Review: Someone Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson

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*No Spoilers!

'Do you believe in miracles'? Sounds like a simple question, but William Ashe had no idea how important his answer would be to Shandi. It would change her life. And his. Forever.

Driving to Atlanta from the small country town where she lived with her mother and her brilliant three year old son, Natty, Shandi was preparing to head to college and the next phase of her life. Her best friend Walcott was helping her move, just like he'd helped her since they were little kids growing up next door to each other. When they stopped at a jiffy store for cold drinks, there was no way Shandi could have known how much it would change her life. The moment she laid eyes on William, she felt an instant connection and knew she wanted to love him and have him love her back. The fact that he saved her and Natty's lives just made it more obvious, to Shandi anyway, that they were destined to be together. But William Ashe isn't your normal, average guy. He's exceptional and though he is oblivious to Shandi's wishes, he still has the power to make a profound difference in her life.

My Thoughts:

Plain and simple, this is my favorite Jackson novel yet.  I initially was thrown by the title of this book, but after reading it, it is absolutely perfect and I get it. That is always the icing on the cake for me when the title means more than you think it does. I thought it was ingenious. In this case, in order to tell Shandi's story, Jackson had to tell someone else's. How creative and refreshing! OK, I'll stop gushing about that and get to the meat of this review.

 I enjoyed all of the characters, even Shandi's step-mother and I felt Ms. Jackson did a great job of creating characters of various backgrounds and lifestyles. Our world is a hodge-podge of diversity and I appreciate how she brought that into the story so naturally.

The storyline of what happened to Shandi was original but one that affects many young girls in one of the most vulnerable times of their lives - being out in the world without the immediate shelter of their parents' protection while away at college. As I mentioned earlier, William's story is an impressive one and so unlikely in most love stories you run across. The unexpected connection between Natty and William was heartwarming and beautifully written. I'm having a hard time saying all I want to say without include any spoilers. All I can say is, this is not just a love story. It is so much more. I loved this book and I think it's Joshilyn Jackson's best work to date.

Though the book doesn't actually release until November 19th, visit She Reads Blog THIS WEEK for a chance to win your very own copy. I promise you won't want to miss this book! Thank you to She Reads Book Club for a fantastic November selection!

SOMEONE ELSE'S LOVE STORY
Author: Joshilyn Jackson
Publisher: William Morrow
Published: November 19, 2014
Length: 320 pp
Source: Publisher/She Reads Book Club
Recommend? Absolutely!!!

JICYMI: October

Hello November! Today I'm trying something new here on Southern Girl Reads blog. I had such a fantastic book month in October and I just want to do a quick rundown of the books and audios that I spent time with Just In Case You Missed It. 

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I started off the month with a new-to-me series from Louise Penny. Its the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache Series, or you may know it as the Three Pines Series. I read the first two books in this Agatha Christie-esque series this month and got hooked immediately. I love the characters in these books and the Canadian setting only adds to its allure. There is no doubt I will be reading all of the books in the near future. Louise Penny is a terrific mystery writer and I'm just glad I discovered her when I did. JICYMI, here are links for my reviews of the first two books:

• STILL LIFE (Book 1)
• A FATAL GRACE (Book 2)

This next review was by far the most visited post for the month. It was the October Book Club pick for She Reads Book Club. THE GIRL YOU LEFT BEHIND by Jojo Moyes. I got close to 400 views on this post, which, for my lil' ole blog was fantastic! This was my first Moyes book and I LOVED it!! JICYMI, here is the link for that post:

• THE GIRL YOU LEFT BEHIND by Jojo Moyes

I also listened to a couple fantastic audio books this month. I've really come to enjoy my audios and both of the narrators in these books were simply AMAZING! I highly recommend them both. 

• THE LAST ORIGINAL WIFE by Dorothea Benton Frank
• THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak

I participated in one of Beth Fish's Weekend Cooking posts and I was completely overwhelmed by the number of visitors I received and the lovely comments, especially since I'm not a regular poster for that weekly event. I posted a simple recipe for a apple/cranberry topping for oatmeal and apparently it was  a big hit! JICYMI, you can find that recipe here:

• WEEKEND COOKING: Don't Settle for Boring Oatmeal

I finished up the month with a review of a book that one of our fellow blogger friends wrote. SURE SIGNS OF CRAZY is Karen Harrington's follow-up to her first book, JANEOLOGY. I was so happy to receive an advance copy from Karen and I am thrilled to say this book was terrific! I love books told from a child's perspective and Karen hit it out of the park with this one! JICYMI, please check out my review here:

• SURE SIGNS OF CRAZY by Karen Harrington

Well, that was my month and I couldn't be happier with the response and comments I received. November is shaping up to be just as good so I'm excited about whats to come. There are so many books that I can't wait to get my hands on and to share them here on SGR. I'd love to know what you think of my JICYMI idea. 

Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Reading!! 

Review: The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes & Giveaway!

Until now, I had never read anything by Jojo Moyes, so when my book club chose THE GIRL YOU LEFT BEHIND as our October selection I was very excited. The reviews I'd read about her books were really great so I had high expectations.

About the Book:
(No Spoilers)

This is the story of two women who are willing to do whatever it takes to fight for what is special to them. They are so similar yet separated by distance and time. The thing they have in common is a portrait painted in the early 1900's that, if possible, would tell an amazing story.

The book begins with Sophie, a French woman living in a German occupied village in 1916. Her husband Edouard, an artist, is on the front lines fighting in the war while Sophie tries to keep her family safe under harsh German rule.

The second part of the book takes place in 2006 and introduces Liv, a young English widow living in London still trying to come to terms with the loss of her husband even though its been four years since his death.

Like Sophie, Liv feels she is losing her grip on everything that is dear to her. She can barely afford the magnificent home her architect late husband built and she's facing the reality of having to sell it. The one thing that comforts her is the painting he bought for her ten years ago while on their honeymoon in Spain. The painting has become a living, breathing thing to Liv that she treasures more than anyone else possibly could. When she receives legal papers on behalf of the artist's family that the painting was part of stolen collection of art confiscated by the Germans during the war, Liv is determined to fight the suit. The more she learns of the painting and it's muse, the more determined Liv is to win at any cost.

My Thoughts:

This one was easy - I LOVED it! It was so beautifully told, especially Part 1 which was Sophie's story of enduring war-torn France and all the injustices to the French people.  I liked how Jojo Moyes dedicated the entire first part of the book to that character and time period. When I began the second part, it was such a contrast, I almost felt I was reading a different book except for the common denominator - the painting. That painting brought the two stories together seamlessly. What I noticed right away when reading Liv's story was the drastic change in the writing. They were both spot-on and true to the time periods and people they represented.  Moyes' storytelling talent is amazing. Even though you're pretty certain what's going to happen, its still a surprise when you read it.

I've discovered lately that I have a fondness for novels written about art and this book only made that more evident to me. I was taken in by the history of the painting and how it traveled over the years to finally end up with Liv in 1996. The painting became one of the main characters and I loved that about it.

The characters, both from the past and present, were so life-like and genuine. I even felt bad for the German Kommendant for the life he led in the German army. There really isn't much else for me to say. This is one of my favorite books this year and once again, I have She Reads Book Club to thank for introducing it to me. THE GIRL YOU LEFT BEHIND is wonderful and I recommend it highly, especially if you enjoy historical fiction, art or just great literature.

GIVEAWAY!! The She Reads Book Club with the generosity of Pamela Dorman Books is giving away copies of 3 Jojo Moyes books to one lucky winner! For details and entry information, go to http://www.shereads.org/2013/10/october-book-club-selection-3/ Good luck to you!!

THE GIRL YOU LEFT BEHIND
Author: Jojo Moyes
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books (Viking/Penguin)
Published: August 2013
Length; 384pp
Source: Publisher/She Reads Book Club

Review: The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley

This month's book selection for the She Reads Book Club is probably not one that I would have picked up on my own, but it definitely piqued my curiosity.  THE FIREBIRD by Susanna Kearsley combines ruch historical fiction, romance and paranormal elements similar to mental telepathy or ESP. Here's a bit about the book taken from Goodreads:

Nicola Marter was born with a gift. When she touches an object, she sometimes sees images; glimpses of those who have owned it before. It’s never been a gift she wants, and she keeps it a secret from most people, including her practical boss Sebastian, one of London’s premier dealers in Russian art.

But when a woman offers Sebastian a small wooden carving for sale, claiming it belonged to Russia’s first Empress Catherine, it’s a problem. There’s no proof. Sebastian believes that the plain carving — known as “The Firebird” — is worthless. But Nicola’s held it, and she knows the woman is telling the truth, and is in desperate need of the money the sale of the heirloom could bring.

Compelled to help, Nicola turns to a man she once left, and still loves: Rob McMorran, whose own psychic gifts are far greater than hers. With Rob to help her “see” the past, she follows a young girl named Anna from Scotland to Belgium and on into Russia. 

There, in St. Petersburg — the once-glittering capital of Peter the Great’s Russia — Nicola and Rob unearth a tale of love and sacrifice, of courage and redemption…an old story that seems personal and small, perhaps, against the greater backdrops of the Jacobite and Russian courts, but one that will forever change their lives.

My Thoughts:

I'll start with what I liked about his book. The historical fiction part of the book was fascinating to me, as was the setting. I don't read many books taking place in Russia and Scotland, so I really enjoyed that aspect. I also appreciated the author's note at the end of the book that clarified the true events of Russian history and what parts she embellished for the story. That said, it isn't hard to surmise that I enjoyed those parts of the story much more than I enjoyed Nicola's story in the present with her friend Rob. I found myself whizzing through the parts that didn't include Anna and the quest to find out how she came to possess the wooden Firebird statue. 

For me, the main reason for this was I never quite felt a connection to Nicola. In my opinion, there was little character developmen pertaining to Nicolat that explained to me how she first received her 'gift'.  The brief mention of the experimental trials that she participated in where she first met Rob, was very vague and also felt under-developed, aside from explaining her first session including Rob. Since finishing the book, I've noticed that Goodreads has this book listed at 'Slains #2', which, I'm assuming, is part of a series.  If that is the case, it might have changed my view had I read that first book. I did find WINTERS SEA, but it doesn't appear to have any connection to this book aside from the Russian/Scottish history.. That said, I can only go on what I read, so as a stand-alone, it was a bit hollow for me.  

Additionally, I was not completely sold on the ESP or psychometry angle of this book and that is probably, again, because I felt thrown into it without any development.  Lastly, the romance between Rob and Nicola was a bit lacking to me. It was bland and uneventful and I was underwhelmed by it completely.

Though I would not have chosen this book on my own, I can appreciate what I've learned of Russian history by reading it. That part I did find fascinating and I was fully engrossed in it, although at times I started to get overwhelmed by it. All in all, it was a pleasant read but not one of my favorites. 

THE FIREBIRD 
Author: Susanna Kearsley
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: June 4, 2013
Length: 545 pp
Source: Publisher

The Sunday Salon: Bookish Priorities

Happy Sunday everyone! I haven't posted a Sunday Salon post in so long and I thought it was time. Speaking of time, I just don't know it all goes! February is already bearing down on us, even though down here in Florida its been feeling more like Spring time. The weather has been crazy - highs in the 70's and 80's, then it will drop down into the 40's at night again. I'm so glad I got my flu shot a few months ago or I'd be in trouble. One day I'm in a t-shirt and flip-flops and then it goes back to jeans and sweater weather! My azalea bushes already bloomed at the end of January, which is just nuts! So when Spring actually gets here, I won't have any blooms at all because they're already gone!

On thereading front, I've read some really great books lately. In January I became a member of the She Reads Book Club and so far the book selections have been fantastic. I'm actually reading BLACKBERRY WINTER by Sarah Jio right now that was one of they're selections last year. I'm late to the party, but I'm really enjoying it. Our February selection is CALLING ME HOME by Julie Kibler. It was an emotional and heartbreaking story that really grabbed my attention right away. If you'd like to read my review, you can find it here. Our March selection is THE SILENCE OF BONAVENTURE ARROW by Rita Leganski. I plan to start it today and I'm very excited about it.

I've decided that this year I'm focusing more on books that I've had in my library that I've never gotten around to reading, more than accepting review copies. I'm not saying I won't do any ARC's but I have some really great books that need to be read. For example, I've had THE BOOK THIEF starring up at me from my coffee table for so long and I feel guilty every time I pass it up. I've also wanted to read SHADOW OF THE WIND for two years, when I got the book! The other day I finally started reading ANNA KARENINA. I'll be reading that in between other books, so that will be a slow mover.  I'm planning to read a chapter or two each night before bed, the way I did with JANE EYRE. There are others too, like THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN and THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE. These are all books that I OWN! No more excuses, I have to read these books!

All that being said, Beth Hoffman just emailed me and asked if I'd be interested in reading her new book coming out in May, LOOKING FOR ME!. And of course, I said YES!!! Thanks Beth, you just made my day! Now you see why some of the books on my shelves get pushed to the side! Let's face it, its a good problem to have!

Aside from reading, there are also my television shows I like that take up my time. All I can say is: Thank God For My DVR and OnDemand! Every year I say I'm not going to get involved in anymore series, but every year I do! A few of the new shows I like are NASHVILLE and CHICAGO FIRE. Then there are my older favorites: TOP CHEF, SUITS, DOWNTON ABBEY, THE GOOD WIFE and of course SURVIVOR, which starts up again this week! One new show that just started a few weeks ago is THE FOLLOWING with Kevin Bacon. That is one crazy, twisted show! And I LOVE it!! Wow, I never realized how much of a TV watcher I was until I started naming all of my shows! So you see, it's a miracle I get any reading done at all!

I've had to cut back on my audio books for now because my iPod is so old, many of the newer releases aren't compatible with it anymore. (Thanks to the iBook format). Or so I'm told.  I'm not the most tech savvy person when it comes to my iPod so I could be wrong about that, but I simply don't want to waste anymore time messing around with it. Hopefully a new iPod will cure the problem.

Well, that is what is going on with me. What books are you looking forward to in the months to come? And, does television get in your way too or are you able to walk away from it? I hope everyone has a great Sunday and to my friends up in the New England area: I'm thinking of you and praying that you all stay safe and warm! The weather up there looks absolutely frightening! I haven't lived up north for 30 years, but looking at the news reports brings it all back in a rush!

So, I'm haaving dinner at my friend, Brenda's house, so I need to get moving and get some things done first. Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you'll come back soon! Happy Reading!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

This weekly meme is hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through A World of Books. it's a place where we discuss what books we've read in the last week and what we plan to read this week.

Last week was a great week! I read and posted a review of one of the most interesting books I've read recently. I didn't know at first what to expect because the book is centered in and around the world of art and I am not well versed in it at all. But THE ART FORGER by B.A. Shapiro took off immediately and I was completely drawn in. I had difficulty putting this one down. Loved the characters, the story, the writing, the locale, but most of all, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the art and having a bit of an art history lesson along with a lesson in forgery.. The book was fascinating. You can find my review of THE ART FORGER here.  This book is the January selection for She Reads Book Club that I am honored to be a part of and you can read the reviews of our other members here. You can also find a great guest post by B.A. Shapiro discussing why she chose to write this book. 

Last week I finished reading CALLING MY HOME, a terrific debut by Julie Kibler. It's the story of two unlikely friends traveling from Texas to Ohio to attend a funeral. Isabelle is in her eighties and her friend who drives her on this trip is Dorrie, a thirty-something African-American single mom of two almost-grown kids. Dorrie doesn't have a lot of details about the trip, she doesn't even know whose funeral they are attending, but along the way, Isabelle tells the story of her life while Dorrie deals with some serious issues in her own life. The journey brings the two women close together but also shows the divide this country still has between races. 

This week, I'll be reading a new book by Jess Riley, the author of DRIVING SIDINGS that I absolutely loved! Her new book, ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE is the story of a family, broken by loss and deep-rooted tensions that grow within a family. It all comes to a head at Thanksgiving and the situation seems hopeless. I've just started reading, but in usual Jess Riley style, this potentially sad subject is tackled with her clever wit and entertaining writing. I am sure this book will be everything I expect it to be. I love Jess Riley's sense of humor and it certainly comes through strongly in this new book. If you act quickly, you can pick this gem up at the Kindle store for just 2.99. 

Reviews I'm working on for this week are THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRYE by Rachel Joyce and THE RIVER WITCH by Kimberly Brock. I hope you'll stop back by to check them out! 

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful reading week!!

Review: The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro

THE ART FORGER is the story of Claire Roth, a very talented artist who has, over the last few years, suffered through the consequences of choices she made while still an art student in Boston.  Her involvement with her famous art professor, Issac Culliun, led to the devastation of her budding art career. But this story isn't just about Claire. It's also about a famous masterpiece painted by Edgar Degas that was stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990 along with a dozen other historic works of art, of which none have been recovered.

Claire's story begins a few years after her relationship with her professor-lover has ended, but we get glimpses as to how it all fell apart and why she is now looked at with disdain throughout the art world in Boston.  At the same time, we are treated to a lesson in art history through letters written by Isabella Gardner to her niece, Amelia, in the late 1800's. The letters give many clues to the origin of After the Bath, Degas' painting that is at the center of this intriguing plot. Adding another layer to this story is Claire's romance with, Aiden, a man she first met during her days with Isaac. Though she has legitimate issues with trust, she takes Aiden up on an offer that he describes as 'a good deed', but as time goes on, Claire fears it could also land her in prison.

My Thoughts

This book was a fantastic surprise! As soon as I began reading, I was completely caught up in the story. I liked that alternating chapters took me back in time and explained what had happened with Isaac and how Claire became black-listed from the world of art that she loved so much. The romance with Isaac, and then later with Aiden, was a perfect balance to the mystery of After the Bath and it's origin. I truly enjoyed the history of the painting and it's owner, Isabella Gardner.

There are many things I loved about this book.First and foremost, the story and the writing were superb. I've seen this book listed as mystery and suspense, and while it has both of those elements, it is not what you'd call a seat-of-your-pants thrill ride, although it will keep you completely enthralled. What I found fascinating about this book was the art. I am not well versed in art at all, but I became so interested that I even spent time researching Degas and his paintings and even learned about art forgery. I found the process fascinating and thoroughly enjoyed that part of the story as well.

Claire was a very likable character and I had no trouble at all relating to her. There was also just the right mix of supporting characters who helped give Claire authenticity and made her more personable. I loved her friendship with Ric and felt the genuine bond between them. I was also very happy with the ending of this story. Nearing the final pages, I had no idea how it would turn out, but I was completely satisfied.

There is so much more I could say about this book, but I don't want to take away any of the suspense and mystery of this novel by summarizing too much. All I can say is, you must read it for yourself to fully appreciate this fascinating story.

Once again, Algonquin Books has delivered a novel that has become a favorite of mine and has made me a dedicated fan of Barbara Shapiro. I'd also like to thank She Reads Book Club for inviting me to participate in this month's selection. THE ART FORGER was a terrific pick and a great way for me to start a wonderful new venture this year with them. More reviews by other members of the club can be found here. I encourage you to read them.

THE ART FORGER
Author: B.A. Shapiro
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Published: October 2012
Pages: 368 pp
Rating: 5 Stars out of 5

Teaser Tuesday: THE ART FORGER by B.A. Shapiro

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading, where we share the books we're reading by giving a glimpse at what's inside. Here are the guidelines if you'd like to participate:

• Open your current book and let it fall open to a random page
• Choose two teaser sentences to share, being careful not to include any spoilers
• List the title, author's name and page number (or location) of the teasers you've chosen
• Go to Should Be Reading and share your link with the other participants

It's that easy and its a fun way to get a look inside of some new-to-you books.

The teasers I'm sharing today come from a fabulous new book by B.A. (Barbara) Shapiro called THE ART FORGER. It takes place in Boston and is the story of Claire Roth, a talented artist who has been snubbed by many people in the art world because of choices she made while still an art student. A few years later she still has obstacles to overcome but she finds herself in almost the same position as before, but with much more dire consequences. Here are my teasers . . .

Ambition, talent, antiestablishment vengeance, greed, and hubris run rampant through all fifty stories, and I see myself everywhere.  Plus, they all share the same outcome:  the ultimate exposure of the forger as the charlatan he is. ~ Location 3502-3506 Kindle edition

Once I began reading, I had a hard time putting this one down. I was so drawn into the story and really enjoyed the backdrop of the art world. I was completely sucked in! For more information on this great book, please stop by She Reads Facebook page.