Book Review: Ransomed Dreams (Side Roads Book 1) by Sally John

This is a very good portrayal of PTSD in an invalid and his caretaker and life issues they face.

Ransomed Dreams (Side Roads Book 1)
by Sally John

File Size: 4545 KB
Print Length: 402 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (July 16, 2010)
ASIN: B003VWBXW8
Genre: Christian Fiction, Women's Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Sheridan Montgomery leads a charmed life as the wife of Eliot, U.S. ambassador to Venezuela. But an attack on their lives cripples Eliot, and they retreat to a remote Mexican village. As Sheridan quietly cares for her husband, she sees her dreams slipping away. Luke Traynor shatters their reverie when he arrives to tell Sheridan of her father’s heart attack and the evidence implicating him in a conspiracy. Sheridan returns to Chicago to untangle the web of her father’s past and is forced to confront her feelings for Luke, a trail of deceit, and the truth about her marriage.

Review:
Sheridan and her husband are traumatized by an attack that has left Eliot crippled and in pain. They have hidden themselves away in a remote Mexican village. Sheridan serves as secretary for the few hours he works on his memoirs and as caretaker in his frustrated, angry moments. The rest of the time Eliot withdraws into his own world or sleeps for hours in a drugged state. Sheridan tries to accept the situation, but she is becoming tired of being isolated and frustrated that Eliot will rarely leave their home. At least she finds solace in prayer and talks with the wise local Padre.

Their quiet, hidden life is disrupted when Luke, the CIA agent who saved her during the attack, hunts them down. Luke and Sheridan formed a fragile friendship as her ‘angel Gabriel’ supporting her at the hospital while they waited to see if Eliot would survive and then helping her make the transition to the secluded life. Luke was not supposed to come back into her life, but he arrives with a message from Sheridan’s sister: their father is dying. Sheridan has reason to not want to go to her father’s side. Still, she cares enough to go to share her sister’s pain.

Sheridan again leans on Luke as she makes the traumatic trip back to Chicago. There she learns that her sister has uncovered evidence that their politician father has secrets of years of corruption. As Sheridan tries to regain her balance in the ‘real world’, Eliot surprisingly travels from the house with the Padre and begins to show unexpected improvement in his condition.

Sheridan doesn’t understand why her leaving has helped Eliot’s condition. Eliot is afraid that Sheridan won’t return … especially if she learns of a secret in his past. Will their marriage be able to survive the strains of their PTSD and revealed secrets?

The story circumstances lead to the need for forgiveness and restoration in several relationships. I was very impressed by the author’s clear handling of complex emotional and physical issues. She does a good job portraying both the patient and caretaker struggles and frustrations. I liked how the levels of faith of the characters helped them deal with the real-life situations and temptations they faced. The faith elements are shown through the lives of the characters and are not just preachy add-ins.

My ladies book club all agreed this was engaging fiction with good messages. I recommend this to readers who like stories that deal with family and faith issues.

Source: Kindle 2011. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Alphabet goals.

Book Review and Giveaway: Mother of Pearl by Kellie Coates Gilbert

This well written story is startling and heart wrenching.

Mother of Pearl
by Kellie Coates Gilbert

File Size: 2533 KB
Print Length: 306 pages
Publisher: Amnos Media Group; 2 edition (February 20, 2017)
ASIN: B06VYJ118F
Genre: Christian, Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

How Far Would You Go for your Child?
Barrie Graeber has two great kids, a loving husband, and a respected job as the high school counselor in her close-knit community. Without warning, everything unravels when her teenage daughter, Pearl, is betrayed and lashes out.
Nothing prepares this mother for the helplessness that follows when her attempts to steer her daughter back on course fail, and Pearl shuts her out . . . or when Barrie discovers the unthinkable about her nemesis, the football coach.
Emotionally riveting and profoundly moving, Mother of Pearl brings us into the heart of a mother bound by an incredible burden, who ultimately finds she must recognize her own vulnerability and learn to trust in something much bigger..

Review:
Barrie Graeber has a strong loving family: husband, 16-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son. She is respected and enjoys her work as a high school counselor. Barrie has the usual mother concerns about her daughter, but Pearl is well grounded, popular and a good student working toward a scholarship to college. Then Pearl loses her boyfriend and best friend in a terrible act of betrayal. Rather than seeking help from her mother Pearl has shut herself off although she does have one new friend who tries to help her.

Tragedy strikes the family causing emotional devastation. And as if the first injury isn’t enough Barrie learns another shocking secret. Barrie becomes obsessed with this, driving a wedge in the family.

This story was more than I expected. It wasn’t always an emotionally easy read, but riveting is an appropriate description. It is well written in first person voice of Barrie. There are friends who step forward to help and others who step away. An attorney who helps is a bold, colorful character. There are Christian and faith elements woven naturally into the story. I kept hoping Barrie would find her strength in faith.

This is our Ladies Book Club for August.
Source: I had print copies for others but was able to snag the Kindle version on sale in 2017. This qualifies for my 2018TBR and Alphabet Challenge.

GIVEAWAY

Paperback Book (US and Canada Only)

ENTRY FORM HERE

(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!)

For 3 Extra Bonus entries

(a) comment on the review

(b) visit the author's Website and tell me something you like there.

* This contest is open to US and Canada only for the paperback book.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) September 29, 2018.
Winners are asked to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email.

Book Review and Giveaway: Katt's in the Cradle: A Secrets from Lulu's Cafe Novel by Ginger Kolbaba, Christy Scannel

This tells the story of four pastor wives (PWs) and the challenges they face.

Katt's in the Cradle: A Secrets from Lulu's Cafe Novel
by Ginger Kolbaba, Christy Scannell

Series: Secrets from Lulu's Cafe
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Howard Books; Original edition (February 3, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1416543899
Genre: Inspirational Fiction, Women's Friendship
My Rating: 3.5 of 5.0

When you're in the trenches, sometimes you're up to your neck in mud. That's the not-so-glamorous life of a pastor's wife.

Felicia's family is...complicated. That's putting it nicely. Now they're flying in from LA -- all at once -- to stay with her...just when her brother-in-law, Javier, and Mama aren't even speaking to each other. And the whole church will be there to witness the feud.

Mimi has a lot on her mind with her four energetic kids -- especially Milo the screamer, with his Pavarotti voice. Then her live-in alcoholic dad starts to mow their lawn at midnight.

Lisa has her hands full with loudmouth Tom Graves and the other troublemakers at Red River Assembly. Then vicious rumors start to fly about the Barton family...and the attacks and threats get increasingly personal.

Jennifer is pushing her adopted daughter, Carys, in a stroller, when she notices a black town car -- the same car she's seen several times over the past week. Could someone be following her?

The PWs plunge into an unnerving mystery...and discover what "family" really means.

Review:
This book follows four PWs, pastor’s wives, and their family, and church, struggles.
Mimi has a houseful of kids, including a young toddler and a child with a loud mouth. However, her biggest challenge is her alcoholic father who lives with them. He refuses to honor the AA commitments and is rebellious about being ‘worthless”. Jennifer has an adopted biracial child and is concerned that someone is following her. She is also struggling to cope with her chemically imbalanced mother who goes off the medications and goes on spending binges that she can’t afford.

Felecia has a toddler but is struggling with whether to have a second child. She comes from a strong Hispanic family who all decide to come visit even though Mother isn’t speaking to one of the sons-in-law. Lisa is a mostly spiritually calm personality with a fairly calm home life to the extent a home can be calm with a teenage daughter and young teen son. Lisa’s crisis is a rebellious church member who is challenging the Pastor’s call to repentance and dividing the church through bullying and unfounded rumor against Lisa’s family.

Over the past couple of years (and first two books) these four have formed a close knit group. They support each other by meeting for lunch every other week at LuLu’s Café located in a town 40 miles away. There they encourage their waitress, Gracie, to find a relationship with God not so much by preaching to her but by living their lives as a testimony.

A new PW has appeared in town, married to the recently widowed Pastor Katt. The other PWs want to make the larger group of PWs more real and supportive. But can they live this desire first by welcoming and opening up to the new Ally Katt?

This book has a mess of dysfunctional families. Many issues that could face a pastor’s wife face these ladies. The story brought compassion from our ladies towards our Pastor’s wife who is one of our readers. She said she felt that she had faced all of the issues at one time or another. The story has some lightness to it even though it deals with difficult situations.

The ending wraps this time period for the women with appropriate Christian lessons of forgiveness, caring, faithfulness, trust and hope. None of us were overwhelmed with the book and we sure weren’t going to pay $14. 99 for the Kindle edition. This might be interesting to readers who don’t mind the mess of family dysfunction and drama presented with humor and Christian lessons.

I purchased irregular print copies at low price for Ladies Book Club October reading which we discussed November 7.

TWO (gently read) PRINT COPY GIVEAWAY

US Only

ENTRY FORM HERE

(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!

I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.)

For 3 Extra Bonus entries

(a) comment on the review, OR

(b) Visit the AUTHOR'S WEBSITE and tell me something you learned or like there.

* This contest is open to US only for Print Copy.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) November 22, 2015.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after November 22, 2015.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email.

Book Review: Harriet Wolf's Seventh Book of Wonders: A Novel by Julianna Baggott

This is not my usual reading taste but in the end I found it remarkable.

Harriet Wolf's Seventh Book of Wonders: A Novel

by Julianna Baggott

File Size: 1098 KB
• Print Length: 337 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0316375101
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (August 18, 2015)
• Sold by: Hachette Book Group
• ASIN: B00S5A6HQS
Genre: Women's Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

"A mesmerizing tale of star-crossed love and of the dark secrets in a fracturing family . . . This novel is so full of wonders that it leaves you haunted, amazed, and, like every great read, irrevocably changed."--Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You

The reclusive Harriet Wolf, revered author and family matriarch, has a final confession-a love story. Years after her death, as her family comes together one last time, the mystery of Harriet's life hangs in the balance. Does the truth lie in the rumored final book of the series that made Harriet a world-famous writer, or will her final confession be lost forever?

Harriet Wolf's Seventh Book of Wonders tells the moving story of the unforgettable Wolf women in four distinct voices: the mysterious Harriet, who, until now, has never revealed the secrets of her past; her fiery, overprotective daughter, Eleanor; and her two grown granddaughters--Tilton, the fragile yet exuberant younger sister, who's become a housebound hermit, and Ruth, the older sister, who ran away at sixteen and never looked back. When Eleanor is hospitalized, Ruth decides it's time to do right by a pact she made with Tilton long ago: to return home and save her sister. Meanwhile, Harriet whispers her true life story to the reader. It's a story that spans the entire twentieth century and is filled with mobsters, outcasts, a lonesome lion, and a home for wayward women. It's also a tribute to her lifelong love of the boy she met at the Maryland School for Feeble-minded Children.

Harriet Wolf's Seventh Book of Wonders, Julianna Baggott's most sweeping and mesmerizing novel yet, offers a profound meditation on motherhood and sisterhood, as well as on the central importance of stories. It is a novel that affords its characters that rare chance we all long for--the chance to reimagine the stories of our lives while there's still time.

Review:
This is a most unusual book. It starts out with a punch as Harriet announces she was born dead… She then proceeds to explain. Although Harriet is the primary figure, the book weaves in and out of her life and through the lives of her stubborn and controlling daughter, Eleanor, and Eleanor’s two daughters, rebellious, bitter, Ruth and fragile but inquisitive Tilton. Harriet slowly shares her background as a seemingly moronic child placed at the Maryland School for Feeble-minded Children, a specialized school, in the early 1900s. After a number of years it is discovered that Harriet is actually a genius but her father views a genius female child as a waste and leaves her in the school. Harriet meets a young boy at the school and they fall in love.

Harriet’s mother discovers by accident that Harriet is alive and she immediately brings her home from school. Mother and daughter have several wonderful years together, while dad remains late at work and out of the way. Harriet’s live is set in a tail spin when her mother dies and her father returns the senior teen to another facility. Eventually Harriet moves out on her own and establishes a life that ultimately leads to writing a series of six books that reach great popularity and academic acclaim. Everyone was sure there was a seventh book but Eleanor insists she does not have it and keeps her house closed to any fans or inquiries.

The story shifts chapters between the four female characters and the reader gets to see the strengths, weaknesses and the dysfunction of each. Eleanor’s circumstance was impacted by events that led to her husband leaving. Eleanor adopted the attitude: “Human beings are shaped by tragedy and this one’s ours.” Ruth blamed her mother for her father walking out and resented her mother’s focus on her fragile sister. Once she left home Ruth had not expected to return, even to save Tilton as she had once promised. Tilton is a lovely character full of gentleness and joy. It is so sad that she has been completely overprotected by her mother. As the current lives of Eleanor and her girls unfold and head toward collision, Harriet’s tale continues to reveal the great joys and loves of her life. The story and the characters finally “bloomed”.

The writing is smooth with a lyrical tone and some incredible descriptions. The historical elements regarding treatment of the ‘feeble-minded’ are rather fascinating. The difficult and tangled feelings between mothers and daughters is a primary focus of the book.

I am not big into drama and I almost stopped reading this at about a third in. I found it somewhat depressing as well as outright bizarre. I am glad I persevered as the ending made the entire book worthwhile for me! I am sure that readers who enjoy family drama would like the journey better than I did but I am glad that there was light and love revealed at the end. The author states a precept that I have long believed that “joy needs sorrow to understand itself. And sorrow, without joy, has no bearings” (location 707). She also makes a clear point that each individual has a unique life experience that results from their unique way of perceiving (location 2140). My final impression of the total work: remarkable.

This is a book I was invited to read at NetGalley. It qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: Color Me Bad, a Novella, by Sharon Sala

This quick, fun novella sets the stage for sassy, feminine mischief in a small town setting.
Color Me Bad: A Novella
by Sharon Sala/Dinah McCall

• File Size: 226 KB
• Print Length: 59 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (September 3, 2013)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• ASIN: B00DDWIT14

Genre: Contemporary, Women's Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: September 3, 2013
An original short story by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Sharon Sala links to her full-length contemporary women's fiction novel, The Curl Up and Dye.
The novella centers around the four women who run the Curl Up and Dye hair salon and their relationships with the quirky customers of small-town Blessings, Georgia. Their meddlesome efforts at match-making run awry, but there's always another makeover just around the corner.

Review:
Ruby Dye moved to small-town Blessings, Georgia after the trauma of a divorce. She needed to use her hair stylist skills to support herself and was pleased to discover that the town welcomed the opening of her shop, the Curl Up and Dye hair salon. She works with feisty twin sisters, Vesta and Vera, and manicurist Mabel Jean. As style shops sometimes are, the little shop has become the gossip center of the town. Not only does all the news end up passing along through the shop but one particular day it becomes the scene of quite a spectacle.

Patty June Clymer, a local preacher’s wife, has reached the end of her rope with her cheating husband. When his ‘girlfriend’ comes into the shop for nail repair Patty June attacks her with stylist sheers! The news quickly spreads through town as Patty June goes home and tosses her husband’s belongings on their lawn as she ousts him from her life. Patty June takes a stand against unfaithful men even as the townspeople initially ostracize her for being too pushy, independent and a feminist. Patty June holds her ground, changes her hair color and style with the help of Ruby, and plans a lengthy travel exploration of Italy. 

Soon other women, particularly travel agent, Willa Dean, begin to question the relationships with their spouses. Realizing that many women are not being treated as they should be, Willa gathers  the town women and springs a surprise for Patty June.

The novella introduces the perky, primary characters and some good quirky secondary characters too. Many of the women are wary of men, for good reasons. But it is clear that there is room, and desire, for finding the elusive, faithful and dedicated mate. The writing is straight forward and full of sass as one might expect from a Southern woman.

I have read and enjoyed many Sharon Sala/Dinah McCall romantic suspense novels. She has a strong, easy writing flow that moves well with good combination of action, tension and romance. I was curious to see how this contemporary fiction series would go. Although I probably will steer toward the suspense novels, this series should appeal to many readers who like strong female characters and a well developed writing style that is easy and fun reading.

A statement regarding the strength of Southern women:

Southern women had been feminists a long time before that tag had become a buzzword. They’d hidden the iron in their backbones with a smile and a “bless your heart,” and not a man was the wiser. Location 514.

I received this title from Sourcebooks through NetGalley.

Book Review and Giveaway: Henny on the Couch by Rebecca Land Soodak

This is a well written, intense story, and I recommend it especially for those who enjoy real to life drama that might make you ponder about your own life.

Henny on The Couch

by Rebecca Land Soodak

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: 5 Spot; Original edition (March 27, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446574260
• ISBN-13: 978-0446574266

Genre: Women's Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: March 27, 2012

Kara Caine Lawson has worked hard to become the woman she is-wife, mother and successful shop owner. Having survived a turbulent childhood, Kara understands that life could've just as easily gone another way . . . and even if she isn't gliding through the trials of lost library books, entitled customers and routine date nights, at least she's not sipping a Dewar's all day like her mother did.

But then Kara unexpectedly encounters paintings by her now-famous college boyfriend just as she's beginning to suspect that her daughter Henny's difficulties may be the sign of something serious, and all of her past decisions are thrown into dramatic relief.

Kara's narration, at turns heartbreaking and hilarious, captures the imperfect thoughts we have about ourselves and those around us. Rebecca Land Soodak's debut novel asks the difficult questions about the choices we make while revealing the minute details that end up defining our lives.

Review:

This story is told in first person by Kara, a forty-ish wife and mother of three children, Adam, aged 10, Henny age 7, and Max a 3 year old toddler.  Kara is part owner in a successful children’s hair salon, Little Scissors, located in Upper East Side, New York.

When Kara sees a gallery show of art from her college boyfriend, Oliver, she becomes conflicted. What if she had pursued her own painting desires instead of marrying, having children and opening the salon with Willa?  Are the nannys she hires good for her children and is she being a good mother providing a nanny as well as dividing her time between the children and her business?

Her business partner, Willa, with the help of Willa’s new personal partner, Victoria, a Public Relations specialist, is looking to move the shop location and expand the business. Kara’s comfortable husband of many years, Michael, is a successful architect and his business is also looking to grow and expand to global customers. Kara is resistant to Willa’s ideas for expansion and she is even more resistant when Michael proposes that they move to Los Angeles. What direction does Kara want for her life now that she is being pulled in so many directions?

Kara’s dilemma is really the story but Henny’s behavior brings to focus some issues that were never known or recognized for Kara. When Henny shows difficulty in reading and keeping up with other children of her age Kara becomes concerned and finally seeks evaluation that reveals a learning disorder.

Kara’s close friend Morgan adds to Kara’s confusion as Morgan pursues a growing affair because of the excitement she finds. Kara doesn’t approve even though she has some admiration for Morgan’s confidence and vitality. Morgan is the one who encourages Kara to take a deeper look at her own dreams and desires.

The story rocks in time from Kara’s current day conflicts in 2007-2008, her college affair from 1982 to 1987 and her childhood years in the '70s when she struggled growing up with a “has been” starlet mother who spirals down into alcoholism. Each chapter announces the year so the reader can easily identify the time-line and characters for that period. I enjoyed this method of developing Kara’s character by showing her difficult childhood that carried into her shyness and neediness in the college affair, as well as her doubts and conflicting emotions in her current circumstances.

Although I thought the book started a little slowly, after passing the mid point I was anxious to read on to learn what would happen. The story is very well written and easy to read.  I like to stretch my reading to include fiction that I might not otherwise read. Choosing this book was one of those stretches as it is not a genre I read a lot.  I found it interesting but I have to acknowledge that, for entertainment and relaxation, I prefer fantasy fiction to real life drama fiction. Those who appreciate the internal struggles of artists would enjoy Ms. Soodak's emotional debut.

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

Kara's thoughts to consider:

Comments on Oliver:

...Being around him alters me. It doesn’t matter if this monumental change is microscopic, invisible to the human eye....I’m no longer the same. I always wanted to be...no longer the same. Page 27.

Early wisdom -viewing life as a movie at age 10:

Without even trying, I realize something about my movie. It doesn’t matter if I’m moving toward something or trying to get away. I may only be ten years old, but I’m suddenly aware that there’s little difference between the two. Page 67

Talking to Morgan about current day, grown up stuff:

“...You’d think I’d be used to it by now. Husband. Three kids. Businesses. Partners. Mortgages. Homes. It’s all so...substantial. Very high-stakes, grown-up decisions.” Page 199

Thank you to Hachette for providing this book for review.

This is set in New York for my Where Are You Reading Challenge. I will also add it to the ARC and New Author challenge lists.
TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the Review Copy:
1. Visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you find there.  This is required for entry.

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower on any media (GFC, Twitter @MSEREADS, Facebook fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/ReviewsByMarthasBookshelf , Goodreads or Linky - links on right sidebar) or tell me if you are already a follower.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Two total entries possible.)

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on June 8, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on June 9. 
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.