Loose Diamonds....and other things I've lost (and found) along the way by Amy Ephron

Loose Diamonds: ...and other things I've lost (and found) along the way

William Morrow Publishers

Available Now

Amy Ephron has put together a collection of essays about her memories for us to enjoy including friendships, romances, marriages and even her love for her Filofax.  The story that really caught my attention was the afternoon she spent with Squeaky Fromme.  

This is a well written quick read of some of the ups and downs in this author's life.  Entertaining, some funny, some a little scary, but all really good.  It is not a deep "get to know Amy Ephron" type book, just little snippets of certain events. Wonderful for a little escape.

About This Author from Wikipedia

Ephron is the author of six novels – her latest, the best seller One Sunday Morning: A Novel, is out in paperback. Her national bestseller, A Cup of Tea: A Novel of 1917 , spent 37 weeks on the LA Times bestsellers list and has been bought by film producer Jerry Bruckheimer. A Cup of Tea:  won Ephron the 2005 Southern California Booksellers Association award for fiction, received the Booklist Best Fiction of the Year 2005 award and was a Barnes and Noble Book Club selection.

Ephron is a frequent contributor to Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, ELLE, LA Times, Saveur, National Lampoon, The Realist, LA Weekly, LA Style, and The Huffington Post. As a film executive she worked on A Little Princess, Born on the Fourth of July and Out of Africa. She also runs her own food website called One for the Table, which publishes articles and recipes about food, love, and politics.

I need to Recognize Sharon of Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews for drawing this book to my attention. I saw it on her list for the Monday Meme, It's Monday, What Are You Reading?  It looked like something I would like to read and it also had a title that qualified for the What's In A Name Challenge. So with this book I complete that challenge and my being a book recommended by Sharon, it also gives me another entry for my 3 R'S Challenge as well, which is one I am really behind on.  Thank you Sharon!!!

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Whistling in the Dark by Lesley Kagen

Whistling In the Dark
New American Library
A Division of the Penguin Group
Published 2007

This book was recommended to me by author Rochelle Staab when we "met" discussing her new book coming out in November, Who Do, Voodoo?.  I was thrilled to learn she was from Wisconsin and she told me I had to read this book and that I would want to read it's sequel too, Good Graces. Thank you Rochelle!!!!

Whistling In the Dark takes place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1959, and is written from 10 year old Sally O'Malley's point of view. She has a little sister Troo, and a older sister Nell, her father was killed in a car accident, her mother then married Hall who is not much of a step father.  

Her mother ends up spending most of the summer in the hospital due to complications of surgery. Nell is caught up with her boyfriend and Hall is busy with another woman or has drown himself in liquor or both.  The two little girls are left on their own but it is back in the time when your neighbors knew everybody and everybody watched out for each other.  Sally and Troo were fed and taken care of my the good folks of the neighborhood.

The area is living in fear of a child molester and murderer.  Two little girls have gone missing and one was found dead in the park where Sally and Troo play everyday. Sally is sure she will be the next victim. She even believes she knows who the killer is and will do everything she can to keep her and her sister safe.

My Thoughts

There are so many reasons I loved this book.  First Sally has a very active imagination just like I was told I had while growing up so it was so easy to relate to her.  I wasn't born until 1961 but references in this book were true to what I remember or had been told as I grew up. The trips to the zoo brought back such memories. There must to be very few people from Southern Wisconsin that do not remember going to see the Gorilla named Sampson at the Milwaukee Public Zoo!

"The Ape That Made Milwaukee Famous"

Beyond the memories this story churned up, it is marvelously written.  Funny, surprising, and full of charm yet tragic in places. Sally's innocence will have you laughing one minute and wiping a tear from your eye the next. All the characters were wonderfully created. 

The story reminds us of simpler times, when kids played outside until the streetlights came on and the neighbors watched out and took care of your skinned knees or brought out a plate of cookies to share. I understand completely why it was a national bestseller. This book is definitely a must read, plus a sequel to the bookGood Graces that came out in September and I can't wait to get my hands on it.  I am anxious to read everything by this author.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

THANK YOU ROCHELLE!!!

WISCONSIN

Chasing Lilacs by Carla Stewart Review & Giveaway

I found out about this book in my blog travels so it is perfect for the 3 R's Challenge.  I want to Recognize Maureen Mullis of Plotting It Out for reviewing this book back in July. Thank you also to FaithWords for granting my review book request. I read it almost as soon as it arrived!! 

FaithWords
Hachette Book Group

Set in 1958, in Graham Camp, Texas, a small "town" set up for the workers of the local petroleum company.  Life should be good but young Sammie Tucker doesn't understand her mother's "nerve problems" or why her mother rarely gets out of bed or lives in her housecoat. When her mother is sent away  for shock treatments this twelve year old life changes forever.  

She doesn't know who she can trust, who she can talk to or how to deal with all the feelings she is having.  Her best friend "knows" and has an opinion on everything.  A new boy moves to town from California but has a lot of his own baggage.  The woman next door is always there for Sammie with a hug and there is an older man that is very understanding but he has some secrets of his own.  One of Sammie's teachers tries to get her to open up but Sammie doesn't know much she can really share. She does know that her aunt is up to no good and Sammie doesn't not trust her at all. 

She questions her mother's love and while dealing with all the normal adolescent growing issues she has to face some very adult things that no child should have to deal with.

When I first started reading this book I thought it was a young adult coming-of age story.  Well before the end of the first chapter I knew I was wrong about that.  This is a story with a real adult issue, depression, seen through the eyes of a wonderful twelve year old.   Back in the 50's it was called "nerve problems" and shock treatments with horrendous side effects were the treatment.

Carla Stewart has written a heart breaking and heart warming novel that will stick with you long past the final word.  It is so well written you feel invested in Sammie's life immediately and find yourself wishing you could climb into the pages and help her through the rocky journey she is taking.

This is marketed as Christian Fiction but it has a very subtle Christian references so if that type of fiction is not your genre don't let it keep you from reading this wonderful story. Take some time to stop and smell the lilacs.

This is definitely an author to watch, she has a voice that tells tough stories with passion. I can't wait to read her next novel Broken Wings.  Find out more at Carla's web page.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent
  

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Faith Words, Hachette Book Group, in exchange for an honest review.  The opinions stated are entirely my own.  I am stating this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR part 255. "Guides Concerning Use of Endorsement and Testimonials in Advertising"  

I am so blessed that the publisher has given 

two copies of this book for giveaway!

U.S. & Canadian Residents Only

Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries 

Contest Ends at 11:59 PM CST September 1

Winners Chosen By Random. org

Heat Wave by Nancy Thayer

This book has been on my wish list since I noticed it on some blogs before it came out.  I read Beth's Review on her blog The Crazy Life Of A Bookoholic Mom and when it was offered to me by the Amazon Vine Program I snapped it right up.  Thank you Beth!!!  Please take a minute to check out her wonderful blog!!

Ballantine Books
Random House Publishing
ISBN-10: 0345518314
ISBN-13: 978-0345518316

Carley and Gus have been married 13 years, she stays home with their two girls in their huge Nantucket home that was Gus's mother's family home.  Gus is a partner in his father's law firm.  Life is good.  Until one night Gus doesn't come home from the office.  Carley contacts her in-laws and her father-in-law goes back to the office to find his only child dead at his desk.

This sets up a whole mass of events for Carley from dealing with her children, her in-laws and her friends, plus the financial burden she now has to manage. She moves forward for herself and her daughters in ways that are hard for Gus's parents to understand at times. She tries hard to do what she believe Gus would want her to do. Always putting her family first. 

This story has so many layers, relationships, and drama.  The relationship Carley has with her daughters rings true as they all come to grips with Gus's death.  Add the oldest daughter becoming a teenager and all the very real things mother and daughters face are brought to the forefront.

The relationship with Gus's parents is difficult at best. At times his mother tries to undermine Carley with her girls but Carley handles it and even stands up to them both unleashing the strong character within.

The relationship with her friends troubled me at times, some of the situations seemed almost too much for the character of Carley to bear.  One so extraordinary that most of us never would be able to handle and I think the author let it happen too easily.

I don't want to reveal too much but one of Carley's relationships moved too slowly, the stopping and starting, the taking in and pushing away felt overdone.  I realized that by the end of the story what the author was setting up but the time taken should have been in one place instead of the other.

All this being said, Nancy Thayer is a wonderful author who writes of Nantucket in almost a poetic way.   You know she loves her setting and she knows her audience.  This is a fine summer read that all her fans will enjoy.  Did I love it? No, but I did enjoy it. Is this her finest novel? No, but it is very good.  It's all about the relationships. The story is full of flawed characters with lots of waves, the heat was there and then it was gone and everything tied up in the end in a neat little package.  Just a little bit too neat.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Amazon Vine Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

Georgia Bottoms by Mark Childress

Little Brown and Company
Hachette Book Group

Georgia Bottoms is beautiful, full of southern charm and goes to church every Sunday.  She also cares for her elderly mother and sells hand made quilts all around Six Points, Alabama.

But she is also a woman with a secret life.  She entertains some of the town's finest male citizens at night.  Six different men and each has his particular night of the week and the night is customized to his particular tastes.  They have all been trained to leave her a "gift" to help Georgia take care of herself and her mother.  Plus each gentleman caller thinks he's the only lover enjoying Georgia's company.

Things start to fall apart when Georgia's minister, Mr. Saturday Night, decides to confess his sins to his wife and the entire congregation one Sunday morning.  She manages to cause a diversion to stop this confession, but knows if she doesn't do something quickly her entire private life will become public knowledge.  She has to protect her mother and herself.  Six Points, Alabama will never be the same.

First I have to give credit where credit is due. This book has been recommended by several people/blogs even before it was released.  So I could put a pretty big list here, but I won this book from a giveaway at Cheryl's CMash Loves To Read and she said to put in on the top of my To-Be-Read pile which I did. So I have Read, My Review will be below and I Recognize Cheryl for getting this book in my hands and encouraging to make time for this book. My first book in this wonderful challenge. Just a side note Cheryl is one of the hosts of this wonderful challenge.

Yes, I loved this story so much.  I think it will definitely become a sort of Southern Classic.  It is funny and heartbreaking.  The entire town seems totally dysfunctional and perfect together at the time.  

It amazed me that Georgia was able to keep up this ruse as long as she did, but Mark Childress is such a great writer I bought the whole thing, hook, line and sinker. Maybe it's the Alabama heat that drives what would almost be called insanity of this town, but I loved it, each and every word. I may be a little biased here because I live far from the south but have learned that pastors can be some of the most hypocritical persons on the earth, so I had no trouble buying into this pastor's story or the replacement.

Childress has created a strong be it offbeat heroine.  I had read several reviews before I read this book and some people actually hated it and hated Georgia.  After reading it myself I decided those who panned this book must not have had much of a sense of humor, this book is comedic look at not only southern life but life anywhere. Every word may not be politically correct but with some minor changes like a long cold winter instead of a long hot summer this could easily have taken place in North Dakota as Alabama. Do any of really know what is happening behind the closed doors of our neighbors?

This is a great book to "escape" with and it will definitely tickle your funny bone. It is my first book my Mark Childress but it most definitely is not my last!!!

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent
 

 Disclosure of Material Connection: This book was my personal collection. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

THE 3 R'S CHALLENGE

SIGN UP HERE!

The Three R's is a collaboration of the minds of Cheryl from CMash Loves to Read, Julie from Reading with Restraint, and Gina from Hott Books. The ideas, the creativity, and the technology - respectively. We're each putting forth what we can do to spring this to life.

It all started because Cheryl wanted to remember the bloggers who write the reviews that begin our journey to a new book, new series, or new author. Every day each of us reads the reviews of others shaping our TBR lists. Then we occasionally remember to note them in our post but, more often than not, we completely forget about the reviews that brought us to the wonderful book we've just read.

So this challenge is for them!

We'd like to link our reviews that mention the blogger that suggested the book we've read and are now reviewing.

How thankful are you?

• 1-6 Books (~1 review every 2 months)
• 7-12 Books (~1 reviews every month)
• 13-24 Books (~ 2 reviews every month)

Rules:

We're not making this a difficult challenge, actually, it's going to be very simple!

1. This challenge will begin on January 1, 2011 and end on December 31, 2011.
2. Write a starting post stating how thankful you plan to be in the upcoming year and link it to the linky we'll have on the starting post.
3. Read a book recommended  to you by another blogger. (This book can be a crossover from another challenge.)
4. Review the book & Recognize the blogger who recommended it to you.
5. Recommend the Book in our Recommend linky by linking your review post naming the blogger who recommended the book to you.

Easy, right? Who wants to be in on the fun?

What else will we be doing? We'll have quarterly giveaways for our participants to enter and unannounced special drawings for commenters on the site so be sure to leave your email address with your comment!

I am very thankful for the recommendations by other bloggers. 

 I am going to commit to:

7-12 Books (~1 reviews every month)

and aspire to the next level.