A Remarkable Kindness

 A Remarkable Kindness was the kind of novel that touches you deeply. I have always been drawn to Israel and its rich history, so I was not at all surprised to be drawn into the story of Rachel, Lauren, Emily and Aviva. Faced with their own personal challenges, this book tells the stories of their lives and what brought these four Jewish American to this place.
I was quite intrigued by the concept of a burial circle as it was not something I had previously heard about yet I found utterly compelling. I found the idea very touching and something that I felt was a great central focus of the story with the individual stories revolving around it.
This book was one that I can definitely recommend to anyone who loves a good story with a lot of emotion. It was a heartfelt and great story that was very easy to read.

Purchase Links: Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

Diana Bletter is a writer whose work has appeared in a wide variety of publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Commentary. Her first book, The Invisible Thread: A Portrait of Jewish American Women, with photographs by Lori Grinker, was shortlisted for a National Jewish Book Award. In 1991, she moved from New York to a seaside village in northern Israel where she lives with her husband and children, and volunteers in a burial circle.

Find out more about Diana at her website, and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Center of Gravity Review

Center of Gravity was just the kind of heart pounding suspenseful novel that I just love. I suspect that this genre is fast becoming my favorite type of book to read and this book just helped reinforce that. I really felt for Ava and could not wait to find out what would happen next. I honestly was so upset with everything that she was going through and  the story drew me in this intensely from the very beginning.

This story had all the great elements of an amazing oeuvre. I loved how little by little, we learnt more until piece by piece everything came together. I could not put this book down and read late into the night anticipating the next shocking twist.

Laura adores hot coffee, good manners, the color pink, and novels that keep her reading past midnight. She believes in the beauty of words, paying it forward, and that nerds rule the world. Laura is a fan of balmy summer nights, fireflies, and pristine mountain lakes. She lives in Mobile, Alabama with her two sons.

You can find Laura Tweeting @Lauramcneillbks and blogging at lauramcneill.com. After July 14^th, Laura’s suspense novel, Center of Gravity, can be found wherever fine books are sold. 

Book Links

http://amzn.to/1H5ahOo
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/center-of-gravity-laura-mcneill/1120808716?ean=9780718030919
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23736530-center-of-gravity

Love at First Flight

This book was much different from what I expected so I have to say it somewhat affected my enjoyment of it. I was expecting more of a modern love story and less of a romance novel but that is what I found myself reading. I wouldn't say that it was not a good book because it was just that my personal expectations were different.

The story focused on Mel and her life especially after meeting an irresistible stranger on a plane. I am not sure if I believe that in so short a period of time that your life could be so changed forever but I there is a part of me that loved that it may be possible. Who doesn't want to believe that the love of your life is out there to be stumbled upon at any moment? So this novel definitely had its appeal in regards to that.

I found the book somewhat frustrating but it was probably more that the situations Mel found herself in were completely frustrating at times so upon reflection, I can say that the author was probably very adept in describing the situations so well so that the general mood of the scene was very apparent.

I know that this is a first novel for this author and I am curious to see what she comes up with next as she definitely has her strengths.

Tess Woods is a health professional who lives in Perth, Australiawith one husband, two children, one dog and one cat who rules over all of them. Love at First Flight is her first novel for HarperCollins. When she isn't working or being a personal assistant to her kids, Tess enjoys reading and all kinds of grannyish pleasures like knitting, baking, drinking tea, watching Downton Abbey and tending to the veggie patch.

Links

My website:

http://www.tesswoods.com.au/

My Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/Tesswoods.harpercollins?ref=hl

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25058078-love-at-first-flight?from_search=true

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Love-First-Flight-Tess-Woods-ebook/dp/B00S47T1AG/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429057388&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=tess+woodsds

iBooks:

https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/love-at-first-flight/id972723972?mt=11

Kobo:

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/love-at-first-flight-6

Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-at-first-flight-woods-tess/1121030099?ean=9781460705414

Madeline Cain: Adventures In Fashion Review

Adventures in Fashion was all that but also a lot more! I had not read the first book but that wasn't a problem as this book can definitely hold its own. I didn't feel like I missed anything that made it impossible to read this second installment in this series but I will definitely be going back to read up on Emily's adventures in book one!

I was super intrigued by the way the book was written as a large majority of it was as if you were reading the main character's Facebook page and since we are such a social media obsessed society, I felt like it was very appropriate. It was admittedly a bit difficult to get used to at first but once I fell into a rhythm, it was very easy to read.

The story was interesting and kept me guessing because I could never anticipate what would happen next. I also had quite a few laughs over the things that happened and the posts that would appear on her Facebook wall. I especially liked how her mother would chime in every so often and somewhat unexpectedly at times.

I do enjoy Aussies so this book was definitely a pleasure since Madeline is an expat living in one of my favorite cities in the world. A cute and fun read that is sure to please!

Emily Craven was first inspired to placed pen to paper when she was 12, after she learnt her favourite author, Isobelle Carmody, began her first novel at 14. Emily finished two manuscripts while completing a Bachelor of Science (Space Science and Astrophysics and Geophysics) at the University of Adelaide. So technically, she can claim to be an astrophysicist (stars), geophysicist (rocks) and writer (crazy). She writes YA fiction, Fantasy and non-fiction. Emily lives in Australia and yes, back when she was a teenager her high school had its own herd of Kangaroos. She's been to almost every continent (Africa being her weakness in continent-domination) and has the pretty photographs to prove it (though probably less professional than Madeline Cain...).

Unusual talents and hobbies include: Getting excited at the thought of sky diving (though if you try to attach her to the end of a bungee cord she will take you down with her). She loves belly dancing, singing, is a self-confessed Trekkie, and will never pass up a good bar of chocolate. If you put her anywhere in the vicinity of snow, she turns into a five year old.

Emily has a website http://www.madelinecain.com and two blogs, one on writing (http://theoriginalfantasy.blogspot.com.au) and one on independent publishing and digital storytelling (http://ebookrevolution.com.au). You can find her on Twitter @TheMadelineCain or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/GrandAdventuresOfMadelineCain

LINKS TO BUY BOOK:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QY1UUJ0/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d13_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=0K75JPT2QR1ZTDEB9M9R&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=1970559082&pf_rd_i=desktop

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/madeline-cain-adventures-in-fashion

Smashwords: Smashwords – Madeline Cain: Adventures In Fashion – a book by Emily Craven

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/madeline-cain-emily-craven/1120957588?ean=2940046472622

Milked Review

I LOVED THIS BOOK. And yes I had to write that all in capitals because it was just that true. I read it in one day over the Christmas holidays, which was a feat in itself because of course that is a busy time of year. I just couldn't help myself though because the book was just that good.
The story of Amanda was one that I felt myself drawn into and I was silently cheering for her to succeed despite all of the difficult things she was faced with. I truly loved the realness I felt in this book and wondered if the author had gone through all of these things. From what I read later, she had not but I still felt like I was hearing about a friend's troubles in life and I hurt for her.
Quite often when I read a book I will be disappointed with one thing or another but this book delivered in every way. Great characters and dialogue and an entirely believable story that did not have a bad ending but a really plausible one that made me happy.
A definite 5 star rating and one of my best reads of the past year!

Lisa Doyle is a communications manager and freelance writer based in the Chicago area. A native of Hinsdale, Illinois and a graduate of Miami University, she spent several years editing business-to-business publications for the personal care industry before moving to the nonprofit sector, and currently works in advocacy for homeless families at Bridge Communities in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. She has written for major beauty trade publications (Global Cosmetic Industry, Skin Inc, Salon Today, Modern Salon, Renew, Suburban Life) and is a contributor to WOMEN REINVENTED: TRUE STORIES OF EMPOWERMENT AND CHANGE (LaChance Publishing, 2010). Doyle is represented by Claire Anderson-Wheeler of Regal Literary, Inc., a full-service agency based in New York. For more about Lisa, please visit her website.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bylisadoyle

Twitter: @bylisadoyle 

Buy the Book!

www.simonandfig.com

Dangled Carat Review

I don't usually read memoirs but since this book read like a true chick lit novel, I found myself truly enjoying this book. I enjoyed hearing about Hilary's personal story and all the turns it took! I was impressed how candid she was in sharing a very personal story. She was very honest and at times the tale was humorous though I was frustrated at times with Marc and I could definitely relate! I read this book in record time and feel like it is a must read for any young woman!

Hilary Grossman dated a guy so commitment-phobic that she was able to write a book about their relationship.  She has an unhealthy addiction to denim and shoes.  She loves to find humor in every day life.  And she likens life to a game of dodgeball - she tries to keep many balls in the air before they smack her in the face. When she isn't writing or blogging she is the CFO of a beverage alcohol importer.  She lives on Long Island.

blog = http://www.feelingbeachie.com

Facebook - author page = https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hilary-Grossman-Author/490726971020296

Facebook blog page = https://www.facebook.com/pages/Feeling-Beachie/303122723070159

twitter = @feelingbeachie

Find the Book!

Amazon: amzn.to/1qjZQl2

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dangled-carat-hilary-grossman/1120000891?ean=9781620154649

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18487111-dangled-carat

Pie Girls Review

 

Pie Girls was the second book I have read by Lauren Clark and I have to say that I was delighted by the Southern charm that is her signature style. Searcy Roberts was an interesting character who I came to like a lot though I found it somewhat unbelievable that she changed personality wise as quickly as she did. However, I am not going to judge as one never knows what adversity can do to a person.

The characters grew on me and I found myself caring about them as the book progressed. I was definitely rooting for Searcy and for her success! I did find some of the book farfetched or perhaps just not plausible though I didn’t find that it took away from the overall enjoyment of this book.

Lauren always writes interesting stories and I am looking forward to reading more of her work. And apparently I won’t have to wait as I have two books to catch up on!



 

 

Author Bio:

After six years behind the anchor desk at two CBS affiliates, Lauren Clark moved to the Alabama Gulf Coast to raise her family and write full-time. 

Lauren has published four novels, Pie Girls (set in Fairhope, Alabama), Stay Tuned, Stardust Summer, and Dancing Naked in Dixie, under the pen name, Lauren Clark. More than twenty-two thousand copies of Lauren's novels have been sold worldwide.

Visit Lauren’s website at www.laurenclarkbooks.com, follow her on Twitter @LaurenClark_Bks, and her blog at www.laurenclarkbooks.com/blog.

 

Available at the following retailers:
Amazon     BN     Kobo     Smashwords     iBooks

Giveaway!

Comment on the tour page to win a signed paperback copy of Dancing Daked in Dixie by Lauren Clark - 3 US/CA winners will be chosen at the end of the tour!