The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood

Genre:  Fiction, Contemporary, Romance

Published:  2004, 277 pp. by Picador USA
Source:  Personal library
Review:  3/5 stars

Brief Summary:  It's hard to give a good brief description of this book without giving away too much.  If you've seen the movie previews you know that Charlie St. Cloud can see and talk to is younger brother who is dead.  I think I'll leave it at that to avoid any spoilers.

My Thoughts:  We read this for my neighborhood book club.  I liked the premise and the ideas the author, Ben Sherwood, put forth about what happens after we die.  I really liked the relationship between Charlie and his brother, Sam.  Their conversations were fun and witty and I enjoyed all the parts when they are together.  I thought the romance part of the book wasn't as well developed but I still enjoyed it.

Recommendations:  I liked this book and it kept me interested but I can't say I would recommend it to many people.  There is a sex scene that isn't really graphic but is still descriptive enough that it made me a little uncomfortable. Not for teens.

Rating:  3.1.3  Unmarried, descriptive sexual relations and moderate profanity.


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Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

Genre: Romance, YA

Published:  Mar. 2012 by Shadow Mountain,  240 pp.
Source:  ARC from publisher
Review:  4.5/5 stars

Brief Summary: (From goodreads.com) Marianne Daventry will do anything to escape the boredom of Bath and the amorous attentions of an unwanted suitor. So when an invitation arrives from her twin sister, Cecily, to join her at a sprawling country estate, she jumps at the chance. Thinking she’ll be able to relax and enjoy her beloved English countryside while her sister snags the handsome heir of Edenbrooke, Marianne finds that even the best laid plans can go awry.


My Thoughts:  I have to admit that I read more than my share of romances as a teenager. Some were more than questionable in content and I'm ashamed that I ever read them. In search of cleaner fare, I discovered that there was this sub-genre of romance novels called Regency.  The stories were set in Regency England (early 19th century) and were inspired by Jane Austen's works dealing with the noble and rich, the genteel but poor, gentleman and ladies, rakes and spinsters, the season, the ton, Almack's, London and Bath, manners and propriety.  I loved Regency romances because they were usually clean, romantic, and I loved the world they transported me to.

I don't read Regencies much anymore with the exception of the Georgette Heyer novels I've discovered in the last few years so when I got the chance to review Edenbrooke, I jumped on it.  I loved it.  There are a few silly or cheesy parts and it's fairly predictable but overall I still enjoyed every minute of reading it.  The heroine is smart, witty, and completely unaware of her charms.  The hero is very swoon worthy (one of my favorite leading men I've encountered in recent months.)  My 12 year old daughter loved it too so maybe there's still hope that I can eventually introduce her to Jane Austen.  (Right now she rolls her eyes when I mention Pride and Prejudice.)

Recommendations:  I recommend this to anyone looking for a sweet, clean romance.  Don't expect great literature, but you can expect to be entertained.     


Ratings:  2.2.1  As the subtitle says, this is a "proper romance."  There is one part where a woman is threatened in a way that suggests a sexual assault but it's not explicit.


Thanks for reading!

More ways to enter the giveaway

Here is a list of all the blogs participating in Cami Checkett's giveaway.  For better odds of winning go to the following blogs and enter there as well.

Caution: Redhead Running

The Book Bug

I Have Run

Secrets of a Running Mom

Janet Jensen

Cheryls Book Nook

Rachelle Writes

If I Can't Convince You I'll At least Confuse You

Just Trying is for Little Girls

Amber Argyle

Socrates Book Reviews

Diony George

Miss Mae

Lo Johnston Writing

Book Journey

The Balanced Writer

Pams Wild Rose Blog

Tristi Pinkston, LDS Author

Fitness for Mom

Jill Will Run

Good Clean Reads

Jen's Blog of Random Thoughts

Happy, Healthy, Successful

Rachel Ann Nunes

Mom and More

Reading with Monie

Sarah's Blog of Fun

A Book Lover Forever

Always Training Trio

Charity's Writing Journey

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Raketer Mama

Hungry Runner Girl

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A Journey in the Shoes of a Foodie, Athlete & Wife

Sexy Mom's Running Club

Tall Mom on the Run

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Win one of these amazing prizes simply by following this blog or liking my Facebook page and leaving a comment below. Please visit each of our sponsors’ websites to learn more about their products and decide which one you’d like to win. While you’re at their site, like their page or follow their blog to show our gratitude for their donation to this fun blogfest. You can enter on as many different blogs as you like, a list of the participating blogs is featured at the end of this post.

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Thanks for reading!

I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler

Genre:  YA, realistic fiction
Published:  May 2011, 285 pp. (Sourcebooks Fire)
Source:  Review copy from publisher
Review:  4/5 stars

Brief Summary:  (From goodreads.com) Tess is the exact opposite of her beautiful, athletic sister. And that’s okay. Kristina is the sporty one, Tess is the smart one, and they each have their place. Until Kristina is diagnosed with cancer. Suddenly Tess is the center of the popular crowd, everyone eager for updates. There are senior boys flirting with her. Yet the smiles of her picture-perfect family are cracking and her sister could be dying. Now Tess has to fill a new role: the strong one. Because if she doesn’t hold it together, who will?


My Thoughts:  I liked this book.  If you remember, I thought Janet Gurtler's other book, If I Tell, was only so-so.  I enjoyed this one much more.  I've read other blogs comparing Gurtler to Sarah Dessen and I agree.

What I liked about this book was the transformation of the relationships in this family as they deal with the fear and devastation of cancer.  I didn't like some of the plot.  There were just so many issues and so much going on.  It felt a little contrived at times but I still enjoyed the book.

Recommendations:  I would recommend this to anyone who likes realistic fiction a la Sarah Dessen.

Ratings: 2.1.2  Includes teenagers having sex but not described, moderate profanity including vain references to Deity.


Thanks for reading!

Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman

Genre: Historical Fiction
Published: Jan. 2002 by Berkley Trade (First published 1947), 320 pp.
Source: Library
Review: 5/5 stars

Brief Summary: (From Goodreads.com) A moving love story set in the Canadian wilderness, Mrs. Mike is a classic tale that has enchanted millions of readers worldwide. It brings the fierce, stunning landscape of the Great North to life-and tenderly evokes the love that blossoms between Sergeant Mike Flannigan and beautiful young Katherine Mary O'Fallon.


My Thoughts: The reason I posted a review of These Is My Words recently was because I wanted to be able to compare it to Mrs. Mike.  I loved this book.  I read it several years ago when I was pregnant with my first child.  I really liked it then but my taste in books has changed a little over the last few years so I wasn't sure if I would like it as much this time around.  It was just as good, if not better.  To me, Mrs. Mike and These Is My Words are very similar in the following ways:

• Both are told by a young female protagonist in first person
• Similar historic time period (one set in late 1800's, the other in early 1900's)
• Both protagonists absolutely adore their husbands
• Each of them endure severe trials
• Both married peace-keeping military men

Even though they are similar I much prefer Mrs. Mike.  She seemed so much more real to me than Sarah Prine did.  Maybe that's just because Katherine Flannigan was a real person but many fictional characters can seem very real.  Katherine had flaws and I enjoyed watching her overcome them.  Sarah was always just too perfect and too strong for every occasion.  I also preferred Katherine and Sergeant Mike's relationship over Sarah and Captain Elliot's relationship.

Mrs. Mike made me laugh out loud but also made me cry.  That's a great combination in my book.

Recommendations:  I would recommend this book to all those who loved, or didn't love, These Is My Words.  If you haven't read that book but you like a sweet romance and a historical book that will make you laugh and cry, then this is a great book for you.  The best part, it's a clean read.


Ratings:  1.3.2  There is a some violence dealing with the dangers of frontier life, and there's also some profanity but fairly mild if I remember right.


Thanks for reading!

These Is My Words by Nancy E Turner

Genre: Historical Fiction
Published: 1999 by ReganBooks,  384 pp.
Source: Library
Reason:  Book club
Review:  3/5 stars

Brief Summary:  Journal entries of Sarah Agnes Prine, a pioneer woman living the Arizona Territory from 1881-1901.

My Thoughts:  I had heard so many people just rave about this book so I was expecting to love it.  Unfortunately, I didn't love it.  It may have been that I read it at the wrong time.  I wasn't in the right state of mind for this particular novel.  I felt that Sarah and her Captain were just too perfect.  Lots of bad things happen to them and they sometimes get mad at each other but they always react perfectly.  Sarah, especially, seems to always do everything right.  I like a good, strong heroine but she was just too much so for me.  I think I read it at a time when I wasn't feeling particularly good about myself or my marriage (as that happens from time to time) and they just annoyed me.  Their relationship wasn't real to me--as real as a fictional relationship can be, I suppose.

Anyway, I know this is a much beloved book so I hope my bad attitude isn't offensive to anyone.  The book was interesting and I wasn't about to put it down.  I must say that I almost put it down at the very beginning because the grammar and spelling were terrible as this is supposed to be the journal of a young woman without much education.  Fortunately, she quickly learns and the "mistakes" are much fewer in number.

Recommendations:  I would recommend this book to most adults but there are a couple of parts that are a bit disturbing.  I have heard of some very selective readers being offended by these parts but most women I know who have read this book really liked it, despite these parts.  Many young adults may also enjoy this book.

See left side-bar for explanation

Ratings: 3.3.2  The 3's are because of the occurrences of rape and attempted rape.  There is some minor profanity as well.


Thanks for reading!