Review + Giveaway - Reign of Madness by Lynn Cullen

TITLE:    Reign of Madness

AUTHOR:    Lynn Cullen
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 421 pages
PUBLISHED:   Putnam, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review and Blog Tour

From the author of The Creation of Eve comes a tale of love and madness, royal intrigue and marital betrayal, set during the Golden Age of Spain.

FROM GOODREADS:  

Juana of Castile, third child of the Spanish monarchs Isabel and Fernando, grows up with no hope of inheriting her parents' crowns, but as a princess knows her duty: to further her family's ambitions through marriage. Yet stories of courtly love, and of her parents' own legendary romance, surround her. When she weds the Duke of Burgundy, a young man so beautiful that he is known as Philippe the Handsome, she dares to hope that she might have both love and crowns. He is caring, charming, and attracted to her-seemingly a perfect husband.

But what begins like a fairy tale ends quite differently.

When Queen Isabel dies, the crowns of Spain unexpectedly pass down to Juana, leaving her husband and her father hungering for the throne. Rumors fly that the young Queen has gone mad, driven insane by possessiveness. Who is to be believed? The King, beloved by his subjects? Or the Queen, unseen and unknown by her people?

One of the greatest cautionary tales in Spanish history comes to life as Lynn Cullen explores the controversial reign of Juana of Castile-also known as Juana the Mad. Sweeping, page-turning, and wholly entertaining, Reign of Madness is historical fiction at its richly satisfying best.

MY TAKE:   The history of Spain and its royalty was mostly unknown to me until reading this book.  I had heard of Isabella and Ferdinand of course, but not many details.  While Reign of Madness went a long way to change that, it was also an enjoyable read. 

Lynn Cullen has focused on a point in history that is still surrounded by more questions than answers, almost 500 years later.  It continues to be a mystery what really happened to Juana during those four and half decades of imprisonment.  I enjoyed the author's vision of what the Spanish Queen may have gone through. 

One of the things I learned from this story was that Isabella had actually been the power in Spain, not Ferdinand.  The glimpse into their personal life was very interesting.  It is a real shame that poor Juana didn't get to benefit from her mother's strength and teachings.  If she had, a completely different history may have unfolded. 

The story moved along at a brisk pace and I was kept turning the pages, wanting to know more. I recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and those who want to read a really good story.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

Visit author Lynn Cullen at her website: lynncullen.com or at Facebook

Thanks to the generosity of the author and Lisa of TLC Book Tours, we have a copy of Reign of Madness for one lucky reader!

• US/Canada residents only
• No PO Boxes
• Must be 13 years old or more
• Leave a comment telling me if you're familiar with Juana the Mad, be sure to leave your email address
• Drawing ends 8/29/11, midnight PST
• Winner will have 72 hours to respond to notification

 
~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - My Year With Eleanor by Noelle Hancock

TITLE:     My Year With Eleanor
AUTHOR:    Noelle Hancock
INFO:    Hardcover, Memoir, 290 pages
PUBLISHED:   Harper Collins, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review and Book Tour

  

FROM GOODREADS:  After losing her high-octane job as an entertainment blogger, Noelle Hancock was lost. About to turn twenty-nine, she'd spent her career writing about celebrities' lives and had forgotten how to live her own. Unemployed and full of self-doubt, she had no idea what she wanted out of life. She feared change—in fact, she feared almost everything. Once confident and ambitious, she had become crippled by anxiety, lacking the courage required even to attend a dinner party—until inspiration struck one day in the form of a quote on a chalkboard in a coffee shop:

"Do one thing every day that scares you."

—Eleanor Roosevelt

Painfully timid as a child, Eleanor Roosevelt dedicated herself to facing her fears, a commitment that shaped the rest of her life. With Eleanor as her guide, Noelle spends the months leading up to her thirtieth birthday pursuing a "Year of Fear." From shark diving to fighter pilot lessons, from tap dancing and stand-up comedy to confronting old boyfriends, her hilarious and harrowing adventures teach her about who she is, and what she can become—lessons she makes vital for all of us.

MY TAKE:    This was a tough book for me to rate and review.  It was one that I enjoyed greatly at times and then became mildly irritated with at certain points.  

I agreed to be on the tour because the "memoir" was promoted as being akin to Julie Powell's "Julie and Julia" which I adored.  The fact that I have always admired the amazing and inspirational Eleanor Roosevelt really sealed my decision to read this book. 

My Year With Eleanor does have that certain something that made Julie Powell's story so engrossing.  Noelle Hancock writes with a light touch that makes you keep turning the pages; even if only to find out what absurd or mind-blowing thing she comes up with to try next. I don't know that this year long escapade was quite what Mrs. Roosevelt had in mind, but we should all take inspiration where we find it.  The author did a nice job of keeping Eleanor in the limelight alongside her.  I found that I learned many things about the great lady that I didn't know. 

There were several laugh out loud moments during the story which is always a plus for me.  This is not to say there aren't some serious issues also being touched upon as she is trying to get her footing on a path that isn't clearly defined in places.  Her visits and dialogue with her psychiatrist were thought-provoking and funny at times.  I liked that her close friends played a large role in her adventures and that she didn't come across as the solo, sword-wielding Amazon who could conquer everything in her path by herself. 

The age difference between myself and the author as well as the places we are in our lives may be a factor in some of the irritation that I mentioned above.  I can't quite relate with the need to "find oneself" at almost thirty years of age.  In my circle that task had mostly been accomplished seven to ten years prior and we were working on polishing what we'd become.  The notion of spending a year running around doing impractical and improbable things still doesn't fly with me or sit well, especially when I consider the financial aspect. 

That being said, the book was enjoyable for me as a light women's fiction type read even though it is marketed as a memoir.  I think readers of a closer age or with similar life experiences as the writer will be really able to relate to the tale. I also encourage those who are interested to read the actual books from Eleanor Roosevelt herself.  Noelle's book has reminded me how great a lady she was and how much she had to offer us.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

Noelle Hancock

 
~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

A Lookie and A Quickie (Giveaway)

So first of all:  The Lookie...as in LOOKIE where Bec and I are right now...
 

Yup, that's right!  We are at RomCon in Denver, Colorado..whoo hooo!!  We are having a blast.  It has been exciting meeting many of the romance authors whose books I've enjoyed before coming here.  One of those authors is the lovely Julia London.  She's a neat lady who is quite funny.  We're also out getting the scoop on many new-to-us authors and their books.  One of the best things is the interaction between all of the romance lovers here ~ readers and authors alike.  There have been quite a few ladies that we are really enjoying hanging out with and getting to know.  I will have an in-depth account of authors, books and happenings when we get back next week.  I'll also have some goodies to share....

Now we'll talk about a quickie...  Giveaway that is..  dirty minded people..  See what happens when we twist our words?  You need help with your language, so how about..



What Language Is by John McWhorter 

courtesy of TLC Book Tours

Just leave a comment with your email on this post and tell me what language(s) you speak and/or write.  Drawing is open to US or Canada residents 13 years of age or older.  Drawing will close at midnight PST Friday, August 12, 2011.  Good luck!

  
~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - What Language Is by John McWhorter

TITLE:    What Language Is
AUTHOR:    John McWhorter
INFO:    Hardcover, Non-Fiction, 228 pages
PUBLISHED:   Gotham Books, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review and Blog Tour

 
FROM GOODREADS:  New York Times bestselling author and renowned linguist, John McWhorter, explores the complicated and fascinating world of languages. From Standard English to Black English; obscure tongues only spoken by a few thousand people in the world to the big ones like Mandarin - What Language Is celebrates the history and curiosities of languages around the world and smashes our assumptions about "correct" grammar.

An eye-opening tour for all language lovers, What Language Is offers a fascinating new perspective on the way humans communicate. From vanishing languages spoken by a few hundred people to major tongues like Chinese, with copious revelations about the hodgepodge nature of English, John McWhorter shows readers how to see and hear languages as a linguist does. Packed with Big Ideas about language alongside wonderful trivia, What Language Is explains how languages across the globe (the Queen's English and Surinam creoles alike) originate, evolve, multiply, and divide. Raising provocative questions about what qualifies as a language (so-called slang does have structured grammar), McWhorter also takes readers on a marvelous journey through time and place-from Persian to the languages of Sri Lanka- to deliver a feast of facts about the wonders of human linguistic expression.

MY TAKE:    John McWhorter has brought us an original and upbeat look at language.  The full title tells it all:  What Language Is (And What It Isn't and What It Could Be).  I knew this book would be interesting, I just didn't realize it would also be fun. 

With tidbits such as the fact that the written word is only about 5500 years old versus the 150000 years of the spoken word; we are taken on a wild linguistical journey from Ancient Greece and beyond.  The study of language has the propensity to be a dry subject but with McWhorter guiding us it becomes fascinating and a bit clearer in some aspects.  I learned much about this fabulous tool we use to communicate.

I really liked the style of writing.  The author doesn't "write down" to his audience or even "dummy it up" for us.  He makes linguistics available and approachable to the average reader.  His love of language definitely shines through in this delightful book and gives us much to ponder. 

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

Get your copy at The Book Depository

Be sure to visit the other blogs on this fun and enlightening tour.   
~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review + Giveaway - The Twelfth Enchantment by David Liss

TITLE:    The Twelfth Enchantment

AUTHOR:    David Liss
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 399 pages
PUBLISHED:   Random House, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review and Book Tour
  

FROM GOODREADS:  Lucy Derrick is a young Regency woman of good breeding and poor finances: after the death of her father, she is forced to maintain a shabby dignity as an unwanted boarder with her unpleasant uncle, fending off marriage to the local mill owner, Mr. Olson. But her prospects of even that unwanted match are complicated by the appearance of a beautiful stricken man who appears on the family doorstep begging her not to marry Mr. Olson just as he collapses. This appearance seems to open the door to a series of increasingly strange occurrences surrounding Lucy. Soon it becomes clear that there is more at stake than her own happiness — and that she is caught between two forces, one ancient and one modern — and that the soul of her very country is at stake.

MY TAKE:    The Twelfth Enchantment was not quite what I was expecting when I signed up for the tour.  I was ready for an ordinary historical fiction story and instead was treated to an "extraordinary" tale that included elements of history, fiction, magic and romance.  Mind you, we are still reading a Regency era story about the Industrial Revolution and the role of the Luddites; it just happens to brilliantly encompass several other genres.

David Liss has created an intriguing story about an average-seeming woman who is destined for quite an adventure.  Lucy first appears to be a quiet, level headed young woman who is resigned to her fate as the wife of a dour mill owner.  As the reader sympathises with Lucy's plight, circumstances take a new turn with the unexpected appearance of a wild man in the night who begs her to not marry Mr. Olson. 

I liked Lucy's character.  She was a strong woman with normal desires and dreams.  Admittedly there were a few moments when I wanted to prod her along a bit, but I enjoyed her journey out from under her uncle's oppression.  Characters were well written and well placed in the story.  The introduction of Lord Bryon was a fabulous addition who brought much to the plot.  Mr. Morrison was a definite favorite as well.

The author managed to leave the reader wondering at many points throughout the book exactly who Lucy could really count on.  There are many plot twists and turns to keep the suspense high.  Romance and mystery are highly prevalent in this lovely tale that I recommend whole-heartedly. 
  

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

~~~~~

Thanks to Lisa at TLC Book Tours and author David Liss, we have one copy of The Twelfth Enchantment for one of you lucky readers.

• Must be 13 years old or more
• US or Canada residents
• NO PO Boxes
• Leave a comment with your email address
• Contest ends at midnight PST August 8th
• Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning email

Good luck to all and be sure to check out the rest of the blog tour here:

The Twelfth Enchantment Book Blog Tour

More info on the author and his other books can be found at:

• DavidLiss.com
• Facebook
• Twitter
  
  

  

  
   
  

  ~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review + Giveaway - Ten Beach Road by Wendy Wax

TITLE:    Ten Beach Road
AUTHOR:    Wendy Wax
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 404 pages
PUBLISHED:   Berkley, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from TLC Book Tours for review and Blog Tour
  

FROM GOODREADS:  Madeline, Avery, and Nikki are strangers to each other, but they have one thing in common. They each wake up one morning to discover their life savings have vanished, along with their trusted financial manager- leaving them with nothing but co-ownership of a ramshackle beachfront house.

Throwing their lots in together, they take on the challenge of restoring the historic property. But just as they begin to reinvent themselves and discover the power of friendship, secrets threaten to tear down their trust-and destroy their lives a second time.

MY TAKE:    I found this to be a satisfying and enjoyable read.  The story of these three women who are initially strangers and ultimately friends is one that will strike a note with most female readers. 

The full range of emotions are pulled into play when reading this story.  I felt sympathy, sorrow, disgust, humor, hope and much more.  The author did a very nice job of bringing us into these ladies' lives and having us journey with them as they find their own strengths.  I think Kyra, Maddie's pregnant daughter ended up being one of my favorite characters.  She seemed to bring a balance into the house even though she was dealing with an unplanned pregnancy and problems of her own. 

While this isn't a sugary, fluffy story; it is a book that I felt good about after I finished.  I'd say it would make a good beach read only because it is one that you can get lost in and spend an afternoon with.  Due to some language and sexual inferences, I wouldn't recommend this to young readers.  It would fall into a young adult/over 14 range I think.
  

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon and The Book Depository

I'd like to thank Berkley and Lisa at TLC Book Tours for including me on this blog tour as well as for providing one lucky reader their own copy of Ten Beach Road.  Here's the details:

• Must be 13 or older
• US Residents only
• Leave a comment with your email
• No PO Boxes
• Ends May 17th
• Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email

Learn more about Wendy by visiting her website or find her on Facebook.

The next two stops on this blog tour are: 

Wednesday, May 11th: Reviews from the Heart
Thursday, May 12th: Book Club Classics

 
~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review + Giveaway - Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

TITLE:    Attachments
AUTHOR:    Rainbow Rowell
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 323 pages
PUBLISHED:   Dutton, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher and TLC Book Tours for Review

FROM GOODREADS:    Beth and Jennifer know their company monitors their office e-mail. But the women still spend all day sending each other messages, gossiping about their coworkers at the newspaper and baring their personal lives like an open book. Jennifer tells Beth everything she can't seem to tell her husband about her anxieties over starting a family. And Beth tells Jennifer everything, period.



When Lincoln applied to be an Internet security officer, he hardly imagined he'd be sifting through other people's inboxes like some sort of electronic Peeping Tom. Lincoln is supposed to turn people in for misusing company e-mail, but he can't quite bring himself to crack down on Beth and Jennifer. He can't help but be entertained-and captivated- by their stories.

But by the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late for him to ever introduce himself. What would he say to her? "Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you." After a series of close encounters and missed connections, Lincoln decides it's time to muster the courage to follow his heart . . . even if he can't see exactly where it's leading him.


Written with whip-smart precision and charm, Attachments is a strikingly clever and deeply romantic debut about falling in love with the person who makes you feel like the best version of yourself. Even if it's someone you've never met.

MY TAKE:   I am really glad to have been invited to take a part in this book tour.  I'm doubly glad that I accepted as I might have missed out on this treat of a story.  

The author did a lovely job of telling this romantic comedy-drama through the eyes of the male protagonist Lincoln.  He is a shy young man who is just drifting through life when he accepts a job as "internet security" during all of the chaos and paranoia of 1999's pre-Y2K uncertainty.  What he doesn't realize is that he is basically being paid to read other employees' e-mails.  This leads to Lincoln falling in love with an unavailable woman who he has never even seen.

I think I have a unique perspective when it comes to this story as my husband and I "met" on the internet.  We grew to know and love each other through two months of emails and another month of lengthy phone calls before finally meeting face to face.  Once that occurred, we were and have been inseparable for the last five years.  So I really do believe that true love can happen in unconventional ways.

Rainbow Rowell has created very likable and believable characters.  The use of the emails lets us get a lot of information and backstory without having it "told" to us directly.  Humor runs rampant throughout the entire book with several laugh-out-loud moments.  The sometimes snarky observations that the two women share are hilarious and I found them saying things that I sometimes think.

I think this debut offering from the obviously talented Ms. Rowell is just the beginning of an illustrious career.  If you'd like to read more, you can find her at:

Goodreads
Facebook
Website
Blog
Twitter 
  

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon and The Book Depository

The publisher has graciously offered a copy of Attachments to one lucky reader here at One Book Shy.

• Must be 13 or older
• Must be US or Canadian Resident
• Leave a comment with your email address and tell me if you've ever had an unconventional romance
• Contest ends 4/14/11
• Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning email

Good luck and as always...

 
~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - The Alchemist: A Graphic Novel by Paulo Coelho



TITLE:    The Alchemist: A Graphic Novel
AUTHOR/EDITOR:    Paulo Coelho
INFO:    Hardcover, Fiction,
PUBLISHED:   HarperOne, 2010
ISBN#:   978-0-06-202432-9
HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from TLC Book Tours for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  A beautifully rendered stunning graphic novel of the classic that continues to inspire readers worldwide.

   
Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of its readers forever. The Alchemist has established itself as a modern classic, universally admired. Now for the first time, the phenomenal bestselller has been rendered as a graphic novel that will appeal to the millions of existing fans while also attracting a new generation of readers.


The Alchemist is the magical tale of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangier and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist.The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way teaches us, as only a few stories have done, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life’s path, and above all, following our dreams.


“It was an old dream of mine to have The Alchemist as a graphic novel. I had
received several proposals but none of them came anywhere near the classical vision I have in my mind for a graphic format. When I saw Sea Lion Books’ proposal however it took me less than half an hour to make my decision.”--Paulo Coelho

MY TAKE:   Several people had recommended this book to me over the last year or so.  When TLC Book Tours asked if I was interested in participating, I gladly jumped at the chance. 

This was a very interesting tale of a young shepherd boy in search of himself.  This was one of the first graphic novels I've read and I must admit I really liked it.  I loved comic books as a kid and this is a fantastic way to introduce new or even reluctant readers to the joy of reading, as well as a treat for us "old-timers".  Re-publishing classic stories such as this one into a different format will bring many new fans to the table.

While the story was very simple and at times, very predictable, it was enjoyable.  The author used a gentle touch to deliver his message and thoughts.  I think fans of Paulo Coelho's and those looking for a book that could be shared with family members would find this to be a perfect fit.

I thought this was a quick and easy read with a lovely overall message.  I am looking forward to reading the full novel now as well and encourage others to give this book a try for themselves.  It would be a meaningful gift, especially during this holiday season.

Thank you very much to TLC Book Tours for including me on this book tour.

   
MY RATING:    3.75/5

WHERE TO BUY IT:   Amazon, IndieBound, The Book Depository, Powell's Books

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - The Mermaid's Pendant by Leann Neal Reilly

TITLE:    The Mermaid's Pendant
AUTHOR/EDITOR:    Leann Neal Reilly
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 572 pages
PUBLISHED:   Zephon Books, 2010
ISBN#:   978-0-98568-7505
HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from Publisher for Review and TLC Blog Tours

 Inspired by the beloved classic The Little Mermaid, THE MERMAID’S PENDANT is a modern fairy tale about growing up and discovering who you are—and what you believe in. At times lyrical, this novel is a fantastic journey filled with magic, myth, romance, and adventure.
FROM GOODREADS: 


Four years after John Wilkerson claims the mermaid Tamarind for his wife, they have an idyllic marriage that depends on a talisman that she crafted on their island paradise. But Tamarind learns a painful truth: it takes more than legs to live on land and more than magic to sustain a bond. When the talisman breaks, she and John are forced to rely on themselves instead of magic.

Three wise women play key roles in the young lovers’ journey to mature love. Ana, Tamarind’s aging mentor, casts spells and performs seductions to keep the lovers apart. Valerie, an ex-pat jewelry maker cum fairy godmother, works her own magic to bring them together. Lucy, their widowed neighbor, grounds the couple in the realities of marriage, parenting, and family.


THE MERMAID’S PENDANT is a story for anyone who has ever believed in the transforming power of love.

MY TAKE:   **I have tried to write this without any spoilers, but it has proven to be a tough task and I apologize if anyone feels I've let too much slip out. 

I have always been a fan of the original tale of The Little Mermaid.  It's a little grittier and "real" than the beloved Disney take on the story.  It is darker, based more on the theme of love lost and sacrifice than of the happily-ever-after everyone associates with the title nowadays.  This wonderful modern and updated version is closer to that first telling of the classic story.

I must admit that I really didn't care for John in the beginning.  I thought he was full of himself, selfish, and promiscuous.  He was technically cheating on two women for a while.  Not my kind of man.  I did warm up to him eventually.  Especially when he gets caught up in a web of deceit that really wasn't his doing.  I almost felt sorry for him, not quite though.  I tend to be hard nosed when it comes to infidelity issues.  But what counts, is that I did like him when it came down to it.

I loved Tamarind!  She was fresh and quite funny without meaning to be.  It was nice seeing our jaded world through her innocent eyes.  The author did a lovely job of showing her naivete and her strength at the same time.  Her belief in humans and her loyalty was very sweet, if misguided and mostly undeserved.  She is very straight-forward and unfortunately learns how devious and underhanded people can be.  I loved the descriptions of her and her surroundings as well as her life as a mermaid.

There were several other characters who supported the story, both good and bad.  With the evil outweighing the good, Tamarind and John had their work cut out for them.  I loved that Tamarind found Valerie as a role-model and sort of guardian.  Tamarind's faith in her teacher Ana turns out to be ill placed and she suffers for it.  Tamarind's neighbor Lucy also helps teach the pair what it takes to make it in this life.  She's a nice balance for John's ex, Zoe.  I immediately detested her when she appeared on the scene.  She's one of "those" type of women.  All of these characters were well written and fleshed out quite nicely.  They did what they were created to do in as much as you either loved them or hated them.  

A very imaginative remake with a healthy dose of magic and reality, I highly recommend this book and I think it is another story that would be an outstanding choice for a book club selection.  There are many points to ponder in this tale that can be applied to our own everyday lives.  My copy has a great reading guide in the back that would spur some lively discussions.  You can also download it HERE.

To learn more about author Leann Neal Reilly, you can check out her website and find her on Facebook. 
   
MY RATING:    4/5

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon, IndieBound, The Book Depository, Powell's Books

If you'd like to read more reviews for this book, stop by the TLC Book Tours site for a list of participating bloggers.

Thank you to the author and TLC Book Tours for including One Book Shy on this tour.

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.