Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly book meme where we let everyone know what books we are eagerly anticipating the release of. 
Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine.


Book: Monstrous Beauty
By: Elizabeth Fama
Publication Date: August 21, 2012

Synopsis: Monstrous mermaids, ghosts, and a century-old curse feature in this beautifully crafted, compulsively readable thriller.


In 1872, mermaid Syrenka falls in love with a young naturalist. When she abandons her life underwater for a chance at happiness on land, she is unaware that this decision comes with horrific and deadly consequences.

One hundred thirty years later, seventeen-year-old Hester meets a mysterious stranger and feels drawn to him in a way she can’t explain or resist. For generations, love and death have been inextricably linked for the women in her family. Is it an undiagnosed genetic defect . . . or a curse? Hester’s investigation of her family’s strange, sad history leads her to the graveyard, the crypt, and the bottom of the ocean—but powerful forces will do anything to keep her from uncovering her connection to Syrenka and to the tragedy of so long ago.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

"Serpent's Kiss" By: Thea Harrison Review

"Serpent's Kiss" 
By: Thea Harrison

Synopsis from Amazon:
Recently, Vampire Queen Carling's power has become erratic, forcing her followers to flee. Wyr sentinel Rune is drawn to the ailing Queen and decides to help find a cure for the serpent's kiss-the vampyric disease that's killing her. With their desire for each other escalating they will have to rely on each other if they have any hope of surviving the serpent's kiss...

My Thoughts:
      “Serpent's Kiss” is another installment of the Wyr series, written by Thea Harrison. Beginning with “Dragon Bound,” and following with “Storm's Heart,” “Serpent's Kiss” is the story of Rune and the Vampire Queen, Carling. Both characters have appeared in previous books, so it was kind of rewarding to finally read their story.
      Rune is a sentinel for Dragos, the main character from the first Wyr book. In the second book, in an effort to save his friends' life, Rune makes an agreement with the Vampire Queen. The Vampire Queen agreed to help the friend and in return, Rune owed her one favor. As all good romances go, the favor brings these two characters together.
     Carling is a different kind of heroine. She is an ancient vampire and seems to be disappearing, with no explanation of why. She's pretty self contained, a really private person and it takes a lot for her to open up to Rune. Rune is naturally nervous of her motivations in wanting a favor from him.
     The book is frankly confusing. The first half of the book is explaining Carling's disease and what's happening to her, while the second half of the book has a lot of time travel and alternate reality stuff going on. The first two books were fast paced with romance, while this book seemed to drag and I didn't see the reason for these two to be together. They didn't even seem to like one another.
     If this wasn't part of the Wyr series, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. The romance wasn't that great and I was confused for a majority of the book. When I wasn't confused, I was flipping through the pages wondering how many were left. I'm glad I read the story to know Rune's story, but will definitely not be rereading this one.
Book Details
Publisher: Berkley
Date of Publication: October 4, 2011
# of Pages: 336

Sunday, February 26, 2012

It's Monday! What are you reading?



It's Monday! - What Are You Reading? is hosted weekly on Mondays
by Sheila from "One Person's Journey"

Post the books you read last week, books currently reading, and books you plan on finishing this week.


What I Read This Week...

"Sworn to Silence"
By: Linda Castillo

In the sleepy rural town of Painters Mill, Ohio, the Amish and English residents have lived side by side for two centuries. But sixteen years ago, a series of brutal murders shattered the peaceful farming community. In the aftermath of the violence, the town was left with a sense of fragility, a loss of innocence. Kate Burkholder, a young Amish girl, survived the terror of the Slaughterhouse Killer but came away from its brutality with the realization that she no longer belonged with the Amish.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Children's Book Saturday - "I Didn't Do It" By: Patricia MacLachlan

"I Didn't Do It"
By: Patricia MacLachlan and Emily Charest


Synopsis from Amazon:

What makes a puppy's day complete?Swimming and then shaking water all over you. Catching "presents" for you and then bringing them inside the house. Rolling in your nice wool sweater. Snuggling in your lap.In their second ode to canine companions, Patricia MacLachlan, Emily MacLachlan Charest, and Katy Schneider once again offer an irresistible glimpse into the mischievous canine mind. Captured here are adorable confessions and spirited accounts of the things that puppies do—and don't do—while in search of love, adventure, and treats from the table.
My Thoughts:
     I was running through the Children's room this week and this book caught my eye. As I'm sure everyone knows by now, I have a weenie dog named Daisy Jane...and the picture on the front of this book looks EXACTLY like her!
Yep...that's yogurt on her head. Yogurt!
Oh I'm just hanging out on the bed...I know I shouldn't be up here but it's cool cause I'm cute.
      This is a wonderful children's book. The illustrations are magical, you can tell from the cover they are gonna be cute. The poems though are simply ingenious. They are easy enough for a child to understand...while also being that right kind of magic to make an adult smile. Each page is a different poem about being a puppy. Slobbering, playing, chewing and food are just a few of the topics; really things all puppies are interested in. 
     My favorite quote is a small poem that occurs in the very middle of the book.
"I didn't do it. 
I didn't eat your food.
It was the cat
Who jumped up on the table and dragged your pork shop off.
I watched.
But it wasn't me."

    I also really love this poem:
"Every night you pat my head.
Every night I climb under your quilt 
And crawl
Down
Down
Down
By your warm feet.
And close my eyes.
And sleep.
Every night."

       A great companion book would be "Once I Ate a Pie" by the same authors. I read the book a few years ago and still remember how cute it was. Two great books by your favorite pet, the dog!

Book Details
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Date of Publication: October 5, 2010
# of Pages: 32
ISBN: 978-0061358333

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Follow Friday







FEATURE AND FOLLOW FRIDAY IS A BLOG HOP PUT TOGETHER BY TWO HOSTS:  PARAJUNKEE AND ALISON CAN READ AS A WAY TO HELP BLOGGERS BECOME AWARE OF OTHER BLOGS AND BLOGGERS. 

IT'S A GREAT WAY TO MAKE NEW BLOGGER FRIENDS.

Q: Take a picture of where you like to read the most!

Daisy Jane - Ready to sleep!
 I love to read....in bed
I read as soon as I wake up every morning AND every night before I go to bed.
Can you spot the book?
My bed is incredibly comfortable and it's so calming just to have my spot! 

So, where is YOUR favorite place to read?

"Bound in Sin" By: Cynthia Eden Review



"Bound in Sin"
By: Cynthia Eden

Synopsis from Amazon.com:
     Human Paige Sloan once loved werewolf Drake Wyler more than life, but then that life was taken away from her. Attacked by vampires, Paige was bitten, and, on a cold, dark night, the life she’d known ended. She was reborn as a vampire–a werewolf’s deadliest enemy.
      Paige ran from the vampires who attacked her, and she ran away from her lover. She didn’t want Drake to know what she’d become, and she didn’t want to face the fury of his pack. But a girl can only run for so long until the past catches up with her.
      When Paige learns that Drake is being targeted for death, she knows that she can’t hide in the shadows any longer. She has to return to him, and she will do anything–anything–in order to make sure that he keeps living. The vampires might have destroyed her chance to live and love Drake, but they won’t take him. Not over her undead body. She’ll slay them all…and maybe, just maybe…she’ll even have the chance to sin–one more time–with the werewolf who’d marked her as his mate.
My Thoughts:
     "Bound in Sin" is a novella written by paranormal romance super author Cynthia Eden. Always a sucker for a vampire or a werewolf romance, I grabbed this e-book up as soon as I saw it featured both a vampire AND a werewolf! Cynthia Eden self published this e-book and even offered it free during the holidays, so it was a win-win for me!
      Paige Sloan is a human turned vampire out hunting for her ex-boyfriend who just happens to be a werewolf. When she shows up at Alpha Drake's door, his entire pack is surprised to see this just turned vampire showing up at their door.They have a past, but beyond their past problems lie their entire change of species. Vampires and werewolves just don't mix, centuries of bad blood exist.
      Drake is shocked and then happy to find Paige has come to him. However, he knows Paige is hiding something which makes him suspicious. Paige is in fact hiding something...an uber powerful vampire is out to annihilate the werewolf pack. Through these trials Drake and Paige realize they still love one another and there is happiness in the world again.
      A fast romance in a novella format, "Bound in Sin" is a fun romp in a paranormal world. It's quick and interesting, while also ensuring your interest in the rest of the series and the other characters. Not a favorite, but fun, none the less. I would have loved to have seen a little more romance and a little less action...but I am definitely checking out the rest of the series. 

Book Details
Publisher: Cynthia Eden
Date of Publication: January 2, 2012
# of Pages: 71

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly book meme where we let everyone know what books we are eagerly anticipating the release of. 
Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine.





Breaking Beautiful
    By: Jennifer Shaw Wolf
    Available: April 24, 2012
Synopsis: Allie lost everything the night her boyfriend, Trip, died in a horrible car accident—including her memory of the event. As their small town mourns his death, Allie is afraid to remember because doing so means delving into what she’s kept hidden for so long: the horrible reality of their abusive relationship.


When the police reopen the investigation, it casts suspicion on Allie and her best friend, Blake, especially as their budding romance raises eyebrows around town. Allie knows she must tell the truth. Can she reach deep enough to remember that night so she can finally break free? Debut writer Jennifer Shaw Wolf takes readers on an emotional ride through the murky waters of love, shame, and, ultimately, forgiveness.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

"The Captain of All Pleasures" By: Kresley Cole Review

"The Captain of All Pleasures" 
By: Kresley Cole

Synopsis from Amazon.com:
Raised as a free spirit aboard her American sea captain father's majestic clipper ship, willful Nicole Lassiter has never encountered an obstacle she couldn't overcome -- until she meets Captain Derek Sutherland. His sizzling kisses leave her longing, but after they share a night of passion, his subsequent disdain makes her blood boil. Nicole vows to take her revenge -- by helping her father beat Sutherland in a high-stakes competition: the Great Circle Race from England to Australia.Nicole's scheme is thrown overboard after her father is wrongly imprisoned, yet she remains undaunted -- taking to the high seas with her father's ship. But a storm wrecks her plans, and she finds herself a virtual prisoner aboard Sutherland's vessel. And while her mind tells her she should escape, her body urges her to surrender...
My Thoughts:
     I’ve expressed my love for Kresley Cole numerous times, but today I’m going to talk about Cole’s pirate series…that came before the ever loveable Immortals After Dark series. I picked up Kresley’s very first novel, “Captain of All Pleasures” on a snowy afternoon in January. Sure you can tell it’s a debut, but it still shines like a star!
     Nicole has been raised in a boarding school away from her seafaring Father. When she reaches the age of maturity, she wishes to return to her family (the crew aboard her father’s ship) and sail around the world. Of course this isn’t the best course of action for any young lady of breeding and her father wants to forbid it. Cookie cutter pirate romance really, until you meet the hero.
      Captain Derek Sutherland HATES Nicole’s father. They have competed in speed races against one another for years, suspect the other of creating discord and cheating, and just have an all together dislike for one another. Of course Derek sees Nicole and is instantly smitten (yay!) but when he finds out who Nicole’s Father is, is immediately suspicious.
       Some important plot points occur and suddenly Nicole is thrust into the position of Captain aboard her Father’s ship. This is where the character’s true beings come to fruition. Both are strong and independent. Both are very intelligent individuals who inspire loyalty in their crews. There is a hidden evil out to destroy both of their shipping empires, but through their cunning and working together they are able to defeat it.
       The characters make the story, truly. Derek is so smarmy but the good kind that makes you want more. Nicole really comes into her own; at the beginning she seems to be young and immature but by the end you can really tell there has been a growth or a learning curve. Kresley Cole has a way with characters to make even the meanest, evilest, or most misunderstood people seem relatable or interesting. It’s truly a gift. A miraculous story teller, I would recommend “Captain of All Pleasures” to anyone who is a fan of Cole’s work or just enjoys a travelling romance.

Book Details
Publisher: Pocket Books
Date of Publication: July 1, 2003
# of Pages:  384
ISBN: 978-0743466493

Monday, February 20, 2012

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?




It's Monday! - What Are You Reading? is hosted weekly on Mondays
by Sheila from "One Person's Journey"



Post the books you read last week, books currently reading, and books you plan on finishing this week.




What I Read This Week...
"Mother of the Bride"
By: Lynn Michaels

In a family of jet-setters and lovable eccentrics, Cydney Parrish is the stable, sensible one, always with her feet firmly planted on the ground. Maybe that’s why she ended up raising her sister’s daughter Bebe. Now Bebe is all grown up and about to marry the nephew of the handsome and reclusive author Angus Munroe. Between planning the wedding, dealing with her high maintenance kin, and facing a future with only a cat for company, Cydney has her hands full. But she isn’t too busy to notice that aside from being pushy and generally infuriating, Gus Munroe may just be the man of her dreams.

Angus Munroe is not about to let his only nephew throw his future away on some ditzy debutante. He flies into town determined to “speak now and never hold his peace”–but ends up instead with a broken nose, a slight limp, and his mountainside home invaded by the bride-to-be’s family. He’s pretty certain it is all the wedding planner’s fault. Aunts aren’t supposed to be sexy, but someone obviously forgot to tell the irresistible Cydney Parrish. . . .


"My First Ladies"
By: Nancy Clarke
In this book Nancy Clarke reveals the touching, funny, and illuminating story of what it was like to serve under six administrations and to help each first lady find her own personal style when it came to planning flower designs, state dinners, and holiday festivities in the White House. Readers learn how Nancy gave comfort to Nancy Reagan when she discovered she had cancer and how she helped Laura Bush to gain the confidence to select bright, bold flower arrangements over the more conservative palettes she had used in her first years as first lady. See the deep bond that developed between Nancy Clarke and Barbara Bush and feel what it was like to be standing in a bunker right next to President Bush in the days following 9/11. Only Nancy Clarke can reveal the inside story of what it was like to work for more than 30 years in the White House she called her second home.



Selection by Jodi Thomas
"The Valentine Curse"



"Guilty Pleasures" 
By: Laura Lee Guhrke

For prim and shy Daphne Wade, the sweetest guilty pleasure of all is secretly watching her employer, Anthony Courtland, the Duke of Tremore, as he works the excavation site on his English estate. Anthony has hired Daphne to restore the priceless treasures he has been digging up, but it's hard for a woman to keep her mind on her work when her devastatingly handsome employer keeps taking his shirt off. He doesn't know she's alive, but who could blame her for falling in love with him anyway?
Anthony thinks that his capable employee knows all there is to know about antiquities, but when his sister decides to turn the plain young woman in gold-rimmed glasses into an enticing beauty, he declares the task to be impossible. Daphne is devastated when she overhears… and determined to prove him wrong. Now a vibrant and delectable Daphne has emerged from her shell, and the tables are turned. Will Anthony see that the woman of his dreams has been right there all along?
What I'm Reading Now...
"Sworn to Silence"
By: Linda Castillo


In the sleepy rural town of Painters Mill, Ohio, the Amish and English residents have lived side by side for two centuries. But sixteen years ago, a series of brutal murders shattered the peaceful farming community. In the aftermath of the violence, the town was left with a sense of fragility, a loss of innocence. Kate Burkholder, a young Amish girl, survived the terror of the Slaughterhouse Killer but came away from its brutality with the realization that she no longer belonged with the Amish.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Children's Book Saturday - "Mudkin"

"Mudkin"
By: Stephen Gammell

Synopsis from Amazon:
When a girl playing pretend in the mud looks into a puddle, she conjures up something fantastic and ends up a queen.

My Thoughts:
      I hate to say anything bad about a children's book, because 1) I'm not a child, so not the intended audience and 2) there is just sooo much work that goes into these books between the stories and the illustrations...BUT, this may be the weirdest little children's book I have ever read!
     There are perhaps only 30 words in the entire book, so much of the book is told through the illustrations. While eerily interesting, its hard to follow the flow of the story or understand much of what is going on. I think a little mud being comes out of the ground and makes the girl his queen...but I'm not real sure. I think mud people come out to serve the mud royalty, but again, I really didn't understand it. Not a book for me and definitely not a good read aloud to children.   
Illustration from Lerner Books - Copyrighted by Stephen Gammell


Thursday, February 16, 2012

Random Acts of Kindness Blog Hop



Welcome to the Random Acts of Kindness Blog Hop!

I am so excited to be a part of this blog hop. 

Welcome to my blog. 
If it's your 1st time, How the heck are ya?
If you are already a follower, I'm sooooo glad to see you again!


There will be TWO winners. 
The only mandatory entry is to be a follower - and you receive an extra entry if you comment on a book review. 
Let me know what you think!

What can you win?
"The Ritual Bath" 
By: Faye Kellerman

"Christmas Eve on Friday Harbor"
By: Lisa Kleypas



a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank you for stopping by...and Good Luck!


Check out the other blogs participating in this Blog Hop at
 http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com 
or Read for Your Future: http://readforyourfuture.blogspot.com/

"Can't Wait to Get to Heaven" By: Fannie Flagg Review

"Can't Wait to Get to Heaven" 
By: Fannie Flagg

Synopsis from Amazon.com:
Life is the strangest thing. One minute, Mrs. Elner Shimfissle is up in her tree, picking figs, and the next thing she knows, she is off on an adventure she never dreamed of, running into people she never in a million years expected to meet. Meanwhile, back home, Elner’s nervous, high-strung niece Norma faints and winds up in bed with a cold rag on her head; Elner’s neighbor Verbena rushes immediately to the Bible; her truck driver friend, Luther Griggs, runs his eighteen-wheeler into a ditch–and the entire town is thrown for a loop and left wondering, “What is life all about, anyway?” Except for Tot Whooten, who owns Tot’s Tell It Like It Is Beauty Shop. Her main concern is that the end of the world might come before she can collect her social security.
My Thoughts:

    I read my very first Fannie Flagg novel just this past Christmas when I read "A Redbird Christmas," and I think even then I was a fan. When I found out our February book club book was "Can't Wait to Get to Heaven" I was incredibly excited and I just knew I was going to enjoy it. We have about 12 ladies that come to this particular book group and all of them but ONE loved it. So I think that can tell you what kind of a book this truly was.
     Elner is our main character who in the very first pages of the book falls out of a tree and gets the town in an uproar. Initially believing Elner died at the hospital, the entire town is effected. The hairdresser immediately heads off to tell the neighbors what has happened, another neighbor goes through Elner's refrigerator, a friend finds a gun hidden in some clothes, someone heads out to kill the snails in Elner's garden, etc. Everyone has a different reaction and I think that's part of the charm of the story. What would you do in that situation? Would you sigh and say oh she had a good life, or would you get out there to her garden and kill every one of the snails that was threatening to take it over?
     The secondary characters are enticing but the story is truly about Elner and her effect on the world. While all of the silliness is going on back at home, Elner is lying in a hospital bed and has traveled to "heaven." Flagg's version of heaven is simple yet elegantly situated. It's our favorite place filled with our favorite people and tailored to fit us. No gold roads or angels in this heaven. Some of the ladies in my book group found this part to be a little over the top, but I enjoyed seeing this different view of heaven and understand why people may find it a bit disconcerting. 
     Elner eventually comes back from heaven, recovers from her fall, and resumes life in her sleepy Missouri town. Things return to normal and yet, people know Elner is a little changed. So, everyone takes a little something different from her near death experience and files it away for their own use. One woman moves to the beach, another man gets married...life is for the living! 
     Fannie Flagg does a wonderful job of writing people. Sure its over the top, but its sweet, genuine, and definitely fun. The powerful moments are found in the most minute things - a cat that won't die, the previously mentioned mass murder of snails, and baking some brownies with exlax for the kid who threw rocks at your animal. A wonderful book for anyone at any age, I really enjoyed this heartwarming story of heaven and everyone's journey to get there.

Book Details
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date of Publication: June 19, 2007
# of Pages: 375

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Waiting for Wednesday


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly book meme where we let everyone know what books we are eagerly anticipating the release of. 
Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine.


"Bear Meets Girl"
By: Shelly Laurenston


He's big, burly, and way smarter than your average shapeshifting bear. He's also about to get trapped by own his game. . .
Lou Crushek is a reasonable, mellow, easygoing kind of guy. But once someone starts killing the scumbags he works so hard to bust, that really gets under his fur. Especially when that someone is a curvy she-tiger with a skill set that's turning Crush's lone-bear world upside down--and bringing his passion out of hibernation. . .
As a member of an elite feline protection unit, Marcella Malone has no problem body-dropping anyone who hunts her kind. But Crush is proving one major pain in her gorgeous tail. The only reason she's joined forces with him is to track down the wealthy human who's got her entire species in his ruthless sights. It sure isn't because Crush's stubborn and contrary attitude is rubbing Cella in all the right ways. . .
Releases March 27, 2012

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

"Dreams of a Dark Warrior" By: Kresley Cole Review

"Dreams of a Dark Warrior" 
By: Kresley Cole

Synopsis from Amazon:
HE VOWED HE'D COME FOR HER . . .
Murdered before he could wed Regin the Radiant, warlord Aidan the Fierce seeks his beloved through eternity, reborn again and again into new identities, yet with no memory of his past lives.
SHE AWAITS HIS RETURN . . .   
When Regin encounters Declan Chase, a brutal Celtic soldier, she recognizes her proud warlord reincarnated. But Declan takes her captive, intending retribution against all immortals—unaware that he belongs to their world.
TO SATE A DESIRE MORE POWERFUL THAN DEATH . . .     
Yet every reincarnation comes with a price, for Aidan is doomed to die when he remembers his past. To save herself from Declan’s torments, will Regin rekindle memories of the passion they once shared—even if it means once again losing the only man she could ever love?
My Thoughts:

      “Dreams of a Dark Warrior” is the 9th book in the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole. An amazing series that I think any fan of romance should immediately run out and pick up, but that’s just my opinion. Insert huge happy face here!
       “Dreams of a Dark Warrior” featured Regin the Radiant, a glowing Valkyrie, featured since the beginning of the series.  I had been a bit hesitant to read this chapter in the IAD series because I hadn’t been a huge fan of Regin. She always seemed to boisterous, loud, and abrasive. However, when she had her own book and you see her in her own world, all of that begins to change.
      Over 1000 years ago, Regin descended from her Godlike home of Valhalla to be greeted by Aiden the Fierce, a Viking warrior. They fell in love and yet, as Aiden died he was cursed to reincarnate and return to REgin, only to perish once again. Regin goes through this process three different times and the final reincarnation is Declan Chase, a man bent on destroying any immortal or magical creature in existence. Upon first glance, Regin knows Declan is a reincarnation of Aidan, but Declan refuses it to be true.
      Regin is a wonderful heroine; strong, fiercely loyal and true to her nature. But let’s talk about Declan, whew! An amazing hero, he is emotionally troubled, doesn’t understand his feelings, does some pretty terrible things yet…you as the reader are rooting for him the entire way. Sure he wants to destroy Regin and her family, but that soon falls to the wayside as the book progresses. Of course there is a happy ending but the two go through one heck of a journey to get there.
      Regin and Declan are two romantic characters who go through war, famine, and destruction and come out on the other end stronger for it. The characters are witty and strong while the plot moves along at a fast pace. My only complaint is at 500+ pages in paperback, it can be a little awkward to hold. If you haven’t read this romance, run don’t walk and find it at a bookstore, your library, or even your friend’s house. You won’t regret it!


Book Details
Publisher: Pocket Books
Date of Publication: February 15, 2011
# of Pages: 528

Monday, February 13, 2012

"Irreplaceable" By: Stephen Lovely

"Irreplaceable" 
By: Stephen Lovely
Synopsis:
When 30-year-old archaeologist Alex Voormann’s bright, ambitious wife, Isabel, is killed in a bicycle accident, he is faced with a momentous decision. She had filled out a donor card, and the hospital staff are requesting his permission to take her heart for a woman who would die without a transplant. Even a full year after he signed off on the procedure, Alex is still conflicted about the decision, so when Janet Corcoran, the mother of two whose life Isabel saved, contacts him, he becomes angry. Her gratefulness reminds him all over again of his grievous loss, and he can’t help but feel resentful that her good fortune came at his expense; meanwhile, his mother-in-law has a totally different reaction, believing that her daughter’s generous spirit lives on in Janet.

My Thoughts:
     "Irreplaceable" is Stephen Lovely's first novel, so I was pretty excited to read this debut novel. It was a book chosen by my book group and I was intrigued by the concept. I didn't know much about organ donation and have never really read much about the topic. While ultimately I think the novel had promise, the characters were weak and I was never able to get into the novel completely.
     Alex's wife, Isabel, is killed within the first chapter of the book. The novel really revolves around her death and how it affects the the world. If we were going to categorize a main character, it would probably be Alex. He is dealing with the death of his wife and feels somewhat  responsible for her heart even after her death. In the middle of this husband drama, we have Isabel’s Mother, the heart recipient Janet and the man actually responsible for Isabel’s death, Jasper.
      I think the first thing that jumped out of my mind after reading this book was, I just don’t care about the characters. Sure they’ve had this horrible thing happen to them and it was horrendous, yet they seemed so whiny to me. I understand this terrible thing happened and it will take time to get through the problems, but I felt the conveyance of grief through the characters was a bit misrepresented.
       This book had a pretty interesting set up but just didn’t deliver for me. A few of the people who are in my book group have pretty similar feelings so I doubt  I would recommend this book to anyone. It had promise but just didn’t deliver, at least for me.
Book Details
Publisher: Voice
Date of Publication: February 3, 2009
# of Pages: 352
ISBN: 1401322824