Pages

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

'Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter' by Tom Franklin (TLC Tour Book)




  "The Rutherford Girl had been missing for eight days when Larry Ott returned home and found a monster waiting in his house."
[p. 1]








Teaser Synopsis
In the late 1970s, Larry Ott and Silas "32" Jones were boyhood pals. Their worlds were as different as night and day: Larry, the child of lower-middle-class white parents, and Silas, the son of a poor, single black mother. Yet for a few months the boys stepped outside of their circumstances and shared a special bond. But then tragedy struck

My Thoughts:
  • great story building..the author did a fantastic job of creating his characters and showing their growth throughout the story.
  • This book has that "atmosphere" of the time and place. I could almost literally feel that hot, wet, humidity of Mississippi. His descriptive writing really shaped the visual in my mind of what the characters looked like, the small town, and the rural background. 
  • The creepy factor- this book has it. I was never really sure if I should go with my gut feeling in regards to a few characters or if I should go off in the direction that I felt the author was trying to take me. 
  • little bit of a mystery written cleverly between the pages and was the thread that ran throughout the story. I did figure it out pretty early on but it in no way interfered with my enjoyment of reading. Heck, I think it added to it because I couldn't wait to see what the response would be when a couple of characters have to confront a cold hard truth.
  • The slang of the deep south- reading it at first felt a bit stilted, but after saying a few sentences out loud to myself to get the feel of the cadence, I started to get into the rhythm and those pages just started flying!

Recommend? Absolutely...this book takes the reader deep into the heart of the south and exposes you to human frailties, race relations, and how one misjudgment can affect a person's life in such a terrible and sad manner.  Silas and Larry's story comes full circle in the end and brings them closer than they ever imagined.

P.S. I will now be using the word "MASH" instead of push. I like it...so mash those buttons and leave me a comment!! (mash is the word used in the south in place of push. Like mash the doorbell...crazy huh? I love it!

Rating: 8/10

Published: 2011
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Pages: 272
Genre: Southern Fiction on the dark side
ISBN:  9780060594671
 

Disclaimer:Thank you to TLC Book Tours for sending me a review copy. I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel

© 2011, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Tuesday Edition of Mailbox Monday!

Mailbox Monday
is a gathering place for readers to
share the books that came into their house last week 
and explore great book blogs. 
Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
Hosted this month by
MariReads 



  
 Northwest Corner by John Burnham Schwartz- review book for TLC
Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy - review copy from HarperCollins
Demon's are a Girl's Best Friend by Linda Wisdom- won copy from Jen@ Jenny Loves to Read- THANKS!!
Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda- review copy from William Morrow
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


Hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books
We discuss the books that we've read and what we're planning to read for the week.
 
Read and reviewed last week:
The Truth about Mr. Darcy- disappointing P&P variation
The Midwife's Confession- absorbing read..couldn't put it down.
Mr. Darcy and the Secret of Becoming a Gentleman- loved it..this is a great P&P variation!!!!
Wickedly Charming- was wickedly fun!

Reviews this week:
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter- TLC tour stop on Wednesday
Love on Assignment- Thurs or Friday
 
 
On my nightstand:
A million different choices!!! One that I will be reading for sure is this one-




Saturday, May 28, 2011

Six Sentence Saturday

Welcome to Six Sentence Saturday.
Where I try to express my thoughts on recent reads using only 6 sentences!!!!.
At the end of each review I will post a
rating scale of 1-5 using the cute and original (lol) Playing Cards.
Rating scale will be as follows:

5 of Hearts- You must read this book NOW!!
4 of Hearts- A great read, put it on your TBR list.
3 of Hearts- Happy that I read it...a good read.

2 of Hearts- Just O.K but nothing to write home about.
Joker Card - Don't bother (why did I?)


Mr. Darcy and the Secret of Becoming a Gentleman by Maria Hamilton (click on title for synopsis)
Source: review copy from Sourcebooks
Genre: P&P Variation- at it's finest!
Pages: 464
Published: May 1, 2011 Sourcebooks
ISBN: 9781402244186*Uncorrected ARC



My Thoughts: This is what I look for when I want a stellar P&P variation. The story was tender, sweet, funny, original and also had that vibe of Jane Austen running within the pages. To me it is vital that the characters ring true as Austen wrote them...and this author did a fabulous job. I loved all of the roadblocks that Darcy encountered as he tried to make Elizabeth view him in a better light. I thought the author did a great job of bringing in minor characters from the original story and giving them more stage time, which to me really enhanced the story. If you're one of those people (like me) who are always looking for a great story that continues to keep Darcy and Elizabeth alive and vibrant, then you need to add this to your list of books!!!
My Rating:







Wickedly Charming by Kristine Grayson
Source: review copy from Sourcebooks
Genre: Original and fun Romance
Pages: 352
Published: May 1, 2011 Sourcebooks
ISBN: 9781402248481(click on title for synopsis)
*Uncorrected ARC







My Thoughts: This book was WICKEDLY charming and oh so original! I hate that cover because it's so stinkin' misleading....there's such a great story behind this cover!! I loved the whole concept of a wronged wicked step-mother wanting to tell the world that the Grimm Brothers and Disney got the whole story messed up!! I absolutely fell in love with Charming...he's a book nerd and doesn't want anything to do with being  a Prince! I had a fun time reading this story and the author kept my attention the entire time. There wasn't a cheesy or eye-rolling moment in this book. I want to read more by this author!! If you're looking for a book to just kick back, lose yourself and escape from reality for a few hours...this one could be it!

My Rating:








Disclaimer:Thank you to  Danielle and Sourcebooks for sending me a review copy. I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel.
 © 2011, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

'The Midwife's Confession' by Diane Chamberlain



Author: Diane Chamberlain
Published: April 26, 2011
Publisher: Mira
Pages: 432 Kindle Edition
Genre: Women's Fiction
ISBN:  9780778329862













Synopsis:
'I don't know how to tell you what I did.' The unfinished letter is the only clue Tara and Emerson have to the reason behind Noelle's suicide. Everything they knew about Noelle - her calling as a midwife, her passion for causes, her love for her family - described a woman who embraced life. But they didn't know everything. Because the unaddressed letter reveals a terrible secret...and a legacy of guilt that changes everything they thought they knew about the woman who delivered their children. A legacy that will irrevocably change their own lives - and the life of a desperate stranger - forever.


My thoughts:
I had read so many great reviews of this title that I just had to get my hands on a copy. I'm a bit ashamed to admit that I finally realized that I was approved to download a copy of this to my Kindle months ago from NetGalley....I just was too lazy to figure out how to do it. Well, thanks to my fellow book lovers and their awesome reviews, I was motivated to learn how to get that ebook on my lovely Kindle. And I'm so happy that I did because this was a fantastic read!! I was drawn in from the very first paragraph and couldn't get enough of the story. I love the way Chamberlain writes and she didn't disappoint me in any fashion with this book. The characters were fully fleshed out and the story was riveting.

Recommend? Absolutely!! This book has it all: love, secrets, betrayal, mystery, friendships rocked by deceit and moving family dynamics. If you've never read a book by Chamberlain, I highly recommend picking this one up.

Rating: 9/10

Disclaimer:Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA Books for sending me a review copy. I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel

© 2011, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

WoW Pick: The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley


"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event,
hosted at Breaking the Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases
that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:





When Eva’s filmstar sister Katrina dies, she leaves California and returns to Trelowarth, Cornwall , where they spent their childhood summers, to scatter Katrina’s ashes and in doing so return her to the place where she belongs.

But Eva must also confront the ghosts from her own past, as well as those from a time long before her own. For the house where she so often stayed as a child is home not only to her old friends the Halletts, but also to the people who had lived there in the eighteenth century. When Eva finally accepts that she is able to slip between centuries and see and talk to the inhabitants from hundreds of years ago, she soon finds herself falling for Daniel Butler, a man who lived – and died – long before she herself was born.

Eva begins to question her place in the present, and in laying her sister to rest, comes to realise that she too must decide where she really belongs, choosing between the life she knows and the past she feels so drawn towards.


Release date: Fall
Publisher: Sourcebooks
ME: very very very excited!!!!!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

'The Truth about Mr. Darcy' by Susan Adriani



About the Book: (from Goodreads)
In this hot tale, Mr. Darcy confesses the truth about George Wickham right from the start, warning Elizabeth and the rest of Meryton about Wickham's despicable character. Will his honesty change the way Elizabeth feels about him and his previous poor behavior? Will he still have to transform himself to win her love? And what will happen when scandal erupts?
  

The Cover:

Not the greatest...I have yet to figure out what the woman on the cover is up to...looks like she's delivering lunch to Mr. Darcy maybe???
 
My First Reaction When I Finished:  

My mother told me that if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all.

My Review:
  • No real story...I kept waiting for something, anything really, but the story fell flat for me and just didn't hold my interest.
  • I honestly felt that there was too much sex...and it was bow-chicka-wow-wow sex! Now, let me say that I'm not a prude in the least, but when the sex seems to be the main thread that runs throughout the story with the story being a filler I tune out. I didn't buy into the story at all.

Do I recommend?
Sorry, but I can't....unless of course you are a die-hard variation fan and must read them no matter what.

Rating: 5/10

Reviewers who had a different opinion than mine:
Angela Renee@ Royal Reviews:
"This is the Pride & Prejudice book that I have been craving! Every aspect of this book worked without feeling forced or out of place and for me that was a major plus. "


 Anna@Diary of an Eccentric:
"The book was a tad long and could have done with fewer sex scenes, but overall, I found it hard to put down.  The Truth About Mr. Darcy is a worthwhile addition to the shelves of readers like me who can’t get enough of the Austen variations, especially if they don’t mind when things really heat up between Darcy and Elizabeth."

Author: Susan Adriani
Published: May 1, 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Pages: 512
Genre: Pride and Prejudice Variation
ISBN: 9781402246135
*Uncorrected Advance Copy 
 
Disclaimer:Thank you to Danielle @ Sourcebooks for sending me a review copy. I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel
 
© 2011, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Mailbox Monday and It's Monday....What are you reading?

Mailbox Monday
is a gathering place for readers to
share the books that came into their house last week 
and explore great book blogs. 
Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
Hosted this month by
MariReads 






Wish You Were Here by Phillipa Ashley: review copy from Sourcebooks
The Silver Boat by Luanne Rice: review copy from Viking
Radio Shangri-La by Lisa Napoli: review copy from Amazon Vine Voice
The Snowman by Jo Nesbo: review copy from Amazon Vine Voice
These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf: won from Teddyree@The Eclectic Reader
Graveminder by Melissa Marr: copy from Shelf Awareness
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Hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books
We discuss the books that we've read and what we're planning to read for the week.


Read and reviewed last week:
The Last Letter by Kathleen Shoop- riveting historical fiction! 9/10
The Judgment by Beverly Lewis- another great Amish book 8/10
Falling Home by Karen White- great southern fiction 9/10

Reviews for this week:
The Truth about Mr. Darcy by Susan Adriani
The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain
Mr. Darcy and the Secret of Becoming a Gentleman by Maria Hamilton

On my nightstand:
same ones from last week with one new one added!
 

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Six Sentence Saturday- Movie version (sorry so late!)

Welcome to Six Sentence Saturday.
Where I try to express my thoughts on recent reads using only 6 sentences!!!!.
At the end of each review I will post a
rating scale of 1-5 using the cute and original (lol) Playing Cards.
Rating scale will be as follows:

5 of Hearts- You must read this book NOW!!
4 of Hearts- A great read, put it on your TBR list.
3 of Hearts- Happy that I read it...a good read.

2 of Hearts- Just O.K but nothing to write home about.
Joker Card - Don't bother (why did I?)


Charlotte Gray- 2001
A young Scottish woman joins the French Resistance during World War II to rescue her Royal Air Force boyfriend who is lost in France.

My Thoughts: I love Cate Blanchett and that was what initially drew me to watch this movie last week. The first 30 minutes does move a bit slowly but after Blanchett's character arrives in France the pace quickly picks up and you're pulled into this story. I found this to be a very interesting look into piece of history that we don't often hear and/or read about. I am appalled as to what humans will do to each other during times of war but this movie also shows you the courageous side of people. For those that are history buffs this movie will appeal to you for sure!
Rating:
 






  
The Stoning of Soraya M. - 2008
A drama set in 1986 Iran and centered on a man, Sahebjam, whose car breaks down in a remote village and enters into a conversation with Zahra, who relays to him the story about her niece, Soraya, whose arranged marriage to an abusive tyrant had a tragic ending.

My Thoughts: This movie is based on real events and knowing that made my heart break even more and my tears just poured down my face. This is not an easy movie to watch at the end because they show Soraya being stoned not just by her husband and sons but also by the entire village. I'm repulsed to know that women are treated as nothing more than animals in other countries. This movie made me question humanity......how could people just stand by and watch this happen????HOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even though this movie is hard to watch I believe it MUST be watched.
Rating:

Thursday, May 19, 2011

'Falling Home' by Karen White

Home is where the heart is, but Cassie Madison prefers to think of it as a place where one if born, then outgrows, along with skinned knees and childhood dreams. A humiliated Cassie left Walton, Georgia for Manhattan fifteen years before, vowing never to return. And then her sister calls. Their father is dying and wants Cassie to come back home. FALLING HOME is a coming home story about forgiveness and acceptance, and of finding love in the most unexpected of places.
My Thoughts:
This book has it all....a great family story, love, heartbreak, secrets, humor, sadness....and it's written beautifully. I finished this book in one day and resented whatever chore took me away from reading. I absolutely loved spending time with these characters and the town of Walton. It made me a bit nostalgic for my childhood days and upbringing. I lived in a small town where everyone knew you and your parents. If you were misbehaving your mom knew about it before you could bicycle home. There's much to be said for a small town life and that feeling of a community as an extended family. I grew to really care about Cassie as she came to terms with her past hurts and regrets. The book was filled with characters that were authentic and many I would love to have as friends. As I finished the last page I sighed with satisfaction...another solid book from Karen White.
Recommend? Yes...y'all need to read this one...fantastic southern fiction with a great cast of characters. This book will make you emotional.....read it!

Rating: 9/10

Author: Karen White
Published: November 2, 2010
Publisher: NAL Accent Trade
Pages: 437
Genre: Southern Fiction
ISBN:  9780451231444
  
Disclaimer:Thank you to Joy Strazza of Joan Schulhafer Publishing & Media Consulting for sending me a review copy. I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel

© 2011, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

'The Judgment' ( Rose Trilogy #2) by Beverly Lewis



Synopsis from publisher:
Rose Kauffman is engaged to Silas Good, a well-liked Amish fellow, so why does she still pine for Nick Franco, the former foster son of the bishop? Especially now that Nick has left the Amish community under a cloud of suspicion after the death of the bishop's biological son? Will Rose marry Silas, even while struggling with romantic feelings for Nick? Meanwhile, Rose's older sister, Hen, has returned to live at her parents' farm with her young daughter. Hen and her modern husband, Brandon, are separated by mutual agreement, although he is threatening to sue for custody of their daughter if Hen does not return soon. Will the judge rule in Brandon's favor? Is there any way Hen can reestablish her place among the People without sacrificing her marriage?



My Thoughts: I love Beverly Lewis. She is the ultimate writer for Amish fiction. She always keeps me interested in the storyline and I can honestly feel the authenticity of her characters coming through the pages. I believe her writing and am always fully engaged with the plot. I'm so happy that book three will be out in the fall...the suspense is killing me!!!!!!!!!!!!

Recommend? Of course....Lewis is hands down the Queen of Amish Fiction. I love that she usually writes trilogies and her stories have never failed to capture my attention and imagination.

Rating: 8/10

Author: Beverly Lewis
Published: April 1, 2011
Publisher: Bethany House
Pages: 352
Genre: Gentle Reads/Amish Fiction
ISBN:  9780764206009
Source: Public Library
 
Disclaimer:Thank you to My Public Library for having a copy of this book ! I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel

© 2011, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

'The Last Letter' by Kathleen Shoop (Riveting Historical Fiction!)



A Father’s Deceit
A Husband’s Betrayal
A Loved One’s Death
A Mother’s Choice
A Daughter’s Resentment
A Time to Forgive
For every daughter who thinks she knows her mother’s story…

click here for summary of novel.



My Thoughts:
I was immediately drawn into this story and couldn't stop thinking about it until I turned the very last satisfying page. There were a few things that surprised me while reading this one.
  • I've been blown away by debut books this year....literally blown away and this one is no exception!
  • There is no way that I could've survived out in the prairie. My hats off to all of the pioneer men and women who braved the elements and were able to carve out a life for themselves in this harsh and unforgiving landscape.
  • Weather is deceitful. One minute the sun is shining and the next thing you know locusts are blocking out the sun and descending from what seems like nowhere to eat and destroy everything you've worked so hard to acquire. 
  • The Children's Blizzard of 1888 is harrowing...reading about it scared me.
  • Being a mother was a cruel and thankless job. There was so much heartbreak for a woman...I just don't know if I would have been strong enough to endure this life.
This is the book for all of you who grew up reading Laura Ingalls Wilder and wanting to be just like Laura. Except, this is a grown-up version of Little House on the Prairie.....it's stark, harsh, truthful, and the storyline keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Recommend? Absolutely!!! For those that have an ereader this book is only 99 cents!!! It  will be the best dollar you spend....I guarantee it! I judge a book on whether or not it elicits emotion from me...this one did!

Kindle Link
Nook Link

Rating: 9/10

Author: Kathleen Shoop
Published: May 2011
Publisher: CreateSpace
Pages: 367
Genre: Gripping Historical Fiction
ISBN:  978-1456347208
*Uncorrected Advance Copy 
 
Kathleen Shoop is a Language Arts Coach with a PhD in Reading Education. She lives in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, with her husband and two children. Kathleen has published stories in four Chicken Soup for the Soul books, writes regularly in Pittsburgh Magazine and has contributed articles to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. The Last Letter is her debut novel.

Disclaimer:Thank you to Jessica @ Booksparkspr.com for sending me a review copy. I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel

© 2011, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Mailbox Monday and It's Monday....What are you reading?

Mailbox Monday
is a gathering place for readers to
share the books that came into their house last week 
and explore great book blogs. 
Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
Hosted this month by
MariReads 


Mourning Gloria- won this copy from Kaye @ Pudgy Penguin Perusals...Thanks Kaye!
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives- showed up to my surprise!
22 Britannia Road- review copy from Viking
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books
We discuss the books that we've read and what we're planning to read for the week.

Read and reviewed last week:
Faith by Jennifer Haigh- will be on my top 10 list for sure! 10/10
Awaken the Highland Warrior by Anita Clenney- fun paranormal romance 7/10

Reviews for this week:
The Last Letter by Kathleen Shoop
The Judgment by Beverly Lewis
Falling Home by Karen White
Six Sentence Saturday (Movie Reviews)
*Charlotte Gray
* The Stoning of Soraya M.


On my nightstand:

Friday, May 13, 2011

'Awaken the Highland Warrior' by Anita Clenney


Awake the Highland Warrior by Anita Clenney

Mis-adventurous historian Bree Kirkland discovers a one hundred fifty year old warrior buried in a crypt behind her house. But Faelan, the warrior, isn’t dead. When this chauvinistic Scottish Warrior awakes, he has no choice but accept the help of this modern-day woman who’s rescued him, but she’s more fearsome than the demon trying to kill him. If he’s not careful, she’ll uncover every secret his clan has bled and died to protect.




My thoughts:
Well, I have to be honest and tell you that I thought this one was just going to be a big cheesy sex fest. Instead, I need to admit to my readers that I actually enjoyed it. It was fun, fast paced, had some great action, and the storyline was one that kept me engaged. I liked the two main characters and the author made me want to get back to the story so that I could figure out what was going to happen next!! I'm open to reading a lot of different genres and this was a fun one to add to my mix for the month.

Recommend? If you're a fan of the paranormal romance suspense then you will enjoy this one. I'm actually looking forward to the next installment, Embrace the Highland Warrior, scheduled to be released by Sourcebooks Casablanca in November of this year. Now, if I could just find a way to make one of these hunky men show up on my doorstep........

Rating: 7/10

Published: May 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Pages: 437
Genre: Paranormal Romance Suspense
ISBN:  9781402251238
*Uncorrected Advance Copy 
 
Preorder: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Borders | Books-A-Million
              Joseph-Beth
Read Excerpt | Read Reviews
 
Disclaimer:Thank you to Danielle @ Sourcebooks for sending me a review copy. I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel

© 2011, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

'Faith' by Jennifer haigh





 Most of you have heard, by now, what happened to my brother, or a version of it: the alarming events of that spring and summer, the single, vile accusation, still unproven, that made a ruin of his life. *{p.10}






Synopsis:
When Sheila McGann sets out to redeem her disgraced brother, a once-beloved Catholic priest in suburban Boston, her quest will force her to confront cataclysmic truths about her fractured Irish-American family, her beliefs, and, ultimately, herself.

My Thoughts:
This book literally drew me into the story and held me captive for over a day. It touched me and has made me stop and think about judgment.....and how we all are so quick to place blame on someone else. The way the author wrote kept me spellbound. I felt as if I was walking beside each one of these characters as their shadow and was afforded the luxury of knowing their true hearts. The story is ripped from the headlines and could be explosive in the wrong hands, but Haigh deftly weaves her tale without causing the reader to get up on any type of soapbox. Instead, she takes you slowly and surely through this family drama that is laced with sadness, regret, hurt, secrets, and redemption.

Recommend? In a heart beat....her writing flows and is exquisite. I've become a bit enraptured by her writing style and look forward to spending time with another of her creations!

Rating: 10/10



Author: Jennifer Haigh
Published: 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 318
Genre: Literary Fiction
ISBN: 9780060755805
* Uncorrected Proof
On Sale May 10, 2011
Click here to start reading
Purchase at Amazon | B&N | Borders | Indiebound


Disclaimer:Thank you to Amazon Vine Program for sending me a review copy. I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel