Tag Archive | fiction

Synopsis
For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life–until the unthinkable happens.

Opinion
I loved this book! The imagery was beautiful. I had nostalgic feelings of playing with one of my childhood friends who under different circumstances would have been a “Kya”.

Kya was misunderstood because she lived in extreme poverty and squalor. People judged her to be ignorant and incapable of learning or understanding. So she retreated to nature and loved the land. The land proved to have reciprocated love for her as well.

This is not to say that no one helped her. Without Jumpin and his wife, she would not have been able to make it. And I believe if the story had been set in a different time, they probably would have adopted her which would have made for a very different story.

She was definitely an artist. She was intelligent. She was proud. She was also patiently waiting for those who left her to return. By the time she realized that would not happen, she had been on her own for so long that she knew no other way.

It is a bittersweet story. My heart goes out to the young child who had been abandoned by everyone and forced to face the harsh realities of life mostly by herself. However, through it all she was able to grow and flourish against all odds.

TOW Final Word: Buy, Borrow, Pass?
BUY. This is a story that is worth reading.

Book details
Series: N/A
Heat Level: N/A
Print Length: 379 pages

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What Alice Forgot #bookclubpick #NYTbestseller

Oct10

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

♥♥♥♥

Synopsis
Alice Love is twenty-nine, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child. So imagine Alice’s surprise when she comes to on the floor of a gym (a gym! She HATES the gym) and is whisked off to the hospital where she discovers the honeymoon is truly over—she’s getting divorced, she has three kids, and she’s actually 39 years old. Alice must reconstruct the events of a lost decade, and find out whether it’s possible to reconstruct her life at the same time. She has to figure out why her sister hardly talks to her, and how is it that she’s become one of those super skinny moms with really expensive clothes. Ultimately, Alice must discover whether forgetting is a blessing or a curse, and whether it’s possible to start over…

Opinion
In the beginning I did not think I would like this book. I only read it because it was our book club’s pick.
As I was reading, the more I thought about it, I realized that I loved the premise. While reading, I thought that the way the family would withhold information was infuriating and annoying. I am a fan of open communication. But I was happy with the ending. Everything is sorted out in a satisfactory way.

I liked young Alice and it was interesting to understand all the factors that contributed to her transformation over the last 10 years. Sometimes we do not realize that the small things that contribute to subtle personality changes. But over time, we might not even recognize who we are or what we have become. That was Alice’s conflict and journey in a nutshell.

I felt that there were two stories in one because there was also a focus on Elisabeth’s struggles. I felt sorry for her because the years had not been kind. She experienced heartbreak and Alice had no idea how to be emotionally available.

After reading, I thought about how I would feel if I had a reset from the last 10 years of my life. Would I be happy about the woman I have become? The choices I have made? The friends and relationships I have cultivated? The relationships that are no longer?

One of the questions in the back of the book that is worth thinking about:
“If you were to write a letter to your future self to be opened in ten years, what would you say?”

Share your comments and thoughts below. And if you are inspired to write a post based on that question, share the link of your post.

TOW Final Word: Buy, Borrow, Pass?
BUY. This was a great book that evokes emotion and inspires thought. Are you living your life in such a way that the future you will feel accomplished or disappointed in the choices you made now?

Book details
Series: No
Heat Level: Not a romance
Page length: 432 pages

This post is full of Amazon affiliate links. Support my blog by clicking those links if you are thinking about ordering any of these products. Thanks!!!

Take Me With You #bookclubpick #amreading

Feb25

Take Me With You

Synopsis from Amazon

August Shroeder, a burned-out teacher, has been sober since his nineteen-year-old son died. Every year he’s spent the summer on the road, but making it to Yellowstone this year means everything. The plan had been to travel there with his son, but now August is making the trip with Philip’s ashes instead. An unexpected twist of fate lands August with two extra passengers for his journey, two half-orphans with nowhere else to go.

What none of them could have known was how transformative both the trip—and the bonds that develop between them—would prove, driving each to create a new destiny together.

TOW Opinion
It is serendipity that August was on his way to vacation for the summer and his RV needed repairing in a shop where the mechanic needed to send his two sons away for the summer while he went to jail.
I can understand that August did not want to take on the responsibility of these two children much in the same way that many people do not want to be Foster parents. But when presented with the challenge, he accepted and treated them like he would treat his own son. In some respects, I think he might have even treated them better than he treated his son because he was able to learn from his mistakes and take that into consideration.

This story deal with several complex themes, including alcoholism, grief because of loss of a child, and emotional issues. For example, it is not just about the emotional journey of August, it is also about two little boys that are able to find a father figure when theirs was not a worthy role model.

This story might be a very emotional one for some because the interaction between the main characters is tender and sweet at times.

TOW Final Word: Buy, Borrow, Pass?

Buy. I love this story in a very sentimental way. It just touched me in a way that I don’t usually get that emotional about fictional events.

Book details

Series: No
Heat Level: not a romance

Print Length: 363 pages

-Letter K- Alice (Modern Wicked Fairy Tales Book 1) #modernfairytales @AprilAtoZ #atozchallenge

Apr13

K is for Kitt (Selena Kitt)

Alice (Modern Wicked Fairy Tales Book 1)

Synopsis
Alice is so in love with her boyfriend Wade that she agrees to do whatever he has planned for her. She thinks they are going on a date, but instead she is taken to a sex club called Wonderland. Wade says that if she does everything without question, they will be together forever. After she agreed, during the course of an evening, she is introduced to various aspects of BDSM.

Opinion
First, I take issue with Wade saying that the future of their relationship is dependent on Alice doing a bunch of freaky stuff outside of her normal comfort zone. It is one thing if they want to try some things to spice up the romance.

However, their relationship should not be contingent on what he wants, especially if she is not sure she wants it too.

Too much like coercion and too little consent.

I kept reading thinking the book would get better, but it didn’t.

Image result for fail meme

TOW Final Word: Buy, Borrow, Pass?
I say PASS because it was not for me. However, if you like BDSM genre, you might want to BORROW.

Book details
Print Length: 78 pages
Heat Level: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥
Series: Modern Wicked Fairy Tales
Publisher: Excessica Publishing (April 1, 2011)
Publication Date: April 1, 2011

Thursday’s Thoughts featuring author K P Smith #YA #NewRelease #NewBeginnings

Aug25

Welcome to TOW monthly feature call Thursday’s Thoughts. On the last Thursday in the month, I share the thoughts of a featured author in the form of answers to questions I posed to them.

August’s featured author is K P Smith.

An image posted by the author.
How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing since forever. Long before I became an author, I wrote countless words, thoughts and ideas down in notebooks. Journaling was a lifeline for me. It was my therapy and my coping mechanism during the tough times of growing up. Writing is cleansing and therapeutic for me.

I’m an avid reader so I wanted to write a book since I read “Hey God It’s Me Margaret” by Judy Blume. My dream of becoming an author was actualized in 2011.

Who is one author that you would like to collaborate with?

We have to go to the great beyond. Sidney. Sheldon.That.Is.All.

What has been the best compliment you have received?

I don’t think I can pick one. But anytime someone tells me something I’ve said or written has helped, inspired or encouraged them always make me feel like I’m doing something useful.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I have two teenage sons that keep me busy. When I do get some time for me, I do have my favorite tv shows I like to watch sitting on my loveseat with my tweepers on Twitter. I also love a good movie and a good book, of course.

Who is K P Smith? She believes everyone is here for a reason. They are here for a purpose. Life is a gift to be enjoyed not endured. We are here to thrive not merely survive. Whether it’s penning My Growing Pains Series or her upcoming non-fiction books, or coaching first time indie authors or helping people with their relationships; she is always discovering new ways to help people live their best lives possible.

The only thing better than watching my favorite shows is watching it with millions of others via twitter!! She is a major tweeter!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Book Blurb: Kendra’s in high school! New Beginnings abound at home, school and in her relationships. Things are changing at lightning speed.

She’s saying hello and embracing new relationships while at the same time coping with heart breaking good-byes of others.

Patrice convinces her to give an “old friend” another chance. This coupled with an unplanned chain of events catapults Kendra from a place of obscurity to center stage at school. Center stage has her wedged in a long standing school rivalry which will divide and test her loyalties. And threaten her new relationships.

Kendra isn’t the only one embarking on new beginnings. A health scare creates a new family dynamic but even with a new dynamic it’s the same family drama. The family tension escalates and bubbles over and with Meme gone Papa is left trying to keep the family intact.

High school brings about “A New Katrina” and Avery and Jamie don’t escape the winds of change blistering through either.

New Beginnings is the next chapter in the Growing Pains Series. Kendra’s journey continues. In Book Two she finds her own place her own voice in her own way.