A Novel Review

Monday, May 20, 2013

To Katie with Love by Erica Lucke Dean & Giveaway

Review by Charlotte Lynn

Elizabeth Jayne is Katie James’ favorite author. The vampire in her books is enough for her. She loves the happy endings and the characters in the books. She has decided that the books are much better than real life, flesh and blood men. Then she meets Copper Maxwell, her very rich and very secretive client. From the minute he walks into her birthday party Katie’s life is changed. Can she liver with the secrets and falling love with the mysterious Cooper?

I love everything about this novel. The characters are so entertaining. You get to know clumsy, curious, and shy Katie and watch her come out of her shell. I love that when she was trying to discover Coopers secrets that she compared herself to Stephanie Plum, one of my most favorite bounty hunters. The humor to me was as she started to believe what everyone was saying about Cooper. About where he got his money and why it was such a huge secret. She so wanted to believe that it was on the up and up, but then she would hear or see something and her imagination would run away with her.

Then there is her bank co-workers, with all their advice and muddling they kept me in stitches. Vicky, the sex maniac who told everyone exactly what she was thinking, reminded me of that friend that you see coming and want to turn the other way. Silvia was more of a mother figure to her and was really looking for Katie’s best interests. The rest of her co-workers were equally interesting.

Of course, I cannot forget Cooper. I started off loving him, oo-la-la, the romance. He had me right away. He had the right words, the right dates, the right car, and of course the right house. Most importantly he didn’t give up on getting that first date. Then I distrusted him with all his secrets. I couldn’t understand why his job was such a secret and his history was something that he would not talk about. I just knew that he was something that would shatter Katie and break her heart. By the end I could not help but love him again for never giving up on Katie. The secrets were told and Katie’s heart was not broken. He stood up to her mom and her co-workers.

I would definitely put this as chic-lit, but it has mystery, murder, and lots of giggles. This was a fun and entertaining read. I am highly recommending this novel.

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7 Questions with Kristin Hannah

By Charlotte Lynn

Kristin Hannah is the New York Times bestselling author of 20 novels, including the #1 New York Times bestseller Home Front, Night Road, Firefly Lane, True Colors and Winter Garden Born in Southern California and raised in Western Washington, where most of her novels are set, Kristin spent her early career working in advertising and as an attorney in Seattle.

It was Kristin’s mother who was convinced that she would someday become a writer, though Kristin had never before considered it a viable career path. However, when her mother became sick with cancer, the two spent months in the hospital writing a novel together (as Kristin would describe it, “the worst, most
clichéd historical romance ever written”), a practice that Kristin would revisit years later when she was placed on five months bed rest while pregnant with her son.

Thus began a writing obsession that, in 1990, and after many rejections, finally led to the publication of Kristin’s first novel. Since then, she has gone on to pen numerous New York Times bestsellers, while also being recognized with several awards throughout her career. Kristin now divides her time between Washington State and Hawaii, when not traveling with her husband.

You can find out more about Kristin Hannah at Website or on Facebook.

1. Why did you decide to write FLY AWAY?

I discovered that I just really am drawn to women’s life experiences. What I
ended up creating was a friendship between two women that lasted their whole
lives and suggested that your girlfriends could be your soul mates as much as
your husband. It turned out to be a novel that spoke to a lot of women. Firefly
Lane was such a special novel to so many people. I wanted to write a story that
lived up to their expectations and still surprised them.

2. Who should read FLY AWAY?

Obviously, anyone who read and loved Firefly Lane should give Fly Away a try.
They'll love catching up with the characters they remember. But I really wrote
Fly Away to stand on its own as a novel. I don't believe you have to read Firefly
Lane to appreciate and enjoy Fly Away, so I guess every woman who wants to
read an emotional, compelling story about women should read the first page and
see what she thinks.

3. Which character do you relate to the most in Firefly Lane/ Fly Away? Why?

Kate was always that character that came most easily to me, and that I related
to the most. Perhaps this is why the "sequel" proved so difficult. I always loved
Tully, but she remains one of the most difficult characters I've ever written
because while I adored her, I often had trouble relating to her.

4. Was it difficult to continue your characters stories from Firefly Lane into Fly Away?

I always knew that there would be a sequel to Firefly Lane. That is to say, I
knew the story wasn’t over. But I’ve written nineteen novels, and until last year, I
had never attempted a sequel. I think that’s because I really love a fresh canvas.
Over the years, I considered attempting the sequel, but it never felt right. I was
never absolutely sure how their story ended. It wasn’t until I finished writing
Home Front that I turned seriously to the characters who meant so much to my
readers.

It turned out that it was a lot more difficult than I’d imagined. A book that
should have taken me a year to write ended up requiring a lot more time and
thought. More re-writes, more editing. It was daunting to take on these beloved
characters—I didn’t want to disappoint my readers, but neither did I want to
disappoint myself by writing a story that was somehow “less than.” I wanted
to write a sequel that completely stood alone, that didn’t require the reader
to read Firefly Lane first. And I didn’t want it to be a traditional novel. All of
these decisions made the road of discovery on this novel a bit tougher than I
anticipated.

5. Congratulations on Fly Away debuting at #3 on the New York Times list! Is there more pressure on you to continue to write books that reach the NYT list?

There's always pressure in this business, that's just part of the game. The
good news is that the only pressure that really hits home comes from me. I'm
constantly striving to write a better book, to tell a bigger story and to do it in a
more compelling way. That's the pressure that matters to me. Lists and awards
and reviews are not something I can control, so I find it easier and healthier not
to care too much about them.

6. Have you started writing your next book yet? If so, any hints?

I am about one hundred and fifty pages into my next novel, after months of
research. All I can say so far is that I love the characters and the setting and
the story. But I always love them in the beginning. I haven’t yet come to that
terrifying, depressing, wonderful moment where I think: Oh, no, this isn’t going to
work. That’s when the really hard work begins.

7. Is there anything else you would like to share with your fans?

Just that I love talking to them on facebook and meeting them at book signings. I

am humbled and incredibly grateful for their support.

Seduction: A Novel of Suspense by M. J. Rose

Reviewed by Laura Kay

The most stunning novel I've read this year is SEDUCTION by M.J. Rose. I've not read tons of historic fiction, but it is a genre I am finding I very much enjoy. I've found many of the historical books have a contemporary feel to them. This is not the case with SEDUCTION, I immediately felt transported back in time. Rose's writing style was haunting, aged and authentic.

SEDUCTION moves back and forth between Victor Hugo's story taking place in the 1840's and present day. While reading Hugo's story I was mesmerized and I wasn't pleased when I would begin the next chapter where I was back in the present with Jac. Here's the thing, I wasn't pleased when I left Jac's story back to Hugo either. I found myself completely engrossed in each of their stories never wanting to deviate being equally fascinated by both stories as I was trying to figure out the connection.

This was my first book by M.J. Rose I've read and I am now a fan! I was incredibly taken in by SEDUCTION, a suspenseful fictional account of Victor Hugo using an outline of his real life. He is living in Jersey in political exile from Paris. His eldest daughter drowns. In an effort to know she is alright Hugo enters the word of séances evoking a sinister entity.

The present day story is about Jac L'Etoile, a mythologist who is suffering from a great loss and looking for an escape. Jac receives a request to help her old friend, Theo. Her adventure takes her to Jersey, for the first time...or is it? She is hoping to discover the island's Celtic history, but while there she and Theo begin searching for the lost journals of Hugo and suddenly everything begins to intersect.

SEDUCTION had me totally engrossed, it's beautifully written and made my heart race making it difficult to put down. I am in awe of how talented M.J. Rose is as a writer, her writing is brilliant! I could gush and gush about this novel! Once you think you know what's going on you will soon realize you don't! Phenomenal! A suspense filled novel from beginning to end! I am highly recommending this!

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