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Reviews by Pam L. (Melbourne Beach, FL)

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My Lovely Wife
by Samantha Downing

Paper cuts (9/30/2018)

Really a 4.5 star review. Chilling, compelling, keep you guessing. Samantha Downing's novel My Lovely Wife starts out intriguing, who is this man? His wife Millicent, chilling. Then the story simmers, leading into a runaway train ending that is unputdownable. Who is the evil one? What would you do to keep your marriage exciting? Exciting, creepy, haunting. An extraordinary page turner. Just clicks along. Set aside a day to just read it.

Happiness: The Crooked Little Road to Semi-Ever After
by Heather Harpham

A perfect match (5/28/2017)

First of all WOW, what an unputdownable book. Thank you so much for the ARC copy. I was looking for a remarkable read and it showed up in my mail box. Happiness, a memoir by Heather Harpham is life affirming. Her writing is absolutely beautiful and I fell right into the story. It made me sing, cry, laugh and be oh so grateful. This memoir is a must read, so pick it up and take the day off.

News of the World
by Paulette Jiles

News of the World (8/8/2016)

A good story, beautiful writing, great characters, and satisfying ending. What else could a reader want? Paulette Jiles' new novel; News of the World centers around a 70 year old man Captain Kidd, who carries news of the world to the people of Texas after the Civil War. Great premise in itself. He is a quiet hero, who is entrusted with returning a 10 year old Indian captive to her family. What ensues is an exploration of the history and cultures that made Texas. Some of Ms. Jiles' phrases are so poetic and perfect, they beg to be read more than once. Her descriptions immerse the reader in time and place.This novel made me smile many times. Paulette Jiles has created two very strong, engaging characters in the form of Captain Kidd and Johanna.

Ashes of Fiery Weather
by Kathleen Donohoe

Ashes of Fiery Weather (3/2/2016)

I am on page 120 and am still having a hard time finding this novel engaging. It is a hard read due to the confusion and disappointment I keep feeling. I am yet to keep the characters or the story straight. I am looking for something to grab my attention. The parts about the nuns, the convent and the fire houses do and then I'm lost again. The novel will start to go smoothly and begin a good story and then the telling would switch timelines or characters and the momentum would flounder as I the reader did also. The section about Maggie O'Reilly was the best yet it also feel short. Obviously Kathleen Donahoe put a lot of time, effort and heart into her novel, yet I was glad to be done with this novel. My obligation met.

Fallen Land
by Taylor Brown

Fallen Land (11/20/2015)

War is brutal, violent and devastating as Taylor Brown expertly depicts in Fallen Land. And then comes Ava, the gutsy heroine of the novel. Along with Callum, her love, they flee a band of bounty hunters to safety during the final days of the Civil War. Fallen Land is populated with characters you are not soon to forget and landscapes that the author paints with words that are strikingly vivid and real. Taylor Brown's writing is achingly beautiful, sparse, and haunting. His choice of words at times perfect. The land and the steadfast horse, Reiver, that Callum and Ava travel on serve as a striking contrast of ruin and beauty. Fallen Land is a novel reminiscent of Cold Mountain, in it's honesty and brutality with an unforgettable story that follows the journey of young love during a most tragic time in our history.

The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes
by Anna McPartlin

The Best Things in Life (7/8/2015)

I put The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes down after reading the first two pages. Rabbit is on her way to a hospice to die. Fortunately for me I picked it back up and read further. What an absolute gift! It made me smile, cry, laugh out loud and long for a family like Rabbit's. Every character is selfless in their love for Rabbit and so very endearing. This novel is rich in life, love, hope and laughter. I did not want to let this family go, so I slowed my reading pace and kept putting The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes down. Thank you Anna McPartlin. This novel is an absolute must read.

Fishbowl: A Novel
by Bradley Somer

Legal Voyeurism (5/6/2015)

Have you ever wondered what lives people really live? Then pick up Bradley Somer's new novel Fishbowl. A clever title, a very clever premise and a great story. Fishbowl lets the reader explore the lives of the residents of the Seville on Roxy with Ian, a goldfish, yes a fish, that swan dives out of his bowl on the twenty seventh floor. From the first pages, this book made me smile. The story includes a heroine, a villain and a cast of eccentric characters all looking for love. I hated to put this novel down, because I couldn't wait to read what happened in the lives of the residents. Fishbowl was sweet, surprising, and thoroughly entertaining. As a reader, I just love the fact that novels give you a window into other peoples lives, and Fishbowl does that with a unique twist.

The Rebellion of Miss Lucy Ann Lobdell
by William Klaber

The Female Hunter (12/7/2014)

This novel is so rich, a tapestry of life, love, death, sadness and bitter disappointment. William Klaber gives the reader an unexpected, unique, adventure tale in his novel The Rebellion of Miss Lucy Ann Lobdell. Lucy's story is packed with history, survival, political and moral issues, and unforgettable characters and places. I couldn't wait to pick this book up and hear what 'Lucy' was doing next. Klaber's use of Lucy's voice telling her story was so believable and every well placed detail added so much to this wonderful book. Just a great story.

Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis: The Untold Story
by Barbara Leaming

The Untold Story (11/11/2014)

The amount of research, the well chosen words and the smart writing style of Barbara Leaming at times made this book superb. However, it got bogged down with politics and name dropping a bit too often for me. I loved the pieces about Jackie that were personal and about her everyday life and struggles.This biography was at times fascinating, absolutely full of information and served to educate the reader on PTSD. It has given me better insight into what is PTSD and the daunting task it is to lead a life free of terror after a traumatic event. I felt uncomfortable with some of the very private details, like I was privy to secrets that perhaps no one should know. I was looking for more simply about Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. Even with her demons, she displayed a class of her own and continued to reinvent herself until she found peace. Bravo to a woman who at a young age stated that her ambition was "not to be a housewife."

The House We Grew Up In
by Lisa Jewell

Bird watching (3/9/2014)

This novel introduces the Bird family, at first idyllic. Yet, as time progresses, each character and all their flaws are revealed. The House We Grew Up In kept my interest and the characters are well developed. A good pick for book clubs, as the novel opens many issues for discussion. Lisa Jewel brings family, life and all its messes together in one family. Maybe, at times a bit much for me. However, at other times an engaging novel that kept my interest. How the story was told and the pace of revealing the Bird's secrets worked well for me. The Bird's house became another well developed character, changing as the family changed. The perfect household becomes a prison , and the Bird family must break free and repair the damage. Lisa Jewel leaves the reader with hope and possibilities, and perhaps some understanding of people's choices.

The Housemaid's Daughter
by Barbara Mutch

Tomorrow I sail to Africa (11/11/2013)

So begins Barbara Mutch's saga about an Irish immigrant, Cathleen and her devotion to her housemaid's daughter, Ada. The reader journeys back and forth through the black and white worlds of South Africa from the 1920's.Although this novel was slow and repetitive at times for me; two facts regarding this novel make it so compelling, one is Ada's naivete. Her child-like outlook makes for the telling of a truly unbiased tale of apartheid by the many characters that are introduced through Ada's eyes. Second, is Ada's love of music and her mastery of the piano, bringing such beauty in a time of so much tragedy.

To the Moon and Timbuktu: A Trek through the Heart of Africa
by Nina Sovich

A Warrior (6/14/2013)

To the Moon and Timbuktu was a perfect read for me. I loved Nina Sovich's brutal honesty and her passion to follow in the footsteps of Mary Kingsley. Her travels through the heart of Africa were spell binding and Sovich's writing was absolutely beautiful at times. Her experiences were at once romantic, and then so uncomfortable you couldn't help but ask why she did it. Sovich's combination of history, culture, politics and personal reflections carried this memoir off beautifully. The stories of the people of Western Africa made for great reading, especially those of the women.

The Spy Lover
by Kiana Davenport

A 3-D look at the Civil war (12/12/2012)

"The Spy Lover" is a fascinating account of the Civil War from the perspective of a Chinese immigrant, a nurse/spy and a one armed cavalry man. Kianan Davenport writes such a vivid almost life like account of the Civil War that it made me feel I was on some of the battle fields and among the soldiers. Much of the telling is not for the weak stomached, but certainly an accurate account of the detritus of war. A novel with many details that I do not believe have been brought to life before. I particularly loved Johnny Tom's Eastern philosophy on the horrors of war and how the women responded to the changes that the Civil War created for them.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry: A Novel
by Rachel Joyce

Map to Come (7/20/2012)

What a concept. I love Harold Fry, the unlikely hero of the debut novel by Rachel Joyce. This novel is the epitome of the expression "stop and smell the roses." Harold's journey is about regret, forgiveness and most absolutely, love. Harold's pilgrimage is reflective, heart -breaking, and most of all about hope and faith. The ending is almost pitch perfect. Harold Fry has something to teach everyone. Brew a pot of tea, sit down and savor "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" by Rachel Joyce.

A Simple Murder
by Eleanor Kuhns

A Simple Murder (4/20/2012)

Just a good old fashioned murder mystery. It kept my interest throughout. Loved that it took place in 1796 among the Shakers. I want ot know what will be Will Reese's next mystery to solve and where that will take place. Bravo, Eleanor Kuhns.

Across Many Mountains: A Tibetan Family's Epic Journey from Oppression to Freedom
by Yangzom Brauen

Across Many Mountains (8/3/2011)

A good book educates, or takes the reader somewhere they've never been; Across Many Mountains effortlessly accomplishes both. This memoir contains peril, adventure, survival, birth, death, and love. A fascinating look at how the ancient religion of Buddhism and its way of life collides with the modern world in just three generations of remarkable Tibetan women. How they persevere and maintain their traditions within a crumbling culture is excellent reading for anyone.

Reviews by Pam L. (Melbourne Beach, FL)

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