Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult

Delia Hopkins works search and rescue with her dog, Greta. She is engaged and has a young child. Her father is a widower who raised her alone. Her fiancé is a recovering alcoholic and her best friend (and fiancé) have been in her life since childhood. Life seems idyllic but that's about to change.

A knock on the door turns her life upside down, secrets unravel and life for Delia Hopkins is forever changed along with the lives of those she treasures most.

The first time I read this book, many, many years ago, I was neither impressed or unimpressed. It was just another read this time around I found myself much more emotionally vested. Delia captures the relationship between a daughter and father perfectly (or my version of it at least). I had compassion and understood both sides of the stories this time around when previously I took sides and formed opinions quickly.

I did feel that the ending broke down some characters personalities and their reaction would not have been what was written. I felt that Picoult did not stay true to all her characters which was slightly disappointing.

The Nearness of You by Amanda Eyre Ward

The Nearness of  You by Amanda Eyre Ward

Will be released, February 21, 2017

 

 

 

Suzette and Hyland Kendall have been childless for 15 years. Suzette's childhood was less than stellar and she has no desire to pass on the genetics that were responsible for her mother's mental illness that  eventually landed her in a mental institution. Suzette agrees to using a surrogate to carry a child with Hyland's genes. It's a whirlwind of emotions and choices but the finally find the "right" candidate.

 

 

Dorrie is young and goes into the surrogacy naively but the tides change and she realizes she can't give up the child. She disappears without a trace, leaving Suzette and Hyland heartbroken and searching for their child until a seemingly ordinary day, when a knock on the door changes their lives once again.

 

This book is full of emotions and the characters narrate their own stories. They each have their own voice and their passages are easy to follow. I related to Suzette on so many levels but I suspect many will hate her or not understand her because they can't possible understand or get past her not want children.  I found myself engrossed in this novel and left wanting more.

 

Be warned that the start of the book is the "end" of the book and many readers my not like the ending but I LOVED it. I can say this is her best book to date and I just might pick up some of her other books that I have yet to read.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

 

 

 

My Not So Perfect was recently released and Sophie Kinsella once again wrote a book that kept me turning the pages and loving the characters! The female characters are strong, intelligent and hilarious.

Katie Brenner is living in London and projecting a life of glamour in her social media but things aren't exactly what they seem. Katie isn't quite living her dream and her job isn't exactly what she's striving for. Her flatmates are odd at best and office politics just aren't her thing.

Life picks up, she meets a potential romantic partner and then.... she is fired. Katie is struggling to put the pieces of her life together but isn't getting any job offers. She begrudgingly returned to her family farm to help her father and step-mother get their new endeavor off the ground.

Unexpected guests arrive at her families new business and the truth begins to unravel.

Expect to laugh out loud and be charmed by this little book! This has become my favorite Kinsella book, yet! Pick up your copy today.

Lisey's Story by Stephen King

Stephen King wrote this book after a brush with death (being hit by a Van) and while recovering from pneumonia. It is a story about living, grieving and the women behind the man.

Lisey's story is about a widower named Lisey. Her husband Scott Landon was a famous author who has passed away. Lisey is left alone, childless and grieving. Her story is told in current day and flash back memories.

Lisey is finally forcing herself to revisit memories, many of them via stories Scott shared with her from his frightening childhood. They haunt her and then Zack McCool enters the picture and the horror notch is turned up.

There is a lot going on in this story. It starts off slow, then speeds up rapidly. I would say this is the closest thing to a love story with a generous heap of horror you will get from King.

Overall an enjoyable, entertaining read.

By The Numbers by Jen Lancaster

By The Numbers is not my favorite Jen Lancaster book. It isn't up to par with her usual work but that doesn't mean I hated it, I just felt "meh" about the whole book.

This story is about a woman named Penny Sinclair who's life is a bit chaotic and her grown child are more than a handful.

Penny puts her home on the market and and then her parents and children needs a place to stay. Penny is pulled in several directions and the peaceful life she imagined seems further away the ever.

A lot of other stuff happens, nothing terribly interesting and then the book ties up a bit to neatly.

There is something really off with this book -- I just can't put my finger on it but if you can please share it with me.