Chloe is fun, effervescent and energetic.  She is super excited that she is finally old enough to be a counselor at Camp Winnipeg with her best friend, Millie.  She is also enthusiastic that she might catch the eye of equally fun and sociable second year counselor, Alex.  The only down-side is Alex's best friend, Drew, who made fun of Chloe's perky attitude all of last year giving her the nick-name of Alka-Seltzer.  However, when Chloe arrives at camp it is Drew who greets her warmly and helps her with her bags.  Chloe learns that she and Drew will be going to college next to each other this coming fall.  Chloe and Drew spend more and more time together, but Chloe may still be hung up on Alex.  Chloe sorts out her true feelings for Alex and Drew when she is kissed in the dark, but by the wrong guy!  Now Chloe has to start all over again after making things weird with both Alex and Drew.


A cute, sweet and easy young adult romance that is perfect for the summer.  The point of view switched between Chloe and Drew giving a great sense of both sides of a budding romance that I often miss. Chloe's character was infectious and I'm sure we all know someone just like her.  I enjoyed watching Chloe realize that her initial summer crush may not be the best choice for a relationship and watching her go through the confusion of a first love.  Drew's point of view was great to read, since he was equally as confused in romance as Chloe.  Through their awkwardness and uncertainty, both Chloe and Drew grow and are able to begin a super sweet romance.  I can't wait to read book two, which will be centered around Millie.  Overall, an adorable and entertaining young adult romance.

About the Book:
Heartbreak and transformation in the beauty of a Ukrainian village.
For seven-year old Angela, happiness is exploring the lush countryside around her home in western Ukraine. Her wild imagination takes her into birds and flowers, and into the waters of the river.
All that changes when, one morning, she sees her mother crying. As she tries to find out why, she is drawn on an extraordinary journey into the secrets of her family, and her mother's fateful choices.
Can Angela lead her mother back to happiness before her innocence is destroyed by the shadows of a dark past?
Beautiful, poetic and richly sensory, this is a tale that will haunt and lift its readers.

Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
 
Review:
For the seven years of Angela's life, her mother has seemed sad.  When mother Lyuda's sadness reaches its peak, Angela uses her intense imagination and her Nightguide to transform and seek out help from her deceased grandmother who now resides in the willow across the stream.  Angela doesn't know if it her absent father, the deaths of her grandparents or some other lost dream in her mother's life that causes the sadness.  It seems like too much for a seven year old to handle.  With the help of the spiritual world, Angela will go on a quest to help her mother find happiness, even if she is not a part of it.

A story of heartbreak and depression told through the eyes of a child who shouldn't have to experience that pain.  This story took me a while to get into; the writing is lyrical and poetic with a lot of language and metaphor. It was difficult for me to find the story through the words in the beginning.  The writing is beautiful, but I didn't have any context for what it meant.  For example, a passage that stuck out to me:
"I am an intricate construction of fibres held together by the pull of beauty, a strange gravity suspending colours and filaments and cambia through long, sunshine moments."
This didn't make any sense till much later in the book.  There were also lush description of the Ukrainian countryside, a setting that I found very interesting to explore within Angela and Lyuda's spirituality, cooking, environment and lifestyle.  Once I was able to get into the story, I found Angela's character enchanting with her transformation into birds in order to escape and her conversations with her deceased grandmother in the willow tree in order to understand what is happening around her.  Then I was able to realize that this is a story of sadness, grief and regret.  For at least two generations, the women in Angela's family have passed down the sadness for their role in settling into lives they believed were unfulfilling.  Angela takes on a unique role through magical realism in bringing her mother through depression and helping her realize that her childhood dreams can grow and change as life moves on.  Overall, this is a distinctive book that deals with many difficult issues while blending contemporary fiction and magical realism.  The writing style may not be best for every reader, but if you stick with it, the writing take you on a journey.


This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

About the Author:
Leonora Meriel grew up in London and studied literature at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and Queen’s University in Canada. She worked at the United Nations in New York, and then for a multinational law firm.
In 2003 she moved from New York to Kyiv, where she founded and managed Ukraine’s largest Internet company. She studied at Kyiv Mohyla Business School and earned an MBA, which included a study trip around China and Taiwan, and climbing to the top of Hoverla, Ukraine’s highest peak and part of the Carpathian Mountains. She also served as President of the International Women’s Club of Kyiv, a major local charity.
During her years in Ukraine, she learned to speak Ukrainian and Russian, witnessed two revolutions and got to know an extraordinary country at a key period of its development.
In 2008, she decided to return to her dream of being a writer, and to dedicate her career to literature. In 2011, she completed The Woman Behind the Waterfall, set in a village in western Ukraine. While her first novel was with a London agent, Leonora completed her second novel The Unity Game, set in New York City and on a distant planet.
Leonora currently lives in Barcelona and London and has two children. She is working on her third novel.
 
Website
Facebook
Twitter
 

​Joelle is dead; but she is just beginning to find out her purpose.  Joelle is hit by a vehicle while saving a child.  When she dies, Joelle is welcomed into heaven and immediately told that she will be serving as a guardian angel.  Joelle's trainer, Josh delivers Joelle to her first assignment, a twelve year old girl in Scotland named Hannah.  Joelle's job is to give Hannah a helping hand as she navigates life in an orphanage.  Joelle may also help Hannah get adopted into a loving home.  However, as Joelle and Josh spend time with Hannah and a potential adoptive mother, Joelle learns of evil angels that may turn her plans awry.  


This is a book aimed at the Young Adult crowd with a religious leaning.  I could guess from the title that this book would involve religious figures, there was just a little too much religious ideology for me to really enjoy it.  The author makes it known from the beginning that she is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and creates Joelle as a member of the Church also.  Many tenants of the religion are placed throughout the book such as modesty and good overruling evil.  As the author's first book, some of the writing was a little clunky and I felt there were some parts that were really not necessary for the plot, like an angel that constantly hit on Joelle and did n't seem to take no for an answer.  Although the religious tones overwhelmed me a bit, I did enjoy the overall story.  Joelle's personality was strong and she changed the way guardian angels were trained. I was compelled to find out how she was able to help Hannah and untangle the mess that has befallen her and her potential adopter, Ruth.  The end was very exciting and suspenseful and carried me through.  Although I may not be quite the right audience for this book, I do believe someone in the  YA audience with a strong sense of spirituality would enjoy this book as well as the rest of the series. 



This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

​With the death of her mother, Laila Lawrence is left an orphan at the age of 23.  Laila resides herself to a middle class life in the midwest, engaged to a dentist and working as a hygienist.  However, when three unknown Lawrence cousins show up at Laila's mother's funeral, Laila discovers an entire family, lifestyle and family feud that have been hidden from her.  Her cousin, Liberty makes a connection with Laila.  With her mother's death Laila discovers the reason for the feud and decides to change her life.  Two years after becoming an orphan, Laila divorces her husband and sets out for New York City.  Laila is staying with her cousin Nora and soon discovers the affluent Lawrence lifestyle, living off of a trust fund, partying every night and meeting billionaires, Laila begins to find her place among the family she believes she should have been part of all along.  Although, as her star rises, Laila becomes entangled in other schemes and plots that may set off yet another Lawrence family rift when all she wanted to do was fit in.


She Regrets Nothing is an interesting twist on a modern glam Cinderella where Cinderella uses her family for all it's worth and Prince Charming is anything but.  Laila intrigued me from the beginning and even now, I don't really know how I feel about her.  As Laila maneuvered her way through the Lawrences, my feelings for her see-sawed from 'you go girl!' to asking myself if she had a mental problem.  Although, as Laila states, she is playing the part of the chameleon; and she does it amazingly well.  I do wish that I got to see more of the true Laila, but perhaps we got to see her in the end.   It was Liberty that captured my full attention, I loved her authenticity and the way she both accepted and declined parts of her expected role within society.  The writing skillfully balanced mystery, suspense, complicated relationships and family drama  against the backdrop of Manhattan's posh social scene.   I was probably as awed as Laila at some of the clubs and people in it, I was equally amazed when I found out that Mustique Island was a real place.  I became even more pulled into the story near the end as things began to fall apart and I wondered how Laila would keep her carefully crafted life afloat.

This book received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

​Anna decides to take a trip to Venice and visit her friend Margo in order to get her mind off of her impending divorce back in the states. Instead, Anna finds herself in a romantic entanglement with serious complications; furthermore, she is the prime suspect in a murder when the man she slept with is found murdered. Anna's job at the US Treasury is put in danger when she begins to look into the life of Count Sergio Corrin, Anna finds a sordid past entangled with many other Venetians who just may want to kill the man. While Anna desperately searches to uncover any information to clear her name, she reveals some other secrets of the closely-knit Venetian people. Meanwhile, the person who murdered Sergio is still on the loose and is attempting to throw Anna off the trail. 

An exciting and suspenseful murder mystery set in the sensuous and mysterious island of Venice. Immediately, I was pulled in by the murder scene, a gruesome murder committed by someone who appears to be female. Then, I was connected to Anna's character. Anna is intelligent and resourceful but has been handed a difficult lot in life, her parents died when she was younger, she has had a miscarriage and her marriage has fallen apart. Venice was made into a sumptuous setting, I could easily image the aging but descendant buildings, the murky canals and small passageways. The suspense grew for me as Anna started digging up the past. Most interestingly, I began to question Anna's reliability as a narrator even as she began to uncover other's motives. Overall, a uniquely woven murder mystery with intricate twists and turns.

About the Book: 
​On any given day, we’re inundated with negative portrayals of Muslim and Islamic cultures which have fed an atmosphere of distrust. But recent studies have shown that reading literary fiction improves empathy. Positive portrayals of these and other marginalized groups helps change perceptions. Reading about meaningful relationships between characters of different cultures based on trust and confidence while maintaining different beliefs has a lasting impact. Author Kathryn Brown Ramsperger believes, that despite cultural differences, love is the answer to any conflict facing the world today. In her new novel, The Shores of Our Souls [TouchPoint Press, August 1, 2017], Ramsperger directly addresses cross cultural relationships and how powerful a connection can be. The story specifically follows Qasim, an Arab Muslim U.N. official fleeing family obligations in war-torn Lebanon, and Dianna who’s escaping her rural Southern roots to become a researcher at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Taking the reader from New York City to the bucolic beauty of the Carolinas and into the salons of Beirut, The Shores of Our Souls juxtaposes the personal and political landscape of fledgling lovers. While multiple factors try to destroy the immediate connection between Dianna and Qasim, including his own political ties and powers and her untrusting housemate who continues to plant doubts in Dianna’s mind, the couple faces the challenge of overcoming societal judgement and cultural boundaries. Is love enough for the lovers to sidestep history in order to make peace with each other and themselves? “Call it whatever you want, love is love. The whole point of my book is that love conquers all. It can lead to mutual understanding and help us resolve conflict. Every conflict we face teaches us about each other and the world we’re living in, but only if we try to walk in the other person’s shoes,” Ramsperger states. “My novel is a love story, not a story about Arab conflict and terrorism. It differs from other love stories in that it’s told both from an American Christian female point of view and a Lebanese Muslim male point of view. This gives audiences a better understanding of both of their cultures, backgrounds, and values that drive their characters and relationship.” A dazzling, well-researched work of fiction from an exciting new voice, Ramsperger’s debut is a not-to-be-missed addition to the bookcases of fans of Barbara Kingsolver, Khaled Hosseini and Carrie Brown.

Review:
​Dianna is looking for something new and exciting to get her out of her slump.  In 1980's New York City, Dianna works for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, however she is stuck typing out little green cards all day.  Dianna longs to travel and help people, do something useful.  Dianna meets Qasim and sparks fly.  Qasim is older and well traveled.  He is an Arab-Muslim U.N. official from Beirut, Lebanon.  Qasim has known war in his home country for most of his life, and the present is no different.  Qasim longs for peace and is trying his best to help through his position.  As Dianna and Qasim spend more time together, they find out that love may not be enough to span the distance of race, religion, cultural differences and two histories filled with different pains.

I was drawn to the unique setting and issues that were covered in this story.  I was very young when the war in Beirut was raging and I was glad to learn more about it from Qasim's point of view.  With everything negative that we are inundated with from the Middle East, I enjoyed reading about the beauty of the land, the customs and Qasim's schooling.  Dianna and Qasim's romance kept me in suspense.  Moving very quickly at first and then getting derailed at several cultural, religious and social differences along the way.  I was torn between Dianna and Qasim- feeling frustrated for Dianna, who was trying so hard to understand Qasim's culture and background and me mindful of their differences, however, she was never really filled in by Qasim except for being told it was too dangerous for her and for Qasim's need to separate himself from the negativity and weight of war and his strong ties to his homeland.  I do wish that both Dianna and Qasim's pasts were delved into a little more, as I felt there would have been even more understanding uncovered there.  Overall, a poetic and moving love story that uncovers much more than a romance. Although set thirty years ago, The Shores of Our Souls echos with themes that we are still struggling with today.  

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

About the Author: 
KATHRYN BROWN RAMSPERGER’S literary voice is rooted in the Southern tradition of storytelling and is informed by her South Carolina lineage. She began her career writing for The Roanoke Times and The Gazette newspapers, and later managed publications for the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva, Switzerland. She wrote for both National Geographic and Kiplinger. A graduate of Hollins University, Ramsperger studied under several esteemed writers including Pulitzer Prize winner Henry Taylor, her mentor Richard Henry Wilde Dillard, and Guggenheim recipient and poet Dara Weir. She holds a graduate publications degree from George Washington University, is the winner of the Hollins University Fiction Award, and her current novel is a semifinalist in the Faulkner-Wisdom literary competition. Kathryn currently lives in Maryland with her husband, two children, and two cats. Connect with Kathryn Brown Ramsperger at ShoresOfOurSouls.com as well as on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Goodreads. 

The Witch and Other Tales Re-Told is a short story collection of reimagined fairy tales in modernized settings with a twist. Many of the stories are barely recognizable until I found a few telling points or a certain phrase came up.  All of the stories were rooted in the real world, but had a creeping darkness around the edge or a sense of something not quite right.  The writing conveyed a sense of knowing many different characters and being able to get into their heads.

One of my favorite was the first story, The Witch, a modern Hansel and Gretel where siblings Kerry and Jo are taken in by the Department of Children and Family Services to a foster home run by Mrs. Kojo.  Outwardly, Mrs. Kojo appears perfect, for the children, however, things are different. Jo quickly picked up on how Mrs. Kojo operated and when there was an opening, she channeled her inner Gretel.

Another favorite was Prince, a very turned upside down Cinderella.  In this version, Ellen has a slight and manageable mental health issue and a very controlling sister.  Ellen finds a stray dog and names him Prince, Prince is very grateful for Ellen's care and he tells her that-in words.  Prince was definitely the most charming story, but true to the fairy tale, the sister does not come out on top. 

​Everyone who has ever been tasked with the job of being a mother has had their moments of failure.  Things will inevitably go wrong at some point when you have children, resulting in a momfail.  However, looking back you realize that everything happens for a reason and you did the best that you could at the time.  No mom is perfect, and these 24 moms have come to remind you in some hilarious ways that we have all had our momfail moments, so let's enjoy them together!


These moms share fails from everyday to epic.  From story to story, I went from knowing the exact feeling because I've been there to laughing my butt off simply because I'm not there yet.  These 24 short stories will resonate with any mom, caregiver and will prepare any mom-to-be for the inevitable foibles in motherhood.  Some of my favorites dealt with pooptastrophies, swearing children, trying to have intimate time with your husband and the days that are just plain disastrous.  Two stories that I will highlight are "What's That Smell?" and "Battery Operated."  These had me dying of laughter.  "What's That Smell" tackles not only the hazards of flying with children but what happens when they poop in an enclosed space, I couldn't imagine having to live this situation and coming out unphased. "Battery Operated" is the life lesson of revenge for gifting annoying toys and will probably be something heading my way at some point in the future.  Overall, a perfect anthology for any mom, especially if you think you aren't doing enough or constantly failing, we feel you, just read a story and drink some mommy juice. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Julia just wants one summer of fun before entering the real adult world. Oh, and she has sworn off hot guys- the type who are more into themselves than the relationship- after her break up with super hot guy, Andy.  Julia and her best friend Jade have found what were supposed to be easy jobs nannying on the coast of Maine.  However, when Julia arrives in Maine she is greeted by an even wilder than usual Jade, whose personal life is crumbling as well as Dylan, the 10 year old boy that she is nannying for.  Dylan's needs are very specific and his mom forgot to mention that most nannies haven't made it past 10 days with him.  And, did I mention the hot guys that seem to be everywhere?  There is Sterling, a sweet but smooth-talking surfer who also teaches Dylan's lifeguard training and Liam, a seemingly rude and confusing housekeeper  for Dylan's family that Julia has to live with for the summer.  Julia forgets her one rule and then seems to make a mess of everything.  At least she is a source of entertainment for her friends!

 Manservant is a humorous and sexy new adult romance that I easily got lost in.  Shari J. Ryan is a master at creating a slow build in sexual tension with back and forth witty banter and puns.  I didn't know whether to love or hate Liam and I think he got me into as much of a frenzy as he did to Julia.  

"Fine?" he whispers in my ear.  As unexpected as my voice is, being so close to me, his words make my heart pound in a way it hasn't beat in a very long time, possibly ever.  "I could think of a few different words to describe you, but 'fine' would be at the bottom of that list."

The characterization is also amazing, Julia seems like the perfect best friend as well as a very real young adult in the world.  I loved that she found and named the Shermanator and the picture had me cracking up. I also loved Julia's strength when she found out that he boyfriend was cheating as well as when she found out that Dylan has Asperger's syndrome.  Julia did not give up or give in, she learned as much as she could and tried to do everything right for Dylan.  I applaud the inclusion of Dylan's character and the realities of his everyday life without it being the main point of the book.

The romance and sex aspects are just right for my tastes.  There are several sultry scenes that had just the right amount of allure with a dash of fun; and with Julia's inner monologue it was just perfect.  Overall, a steamy summer read with a mix of romance, drama and plenty of fun.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

I really didn't know what I was getting into when I won this book, but I was glad that I did.  This is a compilation of fictional short stories from a variety of authors that showcase the relationships between animals and humans.  Through these stories, we are reminded that the way we treat animals reflects back on us as humans.

Some thoughts on my favorite stories in the compilation: 

Litter: Told from a stray dog's point of view as the dog tries to survive on the streets and an examines the relationship of its human rescuers as the muddle through a relationship.  I loved this story and the dogs point of view, we hear many rescue stories from the human's point of view that is always how the animal saved the human.  I appreciate the story from the other side and examining how dogs end up on the street.

The Boto's Child: An enchanting and magical story about the mythology surrounding the pink river dolphins of the Amazon, the Boto's.  Even though completely based on mythology of several native Amazon tribes, this moving story shows how humans have empathized with the Boto for centuries.

Miriam's Lantern: An appropriate closing story for the collection; a young man watches the last of a species of bird die alone in captivity.  As he watches the bird live out it's life, he examines his own choices, knowing that he had a hand in the species demise.  I thought this story was especially poignant today, as we may very well be watching a variety of species die due to choices we have made.

Among Animals was provided for free through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.

​Among Animals 2 is a collection of short stories that examines the varied relationships between humans and animals.  With a mix of contemporary fiction, historical stories, dystopian and science fiction, many different aspects of these relationships are able to be captured. Some of these stories will make you uncomfortable, some are sweet and comforting, all will make you think about the relationships humans share with animals that are pets, in captivity, on farms or in the wild and how our actions affect them. 

Some stories that affected me were:

Phoenix Cross looks into factory farming of chickens and genetic engineering.  Some of us may know exactly the horrid conditions in which factory farmed chickens are raised, we might ignore it, we may not care, some of us might choose free-range chickens.  Phoenix Cross brings out not only the effects of this method on the chickens, but on the farmers as well.  I loved the connection of boy and bird in this story and the bird's point of view really made me think about how our food gets to us.

Exotic Animal Alert: Please Post Widely inspects caretakers and zoo animals as well as the close bond one might form with an animal that is truly wild.  Again, an animal point of view was used in order to empathize with the clouded leopard point of view.  What I found most interesting was the differing opinions about Sokar the clouded leopard formed by the husband and wife who raised him and how Sokar's presence impacted their relationship.

A Normal Rabbit is the story of a family and their ordinary pet rabbit, Camper.  Camper is a symbol for many things in the family, but most of all Camper's presence is able to elicit responses of empathy for other living things.

Overall, an interesting compilation of stories that will hopefully make readers reexamine their relationships with the animals and environment around them.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.