Category Archives: Sourcebooks Landmark

January 7, 2015 · 11:58 pm

Review: What Burns Away by Melissa Falcon Field

burns awayTitle: What Burns Away by Melissa Falcon Field
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Good wife, good mother. That’s all Claire Spruce is trying to be, but the never-ending snow in this new town and her workaholic husband are making her crazy. Even the sweet face of her toddler son can’t pull her out of the dark places in her head.

Feeling overwhelmed and alone, she reconnects with her long-lost high school boyfriend, Dean, who offers an intoxicating, reckless escape. But Dean’s reappearance is not a coincidence. He wants something from Claire-and she soon finds that the cost of repaying an old favor may lead to the destruction of her entire life.

What Burns Away is a story of loyalty, family, and the consequences of the past’s inevitable collision with our future.

The Review:

What Burns Away is an engrossing and somewhat suspenseful debut novel by Melissa Falcon Field. It is a very fascinating story about a stay at home mom whose life takes an unexpected turn after she reconnects with her first love on Facebook.

Claire Spruce is a middle aged wife and mother who finds herself increasingly unhappy following a move from her beloved home on the coast to Wisconsin. After struggling with infertility, she left a fulfilling job to care for her son Jonah full time, but she struggles to find meaning and fulfillment without a career. With her husband Miles working long hours and lacking any type of social support, her growing dissatisfaction is somewhat relieved when she accepts a friend request from Dean D’Alessio, her first boyfriend. This is just the first of many impulsive decisions that Claire makes and these ill-fated choices take her down an increasing dangerous path that could destroy everything she holds dear.

None of the characters in What Burns Away are particularly sympathetic. Miles is so completely focused on his career that he neglects both Claire and Jonah. He completely misses how miserable Claire is and even when they are together, he is distracted by his crushing workload. His motives for accepting the new job are well-intentioned, but that does nothing to alleviate Claire’s growing resentment for his neglect.

Claire is, quite frankly, a mess. It is obvious that she is depressed and she probably has been for quite some time. As the story progress and she reflects on memories from her childhood, it becomes clear that she has never gotten over her dysfunctional past. Of course Dean played a vital role during this tumultuous time and while reconnecting with him brings up painful memories, she also recalls the passion and strong emotions associated with young love. As her dissatisfaction with her life grows, Claire is quite flattered by Dean’s attention which makes her very easy to manipulate.

What Burns Away is a well-written novel and Melissa Falcon Field takes the story in a very unanticipated and somewhat shocking direction. Claire’s past and present collide in an absolutely stunning plot twist and the story races to a dramatic conclusion that is a little unsatisfying but incredibly realistic.

2 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Fiction, Melissa Falcon Field, Rated B, Review, Sourcebooks Landmark, What Burns Away

September 10, 2014 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Lightkeeper’s Wife by Sarah Anne Johnson

lightkeepers wifeTitle: The Lightkeeper’s Wife by Sarah Anne Johnson
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Historical, Fiction
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: C+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

When Hannah Rescues Billy From a Shipwreck, She Will Change Both Their Lives Forever.

Hannah Snow shouldn’t be in the water, saving shipwrecked sailors. Her husband would be furious—it’s his job to tend to the lighthouse at Dangerfield, to warn the ships off the rocks. Sailors know that the Dangerfield coastline is treacherous, but the waves constantly pull them down into the deep anyway.

But when the ship Cynthia Rose runs aground, John is away buying supplies, and Hannah rushes out into the storm. She can only fish one sailor out of the icy water—weatherworn, half-drunk Billy.

When Hannah gets word that John will not return home to her, she sinks into grief so deep that she feels she may never surface again. With Billy’s help, she continues to man the lighthouse, keeping the lamps blazing even during her darkest hours. But Billy is not all that he seems. And Hannah starts to doubt whether anything she knew about this strange man—or herself—is true.

The Review:

The Lightkeeper’s Wife by Sarah Anne Johnson is an intriguing historical novel that offers an illuminating perspective into women’s roles in the mid 1800s. Close attention to details provides the story with historical accuracy but it is the unusual but realistic storyline that makes it such an interesting read.

Hannah Snow’s husband John inexplicably vanishes during a routine trip for supplies leaving her to maintain the lighthouse and save the survivors from the shipwrecks. One of her first rescues is William “Billy” Pike and the two grow close as Billy recovers from the injuries sustained during the shipwreck. As weeks turn into months with no word of John’s whereabouts, Billy and Hannah keep the lighthouse beacon burning brightly, but it is their collaboration to streamline their rescue efforts that tightens the bond between them. But Billy is harboring some very dark secrets and when Hannah uncovers the truth about his identity, will she continue to offer him shelter?

Hannah is a very unusual woman for the time period and she is more than capable of pulling her weight around the lighthouse. While John is willing to indulge her up to a point, her need to rescue the shipwreck victims is often a point of contention between them. She is strong-willed, passionate and after John’s disappearance, she never gives in to despair. In fact, she refuses to leave the lighthouse and continues with all of her duties along with John’s. Hannah is confused by what she learns about Billy, and despite a few initial misgivings, the two continue working together to protect sailors from harm.

Billy is very enigmatic and at first, he gives up very little information about his past. His reminisces about Anne, a woman from his past, are rather confusing since there is little context for their relationship. However, the answers for many questions about Billy are revealed through these glimpses of his past and although it takes a while, everything eventually becomes clearer. Not 100% clear since some of the events occur abruptly with little explanation or warning and then the story quickly moves on.

By the time Billy arrives at the lighthouse, he is a much more sympathetic character, but it is difficult to forgive and in some cases, understand, some of his previous actions. He is instrumental in some much needed improvements for Hannah’s rescues but do his good deeds in the present outweigh the somewhat horrible aspects from his past?

The Lightkeeper’s Wife is a well-written but rather slow-paced novel. The mystery surrounding Billy drives much of the plot, but after the truth is revealed, the remainder of the story becomes a little repetitious. Sarah Anne Johnson raises some very interesting points about women’s roles during the time period and it is fascinating watching Hannah maintain her position at the lighthouse despite some rather strenuous opposition. Hannah’s decisions about her future are also quite interesting and the relationship between her and Billy is very unexpected. A stunning plot twist adds to the novel’s uniqueness and answers some, but not all, of Hannah’s questions about Billy. All in all, it is a nice read that fans of historical novels will enjoy.

1 Comment

Filed under Fiction, Historical, Rated C+, Review, Sarah Anne Johnson, Sourcebooks Landmark, The Lightkeeper's Wife

August 4, 2014 · 11:56 pm

Review: A Year After Henry by Cathie Pelletier

henryTitle: A Year After Henry by Cathie Pelletier
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction
Length: 272 pages
Book Rating: C

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

In her exquisite new novel, acclaimed author Cathie Pelletier presents a witty and refreshingly candid portrait of grief, intergenerational conflict, and the impact one person can have on those he loved.

Bixley, Maine. One year after Henry Munroe’s fatal heart attack at age forty-one, his doting parents, prudish wife, rebellious son, and wayward brother are still reeling. So is Evie Cooper, a bartender, self-proclaimed “spiritual portraitist,” and Henry’s former mistress. While his widow, Jeanie, struggles with the betrayal, Henry’s overbearing mother is making plans to hold a memorial service. As the date of the tribute draws closer and these worlds threaten to collide, the Munroes grapple with the frailty of their own lives and the knowledge that love is all that matters.

With her trademark wry wit and wisdom, Cathie Pelletier has crafted an elegant and surprisingly uplifiting portrait of the many strange and inspiring forms that grief can take in its journey toward healing.

The Review:

A Year After Henry by Cathie Pelletier is an interesting glimpse of Henry Munroe’s loved ones as the one year anniversary of his untimely death approaches. In the days leading up to the memorial service, everyone is still grieving his loss but perhaps their biggest struggle is reconciling the new paths their lives have taken since he passed away.

Henry’s widow, Jeanie, is saddened by her husband’s death but her biggest regret is not getting the chance to confront Henry about his last infidelity with bartender, Evie Cooper. In the year since his death, she has become obsessed with Evie and she spends a lot of her time stalking Evie while trying to work up the courage to confront her about the affair. While Jeanie is wallowing over past mistakes, her fifteen year old son Chad is trying to numb his pain with drugs and alcohol.

Larry Munroe always lived in the shadow of his outgoing, gregarious younger sibling and in the year following Henry’s death, his life is in upheaval. After losing his wife, son and job in a shocking divorce, Larry is now living back home with his parents in the same bedroom he and Henry shared as children. He is sinking into a depression that is more about the loss of his marriage and son than Henry’s death. Larry also has an unforeseen connection to Henry’s former mistress and this too plays a role in his growing despair.

In a sea of sadness, Evie Cooper is an unexpectedly refreshing breath of fresh air. As the “other woman” in Henry’s affair, she is not cast in the best light but there is surprising depth to her character. Evie uses her gift as a spiritual portraitist to help the grieving cope with their losses. As a bartender at the local watering hole, she offers a sympathetic ear when needed but she is also willing to step in and find a solution to a friend’s increasingly dangerous situation.

Of course at the heart of the story are the various memories of Henry. As each of the characters reflect on their respective pasts, a rather unflattering portrait of Henry emerges. Although people were drawn to him, he was rather self-centered and self-absorbed.  As the memorial approaches, everyone begins to gain new perspectives on his role in their lives and they begin to make peace with not only his loss, but his flaws and imperfections as well.

While the plot of A Year After Henry is unique, the novel is slow-paced and the overall flow is interrupted by meandering thought tangents and superfluous details. The characters are fascinating and it is enjoyable watching them emerge from their grief and take charge of their somewhat out of control lives. Cathie Pelletier ends the story on a hopeful note as all of the participants say their final goodbyes at Henry’s memorial service.

1 Comment

Filed under A Year After Henry, Cathie Pelletier, Contemporary, Fiction, Rated C, Review, Sourcebooks Landmark

June 30, 2014 · 11:55 pm

Review: Expecting by Ann Lewis Hamilton

expectingTitle: Expecting by Ann Lewis Hamilton
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A mom, a dad, a baby…and another dad.

Laurie and Alan are expecting, again. After two miscarriages, Laurie was afraid they’d never be able to have a child. Now she’s cautiously optimistic — the fertility treatment worked, and things seem to be different this time around. But she doesn’t yet know how different.

Jack can’t seem to catch a break — his parents are on his case about graduating from college, he’s somehow dating two girls at once, and he has to find a way to pay back the money he borrowed from his fraternity’s party fund. The only jobs he is qualified for barely pay enough to keep him in beer money, but an ad for the local sperm bank gives Jack an idea.

Laurie and Alan’s joy is shattered when their doctor reveals that Laurie was accidentally impregnated by sperm from a donor rather than her husband. Who is Donor 296. And how will their family change now that Donor 296 is inarguably part of it?

The Review:

Expecting by Ann Lewis Hamilton is an interesting novel about one couple’s struggle with infertility. After Laurie’s two pregnancies end in early miscarriages, she and her husband Alan undergo intrauterine insemination to improve their chances at pregnancy. They are thrilled when the procedure works but they are stunned to learn Laurie was impregnated with another man’s sperm.

Expecting is written in third person from the alternating perspectives of the three main characters: Laurie, Alan and Jack, the biological father of Laurie’s baby. Each of the shift changes are clearly marked so it is easy to keep up with which character is currently narrating the story.

Laurie and Alan have a solid marriage and while they are both devastated by the miscarriages, they do not give up on their dream of having a baby. Laurie is more open to adoption while Alan is a little more hesitant. So it really does not come as a huge surprise that Alan has a more difficult time with the news about the mix-up at the fertility clinic. Instead of discussing his doubts with Laurie, he becomes very introspective as he tries to come to terms with his uncertainties and eventually makes a decision that puts their marriage at risk.

Laurie is pragmatic about the news and while she is not happy that Alan is not the baby’s father, she never considers ending her pregnancy. She is compelled to learn as much as she can about the sperm donor, and when she inadvertently discovers his identity, she does not hesitate to contact him. Laurie tries to pressure Alan into meeting Jack and her continued involvement with Jack contributes to the growing distance between her and Alan.

In the beginning of Expecting, Jack is immature and rather directionless. A typical frat boy, he is more interested in drinking and getting laid than graduating from college. Once Laurie tracks him down, they quickly become friends and Jack’s life finally gets on track, but his role (if any) in the baby’s life remains uncertain.

While Expecting is a well-written character driven novel, some of the passages are rambling with the characters dreaming up ridiculous “what if” scenarios that really have no bearing on the unfolding story. The pacing is a bit slow and uneven but after the first quarter, it becomes a little faster paced.

Entertaining and engrossing, Ann Lewis Hamilton’s Expecting is refreshingly unique novel with strong character development and an unpredictable storyline that keeps readers guessing the story’s final outcome.

2 Comments

Filed under Ann Lewis Hamilton, Contemporary, Expecting, Fiction, Rated B, Review, Sourcebooks Landmark

June 4, 2014 · 11:58 pm

Review: Before I Wake by C.L. Taylor

wakeTitle: Before I Wake by C.L. Taylor
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

This secret is killing me.

It’s only one line from her fifteen-year-old daughter’s diary, but Susan knows it means everything. Charlotte is smart, popular, and beautiful. She is also in a coma following what looks like a desperate suicide attempt. What’s more, Susan has no idea what compelled her daughter to step out in front of a city bus.

Did she really know her daughter at all? In her hunt for the truth, Susan begins to mistrust everyone close to Charlotte, and she’s forced to look further, into the depths of her own past. The secrets hidden there may destroy them both.

The Review:

Before I Wake is an intriguing psychological thriller about a mother’s frantic search for answers about the reason for her fifteen year old daughter’s suicide attempt. This compelling novel is full of unexpected twists and turns and the skillful use of an unreliable narrator by C.L. Taylor adds another layer of mystery to the unfolding drama.

What would induce Susan “Sue” Jackson’s young, pretty and vibrant daughter Charlotte to deliberately walk in front of a bus? Haunted by this question and the certainty that fear is keeping Charlotte in a comatose state, Sue’s search for answers begins with Charlotte’s dairy. One line reverberates over and over in Sue’s mind and convinces her to continue digging for the truth. She uncovers a shocking web of lies and deceit that lead her to frightening suspicions about the people in Charlotte’s life. But as she delves into her daughter’s personal life, it soon becomes clear that the secrets from Sue’s haunting past may not be buried as deeply as she believed.

In the beginning, Sue seems like any ordinary middle-aged wife and mother. Her anxiety over Charlotte’s health is reasonable but allusions to a past “episode” coupled with her growing paranoia raise doubts about her mental state. Diary entries from a previous relationship years earlier provide valuable insight into a recent event in Sue’s life and they also explain her growing panic about mysterious packages and brief but terrifying of glimpses of someone from her past. Wild accusations and increasingly erratic behavior lead everyone to mistrust her assertions but Sue doggedly pursues the truth until she uncovers a horrifying and quite possibly, deadly plan.

Before I Wake is a clever and perplexing debut novel by C.L. Taylor. The characters are multi-faceted with all too human flaws and frailties. The intricately plotted storyline is incredibly complex and frighteningly realistic. A series of red herrings and misdirects coupled with the increasing doubts about Sue’s reliability effectively obscure the truth and the story culminates with a highly dramatic and adrenaline filled ending.

2 Comments

Filed under Before I Wake, CL Taylor, Contemporary, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Sourcebooks Landmark

April 2, 2014 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off by Carolyn Brown

chiliTitle: The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off by Carolyn Brown
Cadillac, Texas Series Book Two
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction, Romance
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

More Than the Chili’s Heating Up Cadillac, Texas

Carlene Lovelle, co-owner of Bless My Bloomers lingerie shop, found a pair of fancy red-silk panties in her husband’s briefcase, and all hell is breaking loose. She custom-made those fancy bloomers herself—and she remembers the bimbo who bought them. If her husband had a lick of sense, he’d known there are no secrets in a town like Cadillac.

Carlene’s cohorts—and their mamas—plan to exact revenge on Lenny Joe where it’ll hurt the most: break his ten-year winning streak at the prestigious Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off. Never before has a woman dared to compete. But the ladies of Bless My Bloomers are cooking up a storm…and it seems the whole town is taking sides in the showdown.

Welcome to Cadillac, Texas, where the chili is hot, the gossip is hotter, and friends stick by each other, no matter what the challenge.

The Review:

Carolyn Brown’s The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off is another delightful fun-filled adventure in her Cadillac, Texas series. In this outing, a pair of red panties sets the small town on its ear when Carlene Lovelle, her cousins and their mamas decide to exact their revenge on Carlene’s cheating soon-to-ex husband by claiming this year’s Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off trophy. Hilarity ensues, rumors are flying and sides are chosen, but through it all, family and friends provide Carlene with plenty of support as she picks up the pieces of her life.

Alma Grace and Patrice know something is wrong when they arrive at work before their cousin Carlene. Both are flabbergasted at Carlene’s news that her husband Lenny has been cheating on her for months and she is planning to divorce him. Patrice is staunchly loyal and offers encouragement but both are stunned (and annoyed) when Alma Grace tries to convince Carlene to give Lenny the benefit of the doubt and save her marriage. Of course the girls’ mamas, Gigi, Tansy and Sugar are on hand to lend moral support, but things really heat up when Carlene’s horrid mother-in-law stirs up trouble with Carlene’s Aunt Sugar. The women are soon immersed in their quest for the perfect chili recipe but there is plenty of time for romances to unexpectedly bloom for two of the cousins.

Alma Grace, Patrice and Carlene are as close as sisters but the three women are completely different from one another. Alma Grace is deeply religious and super involved in church activities. Using scripture to prove her point, she prays for Carlene to forgive Lenny and honor her wedding vows. Patrice is a fun-loving party girl who lives her life exactly like she wants and could care less about what people think of her. Carlene’s struggles with her body image are resurrected when she discovers Lenny’s infidelities and she is the most affected by the strife with her cousins.

The town is scandalized by the upcoming divorce and the rumor mill is working overtime with all of the shenanigans going on. Gossip spreads faster than wildfire and longtime feuds heat up as everyone takes sides in the upcoming chili cook off battle. Cheating husband Lenny’s fall from grace is long overdue and the final revenge for his misdeeds comes from a surprising source.

The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off is a lively and zany addition to the Cadillac, Texas series. The characters are vibrant and engaging, the story is endearingly off beat and full of down home folksy charm. A wonderfully heartwarming and highly entertaining novel that old and new fans of Carolyn Brown are going to love.

Although The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off is the second novel in the Cadillac, Texas series, it can be read as a standalone story. Read my review of the first installment HERE.

1 Comment

Filed under Cadillac TX Series, Carolyn Brown, Contemporary, Rated B, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks Landmark, The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off