When God Calls a Writer (Deanne Welsh) Book Review

2018 Reading Challenge

6. When God Calls a Writer by Deanne Welsh

Synopsis:
Is God calling you to write? Do you have a burning desire to write books and use words to inspire people and change the world?
When God Calls A Writer is a book about knowing that your desire to write is both a gift and a calling from God.
In When God Calls A Writer Deanne Welsh weaves the story of Moses with the story of a writer. Do you wonder if God is calling you to write, but you feel unqualified? What are the signs that God is calling you? Do you struggle to hear God's voice and guidance about your writing career? Are you eager for a powerful transformation in your faith and your writing?
Learn simple and strategic ways to allow God to connect with God, hear Him and allow Him to direct your writing journey.
Author Deanne Welsh shares her own story of insecurity and self-doubt and what it took for her to walk, first with doubt and then with confidence, into God's call for her to write. She gives you practical steps for listening to God and hearing His guidance, as well as the most important questions to ask as you begin your ministry-career of ideas, words, and stories.
By the end of this book you will have practical strategies to keep you focused, the specific questions to catapult your writing career forward, and the traits to develop and pay attention to for unstoppable writing success.
Your "yes" changes everything.

My Review:
I was interested in this book because I believe writing is one of my God-given talents.

This is a book aimed at Christian writers who believe that they are called to write. It gives encouragement if you don't believe you're suited for the job. The whole idea is to look to God to get through insecurities and any obstacles that stand in the way. With belief and faith in God, anything is possible. The book offers advice, tips, and exercises to find that faith in God and writing with Him will enable you to accomplish your call to write. It is short, but can be invaluable by writing with God, instead of without Him.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

Photo Credit:
https://medium.com/@deannewelsh/free-book-when-god-calls-a-writer-446fb8a9b589

Roll with the Punches (Amy Gettinger) Book Review

2018 Reading Challenge

5. Roll With the Punches by Amy Gettinger

Synopsis:
A rollicking, funny chick lit mystery/adventure, full of fun and light romance.
Falling is extra hard on tall people, like Rhonda Hamilton: the bone breakage, the bruises, the ignominy of it all. And Rhonda’s falling, hard. First, how in the heck can the latest novel published by a nationally bestselling author be a close twin to the manuscript Rhonda has just finished writing and has barely started marketing to agents? Plus, why is Dad suddenly acting so odd: storing milk in the garage and throwing away Rhonda’s clothes?
Some goofy roller derby girls add a bludgeon of crazy to Rhonda’s hunt for the book thief, and two drool-worthy guys offer to help with Dad—guys Rhonda would gladly fall for, if her life weren’t careening madly between Dad’s bizarre antics, some treacherous derby bouts, a wild burlesque fundraiser, and the odd mudslide and house demolition. Only one thing is sure: if she wants to nail the wily plagiarist and keep Dad safe, Rhonda had better stay up on her skates to avoid a very big fall.

My Review:
Roll With the Punches is the first book I read this year that I just didn't care for. What drawn me to this book was that Rhonda belonged to a writing critique group. She also gets involved with a roller derby league after she gets noticed roller skating around town. I thought that was different because there's not a lot of books or media out there about the roller derby sport. While I am not a fan of it, I do have a cousin who was on a roller derby league for a couple of years.

The majority of this book revolves around Rhonda trying to figure out who stole her manuscript and made a bestseller out of it. The only people she knows that could have done it was a member of her writing group and she goes on a mission to narrow it down one by one. In the midst of solving that mystery, Rhonda goes through some crazy adventures in not only the search for the person responsible, but also dealing with the antics of roller derby and her dad's odd behaviors. The story is filled with an eclectic bunch of characters, some good, some not so quite.

Roll With the Punches is based heavily on comedy, but it fell short in the overall department. One of the big things that bothered me is the way that Rhonda and her family dealt with her dad's obvious Alzheimer's disease. They acted oblivious and in denial even though it was laid out crystal clear several times, especially when it came to Rhonda. When everything in her life was not going well, Rhonda coped with it the way she normally would any hard situation - with laughter and satire - but it went over the top. There were some good moments, but the concept and plot just didn't work for me.

I'm ending this review with a quote from one of the characters. It's actually said by the doctor who diagnoses the Alzheimer's.

"If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and walks like a duck, we roast it with orange sauce."

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

A Dog's Journey (W. Bruce Cameron) Book Review

2018 Reading Challenge

4. A Dog's Journey by W. Bruce Cameron

Synopsis:
Buddy is a good dog.
After searching for his purpose through several eventful lives, Buddy is sure that he has found and fulfilled it. Yet as he watches curious baby Clarity get into dangerous mischief, he is certain that this little girl is very much in need of a dog of her own.
When Buddy is reborn, he realizes that he has a new destiny. He's overjoyed when he is adopted by Clarity, now a vibrant but troubled teenager. When they are suddenly separated, Buddy despairs―who will take care of his girl?
A charming and heartwarming story of hope, love, and unending devotion, A Dog's Journey asks the question: Do we really take care of our pets, or do they take care of us? More than just another endearing dog tale, A Dog's Journey is the moving story of unwavering loyalty and a love that crosses all barriers.

My Review:
A Dog's Journey is the sequel to A Dog's Purpose. You can read my review of A Dog's Purpose here. Both books are considered to be stand alone novels, but my advice is to read them in order. You'll be able to understand the characters better and how most of them are related.

In A Dog's Purpose, the dog portrayed was known most as Bailey, even though the dog goes through name changes throughout both books. With this review, it's so hard to write without referring to the dog as Bailey. As Bailey and the dog's lives continue, so does the lives of the characters. Some of them featured in here are older versions of themselves.

The rest of the dog's lives are lived out in A Dog's Journey. It's surreal on how much the dog can remember from all his previous lives, from times when he was trained to detect cancer, where he lived, and his owners/families he lived with, especially Ethan and Clarity. He's not always treated with proper care and survives through some hard and tragic circumstances, all the while helping and protecting those who have loved him. He has a heart of gold and will always put them before himself.

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I enjoyed A Dog's Journey better than A Dog's Purpose. I felt like all the hype and build up of A Dog's Purpose made it less underwhelming. In A Dog's Journey, the stories were more heart-wrenching, heart-breaking, and emotional in the way that it was delivered. Tears were shed more than once (especially at the ending) and I guarantee that anyone who reads this book will shed tears as well.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

A Dog's Purpose (W. Bruce Cameron) Book Review

2018 Reading Challenge

3. A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
   Prompt: book you meant to read in 2017

Synopsis:
This is the remarkable story of one endearing dog's search for his purpose over the course of several lives. More than just another charming dog story, this touches on the universal quest for an answer to life's most basic question: Why are we here?
Surprised to find himself reborn as a rambunctious golden haired puppy after a tragically short life as a stray mutt, Bailey's search for his new life's meaning leads him into the loving arms of 8 year old Ethan. During their countless adventures Bailey joyously discovers how to be a good dog. But this life as a beloved family pet is not the end of Bailey's journey. Reborn as a puppy yet again, Bailey wonders, will he ever find his purpose?
Heartwarming, insightful, and often laugh out loud funny, this book is not only the emotional and hilarious story of a dog's many lives, but also a dog's eye commentary on human relationships and the unbreakable bonds between man and man's best friend. This story teaches us that love never dies, that our true friends are always with us, and that every creature on earth is born with a purpose.

My Review:
Almost everyone is familiar with the saying that a cat has nine lives. The same sort of thing goes on in this story and its sequel. The story is told from the perspective of a dog living out its lives (different dog, but same soul each time it is reborn). Some of his lives are shorter than others, as well as some owners are better than others. In this story, he portrays four lives, but the majority of the time, he's known as Bailey.

A Dog's Purpose is a heart-felt tale about man's best friend. It dwells on the love, loyalty, and affection a dog has for his owner(s). He searches for his purpose in life, as humans do, and discovers that  I really do believe that people are put in our lives for a reason and maybe dogs are too. I loved how the author really dug into the mind of a dog to somewhat discover what dogs feel and how they respond to the world around them.

This book is perfect for anybody, young or old, whether you have a dog or not. It goes through the ups and downs of life, for people and dogs alike. It can be emotional at times, but shows how love persists through anything. I like how the author intertwined the owner's lives, as they age, etc. This is more evident in the sequel, A Dog's Journey, which just happens to be the next book review I'm doing.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

Writing Update

Writing Plans for July: Camp NaNoWriMo

I recently signed up for Camp NaNoWriMo for July. If anyone is unfamiliar, it is a mini version of NaNoWriMo, held in November.

With NaNoWriMo, you are required to write 50,000 words. It doesn't mean that you'll necessarily reach that, like when I failed short to do so this past November.

In Camp NaNoWriMo, you can set your own writing goal, whether that be reaching a certain number of words or writing for a certain amount of time every day in July. I believe the Camp version is done a couple of times throughout the year in preparation for NaNoWriMo in November.

As of right now, my goal is to reach 25,000 words during the month of July. I am planning on working on a fiction novel, loosely titled The Widow in the Bookstore. I usually don't like to name something I write until I'm done. You know, I have never finished writing an actual novel before. I'm my worst critic and I usually scrap them because I never think it's good enough. I plan on changing that in July as that is my other goal: to finish writing a novel without stopping to edit it before it's done being written.

I will give daily updates here so you can follow along.

~Meg~

The Tempting Taste of Danger (CeeCee James) Book Review

2018 Reading Challenge

2. The Tempting Taste of Danger by CeeCee James
    Prompt: book that takes place in a bookstore or library

Synopsis:
The only thing worse than a noisy bookstore is patrons literally dying to get out.
Elise Pepper has landed her dream job at the Capture The Magic book store. Peace and quiet and thousands of books to herself – including a $2m first edition of Alice in Wonderland. What more could she ask for?
It can’t last of course. Her blissful solitude is rudely interrupted when someone turns the second floor of the building into a Down the Rabbit Hole-themed escape room.
But the noise is the least of her worries – what’s worse is the dead bank executive upstairs and the missing first edition. Now Elise is suspected of both theft and murder, even as the killer taunts her with Alice in Wonderland clues. Can she find out who did it before she takes the fall for the crime?

My Review:
A bookstore and an escape room. It sounds like the perfect place for a murder, right? Haha. I love to read, so naturally I fell in in love with a book that takes place somewhat in a book store. And while I have never been to an escape room, I've always liked the idea of them and really want to experience it. I like to solve mysteries and figure out puzzles, so it was another reason I was interested in this book.

Elise gets a job at a bookstore. It's the perfect job for her. Well, at least it is until an escape room is built on the floor upstairs. She isn't a fan of the whole idea. When someone winds up dead in the escape room on the first day it opens and a first edition book goes missing from the book store, Elise knows there's more to the story. It's up to her to prove her innocence as she's the only person who's at the store the most.  This part reminds me of the murder mystery movie series, Murder, She Baked, on the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel starring Alison Sweeney and Cameron Mathison. Alison's character works at a cookie shop and is the one who becomes the murder suspect, as she finds the murder victims. The Tempting Taste of Danger will leave you guessing until the end. Some of the supporting characters were just okay, but there were also some good ones. Overall, I was impressed with how the story turned out.

The theme of The Tempting Taste of Danger is Alice in Wonderland. The book store possesses a first edition copy of Alice in Wonderland, the escape room is based on the book, and the murderer leaves clues with references to the book as well. It was a good concept and it was nice to relive the children's classic with some twists and turns along the way. Even if you aren't a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland, you will still enjoy reading this.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

The Warrior (Joyce Swann) Book Review

2018 Reading Challenge

1. The Warrior by Joyce Swann

Synopsis:
James is sitting at a Ft. Worth intersection waiting for the light to change when he hears the roar of a truck engine speeding toward him. Before he can react, his motorcycle is crushed, and he is thrown fifty feet onto the median.
At that precise moment in Dallas, Elizabeth’s sleep is interrupted by a vivid dream in which she witnesses James' accident. As she watches him begin to pass from life to death, she extends her hand and cries, “Don’t die if you don’t know Jesus!”
Although neither James nor Elizabeth is aware of the existence of the other, they begin a ten-year odyssey in which their lives are inexorably intertwined, changing their futures and the futures of those they love most.
The Warrior is a moving testimony to the power of prayer and God’s desire to redeem every life.

My Review:
This story is about Elizabeth, a prayer warrior, with a family of her own. One night, she has a dream about a man who got in a terrible motorcycle accident. Not knowing if it's real, Elizabeth feels compelled to pray for him the next morning and that's what she does.

Over the next ten years, both James' and Elizabeth's lives are intertwined, with neither of them knowing that the other exists. During that time, Elizabeth's daughter Molly rebels from her Christian upbringing and moves to California. She gets involved with the wrong crowd, which leads to her life in the balance. James, on the other hand, gets disheartened and depressed after his accident and he starts down the road of drugs and alcohol. Throughout everything, Elizabeth prayed daily for both of them and even keeps a journal of when she feels an inkling to pray for James, during which everyone else around her thinks she's crazy.

It's often said that you need to hit rock bottom to come out on top. Everyone has their breaking point, the moment when they realize that they need to turn things around, or more importantly, to turn their life around. After ten years, circumstances lead James and Elizabeth to meet. Although they see each other more than once, the first encounter proves to Elizabeth that prayer really does work and that God asked her to pray for James for a reason. James and Molly get a second chance at life and come to the realization in the end that God was there for them when they didn't think it was possible. God works in mysterious ways to reclaim every life back when we stray away from our faith.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

2018 Reading Challenge and Goals

I know this is pretty late this year, but here's my challenge and goals for 2018.

Once again, I am doing the PopSugar Reading Challenge for 2018. I'm not posting the entire list of prompts, but you can find the list here.

There are 40 prompts with an additional 10 prompts on an advanced list.

In 2017, my goal was to read 60 books. That didn't happen as I only read 31, but I had a challenging year. For 2018, my goal is once again set at 60 books and hopefully I will accomplish it this year. As of this writing, I have only read three and am in the process of reading books four and five. The first three book reviews will be posted next week, or rather, this coming week.

For writing, I just completed a 31 Day Ninja Writer Challenge. I wish I could link to this, but the daily challenges were sent by e-mail. It was in May with the intent was to write at least 10 minutes a day and read at least 10 minutes each day. And each day also came with a daily challenge. While I didn't accomplish everything I wanted out of it, I have been writing more and am currently bringing my series, Meg's Long QT Journey, back on my other blog at Writing With Meg. Please check it out.

And you can follow me on twitter here.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

Meg's 2017-2018 Book Awards

Meg's 2017-2018 Book Awards

Disclaimer: I base the awards on the books that I read in 2017. And it's only my opinion on how I rate them.

Each book will be linked to my book review if you would like to read it.

Best Book Overall:
1. Amazing Grace by Danielle Steel
2. Thursdays at Coconuts by Beth Carter
3. Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham
4. Summer at the Lake by Linda Barrett

Honorable Mentions:
1. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
2. The Shack by William Paul Young
3. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
4. Finding Peace by Melanie D. Snitker
5. The Inn at Eagle Point by Sherryl Woods
6. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by Jack Thorne

Worst Book Overall:
1. A Cat To Die For by Maria Grazia Swan
2. The Not So Secret E-mails of Coco Pinchard by Robert Bryndza
3. Set Change by T'Gracie and Joe Reese
4. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Best of Classics:
1. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
2. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
3. White Fang by Jack London

Best of Christian Fiction:
1. The Shack by William Paul Young
2. Daniel by Robin Merrill
3. Come To Me Alive by Leah Atwood

Best Book by an Author I've Read Before:
1. Amazing Grace by Danielle Steel
2. Finding Peace by Melanie D. Snitker
3. Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke

Best Book by a New Author I Read:
1. Thursdays at Coconuts by Beth Carter
2. Summer at the Lake by Linda Barrett
3. The Inn at Eagle Point by Sherryl Woods
4. Pause To Rewind by Aimee Alexander
5. Come To Me Alive by Leah Atwood
6. Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer

Book That Surprised Me (either better or worse than what I thought):
1. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by Jack Thorne
2. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
3. Reinventing Mona by Jennifer Coburn

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

Memorial Day 2018

Remembering all those who sacrificed their lives for the US on this Memorial Day. It's also a time to thank the veterans and those who are currently serving our country as well.

The US has lost more than 1.4 million soldiers throughout our history. Here's only a small sampling of that:

World War 1 - 116,516
World War 2 - 405,399
Korean War - 54,246
Vietnam War - 58,209
War in Afghanistan - 2,216
Iraq War - 4,497

Happy Memorial Day!

~Meg~

Pause to Rewind (Aimee Alexander) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

31. Pause to Rewind by Aimee Alexander
      Prompt: book by an author who uses a pen name

Synopsis:
Jenny Dempsey has exchanged life in the fast lane for freelance journalism and being a mum. She doesn't look back. Why would she? A broken engagement to her fiancé, Dave. A falling-out with her parents. And a night in a hotel room best forgotten. Life is simple now. Jenny's little boy, Charlie, is starting school, beginning to build a life independent from her. She needs to get her own back.
Life, though, has other plans. When Charlie's diagnosed with leukemia, Jenny is forced to confront her past and all that she has turned from. But she will do anything for Charlie.

My Review:

This is the story of a little boy's journey with cancer. It is told well in first person from the perspective of his mother. No one wants their child to have cancer and Jenny is no different. Through Charlie's journey, Jenny has no choice but to ask for help from people from her past that she cut off in her life as she comes to terms with his diagnosis. She comes to realize just how strong she is, the importance of family, and who her friends are.

The thing that I appreciated was that Aimee didn't shy away from the dreaded word of cancer. She provided just enough medical information about Charlie's leukemia that gave some insight to what he was going through, but didn't slow the book down. That's something you really don't see in a lot books. Some authors won't really get into the information part of cancer treatment and how it effects people, both the patient and family. Aimee did a great job at that, especially the process and way that Jenny came to terms with the cancer.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

The Inn at Eagle Point (Sherryl Woods) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

30. The Inn at Eagle Point by Sheryl Woods
      Prompt: first book in a series you haven't read before

Synopsis:
It's been years since Abby O'Brien Winters set foot in Chesapeake Shores. The Maryland town her father built has too many sad memories and Abby too few spare moments, thanks to her demanding Wall Street career, the crumbling of her marriage and energetic twin daughters. Then one panicked phone call from her youngest sister brings her racing back home to protect Jess's dream of renovating the charming Inn at Eagle Point.
But saving the inn from foreclosure means dealing not only with her own fractured family, but also with Trace Riley, the man Abby left ten years ago. Trace can be a roadblock to her plans...or proof that second chances happen in the most unexpected ways.

My Review:

I decided to start reading this series because of the TV show, Chesapeake Shores, on the Hallmark Channel. The show is based on this book series by Sherryl Woods.

When Jess O'Brien runs into trouble trying to renovate the Inn at Eagle Point, her sister Abby comes to the rescue by returning back home. Abby is in for more than she realizes as she not only has to deal with problems at the inn and her dysfunctional family, but an old flame as well. When Abby left or essentially walked out on Trace years before, she never expected that he would be the one who can destroy Jess's plans (and Abby's measures to rescue the inn) to revitalize the inn. Will the inn be saved? Will Jess mess up yet again? Will Trace and Abby get back together? 

All these questions will be answered. I appreciated the backstory as it helped to explain why the O'Brien family was the way it was: dysfunctional and kind of broken. While I did say that, I want to take the time to point out that no family is perfect. Every family has its secrets or things that you necessarily don't want everyone to know about. Abby's mom left the family when Abby was around 11 if I remember correctly. As the oldest of five, Abby took on the role of mother and nurturer to her younger siblings. This is especially true as their father travelled for work a lot and they were left in the hands of their grandmother. Jess, as the youngest, was and has been known as the wild child who doesn't seem to take things seriously and has made lots of mistakes. In the midst of it all, Jess only wanted love, respect, and acceptance of her father. Her father had a tendency to only look at her faults and mistakes and not pay attention to her good qualities; she did/does have a good heart, but just struggled with the family's situation.

While the story was good in itself, I liked the supporting characters better than the three main characters of Abby, Jess, and Trace. All three managed to annoy me at times. I really enjoyed Trace's interactions with Abby's twins. My favorite person throughout the entire book was Nell, Abby's grandmother. Nell was the one who everyone could talk to and she would hold no judgment. She offered her advice, explained things in a calming and different way, but wasn't afraid to give some tough love at times either. Nell is a role model type of character and held the family together, even if members didn't speak to each other or whatever type of situation was going on.

I found myself comparing this to Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove series, which also became a TV series for three seasons on Hallmark. Both of these series' are about similar things, but they do differ a bit. And when it comes down to it, I enjoyed Cedar Cove better. There was a better connection to the characters and the story just flowed better. With the first book of the Chesapeake Shores series, I couldn't get through it as easily, as it did drag a little. It was harder to pay attention to the characters, as some weren't as fully developed as I would have liked. I do plan to continuing the Chesapeake Shores series, though, as this book was still good; it was just a little underwhelming compared to Cedar Cove.

~Meg~

Thursdays at Coconuts (Beth Carter) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

29. Thursdays at Coconuts by Beth Carter
      Prompt: book with a month or day of the week in the title

Synopsis:As the go-to wedding planner, Suzy can’t find her own wedded bliss and has one shocker of a wedding day. It doesn’t help that she’s still pining for her high school sweetheart, the one who got away. Handling neurotic brides is the best part of Suzy’s day until her son brings home a bombshell from Europe.
Alexandra, a beautiful marketer with a “touch” of OCD, falls for a bad-boy cop who's married and possibly stalking her. But he sure is sexy. Alex tries to stay at arm’s length after she puts her job—and life—on the line for the officer who isn’t always a gentleman.
Hope hates her name, looks, and frizzy hair. As a high school counselor, she dishes out sage advice to students, yet can’t see she’s enabling her deadbeat, stuck-in-the-seventies hippie parents. After tragedy strikes, she reexamines their relationship and discovers a secret that almost went to the grave.
Friends since high school, the thirty-something women meet every Thursday at Coconuts for their own form of friendapy.

My Review:

One of the best books I read in 2017.

Three friends get together every Thursday at a bar/restaurant for "friendapy." They share the ups and downs of their lives, all the while dishing out advice and endless support for each other. This book is the perfect definition of friendship goals. The characters and their circumstances were well developed, even if it was a bit clichéd at time. Suzy, Alexandra, and Hope are all successful in their careers, but not necessarily successful in the romance category. There were funny times, crazy times, happy times, and sad times, but they were by each other through thick and thin. I appreciated how Beth decided to write from the perspective of all three, as I think it definitely aided in adding dimension to the story development. It also featured interesting side plots in the midst of the main theme involving the three friends.

I only have two more book reviews to post before doing my 2018 Book Awards.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

Gone Girl (Gillian Flynn) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

28. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
      Prompt: book with an unreliable narrator

Synopsis:

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?

My Review:

I saw the movie version of this a couple years ago and of course, I wanted to read the book. Yes, I'm one of those who believes that the book is always better than the movie. There are some rare exceptions, though. I ended up being disappointed and underwhelmed with both. Originally, I was interested in  Gone Girl because of all the hype about it, but I didn't feel that it lived up to the expectations in either version. I will say however that the book was slightly better than the movie.

I did like the aspect of reading from the perspectives of both Nick and Amy. I thought that was a clever idea of Gillian Flynn to incorporate. If it had only been Nick's point of view, it probably would have sufficed. Amy's diary entries were indeed interesting to know what was going on inside her head. It also led me to believe that there was something wrong with her. Could she have had a mental disorder? Maybe so, maybe not. It does take a lot of cleverness and cunning skills to devise your own disappearance and murder, in addition to the clues she left framing Nick. Even though Nick wasn't innocent in all that went on since he started fabricating lies as well, I found myself on his side for the most part. And if there's one thing I learned, it would be not to be evasive or lie to the police or detectives, making you look even more suspicious, like Nick did. 

I liked the concept of the scavenger hunt. You don't usually find a lot of books like that and I thought it was different. Scavenger hunts can be fun while you're figuring out the clues that lead to a great surprise or prize at the end. It obviously wasn't like that in this story since there was a little twist involved. 

Note: I am almost finished with the book reviews for the books that I read in 2017. I believe I only have three or four more to go before I do my 2018 Book Awards for all the books I read last year and before I start posting the book reviews for this year.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

White Fang (Jack London) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

27. White Fang by Jack London
      Prompt: book set in the wilderness

Synopsis:
White Fang is part dog and part wolf, and the lone survivor of his family. In his lonely world, he soon learns to follow the harsh law of the North--kill or be killed. But nothing in White Fang's life can prepare him for the cruel owner who turns him into a vicious killer. Will White Fang ever know the kindness of a gentle master?

My Review:
This is the story of White Fang, a wolf-dog, who has to survive in the wilderness. It begins from the time he was just a small pup and continues as he grows up into adulthood. I believe he was under a year old when he became the only survivor of his family. While he did learn some survival tips from his mother, White Fang had to learn most of what he knew on his own, essentially known as survival of the fittest. At times, he was by himself and at other times, he was under the watch and care of self-proclaimed owners. A couple were kind and cared about his well-being, while most were harsh and taught him to kill, as in brutal dogfighting. This is a story that asks can a wolf-dog be tamed and domesticated in a world of surviving the harsh realities of life? The answer lies in the wonderfully crafted ending.

I wasn't really expecting to like this book. The theme and plot is something I usually wouldn't read. I liked the perspective of a wild animal and how they survive in the outside world, whether that be the wilderness for wolves and bears or the ocean for whales and dolphins or anywhere else for whatever wild animal there are. There are parts that are heart-wrenching and pulled you into the story. I feel that animals are just like humans, in that sometimes they just want to be loved, which describes White Fang. Since he was part wolf, he had an instinct to attack and kill, but since he was also part dog, his other instinct was to be gentle and playful and just be loved by someone, like I just mentioned.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

Summer at the Lake (Linda Barrett) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

26. Summer at the Lake by Linda Barrett
      Prompt: book with one of the four seasons in the title

Synopsis:

Veteran NY cop, Rick Cooper, heads to his family’s lake house after losing a hostage negotiation, resulting in the death a child. He brings only his dog and his saxophone for company. His agenda includes lots of fishing while figuring out an appropriate career change.
Single mom, Kristin McCarthy hears the sound of the saxophone gliding through the night air…a healing sound for her daughter. She begins a search for the person who can play so beautifully. Her high hopes fall, however, when the musician turns out to be a cop. The police fell short when she and Ashley needed them most. But still…if this cop could make a difference…if he can help Ashley…well, Kristin would do anything for her young daughter.
An attractive widow with a damaged kid are the last people Rick needs in his life, and he tries hard to remain aloof. The ladies, however, knock down his barriers simply by being themselves. Fearful but brave, smart but silly. Before long, warm feelings grow between him and Kristin. Feelings that spark potential for a future together.
However, before Kristin allows herself to dream, Rick must prove he’s a man she and her daughter can trust. Can they count on him forever?

My Review:

This was a good, heartfelt romance. Kristin and Rick are struggling to come to terms with tragic experiences that happened to a child while under their care. As they come together to help Ashley regain her confidence and strength, Kristin and Rick form a simple friendship. It was filled with sincerity as it slowly developed into a warm romance.

At the forefront of this story was the healing and recovery of Ashley after she endured sexual assault/abuse. The author did an incredible job of dealing with such a sensitive topic, all the while avoiding the actual attack on the page. Everyone reacts differently when they suffer a trauma. For Ashley, she shut down completely. No parent wants to see their child hurt and unable to express their feelings and like any other parent, Kristin would do anything to help her daughter enjoy life again, to regain the innocence of childhood back. With the help of a therapy dog and music brought by Rick unexpectedly, Ashley begins to recover and get back to what she loves to do. Obviously, I don't think anyone gets over a traumatic event in a short amount of time, as in the pages of a book, but it was still nice to see Ashley start her way on her healing journey. 

What I enjoyed the most about this book was how much music was incorporated into the story. Ashley's father was a musician who passed it on to his daughter, even though he died several years prior. Ashley, herself, is considered to be a music prodigy and plays the piano and flute. Rick and his family are also music players. I, myself, have played the piano. I also tried playing the flute, but I ended up quitting because the music teacher was horrible. She didn't really teach and expected you to know everything right off the bat and yes, starting with the very first lesson.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

Peace of Time (Ros Rendle) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

25. Peace of Time by Ros Rendle

Synopsis:Jen and Mike Lucas are happily married, or so Jen thinks. Recently Mike has been short tempered and cranky, but Jen puts it all down to his stressful job at a finance company. Jen, on the other hand, loves her job as a teacher. She also makes more money than Mike, which he mentions at any given opportunity. As they drift further apart, Jen tries everything she can think of to save their marriage but all Mike wants to do is spend more and more time at the gym. When one of Jen’s students, young Charlie Mayhew, suffers a terrible fall from his bike, Jen lends a helping hand to his father, Christopher, a single parent who lost Charlie’s mother to cancer. Jen does her best to ignore the gossip that Mike was seen getting friendly with a red head at the gym, but a few days later, Jen discovers something that turns her world upside down. After Mike moves out, Jen realizes that she’s reached a crossroads in her life. Does she give Mike a second chance? Or does she take Christopher up on his offer of a date? As the summer draws to a close, Jen has some life changing decisions to make and what she decides will shock everyone, but most of all herself.

My Review:

This was a well written book that made the characters seem real and authentic. It brings up the issue of unfaithful marriages, as well as dealing with a friend's betrayal. Sometimes a couple just drifts apart for a number of reasons and they create a relationship or connection with someone else. Cheating is one thing, but what happens if a spouse cheats with a friend of their partner's? You'll find out during the story. Jen and Mike have to cope with what I just mentioned, but at the end of the day, they're still just husband and wife, well for some time anyway. Before any proceedings of a divorce can go through or even get started, Mike has no one else to turn to when he gets diagnosed with cancer. Sometimes you just need your spouse or significant other because there's a special bond there like no other and just because people may drift apart doesn't mean that they stop caring about each other.

While this book is about Jen and Mike, the main point of view comes from Jen. At the beginning, she's happy with her job as a teacher and her marriage. She has everything she could hope for. The struggles that she deals with, as I mentioned above, were brilliantly handled by the author. There were some surprises and an ending you don't see coming. It was an enjoyable read even if it goes against what I believe in, like adultery.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

A Place Called Bliss (Ruth Glover) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

24. A Place Called Bliss by Ruth Glover

Synopsis:Sophia Galloway, a rich and pampered lady of Scotland's renowned house of Heatherstone, and Mary Morrison, a simple servant, share a dream of traveling to a new land of freedom, promise, and opportunity: Canada. On the tumultuous journey overseas, Sophia and Mary both give birth. Neither mother knows how closely their destinies will be intertwined by a secret with the power to shatter their lives.

My Review:
In most stories (and not just in books), you read or hear about people moving from other countries to the US for freedom and opportunity. In this book, it follows the same concept except that it involves two families immigrating to Canada. However, getting to either place wasn't easy; many had difficult and tumultuous journeys. And for Sophia and Mary, it was no exception, made even worse that they were both pregnant and subsequently gave birth on their travels over to Canada.

A Place Called Bliss started off slow, which was when the two families were traveling by boat to Canada to start over in a new land. Once reaching Canada, they went their separate ways to opposite sides of the country. Sophia and her family had an easier time adjusting to their new surroundings since they had relations already there. It was more of the frontier life for Mary and her husband. Each family had their difficulties and struggles and stayed in contact with each other from time to time by mail. It was during this that it became more interesting and enjoyable to read.

What Mary and Sophia didn't expect was to find out a secret that changes everything that they used to know. The particular secret goes back to when they gave birth on the boat, but things didn't go as expected for both of them. Sophia and Hugh had somewhat of a distant marriage, but it made sense once the secret is found out. And no, I can't say what happened because that would be giving it all away.

A Place Called Bliss is a book filled with rich vocabulary and historical significance. Some of that was part of the reason why it dragged at times - for me, it was mostly in the beginning. The descriptive and detailed writing was enlightening. It was good to get to know more about Canada and its history.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Maya Angelou) Book Review

2017 Reading Challenge

23. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
      Prompt: book by a person of color

Synopsis:
Sent by their mother to live with their devout, self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town, Maya and her brother, Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local "powhitetrash." At eight years old and back at her mother’s side in St. Louis, Maya is attacked by a man many times her age—and has to live with the consequences for a lifetime. Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns that love for herself, the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned.

My Review:

I've wanted to read this book for quite some time and I'm glad I finally got the chance to. Maya Angelou was a poignant and powerful woman in not only the US, but an inspiration for many around the world.

In this autobiography, Maya tells of her experiences of being a woman of color growing up as a child and adolescent in the South. Dealing with racial prejudice, abandonment, and getting sexually abused, she also told of her insecurities of being African American, as well as her image. For a female, it's quite common for us to question our image at some point in our lives no matter the color of our skin and it's very relatable when you're reading this book (obviously I can't relate to the African American side of it).

There are moments in life where we have to deal with the impact it leaves on us for the rest of our lives. For Maya, it was when she got sexually abused several times as a child. There's a pain and shame involved for victims that Maya had to start dealing with at such a young age. Writing of that time must have been freeing all the emotions of those experiences. In society to this very day, rape and sexual abuse are not really talked about because it's considered to be more or less a taboo topic for several reasons that I'm not going to get into at this time. But I don't think not talking about it really helps those victims to heal and realize that it wasn't their fault.

Maya was a survivor. The way she wrote about her experiences was interesting and poignant. Some parts of her story are relatable to every female. I did appreciate reading about how people of color see things in life. Too often, we see things one-sided when there are two sides to every story. Maya exhibited an incredible strength to write about some of horrific moments in her childhood. But she also wrote about times when she was able to celebrate little things, such as getting a new dress for Church, and you could celebrate those moments with her.

While Maya was going through these experiences and other hard times, she found an escape and comfort in reading (and food as well). I really enjoyed her sharing and describing her favorite books and authors she was reading (like Shakespeare), as I have always loved reading as well. Books have a way of taking you somewhere you can only imagine going to.

Maya exhibited that you can survive and be a role model for others going through similar experiences. I might create another post of some of my favorite quotes from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~