Tuesday Jams #11

 

Tuesday Jams is a meme where you share your favourite songs. bands and the current song you're feeling and is hosted by Sharonda from Salacious Reads

 

I just love Faith and Tim together :)

 

What are your Tuesday Jams this week?

 

*[Blog Tour Review] A Star for Mrs. Blake by April Smith

 

 

Summary:

The United States Congress in 1929 passed legislation to fund travel for mothers of the fallen soldiers of World War I to visit their sons’ graves in France. Over the next three years, 6,693 Gold Star Mothers made the trip. In this emotionally charged, brilliantly realized novel, April Smith breathes life into a unique moment in American history, imagining the experience of five of these women.

They are strangers at the start, but their lives will become inextricably intertwined, altered in indelible ways. These very different Gold Star Mothers travel to the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery to say final good-byes to their sons and come together along the way to face the unexpected: a death, a scandal, and a secret revealed.

None of these pilgrims will be as affected as Cora Blake, who has lived almost her entire life in a small fishing village off the coast of Maine, caring for her late sister’s three daughters, hoping to fill the void left by the death of her son, Sammy, who was killed on a scouting mission during the final days of the war. Cora believes she is managing as well as can be expected in the midst of the Depression, but nothing has prepared her for what lies ahead on this unpredictable journey, including an extraordinary encounter with an expatriate American journalist, Griffin Reed, who was wounded in the trenches and hides behind a metal mask, one of hundreds of “tin noses” who became symbols of the war.

With expert storytelling, memorable characters, and beautiful prose, April Smith gives us a timeless story, by turns heartwarming and heartbreaking, set against a footnote of history––little known, yet unforgettable. 
Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 352 pages (Paperback)
Source: Review Copy
Available Formats: Print/E-book/Audio
Publication Date: January 14th 2014 by Knopf

What. A. Read.

When I signed up for the tour I was really interested in the book because I had never heard of the Gold Star Mothers. I'm a Canadian so I'm not well versed in American history but I found the idea of this government initiative to be what drove me to sign up since I rarely read historical fiction set after 1900 and I was very interested in reading a book based on a fictional woman, from small town America travelling overseas to finally see where her son rested 13 years after his death.

I loved Cora, especially how we were introduced to her. We got to know her, and what kind of life she led right from the beginning. For me I especially loved the fact that Cora was an average woman. She was intelligent, and strong and so giving I was in awe of her strength to move on after the death of her son and her courage to confront his grave site so many years on. I'm not a mother yet, but I can't imagine burying my son or daughter overseas and being separated from them, but I respected her decision because of how much thought she gave it. Which was another thing that I enjoyed about Cora, she was a thinker and always weighed her options and she made me feel so much for her.

Since I don't read many novels set in this time period I though it was a fantastic change of pace. I loved getting to know the world through Cora's eyes. I could tell how well researched the novel was and really appreciated that she chose to write the novel based on the perspective of a common woman rather than that of an upper class woman. I loved seeing Cora transform into a new woman whilst on her journey to see her son and the people she met along the way were every bit as interesting as she was, even if there were one or two I didn't care for as much.

In the end, I thought this was a though provoking read, I wonder about the real Gold Star Mothers, I wonder if they were relieved to see their fallen sons grave sites or only full of resolution that they had done the right thing in keeping them where they'd fallen. A Star for Mrs. Blake opened up a part of history that I had known nothing about before and made me remember all those brave men who died in the service for our nations and thankful to the mothers who lost their boys for the war effort. It was an emotional read, and definitely has me wanting to look into the time period more as well as leaving me wanting to read more by April Smith. Her writing is rich and descriptive and I loved her characters.

I would recommend A Star for Mrs. Blake to all those who enjoy historical fiction, and historical fiction set in the 1930's. It provides a brief glimpse into a past not so long ago but the differences in life between then and now are striking. This will make you think, and feel a wide range of emotions.

 

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

Loved It!
★★★★★

 

To "Like" April  on Facebook CLICK HERE

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To become a "Fan" of April on Goodreads CLICK HERE

To visit April's Website CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Chapters Indigo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Kobo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Amazon CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via AmazonUK CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via The Book Depository CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Barnes & Noble CLICK HERE

 

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #98

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a meme hosted by Book Journey and is a great way for others to find out what you are planning to read this week and, best of all, see what others are reading

 

Read Last Week:

 

 

Currently Reading:

 

 

Up Next:

 

 

 

What are your reading plans for this week?

Quote-Tastic Monday #46

 

This one is simple and just about sharing your favorite quotes and the books they come from! Hosted by the FABULOUS Anna at Herding Cats & Burning Soup

 

 

Summary:

 

J.R. Ward's # 1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood continues as a royal bloodline is compromised by a grave threat to the throne.
Long live the King…
After turning his back on the throne for centuries, Wrath, son of Wrath, finally assumed his father’s mantle--with the help of his beloved mate. But the crown sets heavily on his head. As the war with the Lessening Society rages on, and the threat from the Band of Bastards truly hits home, he is forced to make choices that put everything--and everyone--at risk.
Beth Randall thought she knew what she was getting into when she mated the last pure blooded vampire on the planet: An easy ride was not it. But when she decides she wants a child, she’s unprepared for Wrath’s response--or the distance it creates between them.

The question is, will true love win out... or tortured legacy take over?

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 573 pages (Hardcover)

Publication Date: April 1st 2014 by Penguin Group (USA)

 

 

“Okay, so, Beth, follow me. 'I, Beth, a totally awesome chick ...'"
Beth barked out a giggle. "I, Beth ..."
"Where's the 'awesome chick' part? What? Come on, I have a license from the Internet. I know what I'm doing."

Wrath nodded at his leehan. "He's right. You are, in fact, awesome. I think we need to hear it."
"Can I get an amen!" Lassiter shouted.
"Ammmmmmmmmen!" echoed throughout the mansion.
"Fine, fine, fine," she said. "I, Beth, a totally awesome chick ..."
"'... take this meathead, Wrath ...'"
"... take this meathead, Wrath ..."

"'... as my husband to have and to hold from this day forward...”  

 

I read this one in one sitting the other day and I loved it. Beth and Wrath are my favourite couple in the series and I was glad to see more of them again, plus the writing was pretty damn awesome with this one.

 

The Sunday Post #54

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead 

 

First Happy Mother's Day to the Moms, Grandmas, Aunts, Godmothers and Dads out there pulling double duty I hope you all have a lovely day!

I haven't done a Sunday Post in weeks and I've been missing it.It's been a crazy, crazy few weeks here. First my Dad was in the hospital for 5 days and now my brother's in the hospital and today will be his 5th day there so I just haven't had the time nor the energy to do the Sunday Post but I've got to get back in the saddle sometime. On the bright side of things, Toronto is warming up rather nicely and I'm so excited to start my container garden this week.

 

I hope you all have a great week!

 

Last Week on Turning the Pages:

 

Monday:

 

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Love on Loch Ness by Aurie Dionne

Highlight & Giveaway: Mine to Spell (Mine #2) by Janeal Falor

Meme: Quote-Tastic Monday #45

Meme: It's Monday! What Are You Reading #97

 

Tuesday:

 

Meme: Tuesday Jams #10

Meme: Teaser Tuesday #45

Meme: Top Ten Tuesday #64

 

Wednesday:

 

Meme: Library Loot #18

Meme: Waiting on Wednesday #111

 

Thursday:

 

Meme: Cat Thursday #46

 

Friday:

 

Blog Tour Review: Casting the Net (The Dunbridge Chronicles #2) by Pam Rhodes

Meme: Friday 56 #22

Meme: Feature & Follow #8

 

Saturday:

 

Meme: Saturday Snapshot #4

 

Book Haul:

 

In The Mail:

 

 

From The Library:

 

 

Saturday Snapshot #4

 

To participate in Saturday Snapshot: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on West Metro Mommy Reads' Blog. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

 

A couple of weeks ago my mother's Budgie Chimo died unexpectedly (she was 6)  so for her birthday I went to Petsmart and got her a new budgie named Sasha

 

*[Blog Tour Review] Casting the Net (The Dunbridge Chronicles #2) by Pam Rhodes

Summary:

 

Heart-warming English comedy of manners, featuring the trials and tribulations of newly ordained minister, Neil FisherIn part two of the Dunbridge Chronicles, Neil Fisher returns from ordination inspired by his sense of ministry, but determined to distance himself from the two ladies in his life. This is not altogether well received, and a wide segment of the congregation of St Stephen's, Dunbridge--including the music group--points Neil to the error of his ways.

Meanwhile Neil's close friend Colin and his wife Jeannie are delighted by the birth of a daughter, but is all well with the baby? Neil's mother Iris continues to meddle, to his irritation. Churchwarden Peter has said a relieved farewell to his flighty wife Glenda--or has he? Dunbridge is not as peaceful as it seems.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 265 pages (Paperback)

Source: Review Copy

Available Formats: Print/E-book

Publication Date: March 17th 2014 by Lion Fiction

 

When I signed up for this tour I did so thinking that this was a cozy mystery, so when I started reading it I was surprised to find that it was a contemporary Christian fiction novel instead, which worried me because I'm not religious and I wasn't sure how preachy this one would be, so it came as a huge surprised to find out that it wasn't preachy in the least but I that I also really enjoyed it.

 

I had read some pretty heavy books before I picked Casting the Net Up and this one acted as a bit of a palate cleanser for me because it was just such an easy, feel good funny read that didn't in anyway force religion on me as a reader and focused more on the characters and the story (with a little religion thrown in) but mostly on the relationships of everyone in the small village town of Dunbridge in rural England.

 

I really liked Neil, he's such a sweet guy and he's still so young and nervous about his role in the vicarage that he comes across as really endearing. He's just one of those guys that you want to stop and have a chat with and be friends with because he's so kind, caring and approachable plus he's actually quite funny. I was surprised by how much I liked him but there I was at the end of the book feeling quite sad that my time in his company had come to an end, but feeling as though I left him in a much better place than he was after about halfway through the book when tragedy struck twice in the tiny town involving people close to his heart.

 

I thought it was very refreshing that the author decided to write a novel from the male perspective, often times I see women writers (not all of course but a majority) that use women in their novels as their main characters especially in small town settings. I thought the way she wrote Neil was fantastic, right down to his exasperation when it came to dealing with his over bearing mother.

 

Neil wasn't the only well written character in the book though, I thought the whole cast was lovely even the characters that I didn't care for, such as Neil's horrible ex-girlfriend Wendy. She was a witch and was only thinking of how wonderful it would be to be a Vicar's wife. I didn't like her personality and I really hope she get's her comeuppance in the next book in the series.

 

Overall, I thought that this was a really well written book. As light hearted as it was, there was also tragedy and sadness and death in the novel as well which gave the characters a more human slant because I was able to see them in happy times and sad times but also saw the strength that they took not only from the Church but took the majority of strength from their friends in family in the community. The book just left me feeling good, because I could see things were finally on the mend.

 

I would recommend Casting the Net to everyone. As a non-religious person I can tell you that this one isn't in your face about religion at all and I think it offers a cute little glimpse of life in rural England to the reader that will have you laughing often and wishing you could move to a small town.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

Loved It!
★★★★★

 

To visit Pam's Webstie  CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Kobo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Amazon CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via AmazonUK CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via The Book Depository CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Barnes & Noble CLICK HERE

 

Feature & Follow #8

 

Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers -- but you have to know -- the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools -- keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them "hi" in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

 

What living author or authors would you like to have dinner with? (Try to think beyond JK Rowling):

 

J.K. Rowling (She has to make my list sorry).

Diana Gabaldon because she created the joy that is Jaime Fraser in her Outlander series.

George R.R. Martin - Because he created Westeros.

Alexander McCall Smith- I love his No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series set in Botswana

and Janet Evanovich because she's a hoot :)

 

Friday 56 #22

This is a fun meme to do hosted by Freda's Voice If you'd like to join on the fun go to The Friday 56 

 Rules:

 

 *Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Link it

 

 

Summary:

 

In his first-ever collaboration, New York Times bestselling author James Rollins combines his skill for cutting-edge science and historical mystery with award-winning novelist Rebecca Cantrell's talent for haunting suspense and sensual atmosphere in a gothic tale about an ancient order and the hunt for a miraculous book known only as . . . The Blood Gospel

An earthquake in Masada, Israel, kills hundreds and reveals a tomb buried in the heart of the mountain. A trio of investigators--Sergeant Jordan Stone, a military forensic expert; Father Rhun Korza, a Vatican priest; and Dr. Erin Granger, a brilliant but disillusioned archaeologist--are sent to explore the macabre discovery, a subterranean temple holding the crucified body of a mummified girl.

But a brutal attack at the site sets the three on the run, thrusting them into a race to recover what was once preserved in the tomb's sarcophagus: a book rumored to have been written by Christ's own hand, a tome that is said to hold the secrets to His divinity. The enemy who hounds them is like no other, a force of ancient evil directed by a leader of impossible ambitions and incalculable cunning.

From crumbling tombs to splendorous churches, Erin and her two companions must confront a past that traces back thousands of years, to a time when ungodly beasts hunted the dark spaces of the world, to a moment in history when Christ made a miraculous offer, a pact of salvation for those who were damned for eternity.

Here is a novel that is explosive in its revelation of a secret history. Why do Catholic priests wear pectoral crosses? Why are they sworn to celibacy? Why do the monks hide their countenances under hoods? And why does Catholicism insist that the consecration of wine during Mass results in its transformation to Christ's own blood? The answers to all go back to a secret sect within the Vatican, one whispered as rumor but whose very existence was painted for all to see by Rembrandt himself, a shadowy order known simply as the Sanguines.

In the end, be warned: some books should never be found, never opened--until now.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 717 pages (Mass Market Paperback)

Publication Date: August 27th 2013 by Harper Collins

 

My 56:

Pg. 556

 

They dumped the man at her feet. He moaned and turned over. A mass of bruises covered his face, his eyes were nearly swollen closed, dried blood soaked his shirtsleeves and a pant leg.

 

What's you're Friday 56?