NAUGHTY IN NICE

NAUGHTY IN NICE by Rhys Bowen was read for the What's in a Name 4 Challenge.

From the book jacket:

Royalty has its privileges, even when you're thirty-fourth in line to the throne, as Lady Georgiana Rannoch discovers on the glamorous - and dangerous - French Riviera...

Why should my clueless brother, Binky, and his decidedly disagreeable wife, Fig, be the only ones to enjoy the fun and sun of the French Riviera? Though they are disinclined to invite me along, Her Majesty the Queen once again comes to my rescue.  She is sending me off to Nice with a secret assignment that's nothing to sneeze at - recover her priceless, stolen snuffbox from the disreputable Sir Toby Groper.

As much of an honor as it is to be trusted by Her Majesty, an even greater honor is bestowed upon me in Nice - none other than Coco Chanel herself asks me to model her latest fashion.  Unfortunately, things go disastrously wrong on the catwalk.

And before I can snatch the snuffbox, someone's life is snuffed out in a very dastardly way.  With a murderer on the loose - and my dearest Darcy seen in the company of another woman - how's a girl to find any time to go to the casino?

Another cute book in the Georgie series.  Georgie finds herself wined and dined by French royalty, dressed by Chanel, and getting in trouble with the French police.  With a couple of murders, lost jewelry, and forged artwork thrown in for fun.

This, along with Ms. Bowen's other current series Molly Murphy, is one of my favorite book series right now.  I'll be looking forward to see what's next for Georgie.

BEST KEPT SECRET

BEST KEPT SECRET by Ann Hatvany

From the inside of the book:

Cadence didn't sit down one night and decide that downing two bottles of wine was a brilliant idea.

Her drinking snuck up on her - as a way to sleep, to help her relax after a long day, to relieve some of the stress of the painful divorce that's left her struggling to make ends meet with her five-year-old son Charlie.

It wasn't always like this.  Just a few years ago, Cadence seemed to have it all - a successful husband, an adorable son, and a promising career as a freelance journalist.  But with the demise of her marriage, her carefully constructed life begins to spiral out of control.  Suddenly she is all alone, trying to juggle the demands of work and motherhood.

Logically, Cadence knows that she is drinking too much, and every day begins with renewed promises to herself that she will stop.  But within a few hours, driven by something she doesn't understand, she is reaching for the bottle - even when it means not playing with her son because she is too tired, or dropping him off at preschool late, again.  And even when on calamitous night it means leaving him alone to pick up more wine at the grocery store.  It's only when her ex-husband shows up at her door to take Charlie away that Cadence realizes her best kept secret has been discovered....

Heartbreaking, haunting, and ultimately life-affirming, Best Kept Secret is more than just the story of Cadence - it's a story of how the secrets we hold closest are the ones that can tear us apart.

I thought this was a very good book.  As I was reading it, I wondered how the author had such a grasp of Cadence's feelings about her drinking problem.  I discovered, reading an interview with the author at the back of the book, that she herself is a recovering alcoholic and many of Cadence's feelings and thoughts mirrored her own.

Cadence, with the help of her therapist and her AA sponsor, finally admits her problem and learns how to go on with her life.  She realizes the effect her drinking has on others, and how she can turn around and help others.  This was a story about acceptance of her faults and being accountable for her actions.  She realizes that it's not a sign of weakness to ask for help.

"The only thing you have control over in this world is your reaction to what life throws your way."  A simple statement that makes so much sense.  You can't change the past, you can't change what other people think about you.  You can only change yourself.  This is the lesson that Cadence struggles to learn throughout this book.

This book will stay with me for quite a while.

AN INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT

Mei Lan

Atlanta's first panda cub, born in September 2006, was named Mei Lan, which means Atlanta Beauty.  Mei Lan was sent home to China in 2010.

Today, Zoo Atlanta released a statement that was quite a shocker.  It seems that our beautiful little girl is really a handsome little boy!  The staff at the Chengdu Research Center noticed the appearance of male "parts" recently.  The article explains how it is difficult to determine the sex in a baby panda cub and sometimes mistakes are made.

Doesn't matter at all.  Mei Lan was Atlanta's first baby panda and was loved by everyone here.  Although it will be hard to think of her (him) as a "he" instead of a "she" for now, (s)he will always hold a special place in the hearts of panda-loving Atlantans.

MUTE WITNESS

MUTE WITNESS by Robert L. Fish

From Amazon.com:

A slimy district attorney, an assortment of inept police officers, un underworld boss turned snitch, and the hardboiled lieutenant charged with protecting him until his trial make up the cast of characters of Robert Fish's hair-raising 1963 novel MUTE WITNESS.  For Lieutenant Clancy of the New York Police Department, the assignment of protecting mobster Johnny Rossi soon turns into an investigation into who wants him dead and why.  The inspiration for the Steve McQueen film, Bullitt, MUTE WITNESS is a classic.

This was another freebie for my Kindle.  A quick read that held my attention throughout, with a lot of plot twists and turns.

I don't think I've ever seen Bullitt all the way through.  I just remember the car chase through the streets of San Francisco and the scene at the end at the airport.  An old friend of mine was in that airport scene!  I'm going to have to find a copy of the movie and watch it now and see how it corresponds to this book.

1105 YAKIMA STREET

1105 YAKIMA STREET by Debbie Macomber

From the book jacket:

Dear Reader,

You've probably heard that my wife has left me.  Rachel's pregnant, and she says she can't handle the stress in our household anymore.  My thirteen-year-old daughter, Jolene, is jealous of her.  Maybe it's my fault.  As a widower I spoiled her--

Jolene was reading over my shoulder just now and says that's not true.  She claims Rachel ruined everything.  But that's not true.  The real question is:  How can I get my wife back?  I don't even know where she is.  She's not with Teri Polger or any of her other friends from the salon.  The other question is...when will Jolene grow up and stop acting like such a brat?

Of course, I'm not the only one in town with problems.  Linc Wyse's father-in-law is trying to destroy his business.  An you know Charlotte Rhodes?  Seems she's becoming forgetful, and the family's worried about her and Ben.  Lots of other stuff going on - but Rachel is better at keeping up with it than I am.

If you have any idea where my wife is, give me a call.  Please.

Bruce Peyton

This book, more than any of the previous books I think, dealt with many different people of Cedar Cove and their lives.  I don't really care for Bruce Peyton - I think he's a wuss and a whiner - so the main story line of this book was the least interesting for me.  I found the stories about Will Jefferson and Gloria Ashton to be much more entertaining.  Even the storyline about Grace Harding and the puppy Beau held my attention more than the Bruce-Rachel-Jolene plot.

Ms. Macomber has announced that this is the next-to-last book in the Cedar Cove series, and will tie up all the loose ends in the Christmas book (1225 CHRISTMAS LANE) coming out later this month.  I've enjoyed this series, some books and people more than others, but I think it is time to end.  I'm looking forward to whatever Ms. Macomber has in store next for her readers.

I'M HAVING SO MUCH FUN TODAY...

she said sarcastically!

LEFT NEGLECTED

LEFT NEGLECTED by Lisa Genova was read for the Just for Fun Reading Challenge 2011.

From the back of the book:

Sarah Nickerson, like any other working mom, is busy trying to have it all.  One morning while racing to work and distracted by her cell phone, she looks away from the road for one second too long.  In that blink of an eye, all the rapidly moving parts of her over-scheduled life come to a screeching halt.  After a brain injury steals her awareness of everything on her left side, Sarah must retrain her mind to perceive the world as a whole.  In so doing, she also learns how to pay attention to the people and parts of her life that matter most.

In this powerful and poignant New York Times bestseller, Lisa Genova explores what can happen when we are forced to change our perception of everything around us.  Left Neglected is an unforgettable story about finding abundance to the details, and nourishing what truly matters.

Before reading this book, I wasn't aware of the condition known as left neglect.  I did know of hemianopsia, where the patient can only see one half of the field of vision.  But in left neglect, the brain does not recognize anything on the left side of the body.  You are not aware that you have a left arm or leg as well as not being able to see things that are situated to your left.

Ms. Genova tells an interesting story of how Sarah must learn to live with this condition and how she must relearn to do even the most simple tasks.  Sarah's mother, who had mostly ignored Sarah as a child after the death of her other child, comes to live with Sarah to help with the family, and she and Sarah form a new relationship based on need and love.  Things that had been important to Sarah in her pre-accident life take a backseat now as she is able to spend more time with her husband and children.

I enjoyed this book and its core message - slow down and see and appreciate the world around you.

FRECKLES

FRECKLES by Gene Stratton-Porter was read with an online book group.

From Barnes & Noble:

Freckles (1904) by Gene Stratton Porter is the uplifting story of a plucky waif without a name and without one hand, disabled since infancy.  Raised in a Chicago orphanage, he survives abuse and harsh circumstances and grows up a brave, loyal, and hardworking young man with a true capacity for self-sacrifice.

Freckles becomes a timber guard in the Limberlost swamp in Indiana and exhibits extraordinary courage and resourcefulness on the job.  He also falls in love with the Swamp Angel, a young girl whose beauty and kindness bring out the best in others.

I can't say that I liked this book, but I didn't completely dislike it either.  The writing style was hard to follow at times, but maybe that was the way to write back in the early 1900's.  The story was simple and innocent.  I never felt any type of connection to the characters.  One thing  I did enjoy was the description of the swamp.  The author used a lot of color which made the swamp come alive.

I read different reviews of this book where it was called a favorite.  I'm not in that camp - this is a book I definitely wouldn't have chosen to read if not for this online group.

NEVER FORGET

THE DAYS OF SUMMER

THE DAYS OF SUMMER  by Jill Barnett

From Amazon.com:

In 1957, the Banning family leads a life of privilege, wealth and domestic unhappiness.  At the head of this California dynasty is oil magnate Victor Banning, a man of great power and even greater obsessions, who is determined to teach his son and grandsons to be predators in his dog-eat-dog world.  Jimmy Peyton is a rising star in the music business, a young man with a bright future and no connection to the Bannings, until the fateful night their cars collide on a Los Angeles street, changing the lives and future of two innocent families.  Laurel Peyton, Jimmy's daughter, has lived her entire life in the shadow of grief.  Though her mother, Kathryn, struggled to keep her daughter safe and secluded after the terrible accident that ruined their family, she cannot guard against the one danger she never expected:  Love.  In 1970, Victor's grandsons, Jud and Cale, meet the beautiful and spirited Laurel, and these two families cross paths once again, this time on a passionate course that pits brother against brother and mother against daughter - a class of wills that gradually draws them all closer to the truth of their tragic connection.  Spanning thirty years and three generations of Peyton women and Banning men, THE DAYS OF SUMMER is an epic drama that explores our deepest ties to family, the mistakes we make in the name of love, and is a reminder of our ability to hope, to forgive and to find the courage to change.

Another pretty good freebie for the Kindle, although by the description of the book, I thought it would be better.

I had a little problem getting involved with some of the characters.  I didn't like Kathryn at all - I felt she lived too much in the past.  Victor Banning was a cold man, and some of his actions were excessive.  Laurel, Jud and Cale - I didn't understand her choice and felt she went for the wrong man.  There was one part about a secret that Laurel carried with her that seemed unnecessary and was never resolved.

Reading what I just wrote, it sounds like I didn't like the book.  I liked the story for the most part, but just wasn't thrilled with some of the characters.  And I don't really understand the title of the book - I didn't see any connection between the title and the plot line.

A book I'm not sorry I read, but one that I'd hesitate to recommend.

HOT FLASH

HOT FLASH by Kathy Carmichael

From Amazon.com:

On Jill Morgan Storm's fortieth birthday, she declares she is through with love.  A conviction well justified, considering her first husband didn't leave her for another woman; he became one!  More recently, her love affair came to a screeching halt when her lover dumped her for a young undergraduate.  To make matters worse, the teeny-bopper stole Jill's "well-seasoned" frying pan, and when you're a sous chef, that's no small offense; it's a major felony.

When financial obligations threaten her son's dream of attending art school, Jill and her friends devise a foolproof plan to audition candidates for a new husband.  The search for Mr. Right is on.

There is one problem, however.  His name is Davin Wesley, an annoying third-grade schoolteacher, who relentlessly plagues her days, haunts her nights, and propels her libido into overdrive.  She knows he is absolutely, undeniably wrong for her.  So why, then, does Mr. wrong take her breath away, curl her toes, and give her a hot flash every time she sees him?  More importantly, what will she do if Mr. Wrong is actually Mr. Right?

Another freebie for my Kindle.  Maybe my luck is changing - this is the third one in a row that's been pretty good.

No great literary classic, but this book was fun.  Jill suffers through a string of bad first dates while searching for the perfect mate.  I loved reading about her misadventures.  I'm so glad I don't have to do the dating thing!

I have a lot of freebies downloaded on my Kindle.  I hope the string of enjoyable books continues.

THE FACE OF 100

My sister, Anne, and I flew up to Piqua, Ohio, this past weekend to help celebrate our second cousin's 100th birthday.

Elinor, 100 years young and pretty in pink.  She had been a teacher in her younger years, English and Social Studies in the junior high schools.  Today, she lives in her own home alone, cooks all her own meals - she doesn't like packaged meals - and is sharp as a tack.  She has a little bit of a problem with names, but remembers places and events as if they were yesterday.  She sometimes uses a walker or a cane to give her a little extra stability when she walks. She still plays bridge with her friends and goes to movies.

She is well loved in this small town.  There was a large showing at her party and back at her house, she showed us over 100 cards that she received.  

Happy birthday, sweet Elinor.  May you have 100 more!

A KNIGHT IN CENTRAL PARK

A KNIGHT IN CENTRAL PARK by Theresa Ragan

From Amazon.com:

The year is 1499.  As Alexandra Dunn's farmhouse is set ablaze, her grandfather places precious stones in her palm, telling her she has until the next full moon to return with a hero...a brave, chivalrous knight to help save her family.  Familiar objects become a blur as she is swallowed in darkness.  Suddenly Alexandra is standing in the middle of Central Park, but she has no time to ponder on the wondrous powers of the stones or the amazing sights before her...she must find a hero before all is lost.

Joe McFarland would be the first to admit that he's far from hero material...definitely not the man she's looking for.  A firm believer of quietude and non-violence, he avoids conflict at all costs.  At thirty-four, he is one of the younger Professors at NYU where he lectures and teaches History:  The High Middle Ages.  Joe's main goal in life is to gain membership into the Medieval Academy, a highly distinguished group of archaeologists and historians.  He believes membership will bring him respect and recognition...but what he really wants is to be reunited with his father; a man who has spent his entire life searching for the Black Knight, the last of the medieval knights.

Joe's organized, well-structured life begins to unravel the moment he meets Alexandra Dunn.  He figures she majored in medieval history before off the deep end...until days later when he is miraculously transported through time, to 1499 England.  Dressed in Dockers and a button down shirt, Joe thought he was ready for anything...anything but this!  An armored man with a very authentic looking broadsword is about to strike him down.  With only nail clippers and a Bic to defend himself, Joe has no time to think about such an implausible phenomenon as traveling through time...not if he wants to live to see another day.

Another Kindle freebie that was good - that's two in a row!

This was a cute little book, quick and easy to read.  A love story between a 20th century man and a 15th century lady.  Her goal was to get back to her home and save her siblings; his goal was to get back to New York and his quiet and peaceful life.  Somewhere along the way, these two fell in love.  Or are they just friends?

Can Joe live without hot water and toothpaste?  Can Alexandra choose between her family and television?  For these two to get together, someone must make a decision that will change his or her life, hopefully for the better.

A fun book - I'll have to look for more by this author.

AUGUST BOOKS

I can't believe August is over already!  Where has the summer gone??  I was able to read 6 books this month.  My reading has slowed down quite a bit, but hopefully with the cooler weather (if it ever gets to Atlanta) I'll be able to do better.

Here's what I read this month:

A COTTAGE BY THE SEA by Ciji Ware

ON AGATE HILL by Lee Smith

THE ISLAND by Elin Hilderbrand

BLACKBIRD FLY by Lise McClendon

GOD SAVE THE MARK by Donald E. Westlake (Just for Fun Reading Challenge 2011)

FOLLY BEACH by Dorothea Benton Frank


Do you tend to read more or less in the hot summer months?