plus. When I first began reading All The Difference I got a call telling me my dad had cancer. I was really having a hard time concentrating and needed to make a visit home to see him and get a sense of what was going on. Needless to say, I was unable to keep my blog tour date for the book. Both Samantha and Kaira were very sweet to me and I greatly appreciated it.

Reviewed by: Laura Kay

http://www.kairarouda.com/

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It’s a Man’s World by Polly Courtney + Giveaway

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em…that is Alexa Harris’s’ motto. When challenges to join the all male team of lad mag, Banter, Alexa decides to the play the games the boys are already playing.  She soon begins to question if she has gone against her own morals and if there will be a price to play.

When I started It’s a Man’s World I was unsure of what to expect. I believed this book to be a man vs. woman story.  A story about a woman trying to make it in a man’s world.  There was so much more to this story.  It’s a story of Alexa making her mark in a man’s world. Alexa quickly became the woman I could cheer for and hope to succeed.  Alexa puts up with a lot of sexist gags and jokes by her male staff at Banter.  I found myself wonder if my skin would be tough enough to handle the situation with the same toughness Alexa does.  Fortunately, Alexa has great support in her friends, Leonie and Kate.  They tell her how it is, but offer her a shoulder to lean on through her nine months time at the lad magazine.

There were parts of this book that had my total attention and I could not stop reading.   There were also parts of the book that seemed to go very slow.  But over-all It’s a Man’s World was very entertaining.  It is not a typical chic-lit book.

Reviewed by: Charlotte 

http://www.pollycourtney.com

Now you want to read it, huh? Well here's your chance to win a copy! This giveaway is for US only, sorry! Leave your name and email address in a comment below for your chance to win and don't forget to welcome our new associate blogger, Charlotte! The giveaway will close  May 22 at midnight EST. Good-luck! 

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