Review: Dream Lake

Rating: ★★★★☆

Author: Lisa Kleypas

Genre: Romance; Paranormal

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Publication Date:  August 7, 2012

Pages: 384

Format: E-book; Mass Market Paperback

Series: Friday Harbor #3

Content Rating: R

“A woman could do that to you - reach that place in your soul where the best and worst of you was kept. And once she was there, she owned that place and never left.”  ~ Lisa Kleypas, Dream Lake

Overview

Dream Lake takes readers once again to the exquisite setting of Friday Harbor, and tells the story of Zoe Hoffman, an innkeeper who has all but given up on love. She’s a gentle, romantic soul, but has been so hurt in the past that she dare not trust her heart with anyone. Especially not Alex Nolan. Alex is the most haunted of all the Nolan brothers. He drinks to keep his demons at bay and not only has he given up on love, he has never, ever believed in it. Zoe and Alex are oil and water, fire and ice, sunshine and shadow. But sometimes, it takes only a glimmer of light to chase away the dark. (St.Martins Griffin)

Review

The publisher of Dream Lake claims it " is classic Lisa Kleypas: romantic, powerful, emotional, and magical," and I would have to completely agree. Kleypas is my go to author for a moving and picturesque romance and Dream Lake held true to that legacy.

Throughout her Friday Harbor series, Kleypas has explored subtle paranormal elements and for the most part (Rainshadow Road book #2 in this series excluded) it has been completely plausible and fitting.  Dream Lake is her best so far in weaving in a bit of mystic.  Alex and Zoe's story blends beautifully with that of the "Ghost" that is connected to Alex.  I cannot tell you whose happily-ever-after I wanted more, the "Ghost"or Alex.  

What ranks Kleypas as one of my favorite authors are her heroes.  Women worldwide are dreaming of the angst-ridden and damaged Christian Grey from E.L. James blockbuster Fifty Shades of Grey, but for me Kleypas is the queen of the tortured hero.  Alex Nolan ranks right up there with some of Kleypas' best bad boys.  He is cold, haunted (literally and figuratively) and wrecked.  Those elements pull you in and have you longing for a monumental redemption for his own sake and for Zoe's as well.

The other element Kleypas does exceptionally well is creating heroines that perfectly complement her heroes.  Zoe Hoffman is no exception.  She is sweet, sensitive and almost too kind.  I couldn't help but to be won over by her (and her cooking.)  She is the opposite of Alex in almost every way and it was fascinating to see how they balance each other out so perfectly.

I have enjoyed the Friday Harbor series, but Dream Lake is by far the best of this series thus far.  It is original, moving and captivating.  Another plus for many is that it works well in the series but can also be read as a stand alone.  Most of the main plot points from the previous novels are rehashed in this story so it can work either way.  

The next novel in the Friday Harbor series, Crystal Cove, is Zoe's cousin Justine's story.  It is scheduled to be released February 2013.  Also, the first novel of this series, Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor, has been made into a coveted Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas movie set to air this December.  Read more about the movie here.

Review: On The Island

Rating: ★★★★★

Author: Tracy Garvis Graves

Genre: Adult Fiction; Contemporary Romance

Publisher: (Plume) Penguin

Publication Date: September 3, 2011

Pages: 281
Format: E-Book, Trade Fiction Paperback, Audio

Content Rating: R 

“I don't fit in your world."
"Neither do I," he said, his expression tender yet resolute. "So let's make our own. We've done it before.”  ~ Tracy Garvis Graves, On The Island

Overview

Anna Emerson is a thirty-year-old English teacher desperately in need of adventure. Worn down by the cold Chicago winters and a relationship that’s going nowhere, she jumps at the chance to spend the summer on a tropical island tutoring sixteen-year-old T.J.

T.J. Callahan has no desire to go anywhere. His cancer is in remission and he wants to get back to his normal life. But his parents are insisting he spend the summer in the Maldives catching up on all the school he missed last year.

Anna and T.J. board a private plane headed to the Callahan’s summer home, and as they fly over the Maldives’ twelve hundred islands, the unthinkable happens. Their plane crashes in shark-infested waters. They make it to shore, but soon discover that they’re stranded on an uninhabited island.

At first, their only thought is survival. But as the days turn to weeks, and then months, the castaways encounter plenty of other obstacles, including violent tropical storms, the many dangers lurking in the sea, and the possibility that T.J.’s cancer could return. As T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man. (Goodreads.com)

Review

So many people read the overview of this book and immediately throw up a red flag.  Don't be one of them! It would be a huge mistake to say the very least. 

I first came across On The Island last fall shortly after Graves self-published this her debut novel.  I watched as the ratings grew higher and higher on Goodreads.com and by Christmas I conceded my own red flag and paid the indie novel standard $2.99.  It turned out to be one of the best bargains I have ever stumbled across (of course now that Penguin has picked it up and it is available in paperback everywhere, the price has increased.  But it is still worth every penny of the now $7.99 price and still a bargain at that!)

I try hard not to reveal spoilers in my reviews, but I feel it is necessary to be upfront regarding what this novel is not. It is not a fantasy island story.  It is not a Mary Kay LeTourneau-inspired twisted romance.  It is not even a scandalous fiction novel really.

It is, however, a survival story spanning many different fronts.

At the start of the story you have a 30-year-old Anna making changes in her life and "surviving" the disappointments of life dreams not realized .  You also have an almost 17-year-old T.J. literally surviving lymphoma.  Then suddenly you have them struggling to physically and emotionally survive together on an island that is hard and unforgiving.  As the years pass and their relationship evolves, you eventually have a couple looking to survive the harsh judgements and misconceptions of a society that could never fully understand the bonds formed through the trials and tribulations they shared during their three year stint on the island.

Graves tells T.J. and Anna's story in alternating points of view and it really pushes the momentum of the story.  You get a full and complete picture of the fears, struggles, secrets and emotions that each character feels.  Their personalities complement each other in an engaging and natural way even before they move into a romantic relationship.

It is quite clear from the beginning that T.J is not your typical teenage boy. He is old beyond his years after his fight with cancer.  He and Anna are on equal ground maturity wise through most of the novel, which in my opinion is a testament to this author's ability to write an unconventional and "taboo" novel that has you completely sympathetic and won over.

I loved Anna almost as much as I loved T.J.  She is one of the most relatable heroines I have come across.  She is the perfect mix of strength and vulnerability.

In Anna and T.J., Graves wove a soul deep love that defies age differences and circumstances.

Update

Read this awesome blog post from Graves to see just how far her debut novel has come in one year's time!

Review: Callum & Harper

Rating: ★★★★☆

Author: Fisher Amelie

Genre: Romance; Mature Young Adult; Suspense

Publisher: Fisher Amelie

Publication Date:  December 24, 2011

Pages: 242

Series: Sleepless #1
Format: E-Book, Self-Publish Paperback

Content Rating: PG-13

“One day, you and I are gonna wake up and be alright. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow but one day. One day. I promise you.” ~Fisher Amelie, Callum & Harper

Overview

Homeless and alone after ageing out of the foster system, orphans Harper Bailey and Callum Tate cross paths in a New York City social services office one summer afternoon and two lives once lived in parallel collide. In each other they finally find the family, friendship and deep abiding love that has eluded them both as a matter of circumstance. But things aren't always so simple and Harper and Callum learn that once you have gained everything you could ever want you are at risk of losing everything that matters most.

Book Trailer 

Review 

I am such a sucker for a book with a built-in soundtrack! It helps even more when the music enhances the story so perfectly. Please Don't Go by Barcelona and Where is my Mind by The Pixies will always remind me of these two misfit star-crossed lovers.

That said, this novel really threw me for a loop. I had to sit on this one for a while because I loved it but couldn't exactly pinpoint why.

Harper and Callum are just so perfect for each other and their story is breathtaking, frustrating, sweet and funny all at once. From the moment they meet they are drawn to each other but they dance around their feelings for each other for far longer than most heroes and heroines in a typical romance novel. Unfortunately, they are plagued with the fear of having the one thing that means everything to them (each other) taken away or rejected as they have both grown accustom to through their trials in the foster system. So instead they choose to settle for playing it safe and harboring their true feelings for a good majority of the novel. But, since Amelie has written this story in alternating points of view, you get to experience both characters fear, growth and yearning in a powerful way.

My only real qualm was the continuous loop of suspense. Don't get me wrong, I love a good suspense but I felt that Amelie went slightly over on the number of "incidents" that were threatening to Harper and Callum. The story line was strong enough without all the suspenseful climaxes. Once you reach the resolution, however, it was awesome and to borrow Callum's words "My God was it worth the wait."

The real beauty in this novel is Amelie's talent in painting a picture with her words and fleshing out fascinating three-dimensional characters. I felt like I was navigating the streets of New York and learning to survive right along with Harper and Callum. Amelie took two people who should by most accounts be incredibly jaded and created a beautiful love story full of innocence, vulnerability and hope.

-30- 

Review: Slammed

Rating: ★★★★★
Author: Colleen Hoover

Genre: Romance; Mature Young Adult

Publisher: Colleen Hoover

Publication Date:  January 1,2012

Pages: 314
Series: Slammed #1
Format: E-Book, Trade Fiction Paperback, Audio
Content Rating: PG-13










“I got schooled this year
by
a
boy.
A boy that I'm seriously, deeply, madly, incredibly, and undeniably in love with.
And he taught me the most important thing of all-
To put the emphasis
On life .”   ~ Colleen Hoover, Slammed

Overview

Falling in love can feel like poetry. Or it can feel like a slam to the heart.

Colleen Hoover’s romantic, emotion-packed debut novel unforgettably captures all the magic and confusion of first love, as two young people forge an unlikely bond before discovering that fate has other plans for them.

Following the unexpected death of her father, eighteen-year-old Layken becomes the rock for both her mother and younger brother. She appears resilient and tenacious, but inside, she's losing hope. Then she meets her new neighbor Will, a handsome twenty-one-year-old whose mere presence leaves her flustered and whose passion for poetry slams thrills her.

Not long after a heart-stopping first date during which each recognizes something profound and familiar in the other, they are slammed to the core when a shocking discovery brings their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together and the forces that tear them apart. Only through the poetry they share are they able to speak the truth that is in their hearts and imagine a future where love is cause for celebration, not regret. (Goodreads.com)

Review

There is a reason this little indie gem has surpassed power house authors like Janet Evanovich, Nicolas Sparks and James Patterson on the New York Times Bestsellers for combined print and e-book fiction. A very good reason. It is quite simply that good and with a 4.44 out of 5 (with over 11,000 votes) on goodreads.com I am most definitely not the only one who has noticed.  

This book works on so many levels it is hard to stick it into one genre.  It is heart-wrenching, humorous, romantic and utterly moving.  As a mother it hit me right in the gut, as a lover of romantic fiction it got me straight in the heart and as a poetry fan it stirred my mind.  I just loved everything about it.

As the story begins, you are lulled into thinking that this novel will follow the same predictable mold of most young adult romance novels but as it unfolds you find that Slammed is really about so much more.  It is, at its core, about all the facets of life.  It is about all the beautiful moments, all the ugly moments and most importantly all the poignant moments that shape you.

Emotion is never lacking throughout the story, but it is the beautifully scripted relationships between all the characters that take Slammed to the next level. Lake and Will's relationship exhibits all the elements of the best angsty romance. It is forbidden, intense and captivating but it does not overshadow Lake's bonds with the other exceptional characters. Lake's relationships with her mother (Julia), her brother (Kel) and her best friend (Eddie) are just as key to the success of this story.

The other element that takes this book to another level is the moving poetry that tie all the pieces together. I couldn't even tell you which poem was my favorite because I loved them all. Hoover proves she is a talented poet as well as an exceptional author. 

Slammed is Hoover's debut novel and if she keeps climbing the bestsellers list at this pace she will be the next self-published author to be scooped up by mass market publishing.  

Point of Retreat, the sequel to Slammed, is out now and trailing not far behind Slammed on the New York Time Bestsellers list. 

UPDATE: Hoover announced on July 30, 2012 that she has signed with Artia (an imprint of Simon & Schuster.)  Look for Slammed and Point of Retreat on bookstore shelves everywhere this fall!