Jessica Samuelsen's Blog, page 46
January 27, 2016
Review Chef Maurice and A Spot of Truffle by J.A. Lang
Pages: 240
Goodreads
“They say one should never trust a thin chef. By this measure, Chef Maurice was very trustworthy indeed.”
Take one sleepy Cotswold village, mix in one Poirot-esque murder mystery, add a larger-than-life French chef with an appetite for solving crime, and season with clues and red herrings galore...
It’s autumn in the Cotswolds, and Chef Maurice is facing a problem of mushrooming proportion.
Not only has his wild herb and mushroom supplier, Ollie Meadows, missed his weekly delivery—he’s missing vital signs too, when he turns up dead in the woods near Beakley village.
Soon, Chef Maurice is up to his nose in some seriously rotten business—complete with threatening notes, a pignapping, and an extremely well-catered stake-out.
Can he solve Ollie’s murder before his home-made investigation brings the killer out for second helpings?
Chef Maurice has a missing mushroom order and will get to the bottom of it. His distributor of fungi delicacies has gone missing and soon finds to be dead. The hefty Chef must get to the bottom of it and try to save a truffle or two in the process.
In an Oyster Shell – It was a cute read that I would not read again, nor will I continue with the series.
The Pearls – It was a cute concept. The setting of a small town in England was quaint. It had great descriptions that made you feel like you were there.
There was fun information about mushrooms and truffles. I got to learn you can use a pig or a dog to find truffles. Chef Maurice prefers a dog.
There was a fun romance sub-plot that was tasteful.
The Sand – I found the story overall mundane and the character off-putting. I think some fans of cozy mysteries will enjoy it. I did not.
3 pearls.
About J. A. Lang
J.A. Lang is the author of the Chef Maurice Mysteries, set in the fictional Cotswold village of Beakley, conveniently located within driving distance of her home in Oxford, England. She lives with her husband, an excessive number of cookbooks, and a sourdough starter named Bob.
Her favourite authors include Agatha Christie, P.G. Wodehouse and Terry Pratchett.
When not at her writing desk, she enjoys cooking, eating, travelling to places with good food, drinking good wine, and thinking about her next meal. (Please note that any similarities between J.A. Lang and her main character, Chef Maurice, are purely coincidental.)
January 26, 2016
Blog Tour – Children of Darkness by David Litwack
Welcome to my tour stop for The Seekers Series, The Children of Darkness and The Stuff of Stars by David Litwack. This is a science fiction dystopian series from Evolved Publishing.
About The Children of Darkness:
“But what are we without dreams?”A thousand years ago the Darkness came—a terrible time of violence, fear, and social collapse when technology ran rampant. But the vicars of the Temple of Light brought peace, ushering in an era of blessed simplicity. For ten centuries they have kept the madness at bay with “temple magic,” and by eliminating forever the rush of progress that nearly caused the destruction of everything.
Childhood friends, Orah and Nathaniel, have always lived in the tiny village of Little Pond, longing for more from life but unwilling to challenge the rigid status quo. When their friend Thomas returns from the Temple after his “teaching”—the secret coming-of-age ritual that binds young men and women eternally to the Light—they barely recognize the broken and brooding young man the boy has become. Then when Orah is summoned as well, Nathaniel follows in a foolhardy attempt to save her.
In the prisons of Temple City, they discover a terrible secret that launches the three on a journey to find the forbidden keep, placing their lives in jeopardy, for a truth from the past awaits that threatens the foundation of the Temple. If they reveal that truth, they might once again release the potential of their people.
Yet they would also incur the Temple’s wrath as it is written: “If there comes among you a prophet saying, ‘Let us return to the darkness,’ you shall stone him, because he has sought to thrust you away from the Light.”
Amazon | Goodreads
About The Stuff of Stars:
This second book in The Seekers dystopian series continues the story started in the critically-acclaimed The Children of Darkness.
Against all odds, Orah and Nathaniel have found the keep and revealed the truth about the darkness, initiating what they hoped would be a new age of enlightenment. But the people were more set in their ways than anticipated, and a faction of vicars whispered in their ears, urging a return to traditional ways.
Desperate to keep their movement alive, Orah and Nathaniel cross the ocean to seek the living descendants of the keepmasters’ kin. Those they find on the distant shore are both more and less advanced than expected.
The seekers become caught between the two sides, and face the challenge of bringing them together to make a better world. The prize: a chance to bring home miracles and a more promising future for their people. But if they fail this time, they risk not a stoning but losing themselves in the twilight of a never-ending dream.
Amazon | Goodreads
Review
You must avoid the darkness at all costs or the vicars will come for you. That’s the world that Nathaniel, Tom and Orah live in. They are taught their whole lives to avoid the enjoyments of life or it may lead back to a time the vicars call the darkness. As they come of age they are coming to find that maybe what they have been taught their whole life is not the whole story.
In an Oyster Shell – Great dystopia story. Very creative story full of depth.
The Pearls – This is not a usual read for me, but it came highly recommended from my friend Candace at Candace Book Blog. So I was willing to give it a try and was pleased I did.
I was a little nervous when the story first started because it felt very religious. Not any religion you would know as it was unique to the world that was built. It was scary to me the concept of what people will accept without question. The story continues into one of hope when the main characters start to question everything they have ever known.
The characters were strong and compelling. There was great development and the inter-relations kept the story moving forward. The supporting characters were helpful in pushing the story were it needed to go.
The overall concept was interesting and well executed.
The Sand – The beginning was strong with religious like overtones.
4.5 Pearls!
About the Author:
The urge to write first struck at age sixteen when working on a newsletter at a youth encampment in the woods of northern Maine. It may have been the wild night when lightning flashed at sunset followed by the northern lights rippling after dark. Or maybe it was the newsletter’s editor, a girl with eyes the color of the ocean. But he was inspired to write about the blurry line between reality and the fantastic.Using two fingers and lots of white-out, he religiously typed five pages a day throughout college and well into his twenties. Then life intervened. He paused to raise two sons and pursue a career, in the process — and without prior plan — becoming a well-known entrepreneur in the software industry, founding several successful companies. When he found time again to daydream, the urge to write returned.
David and his wife split their time between Cape Cod, Florida and anywhere else that catches their fancy. He no longer limits himself to five pages a day and is thankful every keystroke for the invention of the word processor.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Newsletter sign up: http://bit.ly/1ronREk
GIVEAWAY:
$25 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
+ a second winner wins paperback copies of The Children of Darkness and The Stuff of Stars (US)
Ends Feb. 10
Prizing is provided by the author, hosts are not responsible. Must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 17. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win.
This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.
January 25, 2016
Review – Pivot Point by Kasie West
Pivot Point (Pivot Point, #1) by Kasie West Series: Pivot Point, #1
Published by HarperTeen on February 12th 2013
Pages: 343
Goodreads
Knowing the outcome doesn't always make a choice easier...
Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.
In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through... and who she can’t live without.
Addie can tell the- future at least, her own. She can foresee two outcomes of her choices. Her parents are getting divorced and she must make the decision of who to live with. As she contemplates bothe outcomes it turns out the choices she are left with could be fatal for some of her closest friends. It’s an interesting story as you see her live out both decisions and the one she makes in the end will leave you astounded.
In An Oster Shell – This was a unique paranormal read that made me want to read the second book.
The Pearls – The concept was unique. The execution of the concept was well done. It worked well with the title. Mirroring results of one decision was pretty cool.
The romance in the story was fun because each path had it’s own romance. I like how the story comes full circle. It was very thought provoking.
I liked the parallel nuances that drew the two timelines together.
The Sand – The main character was a little flat at times. The two different timelines became a bit predictable. Though I will say the ending was well done despite that.
3.5 Pearls
About Kasie West
I write YA. I eat Junior Mints. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. My novels, published through Harper Teen are: PIVOT POINT and its sequel SPLIT SECOND. And my contemporary novels: THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, ON THE FENCE, and THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.
January 24, 2016
Sunday Post & Stacking Shelves – January 24, 2016
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme
We are moving into the last week of January! Woot! This has to be one of my least favorite months. What’s good about January it’s dreary and there are no holidays to break up the monotony. Soon it will be February, then one of my favorite holidays… Valentines!
In Review –
On Tour –
Discussion-
This week I talked about professional vs. personal reviews
Giveaways –
Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!
Question of the Week – What do you do to fill your January days?
I read a lot more in January than any other month. It’s a great thing to do when it’s cold and dreary outside. Fuzzy socks, a warm drink, turn on the heater… I am good to go!
January 22, 2016
Friday Coffee & Bookish Speaks – I might be a gender biased reader
Happy Friday! What are you drinking? I am sticking with coffee and cream these days.
I never thought twice about the gender of writers until I had a blogger who usual only read male authors. I then noticed I tend to gravitate towards female authors. I get a little anxious when the author is male. I don’t have a good reason for why that is. I just like the comforting prose of female writers.
I find that I can’t relate to male generated prose as easily as one that is written by a female. Lucky me that the book industry is fairly dominated with women. Have you ever stopped to think why that is? I feel this is a strong component in why I have reader bias in the first place. Most books I read are female authors so I think I’m just more used to it.
I would say though, I am reading a book right now by Marius Gabriel that is breaking the glass ceiling. He’s got amazing prose going on. Other male writers not so much.
Do you have gender bias in reading? What is your preference?
January 21, 2016
Blog Tour – A Little Big Wish by E.C. Moore
Every Big & Little Wish by E.C. Moore Published by Booktrope Publishing on October 20th 2015
Genres: YA
Pages: 244
Format: Mobi
Source: Xpresso Book Tours
I received this book for free from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
GoodreadsAmazon
E.C. Moore’s young adult novel, Every Big and Little Wish, opens in late spring 1970. Sixteen-year-old Jacy Wilbert’s Mom got promoted, so her parents sold their Victorian home in California and moved to a townhouse in Oregon.
Torn away from the only home she's ever known, forced to leave her beloved German shepherd behind, Jacy feels misplaced. Exacerbating an already terrible situation, her dad runs off with the bombshell real estate agent who sold them their townhouse. And, just when it seems things can’t get any worse, her mom loses the stupid job they left California for in the first place and begins to drown her sorrows with pink wine, night after night. Jacy’s caught in the middle, struggling to maintain a relationship with her AWOL dad while tolerating his annoying, much-younger girlfriend.
Missing old friends back in California, and feeling like an outsider, Jacy needs to build a new social life in a new school. Not the sort of girl to wait around for what she wants to come her way, she sets her sights on Neil Wilder, the best-looking boy around.
Everything changes when Jacy Wilbert knocks on the wrong door.
Jacy Wilbert is feeling the pain of having to leave her hometown in California, to Oregon for her mom’s new job. Things get even worse when her dad leaves her mom for a younger woman and her mom loses that job. The story takes us through Jacy’s life as she makes new friends, and even some enemies. This coming of age tale leaves you with a surprise ending.
In an Oyster Shell – This coming of age tale ends up being really interesting for being set in the late 70’s.
The Pearls – This was as surprising coming of age tale. I am not even sure what intrigued me about this book. It’s not one I would typically read, but I was eventually swept into the story.
The conflict of this story was surprising. It kept the story going at a very steady pace. It was even a bit scary at times. The writing was well done. I was pleased with the accuracy of pop culture references. Given that I am from the area I am pleased that she was accurate to local landmarks.
The ending was astounding. This is a book that I will be recommending in the future.
The Sand – This book was hard for me to relate to in the beginning because I am used to reading more contemporary stories, but it wasn’t bad in the end.
4.5 Pearls
About E.C. Moore
AUTHOR BIO:
When Elizabeth’s not writing feverishly, you will find her out walking or sightseeing. She’s crazy about coffee, books, cooking, good wine, cairn terriers, miniature ponies, historical houses, tapas, and witty people.
She resides in a fifties bungalow in Southern California, with her creative-director, hubba-hubba husband, a yappy blonde dog, and one feisty Chihuahua.
January 20, 2016
Review – Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Good-bye by Marius Gabriel
Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye by Marius Gabriel Published by Lake Union Publishing on August 4th 2015
Pages: 384
Format: Kindle
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Goodreads
Amazon, B&N
As the devastating years of the Second World War march ever closer, the beautiful Redcliffe sisters must face their own struggles and navigate the perils of growing up—and growing apart.
Eldest sister Isobel—passionate, domineering, misguided—is infatuated with Fascism. But can she continue to justify her dangerous political beliefs when faced with the shocking realities of Nazi Germany?
Insecure and introverted Felicity, youngest of the three, is about to take her vows and enter the convent, against her sisters’ wish. A chance meeting with an American soldier threatens the very foundations of her decisions.
Chiara, the bright and happy golden child, is more interested in the gay whirl of the season than matters of faith or ideology. But even her breezy innocence cannot survive the harsh lessons of heartbreak and war.
Each sister must follow her own path and, as they do so, their differences threaten to take them beyond the realms of forgiveness.
Opening up with beginnings of the civil war in Spain, two sisters find themselves stranded amongst the warfare. A brave soldier from the opposition comes to their rescue and begins the story of the sister’s lives in the time of the second world war. There are three sisters, Isobel the sympathetic fascist, Felicity woman of devout religion, and Chairis who is a modern woman in London. The story goes on to tell how the war affects the sisters. Does it change them for the better or for the worse? Will the sister grow close or will they be torn apart?
In an Oyster Shell – This is a chilling tale of life in Europe at the time of the second world-war. It was horrifying but accurate and well done.
The Pearls – The title is what first drew me to the book. Just one sentence showed great potential for poetic prose and I was not disappointed. Though the story is more gruesome than expected, it works to tell the tale of life in Europe during the second world war.
The characters were dynamic and the inter-personal relationship between them was as well. Each character was well defined and had a strong voice. It made you love and feel for some of them and detest others. I haven’t read a book with dynamic characters that had great diversity. I think it should well the irony that though you may be related to someone doesn’t mean they deserve a continued relationship.
The theme of the book was chilling. Seeing the second world war from different perspectives was eye opening and informative. This was a great historical narrative.
The Sand – One of the characters become absolutely deplorable in the end.
4 Pearls!
About Marius Gabriel
Marius Gabriel is an international thriller and mystery writer.
Under the pseudonym Madeleine Ker, he wrote over 30 romance novels in the 1980s.
As Marius Gabriel he has written several mystery best-sellers, some of them historical novels.
He has three grown-up children and currently lives in Cairo and London. He is 59.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
COYERTBR Reading ChallengeJanuary 19, 2016
Book Blitz – The Edge of Nowhere by C.H. Armstrong
SYNOPSIS
The year is 1992 and Victoria Hastings Harrison Greene—reviled matriarch of a sprawling family—is dying.
After surviving the Oklahoma Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, Victoria refuses to leave this earth before revealing the secrets she’s carried for decades.
Once the child of a loving family during peaceful times, a shocking death shattered her life. Victoria came face to face with the harshness of the world. As the warm days of childhood receded to distant memory, Victoria learns to survive.
No matter what it takes.
To keep her family alive in an Oklahoma blighted by dust storms and poverty, Victoria makes choices—harsh ones, desperate ones. Ones that eventually made her into the woman her grandchildren fear and whisper about. Ones that kept them all alive. Hers is a tale of tragedy, love, murder, and above all, the conviction to never stop fighting.
OFFICIAL VIDEO TRAILER FOR THE EDGE OF NOWHERE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
C.H. Armstrong is an Oklahoma native transplanted in Minnesota. A 1992 graduate of the University of Oklahoma, “Cathie”is a life-long lover of books, and staunchly outspoken on subject of banned and challenged books. The Edge of Nowhere is her first novel and was inspired by her own family’s experiences during the 1930s Oklahoma Dust Bowl and The Great Depression.
PURCHASE A COPY OF THE EDGE OF NOWHERE ONLINE NOW
January 18, 2016
Review – Galgorithm by Aaron Karo
Galgorithm by Aaron Karo Published by Simon Pulse on May 5th 2015
Genres: YA, Romance
Pages: 320
Goodreads
Amazon, B&N
A romantic comedy that's "a good choice for fans of John Green" (Booklist) about high school, heartbreak, and having all the answers.
What if the secrets of dating and love were revealed in one simple formula? That's the tantalizing proposition high school senior Shane Chambliss offers the hopeless and hapless guys who come to him for relationship advice.
After the girl of his dreams breaks his heart, Shane devises a mysterious formula called the Galgorithm and establishes himself as the resident dating guru at Kingsview High School. But his attempts to master the art of romance go outrageously awry.
As Shane tries to navigate the ensuing drama, he must follow his heart, abandon all the rules, and ignore his own advice in a quest for true love. What he discovers, no formula could ever predict...
Shane Chambliss has cracked the code on high-school girls. He takes this formula and helps the nerds get the girls.With his deny until you die agreement with his clients he operates in anonymity. Everything is going great until the formula is outed by the school newspaper. When Shane’s love life changes into something unexpected, he is left question all aspects of the “Galgorithm.”
In an Oyster Shell – A light hearted witty romance that will have you laughing out loud again and again.
The Pearls – I have been looking forward to reading this book for a while. I am glad to report that it was well worth the wait and I was not disappointed in the slightest. The witty prose of this book will make it so you don’t want to put it down. The writing was pristine. There was a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor.
The concept is what initially drew me to this book. A high-school boy has figured out a formula on how to woo any high-school girl. It’s a story that’s too tempting not to read. I liked how the concept played out and how everything was resolved in the end.
The multiple romances in this book were cute. Each one played out a little differently adding diversity to the plot. I like how each romance has unexpected results with each having its own struggles. It makes the romances more realistic which is not often done in a romance book.
The Sand – There was some inappropriate language, the MC was not always easy to relate to, and the narrative voice fell flat at times.
3.5 Pearls
About Aaron Karo
Aaron Karo is an author, comedian, and screenwriter. His books include “Galgorithm,” “Lexapros and Cons,” “I’m Having More Fun Than You,” “Ruminations on Twentysomething Life,” and “Ruminations on College Life.” He was born and raised in New York, currently lives in Los Angeles, and always pays on the first date.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
Reading AssignmentTBR Reading ChallengeJanuary 17, 2016
Sunday Post & Stacking Shelves January 17, 2016
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme
This week in review –
Giveaways –
Past –
Winner is Shannon Romein
Current –
Other notable things –
I love doing book reviews and I now get to do it professionally for Ind’tale magazine!
Currently Reading –
New to Writing Pearls –
Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!
Question of the Week –
What is your dream job?
Mine is getting paid to read and write… aka.. professional reviewer!
