Losing Hope

Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover is the follow up to her book Hopeless. Where Hopeless was told from the point of view of the heroine, Sky, Losing Hope is told from the point of view of the hero, Dean Holder (aka Holder).

I read Hopeless several months ago and was blown away! I thought the book was very well written with excellent character development and a plot that pulls you in deep. The subject matter is dark at times but for me that just made me love the characters even more and made me feel like I really understood them better. There were several shocks delivered that I did not see coming and for me, that is what really makes a great story! I find predictability to be the epitome of boring.

I am not sure when the whole phenomenon of retelling the same story from the point of view of another character came to be vogue. I’m thinking the heat everyone put on Stephanie Meyer to retell Twilight from Edwards POV started it all. I totally get the appeal of getting to relive a story you love and “see” things in a different way.

I have been known to read and re-read books I love time and time again – and with those re-reads I often find details I missed on the first go around. But when you get a chance to revisit a story from another character’s POV it can shed a whole different light on circumstances, emotions and just about everything that happened. That was most definitely the case with Losing Hope.

This book is somewhere between Young Adult and New Adult as far as the genre is concerned. Having said that, I am myself neither a young adult nor a new adult and I find that I really enjoy books in those categories - sometimes. The main characters are still in high school but the subject matter and sexual situations are more mature than I would want to consider for the Young Adult category.

I would recommend reading Hopeless before you read Losing Hope but it is not strictly required. I just feel like the information you gather by reading the story from Sky’s POV sets the ground for the flip side of the coin when Holder is in charge.

It is difficult to give a synopsis of either the Hopeless or Losing Hope without laying down major spoilers.  So treading lightly here… Sky is a 17 year old high school student. Homeschooled all of her life by her over protective mother, she is given the opportunity to finish high school by attending the “real” high school in her hometown. As you might imagine, she does not fit in well to the established catty, chick clicks that are notorious in every high school. Though she is quite attractive and catches the eye of many of the boys in her school, she just cannot seem to find it in her to “feel” anything for any of them. That is until she bumps into the school outcast, Dean Holder, at the grocery store. Dean (known to everyone simply as Holder) is back in town after being “sent away” - as popular public opinion would have you believe. When he sees Sky for the first time it is quite a shock to him. He simply has to get to know more about this mysterious girl who has lived only 2 miles away from hi m for years but yet he does not know her – but she seems so familiar to him. Holder’s patience and understanding is what makes me love him so much in these books. Certainly not typical of any 18 year old young man I have ever met or known. His maturity would put 30 year old men to shame. Does that make this book unrealistic? Probably. But who cares, Holder is awesome! And smokin’ hot. Again a little too smooth for his age but again ladies, it is fiction after all. And honestly, who really wants to read about how gangly, awkward, self-centered typical teenagers truly behave – that is not awesome.

Holder gets to delve more and more into Sky as she slowly open up to him. Holder wants to take it slow and make sure she “feels” something with him where she has not felt anything before.  It is this point of the story when reading it from either of the sides that is swoon-worthy! Sky feels a comfort and ease in confiding and trusting Holder that she has not before experienced. It is the slow walk they are on together that leads them down the path of acknowledging things in both of their pasts that they had long since buried in their subconscious. It is as those “revelations” start to unfold that the story really takes off. And by the end, they have come full circle. The story does not leave you wanting or feeling like there is unfinished business. Colleen does a great job of tying everything up so you are left satisfied that Sky and Holder’s story has been told and their future has possibilities. Whether Colleen feels moved to write of their future or leave it to the reader to imagine – well I am good either way. And I have a great imagination!

I definitely recommend Losing Hope and give it 5 stars!

-- This book is available now by ebook version but will not be available until mid October 2013 in print.

Mountain Charm by Sydney Logan

Howdy Ya’all, Mountain Charm really struck a cord with me because it is set in the mountains of Tennessee. Living in Nashville myself, I have visited this area many times and there are few places on earth as beautiful as the Smoky Mountains. Angelina is a mountain witch in a long line of witches from her family tree. I was not aware that mountain witches were in a category of their own. Magic and spells plays only a minor role in the telling of this story. The spell Angelina casts on her thirteenth birthday is done to draw her true love to her. This is pretty much where the magic begins and ends for this witch. There is another talent or two that pops up here and there throughout the story but again, it is just not a big part of the story. Now that did not disappoint me in the least. Though I do like a good witchy book every now and then – the setting being my own backyard does not lend itself to the mystical notions of witches and such. For some reason I always want to place a good witch story either in a quaint coastal New England setting or an Ivy League university. Maybe them thar hills is crawlin’ with witches and such. Better keep my eye open the next time I do some hiking in the woods.

The rest of the story is endearing enough. It is a typical boy meets girl romance. Dylan Thomas travels from Nashville to the small mountain town of Maple Ridge on an assignment to write an article for a magazine. The article is about mountain witches of course. I did like the way Angelina met Dylan for the first time. Not a typical meeting to say the least.

Angelina is at first skeptical about the possibility that the spell from her 13th birthday would really work. Then when she sees it working in action she becomes concerned that this man who has entered her life is only there because of the spell. Dylan setting her mind at ease about this concern was perfectly romantic and convincing.

Now there are some romances novels I could recommend to my own mother with a clear conscience – not Fifty Shades of Grey, for example. And this book might be one I could recommend to her. There were some decent love scenes but nothing that caused me to get all hot and bothered. I would have liked a little more tempting and teasing and more drawn out southern lovin’. However, that might just not be where this author wanted to take her story. I wonder though, because she did not leave the hot and steamy out completely. I felt like the build up could have been better developed. You know what they say about bringing the reader right to the edge and then the delay… and another scene that gets you almost there but not quite all the way… before ahhhhhh FINALLY! Now that’s what I’m talking about! That is what was missing for me in this novel. It’s all about the build up baby!

The potential story between Angelina’s mother and a gentleman friend referred to a few times throughout the story would be one I’d like to read about. The hinting of a relationship between them and where that relationship could go and the “powers” her mother has would make for a good story indeed ya’all. Don't think I'm talking about a gray haired grannie witch here - mama is probably all of 45 years old seeing as Angelina is only 21. But that's another story for another day - if Sydney writes it.

I’d give this one a good solid 3 stars.

 

Just One Day

Ok ladies and gentleman...Just One Day by Sharla Lovelace is what I would loving refer to as a shnovel. And as such, my review will be short and sweet so as to save the juicy details for your reading pleasure when you decide to pick up this heartwarming book.

Although this book was a quick read at under 100 pages, it definitely packed a wallop. A turbulent 24 hours in the life of 44 year old Andie changed the path her life was headed down. I really enjoyed this book. Several surprises were well executed by the author. I was able to connected with these characters in such a short period of time. Something that often does not happen in books three times the length of this one. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance novels. Heart warming! And may I say "Thank you" for writing about a 40-something woman who is young at heart, vibrant, still sexy and not under a shawl in a rocking chair. Geesch what is it nowadays with authors thinking everyone in their 20s is where it is at? It is the 40s baby! Home run Sharla! I'll be checking out your other books soon! To those who will I am sure want to read Just One Day my recommendation... hold onto tight!

The Chocolate Touch by Laura Florand

I have truly savored reading The Chocolate Touch by Laura Florand. My advice to anyone starting to read this novel is to have a supply of delicious gourmet chocolates at hand to sample while enjoying the sensuous descriptions Laura Florand so vividly writes. Oh, and a few cups of hot cocoa would be a special treat to yourself as well. I say all of this because this book does what few others do – it invokes all of the senses. I have never been to Paris and do not speak a word of French but throughout this novel I was immersed in all that is Parisian. I’m adding a trip to Paris to my bucket list for sure.

I have to remember that if all romance novel characters were cut from the same cloth, I would tire of reading their repeated stories book after book after book. Not every hero is a strong and perfect member of the male species. In The Chocolate Touch the hero, Dominique, has scars from his childhood that have affected him into his adult life. Jamie has scars of her own which she tries to hide at all costs. Dominique may need Jamie's healing touch possibly even more than she needs his. 

Now on the scale of hotness, I'd give Dominique a big fat "10". Oui Oui! Big and strong, thick soft dark hair, a yummy five-o'clock shadow (that he knows how to put to good use), leather jacket and a motorcycle. Oh Oui Oui indeed! The fellow on the cover is however NOT what I have pictured for Dominique. And Jamie is supposed to have short reddish hair not long brown hair as the book cover shows. But that's okay I never judge a book by its cover. 

The only thing that I found missing from this story was the suspense factor. The whole story is about their meeting, discovering each other and how their relationship evolves - that in and of itself is a good story. However, I would have liked for there to have been more depth – another layer – some problem going on that was not tied to Dom's or Jamie's emotional situation. Maybe someone stole his secret recipe for his award winning chocolate. Or people from Jamie’s recent past adventures are still trying to get to her and Dom saves the day. Just a little something more would have made this book perfect.

I recommend this book to everyone who loves a good romantic story. Especially when the *ahem* love scenes are quite steamy but not trashy. And to anyone who find Paris intriguing. 

And I am anxious to read the other two books in Laura Florand's Chocolate Series, The Chocolate Kiss and The Chocolate Rose.

What's a Shnovel?

You probably won't find shnovel listed in Webster's Dictionary but according to the Urban Dictionary a shnovel is a story longer than a short story, yet shorter than a novel.

Shnovel also rhymes with novel which was necessary when trying to find a suitable blog name. It is quite a challenge being creative and also finding something that someone else is not already using. 

I have read several shnovels and I kind of like them. There is a favorite author of mine, Diana Gabaldon, and though she is known for writing 1,000 page novels (Outlander series), she has also been known to add a story to an anthology with other authors. These stories are what I would call a shnovel. They are a good 40 pages or so in length but quite satisfying. I'd say anything less than 150 pages should be consider a shnovel. 

Sometimes I want a full five course feast of a book that will consume my every possible free moment of time for a week or more. Sometimes I just want an hors d'oeuvres version that I can consume quickly and will tide me over for the meantime.

So now you know the story behind the name of my blog.... Novel Shnovel. I just have to figure out how to add the word shnovel to my computer's internal dictionary so it will stop,auto correcting it to shovel! That is truly driving me crazy!

Do you know of any good shnovels? I'd love some recommendations!

Hotshot - by Julie Garwood

 Hotshot by Julie Garwood available August 6, 2013

This book had more of a thriller/suspense story going on than I usually read. I must say, I liked it. I’ll have to keep my eye open for more of the same. I’d seen Julie Garwood’s books around for a long time now and have added her to my TBR (to be read) list in the past but just never seemed to get to any of her books. That will change! I am definitely going to put her higher on my list and see if she is able to grab my interest with another story as much as she did with Hotshot.

The heroine, Peyton Lockhart, is a likeable young woman. She has had more than her fair share of bad luck with guys and the same bad luck; it would seem, with jobs. The story line is the good old “damsel in distress” but given that the hero is an FBI agent, could you expect anything less? Peyton is however not the typical pathetic weepy weak “damsel” that is the norm in so many books. Peyton is able to hold her own in a way that makes me pump my fist and holler “You go girl!” Still, it is swoon-worthy when childhood friend and FBI agent, Finn McBain, comes to her aid on several occasions. Of course the fact that he is hot-hot-hot and super good at his job (hence the nickname Hotshot) would certainly make any girl enjoy having him come to her rescue.

The story has several different conflicts woven in and that kept it interesting but did lead to it being somewhat less believable. I found myself thinking that there is no way one person can handle this much bad luck happening to them and not find themselves crawled into a ball and asking for anxiety medicine. Maybe if Peyton had a vice (kick boxing?) that she could take it all out on, then the poor girl could have believably handled all that was thrown her way.

All in all I liked the book and will recommend it to anyone who likes romance mixed with action, drama and suspense.

I was provided a ARC of this book by Penguin Group Dutton in exchange for an honest review.

Welcome to Novel Shnovel

Hello fellow book lover! Welcome to my blog. Let me start by introducing myself, well sort of, I am an avid reader. That is pretty much all anyone needs to know about me for now. I love books! I have not always loved books. In my youth I hated to read. What was I thinking?! Why did I never give the written word a chance? I think I was just in too much of a hurry to slow down and appreciate the world that I could see through the pages of a good book. Now that I am older (ahem) and wiser (ok, don't ask my kids if I am wiser) I know the pleasure that is being consumed by a well written story. To be transported to another place and/or time, to meet fasinating people, to "see" every nook and cranny of this world (and others) and "taste and smell" exotic things...what's not to love? There is no comparison, as far as I am concerned, between the picture you paint in your mind as you are reading a talented author's descriptions and what happens when you watch a movie. There is a disconnect when watching a movie. Of course a movie can be very entertaining, but do you see yourself in the movie? When I read a book I weave what I see through my own mind's eye into the story and find that I can be quite creative in my own right.

So it is because of my love of fiction that I am starting this blog. My taste tends to jump around alot but I pretty much stay somewhere within the genre of romance. I'll read the occasional light romance (what I refer to as Lifetime movie versions in book form) and I can get quite drawn into historical and fantasy series'. Sometimes I want something I can read in a night or two. Sometimes I want something I can really "sink my teeth" into and stay enthralled in for a week or more. I am talking a big 1,000 page saga. So, climb aboard and see where this adventure takes us. As I get a handle on this blog and how to work the blogger program, I would like to expand it to involve my followers more and more. Enjoy the ride!