I'm cleaning out my...BOOKSHELF! Prepare for BLOGAPALOOZA!

HI guys and gals!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.





Today is being renamed.
It is no longer Wednesday.
Today is now BLOGAPALOOZA...
...or maybe REVIEW-APALOOZA...
...oh heck, pick whichever one you like, but it boils down to me being overworked (still), stressed out beyond belief (thank you Hurricane Michael and all the "fun" after effects!), and having WAY TO LITTLE time to do the things I love like reading and reviewing, and the desire to clean out the GIANT tote I'm carrying around with books that need to be reviewed. So...

...welcome to TOTAL REVIEW-ALATION!

*giggle*

Instead of SEVERAL posts, I'm going to do one BIG post with A LOT of books for you to peruse, consider, and possibly add to your future reading list.  Props will be given to writers, publishers, and the lot, and links will be supplied for further click-age should you so desire, while the actual review itself will be kept to a minimum...and don't smirk at me like that, I can TOTALLY keep it short...maybe, possibly...I'll try. 

Ready?  Set?  Here we go!

Our Stop

by

Laura Jane Williams

9780008320539

Avon Books

Released:  June 13th, 2019

While overall sweetly intended, I can honestly say I enjoyed the start, felt my heart become fully involved at the stop, but the so called ride left something to be desired.  The meet cute was adorable, as was the back and forth conversation playing out through Missed Connections posts, but the length of time it took for what would be to be, and the number of times in between that connections were missed drove me a bit batty.

The Undoing of Thistle Tate

by

Katelyn Detweiler

9780823442393

Margaret Ferguson Books

Released:  July 23rd, 2019

I was swallowed whole by this one...thinking it was a light, fluffy YA read with a slightly obvious turn of events to come...but it wasn't in the least! There were hidden secrets, and darker corners, plus hidden depths of the heart explored, as well as more than one way for someone to be undone.  (Don't you just LOVE when a title can be interpreted several ways?)  I really appreciated Thistle's dilemma, respected her loyalty to her family, and cheered for her newfound respect for herself when things truly looked grim.  All in all, it's a book that seriously makes you stop and think...what WOULD you do for those you love?

Sweet Summer Sunset

Coldwater Texas, Book 3

by

Delores Fossen

9781335041067

HQN

Released:  June 25th, 2019

Having read the previous release in the series, I thought I knew what I was stepping into...a cowboy flavored Contemporary Romance sure to leave you with a pep in your step and a heart warmed through.  This one was a bit STEAMIER than the last, considering our leading lady's online venture - the Naughty Cowgirl - is a relationship and s*x advice blog, but as much as the conversations were at times scintillating, there was SO MUCH HEART you could only have fun with it and move on.  I mean, who doesn't like a good friends-to-lovers story, am I right?  Ooh and that jacka** of an ex TOTALLY deserves what he got and THEN SOME!  Honestly, the nerve of some people!

Things You Save in a Fire

by

Katherine Center

9781250047328

St. Martin's Press

RELEASE DATE:  August 13th, 2019

Once I started this one, I couldn't put it down.  It's not that it was action packed, or edge of your seat, but it was so relatable, putting it aside was out of the question.  I was so rooting for our leading lady when "the incident" happened. I mean, I know, what happened was unprofessional as heck and "image is everything" but he deserved that and FAR worse. The fallout though...just wow.  I couldn't believe they were asking that of her, and yet I could...which make me OH SO SAD for the world, but my respect for her grew ten fold.  Now, as for those rules of caution when changing stations, my mind was blown. In today's world...still?! That's insane!  I couldn't fathom having to change pretty much everything about yourself in order to me yourself to a certain degree.  In the end, I was stunned by some things that happened, shell shocked by others, and warmed to my soul still by other moments that I'm glad I was there for. It reminds us that progress has been made in areas formerly forbidden, but there's always room for growth. Oh and more importantly still, love is most definitely the right answer, every time. ♥

Montauk

by

Nicola Harrison

9781250200112

St. Martin's Press

Released:  June 4th, 2019

This is one of those moving, beautiful stories that was able to whisk me away to another time, another place, and yet has its footholds firmly in a reality that might have been.  It shows us something in which we can really get to know the characters, their lives, and what may or may not be happening behind the scenes, but still instilled humor, hardship, and heart with every page.  As the story progress, suspicions about some thing proved true several times over, my initial love of the locals was tampered when they couldn't take Bea at face value, and connections from the past were finally revealed. By book's end, I was totally wrecked! It was just THAT GOOD!  A most unexpected twist happens towards book's end, well technically a few twists, but I was SO on the edge of my seat as I was swept away by the beauty, the drama, the tragedy, and magnificence that was this story.

Home for Erring and Outcast Girls

by

Julie Kibler

9780451499332
Crown
Released:  July 23rd, 2019


This was an ARC I won via Shelf Awareness. It was most definitely a great example of what historical fiction can be.  While the story flits between past and present, the author keeps us firmly rooted in the moment no matter what time period we may be in. You won't soon forget this cast of characters (past nor present), the home that helped them become a family with bonds that run far deeper than mere bloodlines, their stories anchored in truth yet embellished to more fully form a complete portrait, nor how it feels to be part of a whole.

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Special thanks to the publishers listed above for the review copies received both in tree and "e" form.  (THANKS!)  For more information on any of the titles mentioned, feel free to click through the links provided above.  Stay tuned for another BLOGAPALOOZA post coming soon!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

BLOG TOUR: The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're playing host to a TLC Book Tours promotion starring a work of Historical Fiction via Crown Publishing.  It's a story that takes us back to the WWII era when men were scarce and women were finding many new roles to fill, whether they wanted to or not.  Hey, things had to get done and by golly, they weren't just gonna sit around and they couldn't simply wait around on the fellas out there fighting the war!  Right?  Well, it depends who you ask, but enough prattling on by me; let's get to the story! Today's blog tour guest and book of choice is...

The Chilbury Ladies' Choir

by

Jennifer Ryan

9781101906750

Crown Publishing

About the book....

“Just because the men have gone to war, why do we have to close the choir? And precisely when we need it most!”

As England enters World War II’s dark early days, spirited music professor Primrose Trent, recently arrived to the village of Chilbury, emboldens the women of the town to defy the Vicar’s stuffy edict to shutter the church’s choir in the absence of men and instead “carry on singing.” Resurrecting themselves as “The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir,” the women of this small village soon use their joint song to lift up themselves, and the community, as the war tears through their lives.

Told through letters and journals, THE CHILBURY LADIES’ CHOIR moves seamlessly from budding romances to village intrigues to heartbreaking matters of life and death. As we come to know the struggles of the charismatic members of this unforgettable outfit– a timid widow worried over her son at the front; the town beauty drawn to a rakish artist; her younger sister nursing an impossible crush and dabbling in politics she doesn’t understand; a young Jewish refugee hiding secrets about her family, and a conniving midwife plotting to outrun her seedy past– we come to see how the strength each finds in the choir’s collective voice reverberates in her individual life. In turns funny, charming and heart-wrenching, this lovingly executed ensemble novel will charm and inspire, illuminating the true spirit of the women on the homefront, in a village of indomitable spirit, at the dawn of a most terrible conflict.

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

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Honest to goodness truth...

...I did not know if I was going to like this story when I first started.

GASP, shock, and AWE...right?

Well, it was for me...but let me explain.

The story is told entirely in correspondence, whether it be diary entries, letters to loved ones, or a pinned note to a community board.  Now I know right off the bat that would be enough to deter some readers (Yes, I'm looking at you Tracey ^-^), and while I'm not usually put off by this format, with the number of characters involved, and the number of voices telling the story as it unfolds, I was having a bit of trouble keeping up.  (Yes, one of my own Achilles heels is the multiple POV story.) HOWEVER, like a trooper I persevered, and was rewarded with a wonderful story that had a few more voices to lend than I prefer, they all felt genuine and had endeared themselves to me by book's end.  In fact, in order to TELL the story, one must KNOW the characters because while there are many threads, they are all intertwined.  See for yourself...

Kitty Winthrop...the youngest of the ladies in the choir, which a voice like an angel and a dream bigger than her little town can hold...

Venetia Winthrop...sister to Kitty, "it" girl of the town, and she's not afraid to flaunt her assets nor go after whatever she may seek...

Sylvie..."sister" to Kitty and Venetia thanks to the evils of war; she may not say much but when she speaks (or writes) it's worth more than all the idle chatter running about...

Mrs. Tilling...a midwife and woman who shouldn't be underestimated, especially when on the side of right... has a hand in resembling the Winthrop family...

Miss Edwina Paltry... also a midwife but more than willing to put any scrupels she may have aside for the right fee... tethered to the Winthrop's for better and worse...

Then there are those that starred in other's accounts versus having their own entries through which to ponder, sort, and shuffle their thoughts.  Among the most notable, we've Primrose Trent (Professor of Music at the university and initial guiding voice that inspired these women to lend their voices to the trying times all on their own), Mrs. B (who despised being called that but let me tell you, she was a force to be reckoned with!), Henry Brampton-Boyd (the golden boy/man of the town, whom most young ladies have their sights set on, but may not be as shiny as they believe), and Alastair (the man who captured someone's heart but may not be exactly who he pretends to be)...but that's still only scratching the surface.  Suffice it to say this is definitely a character driven novel for without these ladies thoughts and recollections, the story would remain merely a bunch of jumbled events with no timeline to decipher nor sense to be made in the senseless times they were living.

To conclude, I rather enjoyed my time in this little soap-opera-drama town and these lovely (for the most part) ladies feel like friends more than acquaintances. My only curiosity left behind at book's end, or rather an unfilled reader wish, would have been to hear back from those that were written to.  The conversation felt a tad one-sided in those instances and whether or not the lack of response was due to the times or writer's choice, I remain curious to know what the other's thought about the events transpiring in this little town.  Recommended for Historical Fiction fans who don't mind a little gossip now and then...

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About the author...

Jennifer Ryan Photo © Nina Subin

Jennifer Ryan lives in the Washington, D.C., area with her husband and their two children. Originally from Kent and then London, she was previously a nonfiction book editor.

Website | Facebook

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Special thanks to Lisa at TLC Book Tours and the marketing team at Crown Publishing for the chance to participate in this promotion as well as the ARC for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, THIS TOUR, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now via Crown Publishing, an imprint of Penguin Random House, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Non-Blonde Pride: Brunette Ambition by Lea Michele

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today we’re stepping out of the Fiction box and into the realm of Self-Help and Personal Growth.  Though not my normal forte, this title came to my attention two fold.  First, I noticed it in store because it had one of the fabulous actresses from the show Glee on the cover, and as it turns out, she’s also the one who penned it.  Immediately, I made a mental note to check it out some time in the future.  The second attention grabber came the very next day.  I was checking my email like everyone else in the world and came upon an interesting one indeed.  You see, it happened to be from Gianna over at Crown Publishing and it was asking if I was interested in featuring THIS EXACT TITLE.  (Sweet!)  Of course, I responded with a yes and the rest as they say is history….or will be after today because today has to pass to become history and guess what the book of choice is? 

Brunette Ambition

By

Lea Michele

9780804139076

Crown Archetype

About the book…

The star of the hit show Glee shares her experiences and insider tips on beauty, fashion, inner strength, and more in an illustrated book that’s part memoir, part how-to, and part style guide.

Lea Michele is one of the hardest working performers in show business.  Whether she’s starring as Rachel Berry on Glee, rocking a glamorous look on the red carpet, recording her solo album, or acting as the spokesperson for L’Oreal, Lea is the ultimate multi-tasker.  She knows better than anyone that it is difficult to be your best self and keep things in perspective when your to-do list is overflowing and you are faced with challenges, so she’s developed a foolproof system for remaining healthy and centered.  In Brunette Ambition, she reveals the lessons and advice that have worked for her--from beauty and fashion secrets to fitness tips, and career insights.  Supplemented with never-before-seen photos and revealing anecdotes, it’s the book Lea wishes she’d had in her teens and early twenties: A practical and inspirational guide to harnessing tenacity and passion and living the fullest life, no matter what obstacles life puts in your way.

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All it said up there…totally true and then some.

This is a book that Mother’s will wish their daughters to read; a book girls may pick up in passing, only to share it with their friends and their friend’s friends later on.  You get to know Ms. Michele (sorry, almost called her Rachel!) on a deeper level; her motivations, her ambitions, what’s most important in her life and the ways she fights back when the going gets tough.  She wasn’t born into a life of want but she also didn’t have a silver spoon hanging from her mouth.  Her family helped keep her grounded while she kept reaching for the lights of Broadway and when broadcast media crossed her path, it was an unexpected gift wrapped in love and friendships that have and will last for years to come. 

 If you’re a follower of the theater, her work history may simply be a walk down memory lane, but for those of us only becoming acquainted with her through Glee, it’s presented in less of a resume and more of an experiences had, lessons gleaned.  It shows how whether or not you’re on the stage in your chosen (or forced…because let’s me honest, we’re not all where we want to be at the moment, kudos to you if you are) profession, the pearls of wisdom gained can be applied to the everyday ordinary.  I found her truest truth shared to be very Dr. Seuss-esque (and I mean that in the best way possible)….something along the lines of being yourself because you are an original and were made perfectly for the part.  Simple yet true. 

So, in conclusion, this is part her story, and part OUR story.  Through her shared experiences, readers are able to glean lessons learned while picking up tips and tricks for staying healthy and balanced overall.  I gotta say, I love the fact that although she is a celebrity, she’s a real advocate for doing things at home, the easy, simple (and more inexpensive!) way.  There’s definitely a soup recipe I’d like to try out and I wouldn’t be surprised to randomly find me attempting a full plank with side twist in the near future.  (^_^)  Recommended read for teens through adults.

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About the author…

LEA MICHELE is best known for her performance as Rachel Berry on the critically acclaimed, Golden Globe-, Grammy-, and SAG-award-winning Fox television series Glee. She has been nominated for an Emmy, a SAG Award, and multiple Golden Globes. She divides her time between New York and Los Angeles.

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Review copy received courtesy of Gianna at Crown Publishing.  (THANKS!)  For more information on the title, author, or publisher, feel free to click through the links provided within the post.  This title is available now via Crown Archetype, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf near you.

Until next time…happy reading!

Silver: Return to Treasure Island by Andrew Motion

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers…the place to be when you’re in the mood for food of the bookish variety.

We’ve have a small break due to my crazy schedule and though I intended to post this review yesterday, it simply wasn’t in the cards.  My apologies friends for leaving you without some type of fodder to appease your book loving appetite but I believe today’s post should help quench that thirst…though it may leave you longing for adventure.  That’s right…we’re setting sail on the high seas with none other than Silver and Hawkins, just not the exact personas that the names bring to mind (for any Treasure Island fans that is).  In honor of Mr. Robert Louis Stevenson’s birthday this past Tuesday and in celebration of its successful release stateside, I bring to you today’s book of choice…

Silver:

Return to Treasure Island

By

Andrew Motion

From the publisher…

It's almost forty years after the events of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island:  Jim Hawkins now runs an inn called the Hispaniola on the English coast with his son, Jim, and Long John Silver has returned to England to live in obscurity with his daughter, Natty. Their lives are quiet and unremarkable; their adventures have seemingly ended.
 But for Jim and Natty, the adventure is just beginning. One night, Natty approaches young Jim with a proposition: return to Treasure Island and find the remaining treasure that their fathers left behind so many years before. As Jim and Natty set sail in their fathers' footsteps, they quickly learn that this journey will not be easy.  Immediately, they come up against murderous pirates, long-held grudges, and greed and deception lurking in every corner. And when they arrive on Treasure Island, they find terrible scenes awaiting them—difficulties which require all their wit as well as their courage.  Nor does the adventure end there, since they have to sail homeward again...

A story of the high seas with wit and whim, fancy and danger, shipwrecks and treasure…but somewhat lacking on the adventure.

Here’s where I get all hip-hop-style and do the break down dance on the book.  The story was good and the characters were certainly worthy of our attention but if you’re looking for a rollicking story that captures you by your whiskers such as the original…you might be put out like those three sailors marooned on the island.  That’s not to say the journey was un-enjoyable because honestly it was, it just lacked the ability to sparkle as brightly as the treasure first uncovered by the infamous pair.  However, it did make its mark in other ways if you’ll permit me a moment to explain…

We have a young Mr. Hawkins (though older than his father when he set out on that fateful voyage many of us have read previously) and a young Ms. Silver….that’s right, MISS; as in blow-me-down, Mr. Silver had kids and a girl no less!  Don’t go passing her a parasol though because she is her father’s daughter through and through and guff she will take from no one…NO ONE.  This pair are sent forth on a quest to retrieve the remaining silver and arms left behind on Treasure Island with a sea-worthy ship, a magnificent captain and a fairly decent crew….I say fairly decent because where there is treasure and old grudges to be had, trouble usually follows (and it does).  Yo ho yo ho and a few bottles of rum later and BOOM….LAND HO!  But wait, what’s this?  There’s movement on shore…and it seems as though it’s a much greater population than first marooned.  Seeing as how they were all gents left behind and barring the possibility of a Jurassic Park DNA change situation, something happened to create the mixed party spotted on shore…but what indeed.  Are they friend or foe?  What of the conniving fools left behind or better still, what of the silver?  So many questions, so few answers….but don’t worry, they may be slow in coming, but come they will…and that’s not even half the story.

You see, though the book is titled appropriately for a dashing daring swashbuckling treasure hunt, it actually focuses more on the human condition.  The relationship between father and son (or daughter), the deterioration of the human mind, body and soul (hello marooned pirates!), lives found and lost, the bonds that can form between those not related by blood but something at times even stronger (several noteworthy instances of this abound) and even a fleeting glimpse of young love.  All these things and more play out before us thereby making it more than simply a treasure hunt (though those are remarkably exciting too) but a journey towards revelations only discovered through life experience…albeit they are generally scattered over many a year as opposed to a few months time but they make their point nonetheless leaving Mr. Hawkins and Ms. Silver in a whole new light (and world…*mini spoiler*…~whistles~)

So you see, my seafaring friends, if you set out on this reading adventure with expectations of a repeat performance of the beloved original, you may be sadly mistaken.  Though there are references to and reminders of both in plain sight and in shadow, this story merely relies on its predecessor for its history, its relations if you will, but allows a new duo to emerge righting the wrongs of the world while seeking their fortunes of mixed values.  There are those to cheer for and those to leer at but in the end you‘ll discover an adventure with more than silver running through its veins; this time around there’s a healthy dose of heart.

Recommended read for teens through adult readers; the language is fine and the risqué situations are practically nonexistent however the cruelty of man against man makes me avoid suggesting it to a younger audience.  The world can be bad enough at times, no need to introduce it any earlier even in fiction format.  Review copy received courtesy of CrownPublishers / Random House Inc.  (THANKS!)  For more information about this title as well as their complete catalog, be sure to visit their official website, like them on Facebook, friend them on Google+, pin them on Pinterest, or follow along on Twitter.  This book was released earlier this year and should be available now on a bookstore shelf near you.

Until next time…I’m off on my own adventure (aka the Twilight movie marathon and midnight release of the final film, woo-hoo!) and wish you much happy reading!