Kari Anderson

Kari Anderson rated a book 3 of 5 stars

Improvising Carla
by Joanna Hines

read in April, 2013

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From Goodreads.com:
Helen North’s Greek vacation is not going as planned. She booked her trip envisioning a free-spirited getaway—unaware that everything was poised to crumble around her. While writing postcards by herself at a café, she meets Carla F...more From Goodreads.com:
Helen North’s Greek vacation is not going as planned. She booked her trip envisioning a free-spirited getaway—unaware that everything was poised to crumble around her. While writing postcards by herself at a café, she meets Carla Finch, another solo, British traveler.

Carla is charming and unpredictable, and the two become fast friends, taking advantage of every moment of their adventure abroad. But things with Carla aren’t as they seem, and after a night out, something goes horribly wrong.

Carla is dead, and only Helen knows what happened. Back in England and wracked with guilt, Helen tries to move on, but specters from Carla’s life keep turning up around her. When Helen learns that her own dark secret might be exposed, she must struggle to separate truth from deception before it’s too late.

My Thoughts:
This is a book that I ran across on NetGalley. There were a few Joanna Hines books up for grabs. I am always a sucker for a good mystery, so I downloaded a few of them. With that said, I finished this book more than a week ago and still don’t know how I feel about it.

There were parts I loved. Greece sounded beautiful. I loved that two grown women went on a vacation by themselves. I could vacation by myself and be just as happy if people were with me. Throw me on a beach with a book and I’m good for a couple of weeks. Even after Carla’s death, back in England, the countryside where Carla lived… amazing. I think I’m starting to have a thing for England, and may have to convince dad we need a second trip to Europe.

But there were also things I didn’t like in this book. Infidelity in a character completely rubs me the wrong way. Unless it’s very extreme circumstances, like in Safe Haven, it will normally turn me against the character, with slim chances of winning me back. No spoilers, don’t worry. I’m not going to say who, but there you have it.

My thoughts for Helen are still forming. What would you do in her situation? She’s the only one who knew what happened to Carla but didn’t speak up. She could possibly go to prison in Greece for the rest of her life. Do you take those chances for someone you barely knew? Is she even remembering it right, or did she block something out that could help solve the crime? I felt bad for her even getting into the situation she was in. I just had a hard time connecting with her through her stages of grief and moving on.

There are some late game changers in this book that surprised me quite a bit and kept me hooked. But as with most mysteries, you know there is something coming ahead and parts seem to drag on forever until you get there.

I have read that this book was turned into a television series. I am very interested to see how it was transformed from the pages to the small screen. I will definitely be trying to find it (hopefully on Netflix).

I give Improvising Carla 3.5 out of 5 bookmarks.(less)

Kari Anderson rated a book 5 of 5 stars

Orphan Train
by Christina Baker Kline (Goodreads Author)

read in April, 2013

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From Goodreads:
The author of Bird in Hand and The Way Life Should Be delivers her most ambitious and powerful novel to date: a captivating story of two very different women who build an unexpected friendship: a 91-year-old woman with a hidden past as...more From Goodreads:
The author of Bird in Hand and The Way Life Should Be delivers her most ambitious and powerful novel to date: a captivating story of two very different women who build an unexpected friendship: a 91-year-old woman with a hidden past as an orphan-train rider and the teenage girl whose own troubled adolescence leads her to seek answers to questions no one has ever thought to ask.

Nearly eighteen, Molly Ayer knows she has one last chance. Just months from “aging out” of the child welfare system, and close to being kicked out of her foster home, a community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping her out of juvie and worse.

Vivian Daly has lived a quiet life on the coast of Maine. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past. As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly discovers that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance.

The closer Molly grows to Vivian, the more she discovers parallels to her own life. A Penobscot Indian, she, too, is an outsider being raised by strangers, and she, too, has unanswered questions about the past. As her emotional barriers begin to crumble, Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life – answers that will ultimately free them both.

Rich in detail and epic in scope, Orphan Train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, of unexpected friendship, and of the secrets we carry that keep us from finding out who we are.

My Thoughts:
I got this book through my online book club, SheReads.org. If you want to read stellar books, check out their selections each month. For the past several months, my favorite books have been their picks.

It’s amazing how much my taste in books has changed since I started reading and reviewing five years ago. I went from being a YA junkie, to now reading whatever genre comes by way, and yes, I still cave to YA frequently. But one thing that has surprised me about my reading taste is how much I enjoy a little historical fiction. Christina Baker Kline bundled everything I love into one book with Orphan Train.

The story is told through two perspectives that flow seamlessly. You have Molly, in foster care, struggling to find a family and a place to finally call home. Then you have Vivian, the wealthy elderly woman, who has a story most couldn’t fathom, let along believe if they heard it. But they become unlikely friends, and even more than that, family. They both have so much to offer each other. It is an absolute beautiful story of heartache and pain and triumph. Both women have so much courage. It makes you think about what you have and the petty things that bog down our life on a daily basis. It’s sad that so many young children still have to live like Molly does.

I often say that my favorite books are the ones where I come away with knowledge. Chalk this book up on the list. How have I lived for 26 years and never known about orphan trains? I was never good at history, I just couldn’t remember all of the facts and dates and locations. But the older I get, the more I’m starting to have a soft spot for history. I want to know all of the little hidden secrets throughout the years and that’s exactly what Christina did with this book. The stories you can find online about the children who rode on these trains are incredible. I could read them for days. They seem more like fiction than anything I’ve read, they are so raw and real. I thank SheReads and Christina for bringing this amazing piece of history to my life and to light.

I give Orphan Train 5 out of 5 bookmarks.(less)

Kari Anderson is currently reading:

Dawn (Cutler, #1)
by V.C. Andrews

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Kari Anderson rated a book 5 of 5 stars

Destiny at Oak Valley (Book #1)
by Jeffree Wyn Itrich (Goodreads Author)

read in May, 2013

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From Goodreads:
Imagine flying in a hot-air balloon, getting caught in an eclipse and descending over 100 years into the Wild West of New Mexico. You meet a strikingly handsome man who challenges every notion you ever had about love. That’s exactly wh...more From Goodreads:
Imagine flying in a hot-air balloon, getting caught in an eclipse and descending over 100 years into the Wild West of New Mexico. You meet a strikingly handsome man who challenges every notion you ever had about love. That’s exactly what happens to independent, high-spirited Rachel Kingston, who doesn’t know how to get home, but must find a way without losing her heart.

My Thoughts:
Jeffree contacted me about reading and reviewing this book and she caught me at just the perfect time. I had just wrapped up my review for Orphan Train and was in a very loving mood for historical fiction. Who am I? But when I read that Rachel ended up back in the Wild Wild West, I couldn’t turn it down. As much as I love my iPhone and my Polar watch, cars, electricity, indoor bathrooms, fast food joints, blogging, my Nook… I think I could have lived in the olden days. Give me some yarn for knitting, some classic books, some old family recipes, I think I could have done just fine.

I devoured this book. I could not wait to see what happened. Would Rachel ever get home? What if this happened to me? Would I stay or would I go? Don’t we all wish at some point in our lives that we could travel back to another time or place and find a soul mate that doesn’t exist today? Don’t lie… I know that in a single time of your life you’ve thought about it, just knowing that there is not a single person in this century that gets you and you know they lived a previous life that you wish you could have been part of.

This book is also short and sweet. At just over 125 pages, Itrich tells a wonderful love story that spans hundreds of years. And does such a great job of going from present to past. Obviously, there will be a major jump, but it flowed flawlessly.

Books like this give me such inspiration to write. Even though I know that I am writing fiction, I love to be able to relate to things that happen in books. Because of that, I have a hard time thinking outside the reality box. I cannot jump over the fiction bump and go somewhere completely unrealistic. Books like this encourage me to jump off the page and try something new. I need to bookmark this paragraph so I will remember it in the future

I give Destiny at Oak Valley 5 out of 5 bookmarks. I am so happy this is just Book 1 in the series. I can’t wait to see what is coming around the bend, hopefully this fall, from Irtrich.(less)

Kari Anderson is currently reading:

The Smart One
by Jennifer Close (Goodreads Author)

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Kari Anderson added:

Privilege (Privilege, #1)
by Kate Brian

read in May, 2013

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Kari Anderson added:

The First Prophet (Bishop Files, #1)
by Kay Hooper

read in May, 2013

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Kari Anderson rated a book 5 of 5 stars

Death Plays Poker: A Clare Vengel Undercover Novel
by Robin Spano (Goodreads Author)

read in October, 2011

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There’s a plague on the professional poker tour in Canada. It’s not just a few bad hands, but a few of the best players turning up dead at the hands of a strangler. So Clare, fresh off solving deaths of local politicians, she’ll still got a good enou...more There’s a plague on the professional poker tour in Canada. It’s not just a few bad hands, but a few of the best players turning up dead at the hands of a strangler. So Clare, fresh off solving deaths of local politicians, she’ll still got a good enough rep to get her undercover in the poker game. Unfortunately for Clare, her cover is a sparkly, pink loving, spoiled, trust fund baby, Tiffany. Clare is not only trying to solve the murders, but also figure out whose behind a cheating ring and how it works. But as all the victim’s found out too late, once you start getting close to the ring, your time starts to run out.

Let me gush a little. First of all, Robin Spano is one of my favorite people in the world! She contacted me when her first book, Dead Politician Society, came out and asked if I would be interested in reviewing it off of NetGalley. I agreed since she took the time to contact me and was so glad I did. I loved the book and love, love, love the main character Clare. Robin and I have stayed in touch and she gives me writing tips and advice to getting published, my own little cheerleader! Before I even get to my review, let’s take a look at the cover of this book….. Thank you! After reading the first book, I mentioned in my review that I didn’t originally download it because it wasn’t pink and pretty. I’m a cover girl, I’m vain. So, miss Robin took that to heart and make sure that pink was not only on the cover, but a big part of Clare in this book. I love it and just can’t quit looking at it!!

So now to the review. I love how Clare evolves in this book. She’s off the rookie high, a bit, but still gliding on the fumes of solving that big case. She keeps that in her back pocket whenever her handlers start to question her, and eventually it will run out, but lucky for her, she can hold onto that card, at least through the first tourney (what, you thought I’d give away a spoiler?) She just has such a spark to her. I want to meet her and know her and maybe have her rub off a little of her bad ass on me.

But it’s not just about Clare and the pretty pink cover, Spano has an awesome way of story telling. Both Clare Vengel novels are told through several points of view. You of course have Clare, but there are so many other characters that play integral roles in each of the books. You have the ones that you like and want to hear more from, you have the ones you don’t like and immediately want to point out as a suspect, but the thing with these books, you have so many characters and so many points of view, it’s almost impossible to nab the suspect until it’s revealed. I’m 0 for 2. Well, I’ve at one point in both books thought the character that was guilty was the suspect, but a chapter later, it changed.

Spano has the knack for writing an awesome mystery and Death Plays Poker is a royal straight flush! I give it 5 bookmarks and for the sake of all of us Clare lovers, will constantly pester Spano about getting that next book out SOON!

ISBN: 978-1550229875(less)

Kari Anderson is starting Privilege: Have a few days between review books so I'm going back to my reading roots with Kate Brian.

Privilege (Privilege, #1)
by Kate Brian

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Kari Anderson rated a book 3 of 5 stars Improvising Carla by Joanna Hines read in April, 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
From Goodreads.com: Helen North’s Greek vacation is not going as planned. She booked her trip envisioning a free-spirited getaway—unaware that everything was poised to crumble around her. While writing postcards by herself at a café, she meets Carla F...more
May 17, 2013 07:35pm · see review
Kari Anderson rated a book 5 of 5 stars Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline (Goodreads Author) read in April, 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
From Goodreads: The author of Bird in Hand and The Way Life Should Be delivers her most ambitious and powerful novel to date: a captivating story of two very different women who build an unexpected friendship: a 91-year-old woman with a hidden past as...more
May 17, 2013 07:34pm · see review
Kari Anderson is currently reading: Dawn (Cutler, #1) by V.C. Andrews	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 16, 2013 06:34pm
Kari Anderson rated a book 5 of 5 stars Destiny at Oak Valley (Book #1) by Jeffree Wyn Itrich (Goodreads Author) read in May, 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
From Goodreads: Imagine flying in a hot-air balloon, getting caught in an eclipse and descending over 100 years into the Wild West of New Mexico. You meet a strikingly handsome man who challenges every notion you ever had about love. That’s exactly wh...more
May 14, 2013 07:24pm · see review
Kari Anderson is currently reading: The Smart One by Jennifer Close (Goodreads Author)	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 08, 2013 06:25am
Kari Anderson added: Privilege (Privilege, #1) by Kate Brian read in May, 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 08, 2013 06:25am
Kari Anderson added: The First Prophet (Bishop Files, #1) by Kay Hooper read in May, 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 08, 2013 06:25am
Kari Anderson rated a book 5 of 5 stars Death Plays Poker: A Clare Vengel Undercover Novel by Robin Spano (Goodreads Author) read in October, 2011	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
There’s a plague on the professional poker tour in Canada. It’s not just a few bad hands, but a few of the best players turning up dead at the hands of a strangler. So Clare, fresh off solving deaths of local politicians, she’ll still got a good enou...more
May 06, 2013 10:01am · see review
Kari Anderson is starting Privilege: Have a few days between review books so I'm going back to my reading roots with Kate Brian. Privilege (Privilege, #1) by Kate Brian progress:	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 05, 2013 07:12pm · like · see status

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