Another classic penned by Sparks in this tale of an abused wife who disappears from her real life and appears in a small town in North Carolina. After meeting a widower with two irresistible children, Katie learns to love again. What Katie doesn’t realize is that when she lets her guard down, danger lurks; enough danger to destroy everything she’s come to love.
Author:Beth Hoffmann
Publisher: Viking
ISBN #: 978-0670021390
Type: Fiction:General
Pages: 306 Hardback
The Book
This book was one of my favorite books of 2010. This is the story of a little girl who faces her mother’s tragic death at an early age. Unfortunately, her father is not able to care for her therefore her life is uprooted and she takes residence with her great aunt in Savannah. The greatest gift of this book that Hoffman gives the readers are the unforgettable characters and the subtle, yet powerful life lessons.
FTC Disclosure: Cee Cee Honeycutt was provided to me from the publisher. No purchases are necessary.
From 2000 through 2010, our world has suffered great tragedies. Commencing with 9/11 and ending with one of the deepest recessions in America’s history, our country has gone experienced such a vast amount of hardship. This book does an amazing recap of what has transpired in our world from an American viewpoint. Thereafter, it offers suggestions of hope for our future and replenishment.
This book was highly informative. I very much enjoyed the recap and the thoughts that this book provoked for me. I can’t wait to see America focus on its core strengths and pull us out of the recession into a new decade that will bring hope.
Author:Joan Johnston, Robyn Carr, Christina Skye, Rochelle Alers, Maureen Child
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN #: 978-0373837441
Type: Fiction:Short Stories
Pages: 442 Trade Paperback The Book
This book consists of 5 short stories, all about making our world a better place. These stories are centered around real-life women’s efforts and charities in the United States.
Each short story is based upon a true-life charitable organization that you can support. However, the theme of this book is that it is possible for us all to contribute, in our own way, to the betterment of society.
I enjoyed reading the heroine’s tales. Although many were light reading, it was a refreshing change to read about the good in others.
FTC Disclosure: Both books were provided to me from the publisher. No purchases are necessary.
Charlotte Tradescome envisions a new life in her husband’s ancestral home in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. This home on Cape Cod is miles away from their New York apartment living quarters in which her husband obesses on his work. She hopes for a new life for her small daughter, Fiona, in this history-rich home. Charlotte Tradescome, as well-wishing as she is, doesn’t realize the route their lives would take.
In order for them to stay financially secure, Charlotte and her husband Henry sell off a portion of their lot, Tradescome Point. Little did they know that the neighboring developers would put a halt to the locals way of life, oyster farming in building a sea wall and preventing locals from access and water rights.
Charlotte befriends an oyster farmer, Darryl Stead, a man with a deep, sensitive soul. In the most unlikely circumstances, Charlotte takes an interest in this man and the rights of the other oyster farmers who were affected by her neighbors. What Charlotte didn’t expect was falling in love with Darryl.
Charlotte must navigate her way through her feelings for Darryl while being married and faithful to Henry. Simultaneously, she is determined to help the town that was so affected by the sale of the lot.
The Review
This novel was a “sleeper” for me throughout many early chapters. The pace was as slow as the tide and I just couldn’t see where these characters were headed. Through perserverance, I opened up my mind’s eye and looked at Charlotte in a different way. I read on. It was shortly thereafter this that all of the character development in the story paid off, the plot twisted, and I became hooked.
Charlotte’s relationships with her family, Darryl, and the townspeople became very intriguing for me. I looked forward to the final chapters of this novel as well as its fine ending. If you are a fan of the character-driven novel, you will surely enjoy this story. Although its pace is on the slower side, as I mentioned, I discovered that I enjoyed this read quite a bit more than I had anticipated.
FTC Disclosure: This book was provided to me from the publisher. Clicking on the either the photo of the book cover or the link next to the purchase price stated above will bring you to my Amazon Affiliate page. No purchases are necessary.
“They are incredibly intuitive creatures. They learn by watching – trainers sometimes let young dogs watch experienced dogs in action so they see how to behave. The can detect odors 100 million times more faint than people can. They can hear sounds at a broader range of frequencies than humans, and they can hear them from four times as far away. People who train dogs for search and rescue contend that dogs can hear a heartbeat from a distance of 5 feet, which gives them insight into the mood and disposition of the people and animals they come in contact with.”
Did these incredibly intuitive creatures know what was coming their way? Did they know that they would be faced with their own kind, to fight to near or sure death? Did they realize that mankind, who they desperately seek to serve, was going to treat these gentle spirits as disposal, inconsequential lives? Did they have any sort of idea what their fate would be?
In many ways, The Lost Dogs shares an insightful, gripping narrative of a highly publicised story which shocked our nation. One of America’s emerging NFL heroes was caught at the center of a dog-fighting ring in which many dogs were brutally slain after losing dog matches. Because of Vick’s notoriety, the handling of the Vick Dogs was unprecedented. Rather than put these creatures down, as would have normally happened because of their breed and history, each dog was individually evaluated and placed. The placement could be a lifetime in a sanctuary or in the home with a family to love. Painstakingly, each one of these dogs was rehabilitated and their lives saved, if possible. There were a few dogs that could not be saved due to their medical condition, however.
Gorant’s book outlines all aspects of this amazing story, including the legal aspects of the case to the heartwarming tale of the dogs rescue. For animal lovers, I believe that this book overall tells a tale with a great message and many happy endings. However, be prepared to understand the ugliness and horror in this book, as well. Nothing is spared in this tell-all book. Some images will never leave my mind and perhaps that was Gorant’s intent.
As civilized human beings, it is our job to protect those who cannot protect themselves. As Gorant so prevalently states in his introduction to this book:
“Certainly, as man rose in the world, dogs came with us, perhaps even aiding the advance. They continued to guard us and help with hunting, but they did more. They marched with armies into war, they worked by our side, hauling, pulling, herding, retrieving. We manipulated their genetic makeup to suit our purposes, crossbreeding types to create animals that could kill the rats infesting our cities or search for those lost in the snow or in the woods. In return, we brought them into our homes, made them part of our families. We offered them love and companionship, and they returned the gesture. From the start it was a compact: You do this for us and we’ll do that for you.”
It is our job to prevent dog-fighting in the United States of America and punish those who fail to obey our laws concerning dog-fighting. It is our moral obligation to protect those who serve us. I hope that Gorant’s book will serve as a reminder to those who have quickly forgotten the extensiveness of Vick’s involvement in this crime. When I see him out there on the playing field, it literally makes my stomach churn. His sentencing, in my opinion, was too light in relation to the damage created to these creatures. Inasmuch, I hope that his “teammates,” co-workers, supervisors, and fans have the inkling and opportunity to read this book and learn exactly what he did and what it took to put things into place as they sit now. I can only hope that, in some small way, this case sets precedents for the future and saves the future lives of the innocent dogs of this breed.
It’s Your Opportunity to Win a Copy!
If you would like the opportunity to read the details of this landmark case, you have a chance to win a copy of this book. To enter, simply leave a comment and your email address below. The contest is open until October 31, 2010 and is open to U.S. and Canada residents only.
For 1 Additional Entry: SEND A FRIEND! Have them let me know you sent them.
On Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale:”
This was a difficult, yet enlightening book to read. I believe that animal lovers will be inspired and thankful for the way that a few Americans made such a big difference in the way this case was handled. For the genre Non-Fiction:Biography, I am going to rate this book an 8.5 OUT OF 10.
FTC Disclosure: This book was provided to me via TLC Book Tours for review. The review and giveaway copies are courtesy of the publisher/author. There are links within this post to my Amazon Affiliates page; no purchase is necessary.
“Shey Darcy, a 39-year-old former top model for Vogue and Sports Illustratedled a charmed life in New York City with a handsome photographer husband until the day he announced he’d fallen in love with someone else. Left to pick up the pieces of her once happy world, Shey decides to move back home to Texas with her three teenage sons. Life on the family ranch, however, brings with it a whole new host of dramas starting with differences of opinion with her staunch Southern Baptist mother, her rugged but overprotective brothers, and daily battles with her three sons who are also struggling to find themselves. Add to the mix Shey’s ex-crush, Dane Kelly, a national bullriding champ and she’s got her hands full. It doesn’t take long before Shey realizes that in order to reinvent herself, she must let go of an uncertain future and a broken past, to find happiness—and maybe love—in the present.“
For any of us with a country-girl’s heart (or dream), Jane Porter delivers a tale of a single mom’s fight to find a new life in her old surroundings on a Texas ranch. Shey, a friend to both Tiana (Easy on the Eyes) and Marta (Odd Mom Out), moves home to find not only her roots, but herself. Once a New York resident and nationally-recognized supermodel, this single mom learns to rely not only on herself, but also to find love and support in her family back home. Shey is reeling from the fact that her husband of 17 years has come “out of the closet” and has now chosen to spend his life with his partner Erik. She quickly realizes that she needs to discover a way to be that strong, yet loving parent to three boys who are also rebounding from the outcome of the divorce.
When Shey left home at the young age of 16 to a private school, she lost touch with her first love, Dane Kelly. Her family’s overprotectedness separated her from this rugged cowboy who is her brothers’ best friend and who also is 6 years her senior. Despite their age difference, she thought that their love was once true and was crushed to discover he married another. After she returns to town, Shey runs into Dane at a local cafe. Not knowing whether she truly loved him or hated him, Shey struggles with her feelings and memories of that first love. To add to the confusion and hurt, this rugged bull-rider catches the attention of Shey’s youngest boy who wants to learn to ride, himself. Shey faces the bitter lines drawn between her brothers and Dane over an old feud, one that would not easily be broken. Simultaneously, she finds herself more and more drawn to him every time they run into one another.
Shey learns to deal with the boys coming-of-age problems including fights, girls, and battling the emotions of “teenage-hood.” In fact, like her deceased brother, Shey discovers that one of her sons is suffering from depression and needs more help than she can handle on her own. Her ex-husband is pressuring her to return to New York, or let him raise the boys. What Shey needs to do is find her voice, her backbone, and her independent spirit. Shey’s challenge is to balance that while opening her heart back up to the only true love that she ever knew.
What Jane Porter crafts in this novel is a story of strength, redemption, and recreation of self. This novel is the perfect compliment to her other wonderful books. This is the sixth book by Jane Porter which I have read and reviewed. If you’re a fan of ChickLit, check out these reviews for other memorable reads by Jane Porter: Easy on The Eyes, The Frog Prince, Mrs. Perfect,Odd Mom Out and Flirting With Forty.
On Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale:”
Being a fan of Jane Porter, I was excited to hear about this new book. Unfortunately, I didn’t get around to reading it until this past week. I only wish that I had picked it up sooner because I needed an escape and reading this novel was just what the doctor ordered! Being a single mom, I found Shey to be a very relatable character (well, other than the fact that she’s a gorgeous model and I clearly am not!). The love story between Shey and Dane kept me intrigued and flipping those pages. For all of those women who still have hopes for a reunion with that first, unforgettable love, this romance novel is PERFECT! With Jane Porter, you can just never go wrong! For the genre Fiction:Women’s Fiction/ChickLit, I am going to rate this book a 9 OUT OF 10.
Win A Copy…
Simply leave a comment along with your email address for an entry to win. The lucky winner will be announced on October 31, 2010. Winners are limited to U.S. and Canada only.
(FTC Disclosure: The pulublisher of this novel provided me with my review copy. The give-a-way is hosted by ANovelMenagerie.com. There are links within the post that will re-direct readers to my Amazon.com Affiliates page. No purchases are necessary.)
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE for you to subscribe to A Novel Menagerie! This bar below will give you every option you need to subscribe. If you're a "straight-to-email" person, then just choose the email option!
Commit to spending five hours doing something that you love. No compromises or interruptions. Five hours of exploring self, finding peace, and replenishing.
