Charlene Carr's Blog, page 3
October 11, 2021
Book Review: The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
This read was like a warm book-loving hug. Adams did a brilliant job of drawing us into the characters’ lives and world.
It reminds the reader of the power of story to influence and shape our lives and the importance of finding community, even in unexpected places, to remind us we’re not alone.
A delightful read that holds a special place in my heart.
Author’s Twitter: @saranishaadams
Click the book cover below or PREVIEW to start reading a free sample of The Reading List right now.
The post Book Review: The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams appeared first on Charlene Carr.
August 15, 2021
Book Review: The Rise of Light by Olivia Hawker
It’s not often I find a book that moved me the way this one does. Hawker’s ability to delve into the mind of characters I otherwise may have found despicable or pathetic is awe-inducing.
I love stories that throw out the concept of black and white, good and evil, and draw us instead into a world of greys by showing the complexities of human thought, feeling and motivation. This is definitely one of those books.
It reminded me of a painting: A work of art you can sit back and contemplate as you appreciate its beauty and complexity.
Author’s Website: hawkerbooks.com
The book releases August 17, so no sample yet. But you can click here to preorder now.
The post Book Review: The Rise of Light by Olivia Hawker appeared first on Charlene Carr.
June 24, 2021
Book Review of Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
An engaging and complex book with complicated and layered characters, while also remaining a fast-paced and entertaining read.
The micro and macro aggressions made for moments of discomfort, revelation, and the opportunity to turn expectations on their heads.
Despite the depth, Such a Fun Age, is written with an almost shocking lightness as it explores issues of race, class, friendship, and privilege.
A great read!
Author’s Website: kileyreid.com
Click the book cover below or PREVIEW to start reading a free sample of Such a Fun Age right now.
The post Book Review of Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid appeared first on Charlene Carr.
May 26, 2021
Book Review: The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
For me, The Lost Apothecary was ALL about the historical timeline, though I still enjoyed the contemporary thread. The novel had me captivated as it explored themes of motherhood, female relationships, and empowerment, all in the tantalizing setting of London past and present, and through a lense of uncovering long buried mysteries.
Yes, there were some plot holes, and some threads I was really excited about that didn’t go where I thought they would, along with unanswered questions and bizarre (at least, to me) character choices. But it’s a book, a chance to step out of reality, and it was A WHOLE LOT of fun, which sometimes is all that matters.
In short, I loved it.
Author’s Website: sarahpenner.com
Click the book cover below or PREVIEW to start reading a free sample of The Lost Apothecary right now.
The post Book Review: The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner appeared first on Charlene Carr.
May 14, 2021
Book Review: The Push by Ashley Audrain
Check out The Push
I will admit, it took me a few chapters to get on board with the second person voice, but once I did, I was all in.
Audrain’s writing is sharp and raw, with a rare economy, as she relays the pain and confusion of the early days of motherhood, trickling into the fears many of us harbour and the ones most would never even think about.
The Push is unsettling, yet so compelling, while being an absolute page turner. It’s all about the questions, and keeps the reader riveted by never providing crystal clear answers, never letting us feel certain about whose truth is the real one.
Heartbreaking, dark, and unforgettable on so many levels.
Pick this one up!
Author’s Website: ashleyaudrain.com
Click the book cover below or PREVIEW to start reading a free sample of The Push right now.
The post Book Review: The Push by Ashley Audrain appeared first on Charlene Carr.
April 24, 2021
Book Review: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
A compelling, emotional, expansive read that kept me compulsively turning the pages. I blazed through this book in just a few days!
What you think will be the story – the hook – isn’t the story. It’s there, always in the background, the why behind your reading and the characters’ motivations, but THE PEOPLE are the story.
It’s an exploration of who we are and who we could be, the ways in which so many of us, either in small or massive ways, are multiple versions of ourselves at once.
I loved it!
Author’s Website: britbennett.com
Click the book cover below or PREVIEW to start reading a free sample of The Vanishing Half right now.
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March 12, 2021
Book Review: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Although the plot was rather predictable and at times became repetitive, I loved this book. It came at a time in my life when I really needed the message.
Life is hard. Choices are harder. Regrets can be crippling.
But this our life. The only one we have.
This book is a wonderful reminder of that. Every now and then I’d come across a line that would speak directly to my heart, that would send my mind on different pathways, solidifying the knowledge that there’s no way to know how any event will affect our lives, that despite all the divergent paths our lives could have taken, this is the path we’re on now. This is the life we have.
In the video above I talk about the specific reason this book spoke so strongly to me. It entered my life at the moment I most needed it. Maybe it’ll enter your life at that key moment, too.
If you’re going through a time in your life, if something horrible has happened or you’ve made choices you regret, I encourage you to give this book a try.
Perspective is an amazing thing.
Author’s Website: matthaig.com
Click the book cover below or PREVIEW to start reading a free sample of The Midnight Library right now.
4/5The post Book Review: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig appeared first on Charlene Carr.
February 26, 2021
Book Review: Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
Brilliantly written and researched. This book tackles race, privilege, prejudice, and justice, with a style that makes it incredibly hard to put down.
I saw myself in this book, I was challenged, I grew.
I could go on and on, but instead I’ll simply say, if anything about this story piques your interest, read it. 
Author’s Website: jodipicoult.com
Click the book cover below or PREVIEW to start reading a free sample of Small Great Things right now.
The post Book Review: Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult appeared first on Charlene Carr.
April 16, 2020
Because sometimes life knocks us on our backs …
Sometimes life doesn’t go the way we want it to. Dreams flop, people desert us, and we’re left reeling.
When that happens we have a choice – Give up, or stand up, brush our selves off, and keep on keeping on!
Of course …
It’s not really that simple, is it?
In reality, when life knocks us flat on our backs sometimes we just lie there for awhile, writhing in our misery. Sometimes we manage to sit up, maybe crawl a few steps, maybe even stand on shaky legs, but then we collapse again.
It’s a process. A journey. And it’s not always pretty.
A lot of the time it’s downright ugly. Even embarassing.
We may display aspects of ourselves we’d rather keep hidden or wish didn’t exist at all.
We may cringe at the thoughts that travel through our minds and the words that slip out of our mouths.
But as long as we still have life, there’s hope.
Right?
That’s what I choose to believe, what I need to believe, and it’s a big motivation behind my novel Where There Is Life.
In it, Autumn has just been barrelled over with some of the worst news a person could get. Her dreams shatter in one instant, her whole existence transformed to something horrible and unfamiliar.
And nothing she can do will change it.
But she’s still alive.
So, she rises first to her knees, then steps forward on wobbly legs. Sometimes she falls. Sometimes she makes choices she never thought possible.
But as the days go on, slowly, she discovers that even when the worst happens, our life and our dreams can be rebuilt.
She discovers hope.
If her story sounds like one to capture your heart, I encourage you to order it today, read it for free on Kindle Unlimited (for a limited time) or see if your local library either has it or will order it in for you.
I need to warn you though, it’s not for the faint of heart. Just like life, this book is “as real as it gets.”
But it ends with a smile.
Read on, my friend,
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P.S. Sound pretty dour for your tastes? Don’t worry, Where There Is Life is not ALL Autumn battling through the hard stuff. She journeys through beautiful Italian landscapes, meets amazing friends, and eats SUCH good food. In the words of one reader –
“This book will have you shedding tears, laughing out loud and bursting at the seams to know more.”
And in the words of some others …
[image error]“Oh My Goodness!!! What a fantastic read … I was on the edge of my seat – a must read.” – J Wakely
“It made me smile, cry, laugh… I couldn’t put it down but didn’t want it to end!” – Amazon Reviewer
“Charlene Carr writes with beautiful insight and breathtaking accuracy. Readers will fall in love.” – Katie Postlethwaite
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December 18, 2019
Book Review: After the Flood by Kassandra Montag
Check out After the Flood
The atmosphere in this book was incredible, with evocative and fresh writing that pulled me into the story’s world and had me sailing along with the character’s journeys and trials.
Montag’s depiction of motherhood and a mother’s relationship with and love for her children was awe-inspiring.
Author’s Website: kassandramontag.com
Click the book cover below or PREVIEW to start reading a free sample of After The Flood right now.
The post Book Review: After the Flood by Kassandra Montag appeared first on Charlene Carr.
