The Weight of Blood by Laura McHugh

What is it about?

The Dane family's roots tangle deep in the Ozark Mountain town of Henbane, but that doesn't keep sixteen-year-old Lucy Dane from being treated like an outsider. Folks still whisper about her mother, a bewitching young stranger who inspired local myths when she vanished years ago. When one of Lucy's few friends, slow-minded Cheri, is found murdered, Lucy feels haunted by the two lost girls-the mother she never knew and the friend she couldn't protect. Everything changes when Lucy stumbles across Cheri's necklace in an abandoned trailer and finds herself drawn into a search for answers. What Lucy discovers makes it impossible to ignore the suspicion cast on her own kin. More alarming, she suspects Cheri's death could be linked to her mother's disappearance, and the connection between the two puts Lucy at risk of losing everything. In a place where the bonds of blood weigh heavy, Lucy must decide where her allegiances lie.

My Thoughts...

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars.

I was pulled into this book right from the very first sentence. I loved the characters, especially Birdie and Lucy. They were very well developed and all had personalities all their own. For the most part, it is easy to find people in your real life that are somewhat like the characters in this book, especially if you live in a small town.

The author was able to create the feeling of a small isolated town- the suffocation along with deep need to take care of your own. The title fit the story nicely, in fact, I think this is the first time I read a book that the title described so perfectly. The entire story can be summed up with the title.

The story flowed along nicely, there was never a dull moment. I liked the topics covered in this book, but I can't talk about them without giving the entire story line away. Let's just say it is a topic that needs attention brought to it and I'm glad the author has done it.

Mothers Who Murder by Xanthe Mallett

What is it about?

All of these women are notorious, but are all of them deadly?Child murder: A social taboo and one of the most abhorrent acts most of us can imagine. Meet the women found guilty of murdering their own children. They represent some of the most hated women in Australia. The infamous list includes psychologically damaged, sometimes deranged, women on the edge. But, as we will see, accused doesn't always mean guilty. Among the cases covered is that of Kathleen Folbigg, accused and found guilty of killing four of her children, even with a lack of any forensic evidence proving her guilt; Rachel Pfitzner, who strangled her 2-year-old son and dumped his body in a duck pond; as well as Keli Lane, found guilty of child murder though no body has ever been found.Dr Mallett goes back to the beginning of each case; death's ground zero. That might be the accused's childhood, were they abused? Or was their motivation greed, or fear of losing a partner? Were they just simply evil? Or did the media paint them as such, against the evidence and leading to a travesty of justice.Each case will be re-opened, the alternative suspects assessed, the possible motives reviewed. Informed by her background as a forensic scientist, Xanthe offers insight into aspects of the cases that may not have been explored previously. Taking you on her journey through the facts, and reaching her own conclusion as to whether she believe the evidence points to the women's guilt.Hear their stories.

My Thoughts....

I gave this book 3 out of five stars.

This book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

I found the subject of this book fascinating. Each chapter covered a different criminal case involving the death of a child or children allegedly by the hand of their mother. The author discusses each case, presents facts, trail transcripts and medical reports. She provides alternate theories and lots of background information regarding the child and the parents. There is a lot of discussion around medical issues. I found the author to be very thorough in her writing. At times it was quite repetitive. However, it was very interesting despite being horribly sad.

One Kick

What is it about?

Kick Lannigan, 21, is a survivor. Abducted at age six in broad daylight, the police, the public, perhaps even her family assumed the worst had occurred. And then Kathleen Lannigan was found, alive, six years later. In the early months following her freedom, as Kick struggled with PTSD, her parents put her through a litany of therapies, but nothing helped until the detective who rescued her suggested Kick learn to fight. Before she was thirteen, Kick learned marksmanship, martial arts, boxing, archery, and knife throwing. She excelled at every one, vowing she would never be victimized again. But when two children in the Portland area go missing in the same month, Kick goes into a tailspin. Then an enigmatic man Bishop approaches her with a proposition: he is convinced Kick's experiences and expertise can be used to help rescue the abductees. Little does Kick know the case will lead directly into her terrifying past…

My Thoughts....

I gave this book a 2 out of 5 stars.

I was really looking forward to this book. I was disappointed in it, mainly because it seemed so scattered and like there was so much missing. The whole story seemed to be eluding to something that was never explained. Bishop appears out of no where and Kick takes off with him, a complete stranger who she knows nothing about. I would think that someone who was kidnapped and kept as a sex slave for 5 years would be more cautious about who she takes off with. Especially if she spent the last 10 years of her life training herself in combat and such. The character of Kick didn't fit with her actions.
Second, I have no idea how the connection was made between Adam's abductor and her "brothers" abduction. Maybe the pictures of the dark haired boys they found? Again, it was only eluded to and I'm not positive that was it. 
Overall, I found the book to be a complete set up for the series. It left a lot of unanswered questions about the characters, who some of them worked for and why they did the things they did. I get that it is known to be the beginning of a series, but I like a series that is made up of stand alone books, not one that is set up so that the reader has to buy the next book to figure out what happened and why in the last book. 

*Note: At the time that I was writing this review, I had seen some very disturbing messages from the author posted on her facebook page in which she actually swore at her fans and essentially made fun of them for asking her questions in which she felt they could find the answers elsewhere. This definitely colored my opinion of her and more than likely my review. While you can be a mean person and still write wonderful novels, I feel like I shouldn't support an author who can be horrible to her fans. Chelsea Cain is a wonderful author, I thoroughly enjoyed her previous series and I hope that her posts on her Facebook page were a slip of the mind and that she realizes as an author who puts herself out there to interact with her readers that she should expect interaction and that sometimes this means answering questions that have been asked before and the more than likely have been answered elsewhere. If she hasn't already I really think she needs to apologize to her fans.

Undeniable Series

   

While each of these books are great individually, they really need to be read as part of the series. Each one is definitely a stand alone in that you don't need to have read the others to follow the story line, but they do share characters. To get the full effect of the characters I recommend reading them in order. There are more books to the series, three more as far as I know. Number 4 has been recently published and there are two more to come. I will add them as I read them.

Each story follows a member of the Hell's Horsemen MC. They are raw, erotic and down and dirty. If you are easily offended you may not enjoy these. In fact, the books come with a disclaimer from the author, for example: "Warning: This is not a virtuous and tender love story. It’s chaotic, ruthless, and tragic. This story takes love and kills its innocence, steals away the pure moments, and crushes the hearts of the broken. A story born in childhood, tying one girl to one boy, leads to a destructive path—that hurts more than it doesn’t, that shatters more than it heals—testing the love that binds the two through a lifetime. " That said, I loved all of the characters in all of the books so far and I absolutely can't wait to read the rest.

If you would like to learn more about this series and read  the description of each individual book, you can check them out here. 

Necessary Lies

What is it about?

Bestselling author Diane Chamberlain delivers a breakout book about a small southern town fifty years ago, and the darkest—and most hopeful—places in the human heart

After losing her parents, fifteen-year-old Ivy Hart is left to care for her grandmother, older sister and nephew as tenants on a small tobacco farm.  As she struggles with her grandmother’s aging, her sister’s mental illness and her own epilepsy, she realizes they might need more than she can give.

When Jane Forrester takes a position as Grace County’s newest social worker, she doesn’t realize just how much her help is needed.  She quickly becomes emotionally invested in her clients' lives, causing tension with her boss and her new husband.  But as Jane is drawn in by the Hart women, she begins to discover the secrets of the small farm—secrets much darker than she would have guessed.  Soon, she must decide whether to take drastic action to help them, or risk losing the battle against everything she believes is wrong.

Set in rural Grace County, North Carolina in a time of state-mandated sterilizations and racial tension, Necessary Lies tells the story of these two young women, seemingly worlds apart, but both haunted by tragedy.  Jane and Ivy are thrown together and must ask themselves: how can you know what you believe is right, when everyone is telling you it’s wrong?

My Thoughts....

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars!

Another amazing book by Diane Chamberlain! I could not stop reading this, it was such a great story. Although it was not a true story, I'm sure there were many situations like the ones described in this book that many women and men found themselves in. It doesn't surprise me that such a program existed and it doesn't surprise me that it was essentially hidden from the public for so long. I was so proud of Jane for sticking by her beliefs and doing what she believed to be right. I could feel myself getting annoyed at her husband for not supporting her, however I know that at the time of the story this was the way things were between women and men. I am so glad that I didn't grow up feeling de-valued that way because I am a women. 

This book touched on many issues in society- poverty, human rights, racism, class-ism, loyalty, family and many more. However, the overall theme that I found in this book is stand up for your beliefs and be a voice for those who need to be heard but can't be because of the above list and societies perception of them.

Going Down Swinging

What is it about?

A remarkable debut novel and bittersweet tale of the unflinching love and devotion between a mother and daughter.Razor sharp and darkly funnyGoing Down Swinging chronicles two years in the life of the Hoffmans. Eilleen Hoffman has just told Danny, her con-artist lover and father of her youngest daughter Grace, to get out — for good. Once a teacher, Eilleen lived a middle-class life, but her taste in men coupled with a predilection for pills and booze has brought her down. Desperate to prevent her family from sinking deeper into poverty, Eilleen reluctantly goes on welfare. Eventually she turns to the only friends she has left, hustlers and hookers, to learn how a woman makes fast money, no investment necessary.With Eilleen on welfare and her older daughter Charlotte a teenaged runaway, child welfare authorities descend on the Hoffmans. As Eilleen trails through several attempts at drying out, the well-intentioned Children's Protection Society finally intervenes to apprehend Grace. With the threat of prolonged separation now a stark reality, Eilleen and Grace must rally to confront their demons with grit, determination and humour. Unblinkingly observed and brilliantly written, Going Down Swinging is about the powerful bond between mother and child. And with her skilful narrative interplay, Billie Livingston illustrates poignantly how the truth of our stories lies not so much in the black and white, as it does in the grey.

My Thoughts....

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars

I found this to be a very emotional book. I don't know how anyone who hasn't been a part of the child protection system could write such an accurate portrayal of it. Every character in this book was real, you can find people similar to them in any town. The author developed each one perfectly- emotionally, psychologically and physically. She also told the same story from every side- the parent, the child, the social worker, the family friends and even the police. I felt like I was reading the other side to the case history of any child I could potentially work with someday. It is an excellent book to teach empathy, meaning making and point of view. It is also a great example of how our experiences impact how we see the world around us. I loved it!

Nasty, Brutish, and Short: The Lives of Gang Members in Canada

What is it about?

United Nations, Red Scorpions, the Crazy Dragons, Fresh Off the Boat, Indian Posse, Native Syndicate, Mad Cowz, Bloods, Jamestown Crips, Bo-Gars, Crack Down Posse, African Mafia, Galloway Boys, Malvern Crew, Manitoba Warriors, and North Preston's Finest. These are some of the gangs active in Canada today. Dr. Mark Totten has spent fifteen years learning all about these gangs and the young men and women who belong to them. He has interviewed over 500 gang members across the country, traced their lives from infancy to adulthood, and explored the roots of their involvement in crime and their reliance on violence.

This book offers a groundbreaking picture of the reality of gangs in Canada. Much of what Dr. Totten has to say is at odds with popular ideas. His research leads him to believe that breaking through the circumstances that produce young criminals is far more difficult than most people think. For most individuals caught up in gang life, exiting that world is next to impossible-in fact, the most common way out is an early death from violence or suicide. This book opens the door on a way of life unknown to most Canadians.

My Thoughts....

I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars.

I was expecting more information about the actual gangs in Canada. This book was mostly about why people join gangs and the things they go through while in the gang and sometimes after they get out of the gang. It's a good book for someone who knows very little about gangs. I wanted more information about human trafficking in Canada and how the gangs fit into this. I was also hoping for information about the gangs in my province, but this book focused more on the big cities in western Canada, which makes sense since gangs seem to be much more prominent there.

It seemed like the author was trying to make excuses for those who he interviewed about their gang involvement. He seemed to agree with them when they blamed everything from the justice system to their family for the choices they made. When it comes down to it, these people choose to commit the crimes that they did and they are responsible for the damage they have done. There are many programs out there to help people if they want the help. Instead of fighting against the rules of group homes, foster homes, family services, shelters, gang exit programs, etc these people could have used these programs to better their lives. Hopefully at some point they will want the help and look for change.

Maybe Someday

What is it about?

At twenty-two years old, Sydney is enjoying a great life: She's in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her best friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers that Hunter is cheating on her and she's forced to decide what her next move should be.

Soon, Sydney finds herself captivated by her mysterious and attractive neighbor, Ridge. She can't take her eyes off him or stop listening to the passionate way he plays his guitar every evening out on his balcony. And there's something about Sydney that Ridge can't ignore, either. They soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one.

A passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance, Maybe Someday will immerse readers in Sydney's tumultuous world from the very first page.

My Thoughts...

Wow! What an emotional book this was! I couldn't put it down and finished it in less than a day. 

This is a book that is completely about relationships in every sense. it's about emotions and the reasons behind decisions people make. It is heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. I really enjoyed it and I loved all the characters. They were so very well developed I felt like I knew them.

Extras....

This book comes with an amazing soundtrack. The music is haunting, heartbreaking and beautiful. It is recommended by the author to listen to the songs as they appear in the novel. I agree with this as it enhances the reading experience. The songs are all online and links are provided. The soundtrack is also avaliable for purchase; you can check it out here.

You can also find other extras and check out the authors other books here.

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Summer of the Dead

What is it about?

High summer in Acker's Gap, West Virginia—but no one's enjoying the rugged natural landscape. Not while a killer stalks the small town and its hard-luck inhabitants. County prosecutor Bell Elkins and Sheriff Nick Fogelsong are stymied by a murderer who seems to come and go like smoke on the mountain. At the same time, Bell must deal with the return from prison of her sister, Shirley—who, like Bell, carries the indelible scars of a savage past.

In Summer of the Dead, the third Julia Keller mystery chronicling the journey of Bell Elkins and her return to her Appalachian hometown, we also meet Lindy Crabtree—a coal miner's daughter with dark secrets of her own, secrets that threaten to explode into even more violence.

Acker's Gap is a place of loveliness and brutality, of isolation and fierce attachments—a place where the dead rub shoulders with the living, and demand their due.

My Thoughts...

This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I gave this book 2 out of five stars.

A mystery/crime novel that encompassed several of the past and present citizens of Acker's Gap, West Virginia. The main character, Bell, is the prosecutor in the small town. There have been several murders in the town and Bell, along with law enforcement, are trying to solve the crime before the town folk start to panic.

In my opinion the author did an excellent job in developing Bell's character. It was clear to see how Bell's past experiences affected her current outlook on life and controlled her actions and reactions.I was curious about her relationship with the sheriff. I didn't find there was enough information about that, although to be fair, this is a part of a series and it may have been explained in an earlier novel that I didn't read or it may be material for a future novel. I also want more information about Bell's sister, Shirley. From the blurb on the back of the book, it sounded like Shirley was going to be a big part of the story but she wasn't in it as much as I expected.

I didn't dislike the novel but I can't say I enjoyed reading it either. It took me a long time to read it because I kept losing interest in it. There were entire sections I had to re-read because my mind wandered on to other things. I found there was to much explaining and telling and not enough action and showing. I did somewhat like the ending [it involved the people I suspected but not the reasons I suspected. I also thought it was mighty convenient that the person let the name Maybelle slip out at the most convenient time. It would have been much better it Bell had figured it out some other way.

We Were Liars

What is it about?

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.
 
We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart. 
Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

My Thoughts

I rated this book 3 out of 5 stars.

This was an interesting book. I had no idea what was going on though until close to the end. It was an easy read and wasn't very long. It was a good beach read.

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter

What is it about?

Now the Edgar Award-winning author returns with his most accomplished and resonant novel so far; an atmospheric drama set in rural Mississippi. In the late 1970s, Larry Ott and Silas "32" Jones were boyhood pals. Their worlds were as different as night and day: Larry, the child of lower-middle-class white parents, and Silas, the son of a poor, single black mother. Yet for a few months the boys stepped outside of their circumstances and shared a special bond. But then tragedy struck: Larry took a girl on a date to a drive-in movie, and she was never heard from again. She was never found and Larry never confessed, but all eyes rested on him as the culprit. The incident shook the county— and perhaps Silas most of all. His friendship with Larry was broken, and then Silas left town.

More than twenty years have passed. Larry, a mechanic, lives a solitary existence, never able to rise above the whispers of suspicion. Silas has returned as a constable. He and Larry have no reason to cross paths until another girl disappears and Larry is blamed again. And now the two men who once called each other friend are forced to confront the past they've buried and ignored for decades.

My Thoughts

I gave this book 2 out of 5 stars.

This is a story of bad decisions and an example of how the actions of one person can effect another person. I found the story line just plodded along and it was over before I knew it. There wasn't much to it.

That Night by Chevy Stevens

What is it about?

As a teenager, Toni Murphy had a life full of typical adolescent complications: a boyfriend she adored, a younger sister she couldn't relate to, a strained relationship with her parents, and classmates who seemed hell-bent on making her life miserable. Things weren't easy, but Toni could never have predicted how horrific they would become until her younger sister was brutally murdered one summer night. 

Toni and her boyfriend, Ryan, were convicted of the murder and sent to prison.

Now thirty-four, Toni is out on parole and back in her hometown, struggling to adjust to a new life on the outside. Prison changed her, hardened her, and she’s doing everything in her power to avoid violating her parole and going back. This means having absolutely no contact with Ryan, avoiding fellow parolees looking to pick fights, and steering clear of trouble in all its forms. But nothing is making that easy—not Ryan, who is convinced he can figure out the truth; not her mother, who doubts Toni's innocence; and certainly not the group of women who made Toni's life hell in high school and may have darker secrets than anyone realizes. No matter how hard she tries, ignoring her old life to start a new one is impossible. Before Toni can truly move on, she must risk everything to find out what really happened that night.

But the truth might be the most terrifying thing of all.

My Thoughts...

I've been waiting for this book for a long time! I was so happy to finally get it but I was worried that I was going to be disappointed because my expectations were so high. However, I wasn't disappointed at all. This was a very quick, simple read. I pretty much new how it was going to play out right from the beginning but it was still a very interesting story. It was well written and well researched. It switches back and forth between present day and the past. Usually this annoys me somewhat, but the chapters were labeled so there wasn't any guessing involved about what time period it was in.

This book was about bullying to the extreme. It was a very real portrayal of how damaging bullying can be to all those involved. I liked that the author also showed a bit of insight into the the bully's frame of mind also.

The author also threw in some distinctly Canadian teenage customs, which I thought was pretty nice. Time Hortons was mentioned several times, the grabbing a coffee and driving around town to pass the night away, the parties at the lake, camping out with friends, fishing and pretty late curfews. I'm sure teens from other countries do these things also, but they are things from my teenage years that made this story all the more real to me.

I also liked how everything wasn't wrapped up in a pretty bow for a perfectly happy ending. The ending made the story in my opinion. It kept the story real and relate-able. 

I am obviously a fan of Chevy Stevens and I have read all her books. In my opinion, this was her best one yet.

Must Love Otters by Eliza Gordon

What is it about?

Hollie Porter is the chairwoman of Generation Disillusioned: at twenty-five years old, she’s saddled with a job she hates, a boyfriend who’s all wrong for her, and a vexing inability to say no. She’s already near her breaking point, so when one caller too many kicks the bucket during Hollie’s 911 shift, she cashes in the Sweethearts’ Spa & Stay gift certificate from her dad and heads to Revelation Cove, British Columbia. One caveat: she’s going solo. Any sweethearts will have to be found on site.

Hollie hopes to find her beloved otters in the wilds of the Great White North, but instead she’s providing comic relief for staff and guests alike. Even Concierge Ryan, a former NHL star with bad knees and broken dreams, can’t stop her from stumbling from one (mis)adventure to another. Just when Hollie starts to think that a change of venue doesn’t mean a change in circumstances, the island works its charm and she starts to think she might have found the rejuvenation she so desperately desires. But then an uninvited guest crashes the party, forcing her to step out of the discomfort zone where she dwells and save the day … and maybe even herself in the process.

My Thoughts....

This was a fun read. If it was a movie (which it should be) it would be a romantic comedy. Hollie was such a great character. She actually reminded me of someone I know with the all 'situations' she finds herself in. I loved her send of humor, her roll with it attitude and her ability to make the best of whatever situation she found herself in. She was a character who was blind to her own strengths and abilities and this made her all the more a real person.

I loved how well the author described the scenery and wilderness of British Columbia. I could actually picture the scenes as they were described.

It was a well written story and a great summer read.

He's Gone by Deb Caletti

What is it about?

“What do you think happened to your husband, Mrs. Keller?”

The Sunday morning starts like any other, aside from the slight hangover. Dani Keller wakes up on her Seattle houseboat, a headache building behind her eyes from the wine she drank at a party the night before. But on this particular Sunday morning, she’s surprised to see that her husband, Ian, is not home. As the hours pass, Dani fills her day with small things. But still, Ian does not return. Irritation shifts to worry, worry slides almost imperceptibly into panic. And then, like a relentless blackness, the terrible realization hits Dani: He’s gone.

As the police work methodically through all the logical explanations—he’s hurt, he’s run off, he’s been killed—Dani searches frantically for a clue as to whether Ian is in fact dead or alive. And, slowly, she unpacks their relationship, holding each moment up to the light: from its intense, adulterous beginning, to the grandeur of their new love, to the difficulties of forever. She examines all the sins she can—and cannot—remember. As the days pass, Dani will plumb the depths of her conscience, turning over and revealing the darkest of her secrets in order to discover the hard truth—about herself, her husband, and their lives together.

My Thoughts....

I gave this book 2 out of 5 stars, although that is being very generous.

I finished this book rather quick due to being able to skim through a lot of it. There were two parts to the book basically- one was the current day and one was past building up to the current situation. The parts about the past were not necessary, I skimmed through a lot of them. 
There wasn't anything about this book that I really liked. It was predictable, I guessed what happened to Ian almost right away so when the mystery was solved it wasn't much of a climax. 
There wasn't much dialogue, it was basically the narrator telling everything- there was no showing. I don't know if anyone would understand if I said the book was in monotone, but that's what it felt like to me.
Overall, it's not a book I would recommend.

Night Film by Marisha Pessl

What is it about?

Everybody has a Cordova story. Cult horror director Stanislas Cordova hasn't been seen in public since 1977. To his fans he is an engima. To journalist Scott McGrath he is the enemy. To Ashley he was a father.

On a damp October night the body of young, beautiful Ashley Cordova is found in an abandoned warehouse in lower Manhattan. Her suicide appears to be the latest tragedy to hit a severely cursed dynasty.
For McGrath, another death connected to the legendary director seems more than a coincidence. Driven by revenge, curiosity and a need for the truth, he finds himself pulled into a hypnotic, disorientating world, where almost everyone seems afraid.
The last time McGrath got close to exposing Cordova, he lost his marriage and his career. This time he could lost his grip on reality.

ONCE WE FACE OUR DEEPEST FEARS, WHAT LIES ON THE OTHER SIDE?

My Thoughts....

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars!

Wow, what a great story! I was intrigued through put the entire book, from the cover to the very last interactive page. 

I love the cover, the font and the paper used for this book. It was like holding something delicate and special in my hands the entire time I was reading it. This book is interactive, there are pictures, websites, interviews, letters, notes and so on that make you feel like you are actually part of the case. The extras provided in the app were very interesting and fell within the idea of the book to follow things through to the end.

I loved the unpredictable story line and the different directions the story took. This was the first book that I read that left so many questions unanswered that didn't annoy me to no end. The unanswered questions, the leads that just faded away, the characters that were left surrounded in a fog of mystery were part of what made this book so great. It made me use my imagination and left me contemplating the mystery of life along with the possibilities unexplained.

Obviously, I loved it. I did orginally start reading this on my e-reader. It didn't work well on the e-reader because of all the pictures, different fonts, different font sizes and so on. So I had to buy the paper copy of the book. I recommend that anyone who is going to read this book also buy the hard copy. This is a book that you need to hold in your hands!

*There are a lot of extras with this book, even an app for your smart phone. I  suggest checking them out because they add a lot to the story.*

Want more?

Check out the authors website http://www.marishapessl.com for more information about the book, along with her question and answer session. 

Rising Above a Toxic Workplace: Taking Care of Yourself in an Unhealthy Environment by Gary D Chapman, Paul E. White, Harold Myra

What is it about?

Toxic organizations are rife with conflict, fear and anger. The environment causes people to have physiological responses as if they're in a fight-or-flight situation. Healthy people become ill. Colds, flu and stress-related illnesses such as heart attacks are more common. By contrast, in resonant organizations, people take fewer sick days and turnover is low. People smile, make jokes, talk openly and help one another." - Annie McKee (author, consultant)

Many employees experience the reality of bulling bosses, poisonous people, and soul-crushing cultures on a daily basis. Rising Above a Toxic Workplace tells authentic stories from today's workers who share how they cope, change-or quit. Candidly they open up about what they learned, what they wish they had done, and how to gain resilience. Insightfully illustrating from these accounts, authors Gary Chapman, Paul White, and Harold Myra blend their combined experiences in ministry and business to deliver hope and practical guidance to those who find themselves in an unhealthy work environment. Includes a Survival Guide and Toolkit full of strategies and realistic insights.

My Thoughts...

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

This is an excellent book for anyone to read! At some time in our lives we all find ourselves in a toxic environment, it may not only be at work. There were lots of example stories from real people about the toxic environments they found themselves in and what they did to change it or to get away from it. There were stories from leaders explaining what they did to keep the work environment happy and productive. 
I really liked the survival strategies at the end of each chapter along with the leadership lessons. There are also discussion questions at the end of each chapter which make it an excellent book to use as a tool for training

What It Was Like by Peter Seth

What is it about?

“It’s really a very simple story. What happened was this: I met this girl and did a very stupid thing. I fell in love. Hard. I know that to some people that makes me an idiot and a loser. What can I say? They’re right. I did some extremely foolish things; I’m the first to say it. And they’ve left me in jail and alone.”

So begins one of the most compelling, emotionally charged, and affecting novels you are likely to read this year.

It is the summer of 1968 and a young man takes a job at a camp in upstate New York before starting his first semester at Columbia University. There, he meets Rachel Price, a fellow counselor who is as beautiful as she is haunted. Their romance will burn with a passion neither of them has ever known before…a passion with the power to destroy.

In the tradition of Endless Love and Gone Girl, What it was Like is an intimate, raw, and revealing journey through the landscape of all-consuming love. It announces the debut of a remarkable storyteller.

My Thoughts....

I rated this book two out of five stars.

*This book was provided by the publisher as an ARC in exchange for a honest review.*

These days, when a book is compared to being like another hit book I usually don't pick it up. But this book was provided as an ARC from Net Galley and it sounded interesting, so even though it was compared to Gone Girl in the blurb, I downloaded it anyway. 
The idea of the book was good, but it seemed like there was something missing through out the entire story. I was waiting for the big reveal and there was none. I get that it was about an all consuming love, a young obsession that lead to a tragic end. There seemed to be a piece of Rachel that was left out or not fully developed. I believe this book could have been great, if only there was more of Rachel's true self in the book. Maybe having a few chapters from her point of view would have given the reader a better understanding of where exactly she was coming from. The relationship between Rachel and her parents needed more explaining, because, honestly, it didn't seem to warrant the over the top negativity described in the book.
There was also a lot left unexplained- a lot of what seemed like foreshadowing that was never followed through on. For example, at the end of camp, the narrator's friend makes a statement along the lines of "get in touch with me and I'll tell you what really happened this summer." That seemed like it was going to be a major part of the story, however that character was never mentioned again. There were also incidents where people gave vague warnings or strange comments that were never followed up on later in the book. 
I found myself skimming quite a bit because there was a lot of unnecessary description and even entire scenes that were not needed. To me, it seemed like the author dwelled on the unimportant and completely left out things that were important.
Overall, it was okay. I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped I would. 

This book is due for publication on September 2, 2014. 

Virgin by Radhika Sanghani

What is is about?

Okay, I admit it…I didn’t do it.

Yet.

This is normal, right?  I mean, just because everyone I know has talked like they’ve already done it doesn’t mean that they’re telling the truth…right?

It’s not like I’m asking for that much. I don’t need the perfect guy. I don’t need candlelight or roses. Honestly, I don’t even need a real bed.

The guys I know complain that girls are always looking for Mr. Right—do I have to wear a sign that says I’m only looking for Mr. Right Now?

Sooooo…anyone out there want sex? Anyone? Hello? Just for fun?

I am not going to die a virgin. One way or another I am going to make this happen.

Hey, what have I got to lose? Besides the obvious.

My Thoughts...

I gave this book 2 out of 5 stars.

I was expecting to really like this book. I thought it was going to be very funny. However I didn't like it all that much and I didn't find it to be all that funny. I thought the main character was quite annoying actually. I kept reading, waiting for the big moment, the life changing moment, but it didn't happen. So then I kept waiting for 'funny' to happen, only that didn't happen either. 
The book did touch on some important issues- peer pressure, conformity, virginity (obviously), relationships and how media affects our perceptions of what is 'normal' and acceptable. These are important issues for today's youth.
It was a disappointment, not at all what I expected.

Breaking Free

What is this book about?

Raimi Carter is finally a girl, just like she always knew she was meant to be. At a new school where nobody knows she’s had gender reassignment surgery, she hopes to finally live the normal life she’s longed for, happy in her own skin. 

Life is great until she discovers a dangerous bully is blackmailing head cheerleader, Clare Strickland, threatening to reveal her secret: she’s gay. As Raimi fights to free Clare from his clutches, the two girls move beyond friendship. But secrets from their pasts and their own fears of coming out tear them apart—maybe forever. Baring their souls to each other could cost them everything. For two girls trapped and desperately in love, only strength, courage, and trust in each other will help them break free and claim their future.

My Thoughts....

The best thing about this book is that it is a very quick read.

I was happy to find a modern book about a transgender-ed teen. Not only is Raimi transgender-ed but she has also completed her 'change' from a male body to a female body. She is starting a new life in a new town as a female. I was excited to read this as it is not a topic that is written about enough. However, I was very disappointed.

The actual writing is terrible. It is very sharp, for a lack of a better word. It seems more like an essay than a story. Sentences are to short, there is to much telling and not enough showing, if that makes any sense to anyone but me. Instead of saying something like " She tossed her long brown hair over her slim shoulders" it is written like "she has long, straight brown hair."

The characters are under developed and unrealistic. Raimi is a self righteous horror- she looks down on her peers and is very judgmental for someone who does not want to be judged. The writing is very cliched, filled with teen drinking, drugs, sex, bullying and rape. And it seems the entire teen population of the town all participated in one or more of these things. While I understand that this is the life some teens lead, it is not the life of all teens. The ending was abrupt and unexpected.

I think this book has potential. The plot and the characters need to be developed more. The style of writing needs to be more descriptive and not so cliched. In my opinion, it needs a re-write and a great editor!