Waiting on Wednesday 25

I am really looking forward to this one.  Jillian really encompasses the history of the roaring twenties and the racial and social differences that occurred during that time.

From Goodreads:

Parties, bad boys, speakeasies—life in Manhattan has become a woozy blur for Clara Knowles. If Marcus Eastman truly loved her, how could he have fallen for another girl so quickly? Their romance mustn't have been as magical as Clara thought. And if she has to be unhappy, she's going to drag everyone else down to the depths of despair right along with her.

Being a Barnard girl is the stuff of Lorraine Dyer's dreams. Finding out that Marcus is marrying a gold digger who may or may not be named Anastasia? A nightmare. The old Lorraine would have sat by and let the chips fall where they may, but she's grown up a lot these past few months. She can't bear to see Marcus lose a chance for true love. But will anyone listen to her?

Now that the charges against her have been dropped, Gloria Carmody is spending the last dizzying days of summer on Long Island, yachting on the sound and palling around with socialites at Forrest Hamilton's swanky villa. Beneath her smile, though, Gloria's keeping a secret. One that could have deadly consequences . . .

Most Romantic Books for Valentine's Day.

As today we celebrate love.  I thought it would be nice to make a list of my favorite romantic books.

1. Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen.  How can this not be number one.  It's perfect on the romance. Heavy on the social sarcasm, but it all works out in the end.  Well except for Lydia and Wickham.

2. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte. Reader, I loved it.  Jane's life is so hard and difficult as a small child that you just hope that she overcomes the hardship and find the one person who could love her for her.  She does, but it ends badly for all involved.  But Jane perseveres and she comes out on top.

3. Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Anne Bronte.  By far my favorite of all the Bronte sisters.  This book was written 150 years too soon. Gilbert Markham is the epitome of hero.

4. The Time Traveler's Wife, Audrey Nifnegger.  How can you not love this book.  The love between Henry and Claire is heartbreaking and yet, funny at the same time.  Claire has loved Henry forever.

5. If I Stay and Where She Went, Gayle Forman.  SIGH.  A heartbreaking tale of continue to live throughout adversity and realizing that the person who helped pull you through is still the one for you.  Mia and Adam is the perfect couple.  It only took them three years to realize that.

6. Trinity, Leon Uris. An unusual add, but this is a love story to Ireland.  This epic story will have you rooting for Conor and Ireland and hating the English and the Catholic Church.  Just a beautiful story set during Ireland's turbulent times.

7. Twilight Series, Stephenie Meyer.  Regardless of what you think the romance oozes off the page and people have been addicted to this book.  I can't explain what it is.  I don't think anyone can.  Edward and Bella are not perfect and their romance calls to question many issues like stalking.  For some reason, teenage girls find that sexy.  Go figure.

Couple of honorable mentions:

A Room With a View, EM Forster.  Italy brings out the lovers.
Persuasion, Jane Austen.  Refinding love at an older age.  Nothing better.

Do you agree with my list?  What are you most romantic books that you read?

The Best Book You're Not Reading (3)

This book that I'm picking is one that I focused a whole week in December on.  Am I getting through to you?  I loved this book so much and it hasn't found much love lately.  But I want you to love it.  Because it's fantastic!

Damien Locke is a fantastic character.  How can you not love a snarky, hormonal superherovillain? I cannot push this book enough.  Chelsea came on my blog and stated that she is writing a sequel and it will be self-published, but don't let that scare you.  She is a fantastic writer and I'm looking forward to reading her other books that are coming out soon.

I did some research on this book.  It is ranked #806,871.  There are only 24 reviews on Amazon.  14 of them are five stars.  Please give this book some love.  Buy it, borrow it.  Do anything to read this.  You'll be glad you did.

Waiting on Wednesday 24

With the sudden ending of Bumped, this is one book that I've been waiting patiently for.  I'm curious what happens to Melody and Harmony.  What about Ram and Jondoe.  What about vertically challenged Zen who really likes Melody?  I loved the language of Bumped and hope we get that in the sequel.  I find the whole plot to be so original.  Megan McCafferty is a fantastic author.

Thumped is released on April 24, 2012

The Best Book You're Not Reading (2)

 

In this second edition of The Best Book You're Not Reading, I give you Before After and Somebody in Between by Jeannine Garsee.

This is a little gem that was released in 2007 to very little fanfare by Bloomsbury USA.  It tells the story of Martha Kowalski who lives with a drug addicted mom, an abusive stepfather and family upstairs that are involved in gangs.  Martha is bullied at school.  When Martha is taken away from her mom and sent to live in a foster home, in the suburbs, with a family who have it all.  A nice house, money a mom and dad, but things aren't exactly as they seem in that house.  There is a secret that is will tear that family apart and leave Martha with absolutely nothing at all.

If you've read Sara Zarr's, Story of a Girl, you'll love this book even more.  Garsee creates rich characters that are so disturbed, you can't help but wonder if anyone can survive.  The old adage that the grass is greener on the other side is so false that Garsee tells you that it's bullshit and you have to make your own green grass.  There are no excuses with her characters, they are what they are and they have to fight to make the right choices.  Martha has a gift with the cello and that just may be her saving grace.

Jeannine Garsee works in her real life as psychiatric nurse in a downtown Cleveland hospital, so she sees it all.  She is great study of people with various mental illnesses and has her pulse on the life of the poor and downtrodden.

Amazon ranks Before, After or Somebody in Between at 1,301,468 in best selling ranking.  This is a fantastic read that is gritty, dirty and hopeful.