Fantastic Writing ~ All That Is Solid Melts Into Air by Carole Giangrande

by Susan Roberts

All That is Solid Melts into Air should be read slowly so you can enjoy the fantastic writing.

Amazon affiliate links are used in this post. A free book was provided for an honest review.

April 2017; Inanna Publications; 978-1771333610
ebook, print (200 pages); women's fiction

About the book: In the morning fog of the North Atlantic, Valerie hears the frenetic ticking of clocks. She's come from Toronto to hike on the French island of St. Pierre and to ponder her marriage to Gerard Lefevre, a Montrealer and a broadcast journalist whose passion for justice was ignited in his youth by the death of his lover in an airline bombing. He's a restless traveller (who she suspects is unfaithful) and she's the opposite: quiet, with an inner life she nurtures as a horticulturalist. Valerie's thinking about Gerard on assignment in her native New York City, where their son Andre works. In New York City, an airplane has plunged into a skyscraper, and in the short time before anyone understands the significance of this event, Valerie's mind begins to spiral in and out of the present moment, circling around her intense memories of her father's death, her youthful relationship with troubled Matthew, and her pregnancy with his child, the crisis that led to her marriage to Gerard, and her fears for the safety of her son Andre and his partner James. Unable to reach her loved ones, Valerie finds memory intruding on a surreal and dreamlike present until at last she connects with Gerard and the final horror of that day.

My Review: This is a beautiful book that I read slowly so that I could savor the fantastic writing. It's about 9/11, a subject that many people still can't read about, but it's about so much more than that. It's about family and love and memory of earlier life and trying to make sense of the world around us even during a tragedy such as 9/11. It's about the way that the past and the present are connected and the fact that you often need to look at your past to understand what is presently happening. Most importantly it's a deep look into someone's mind as they deal with senseless tragedy on a personal and a worldview perspective. I really cannot recommend this book enough -- it's one that I plan to keep and re-read.

Buy All That is Solid Melts into Air at Amazon


About the Author:
Carole Giangrande's two most recent books (the novellas Here Comes the Dreamer and Midsummer) were both published by Inanna Publications in 2014. A previous novella, A Gardener On The Moon, won the 2010 Ken Klonsky Novella Contest. She's the author of the novels, An Ordinary Star (2004) and A Forest Burning (2000) and a short story collection, Missing Persons (1994), as well as two non- fiction books: Down To Earth: The Crisis in Canadian Farming (1985) and The Nuclear North: The People, The Regions and the Arms Race (1983). She's worked as a broadcast journalist for CBC Radio, and her fiction, poetry, articles and reviews have appeared in literary journals and
in Canada's major newspapers.

Susan Roberts lives in North Carolina when she isn't traveling. She and her husband enjoy traveling, gardening and spending time with their family and friends. She reads almost anything (and the piles of books in her house prove that) but her favorite genres are Southern fiction, women's fiction, and thrillers. Susan is a top 1% Goodreads Reviewer. You can connect with her on Facebook.

Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

How EDNOR SCARDENS Prepared Me to Watch THE KEEPERS

by Kathleen Barker

I recently finished viewing all seven parts of the documentary film, "The Keepers" on Netflix.  Tears ran down my face as an immense well of anger overflowed.  Was is because I knew these women personally?  No.  Was it because I was a survivor of abuse?  Yes and no.

Amazon affiliate links are used in this post.

To explain that last answer, I'm going to do something that an author just doesn't do.  I'm going to review my own book, Ednor Scardens.

It all started when I went to a funeral a few years ago, and the eulogy that was delivered gave me pause because it didn't really capture the deceased.  I felt that the speaker didn't know much about her loved one's past.  Then a germ of fear took hold that my own kids didn't know many things about me before I was their mother.  So, I sat down to write down some facts as well as some anecdotes, and, before I knew it, I was typing into the night, and many more nights, as it poured out.

A story began to form, beginning with a girl in the sixth grade, who lived in a Catholic, blue-collar neighborhood, and attended Catholic school.  She gradually learns of the abuse of one of her friends by a parish priest, and then slowly realizes that she could become the next victim.  Some of the characters and material were autobiographical and some were fictitious, to provide a more cohesive story.  As Kate navigates middle school and high school, she moves through the minefield of friendship with her classmates.  Her physical maturity attracts the attention that her emotional immaturity is not equipped to deal with.  The scars slowly accumulate on her psyche.

When Kate moves past a puppy-love relationship with a boy named Gabe, and falls in love with his older brother Michael, her ghosts come out from hiding.  No one ever went to counseling in the 1960's.  No one spoke out against the Catholic Church.  You learned to stay quiet and bury it deep so you could act normal like everyone else. Until...

And the story just won't end.  So you write three more books to get it all out.

Buy Ednor Scardens at Amazon

Kathleen Barker was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. A graduate of Blessed Sacrament, the Institute of Notre Dame and Towson University, she spent twenty years as the much-traveled wife of a Navy pilot and has three children. While working for a Fortune 500 insurance company in New Orleans, she wrote feature and human interest articles for their magazine and received the Field Reporter of the Year award. After Hurricane Katrina, she returned to her beloved state of Maryland where she started work on "The Charm City Chronicles". All four volumes, "Ednor Scardens", "The Body War", "The Hurting Year", and "On Gabriel's Wings" are available in Amazon's Kindle store.

   

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A Shattering, Eye-Opening Novel: A House Without Windows by Nadia Hashimi

by Susan Roberts

This extremely well-written novel was a real eye-opener.

Amazon affiliate links are used in this post. A free book was provided for this review.

May 2017; William Morrow; 978-0062449658
ebook, audio, print (432 pages);women's fiction

From Amazon:  For two decades, Zeba was a loving wife, a patient mother, and a peaceful villager. But her quiet life is shattered when her husband, Kamal, is found brutally murdered with a hatchet in the courtyard of their home. Nearly catatonic with shock, Zeba is unable to account for her whereabouts at the time of his death. Her children swear their mother could not have committed such a heinous act. Kamal’s family is sure she did and demands justice. Barely escaping a vengeful mob, Zeba is arrested and jailed.

Awaiting trial, she meets a group of women whose own misfortunes have led them to these bleak cells: eighteen-year-old Nafisa, imprisoned to protect her from an “honor killing”; twenty-five-year-old Latifa, a teen runaway who stays because it is safe shelter; twenty-year-old Mezghan, pregnant and unmarried, waiting for a court order to force her lover’s hand. Is Zeba a cold-blooded killer, these young women wonder or has she been imprisoned, like them, for breaking some social rule? For these women, the prison is both a haven and a punishment; removed from the harsh and unforgiving world outside, they form a lively and indelible sisterhood.

Into this closed world comes Yusuf, Zeba’s Afghan-born, American-raised lawyer whose commitment to human rights and desire to help his homeland have brought him back. With the fate this seemingly ordinary housewife in his hands, Yusuf discovers that, like the Afghanistan itself, his client may not be at all what he imagines.

My Review:  For a woman, this extremely well-written novel was a real eye-opener.

Even though women in much of the world feel discriminated against on a daily basis, it is nothing compared to the way women are treated in Afghanistan. Zeba was a quiet, loving wife and mother for years before her husband was found murdered in their yard and she had blood on her hands. Few questions were asked by the police before she was dragged into jail where she was left for months with no contact with her children, until her trial.

The jail is full of women who made mistakes like dishonoring their father by spending too much time with a man that the family didn't approve of. With some of the lesser crimes by the other women in her cell, Zeba, an accused murderess is a real criminal. Even though she has a lawyer to try to help her, Zeba doesn't want to say anything that will cause dishonor to her husband's family plus she knows that she is safer in jail because they can't get to her to kill her for the murder.

A very telling line, that was written several times in the book, is that there is no reason for a woman to give evidence at her trial because a woman's testimony is considered half as important as a man's. In reality, Zeba is courageous and strong - a fact never accepted by the men in the novel.

This is a shattering, eye-opening novel based on common occurrences of issues for women in Afghanistan.

Buy A House Without Windows at Amazon


About the Author:

was born and raised in New York and New Jersey. Both her parents were born in Afghanistan and left in the early 1970s, before the Soviet invasion. Her mother, granddaughter of a notable Afghan poet, traveled to Europe to obtain a Master’s degree in civil engineering and her father came to the United States, where he worked hard to fulfill his American dream and build a new, brighter life for his immediate and extended family. Nadia was fortunate to be surrounded by a large family of aunts, uncles and cousins, keeping the Afghan culture an integral part of their daily lives.

Nadia Hashimi is a pediatrician of Afghan descent and an internationally bestselling author. She attended Brandeis University, obtained a medical degree from SUNY Downstate and trained in pediatrics at New York University. She has hometowns in both New York and New Jersey but now calls Maryland home. She is an advocate for women's rights and a public speaker.

Her previous books are The Pearl that Broke its Shell and When the Moon is Low.

website *  Facebook  *  Twitter

Susan Roberts lives in North Carolina when she isn't traveling.  She and her husband enjoy traveling, gardening and spending time with their family and friends.  She reads almost anything (and the piles of books in her house prove that) but her favorite genres are Southern fiction, women's fiction, and thrillers. Susan is a top 1% Goodreads Reviewer. You can connect with her on Facebook.

Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

Wonderfully Written ~ The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti #MondayBlogs

by Donna Huber

If I had to sum up The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti it would be it's about a man who lost his way.

Amazon affiliate links are used in this post.

March 2017; Dial Press; 978-0812989885
ebook, audio, print (400 pages); literary fiction

I won The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley in a Goodreads giveaway. When it arrived I couldn't remember what had attracted me to the book, but then I started to see it everywhere. It seemed to be the book everyone was talking about. Have you read it?

From the back cover: After fifteen years on the run, Samuel Hawley moves with his teenage daughter, Loo, to Olympus, Massachusetts. There, is his late wife's hometown, Hawley finds work as a fisherman, while Loo struggles to fit in at school and grows curious about her mother's mysterious death. Haunting them both are the twelve scars Hawley carries on his bodies, from twelve bullets in his criminal past -- a past that eventually spills over into his daughter's present, until together they must face a reckoning yet to come. This father-daughter epic weaves back and forth through time and across Amerca, from Alaska to the Adirondacks. Both a coming-of -age and a literary thriller. The Twelves Lifes of Samuel Hawley explores what it means to be a hero, and the cost we pay to protect the people we love most.

I really enjoyed the coming-of-age story of Loo. She is an interesting character as she leaves childhood behind and on the verge of adulthood. She has had a chaotic childhood as her father moves her from one place to another. Do they move because Hawley's past is coming after them, or is it because someone is asking too many questions and will possibly uncover his past?

When the book begins, Loo is your typical tween that has been raised by a single dad. She is pretty unkempt, though there's no real indication that she is neglected. More along the lines of unbrushed hair, disheveled clothing. She's moved around a lot, and for many children that would lead to them falling behind in school. But not Loo. When she and Hawley do eventually settle down, she skips a grade. I mostly kept reading to find out what happens to Loo.

The other reason I kept reading was Tinti's writing. She has crafted a wonderful story. This was my first novel by her and I was impressed. I will be looking for future books from her.

I didn't care too much for the flashbacks to Hawley's past, though as they came closer to the present  I found them more interesting, or maybe they just grew on me. Each flashback is based on one of Hawley's scars and how he got it. I was left with one question throughout - how did he never get caught? His presumably best friend, probably mentor Jove did a couple of stints in jail, but there is never any indication that Hawley was picked up for any of his crimes.

I started seeing where the ending was going a few chapters before it happened. But that didn't stop the ending from being satisfying. I really liked how the story came full circle in the end. When I turned the last page, my only thought was "Samuel Hawley is a man who lost his way." Which isn't really an original thought as Hawley had mentioned losing and finding his way throughout the novel.

But for me, I wasn't so sure if he lost his way when he started his life of crime or when he went straight.

I may not have remembered what drew me to the book in the first place, I'm glad that I did notice it.

While this wouldn't typically be the kind of book you would think of as a 'beach read', this would make for a good vacation read. And they do live on the coast.

Buy The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley at Amazon

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

3 New Romance Novels From Loveswept (@readloveswept)

by by MK Frenchhh

May has been a good month for books. In case your reading list isn't long enough yet, Loveswept has three romance novels coming out on Tuesday.

Amazon affiliate links are used in this post. Free ARCs were provided for an honest review.

Wed to a Spy by Sharon Cullen

May 2017; Loveswept; ebook (259 pages)
historical romance

While Simon Marchford would love to retire and no longer spy for Queen Elizabeth, he's bound to her commands. Once in Scotland in Queen Mary's court, he soon is married to Aimee de Verris. She was sent to Mary's court by Catherine de Medici as a spy, which she is horrible at. Both are caught up in a conspiracy and are forced to escape Scotland. Simon will protect Aimee no matter what, and she might just be able to love him.

I really like period romances that go into some of the historical aspects of the time. Here, that includes court intrigue, how the castle appears, and the complex relationships that royalty and spies might have.

We get to know Aimee and Simon from each other's perspectives, and their discomfort at the arranged marriage is a real thing that neither shies away from. It's a fun trope because of course, they get to know each other as Simon keeps Aimee safe in Scotland and then on their way to England. Their affections develop gradually, and both are more concerned for the other's welfare than their own.

The characters are fun to read about, and the plot keeps things moving steadily until the end. There's a bit of a sudden turnaround at the end; even with Simon's skill and importance, it feels a little far fetched. Overall, this is an enjoyable.

Buy Wed to a Spy at Amazon

Surrender the Dark by Tibby Armstrong

May 2017; Loveswept; ebook (251 pages)
paranormal romance

Benjamin Fuller is a hunter, born with supernatural gifts to destroy vampires. He was blinded by the vampire king as a child, but the magic in his bloodline allows him to still see auras. This is one way he gets around Boston, and the other is that he had lived there all his life and knows the cadences of the city. The tragedy that blinded him led to his family's deaths and dealing with the trauma left him rather bitter and scarred. It doesn't stop him from feeling lust for the strange man that showed up at the bar he frequented, claiming to be another hunter. The stranger is actually the vampire king Tzadkiel himself, healed enough from the damage Benjamin's family had inflicted and hoping to regain the power he lost. Part of Tzadkiel's problem is that he desires Benjamin as much as he hates him, and needs him alive.

The story is characterized as a romance and is part of the Loveswept line. This isn't a romance in the classical sense, however. There isn't an exchange of heartfelt and tender moments, coy glances, or a misunderstanding that ultimately they overcome in order to be together. Ben and Tzadkiel are both headstrong and capable of being vicious. The two men have a lot of trauma to work through, and there is little enough trust once Tzadkiel's identity is revealed.

It's definitely an interesting take on vampirism in this book, as well as the inevitable conflict with werewolves, witches, and the fae. The plot is very involved and sucks you right into it. The relationship between the two men is a sharp, prickly thing, and nothing comes easily for the two of them. Ben's two best friends have their own issues and are just as well fleshed out as our two main characters. The same can't be said of the other vampires mentioned, or even The Morgan, who leads the coven of witches. Still, that goes largely unnoticed because of how much tension and action the plot carries.

Buy Surrender the Dark at Amazon

A Counterfeit Heart by K. C. Bateman

May 2017; Loveswept; ebook (306 pages)
regency romance

Sabine de la Tour hid behind a male alias and was the premier forger in France. She had helped Napoleon destabilize the continent with her forged bank notes, but with Napoleon out of power, she and her associate have to leave to maintain her safety. This involves putting herself under the watchful eye of Richard Hampden, Viscount Lowell, the English spy she had outrun for years. They strike a bargain, and he keeps a close eye on her, installing her in his mother's home next door to his. But she wasn't the only one that left France with forged documents, and she isn't the only one aware of the rumors that she still has a considerable fortune in forged bank notes.

This is another novel in the Secrets and Spies series released by Loveswept, so characters from prior novels make cameo appearances in this one. Like the others in this series, our heroine is witty and very aware of her strengths and weaknesses. Sabine isn't interested in staying quiet, not when she could possibly do something to save herself and her associate. Richard is drawn to her, of course, and the emotional dance throughout the book is an amusing one to read about.

The end doesn't feel rushed and fits the characters very well.

Buy A Counterfeit Heart at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and golden retriever.

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3 Books with Interesting Female Characters

by Susan Roberts

Fiction books have changed a lot during the last ten years. It used to be that novels were mainly written by men with male main characters who were always rescuing the women in distress. Today I have reviews of three books that were all not only written by women but have female main characters. I definitely enjoyed all three books.