Book Review: A Casualty of Grace (Lisa Brown)

A Casualty of Grace

by: Lisa Brown

Genres:  Historical Fiction

Oliver and Simon are young brothers who are unexpectedly orphaned and left alone in the world. With nobody to care for them, the workhouse looms and the threat of being torn apart becomes painfully real. The promise of a good home together eases their fears, but it is a promise that is destined to be broken. 

After being separated from Simon, fate delivers Oliver to the Pritchard farm, where Liza Pritchard, a woman struggling with her own fractured and afflicted life, sees in Oliver the family she so desperately wants. But Oliver has to contend with her husband, an angry and violent man, and he can't see past the terrible life he has been thrust into. Both Oliver and Liza have much to learn about faith and forgiveness, and together they embark on an emotional journey that will change each of them forever.

**WE WERE GIVEN A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FOLLOWING HONEST REVIEW**

Our self-assigned job here at CommonBookSense is to tell you whether or not a book is worth your time. Since the very beginning, I have clung to the idea that writing a review doesn't require describing the book.....that's what the blurb is for. So, when you visit the Goodreads page for A Casualty of Grace, you'll know why my review is different than the others.

If you were to go to my list of reviewed books, you'll see that most of them are nestled into some paranormal genre or another, and that's because I really don't like Historical Fiction. I avoid it at all costs, preferring to surround myself with fantastical characters and otherworldly beings. I'm beginning to wonder if my judgement of Historical Fiction was so harsh because I just hadn't found the right book in that genre...because I hadn't found A Casualty of Grace until now.

As I said above, our job is to tell you if a book is worth your time, and I can honestly tell you that this book IS.

Shell said it in one of her reviews, and I agree with her so I'll say it here; using dialect is a very dangerous game. It either works really, really well, or it yanks the reader right out of the story. A lot of the dialogue in this book is written that way....and it's done amazingly well. Usually, when an author writes "and so-and-so has an accent", no matter what type of accent they're written to have, I don't read their dialogue in that accent...I read it in the accent that I speak with, which I imagine is why authors sometimes incorporate the accents into the written dialogue. Lisa did an astonishing job. Honestly, I am blown away by it. I could HEAR Simon and Oliver's (and everyone else's) accents in my head as I read, and it flowed perfectly. I never had to stop, backtrack, and think "Well, what on earth is this boy even saying?!". Like I said, it either works really, really well, or it doesn't.....and it works really, really well in A Causality of Grace.

Lisa did an amazing job writing a touching story. I never once had to remind myself what time-period I was in because I was constantly reminded. This book was amazing, and I can say now that I'll definitely look at historical fiction a lot different now. Read this book, you guys.

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Book Review: The Knight's Grace (DJ Goldsmith)

The Knight's Grace

by DJ Goldsmith

Genres: Romance, New Adult (Romance), Fiction

Finishing college should be an exciting prospect but with having just lost her dad and the strange nightmares she's been having Rachael is crippled with uncertainty. When her friend Janice offers her a place to stay until she gets back on her feet, it is just too good of an offer to refuse. 

Agreeing to stay with Janice means her older brother Jason comes with the deal. Jason Knight is a delicious piece of man candy that Rachael can’t stop undressing with her eyes. His well-built construction worker body, piercing blue eyes, and panty-dropping arm tattoo has Rachael licking her lips and searching for her favorite B.O.B. 

Join Rachael as she starts this hilarious misadventure full of twists and turns which will have you laughing out loud, fill you with hope, and completely catch you off guard. 

WARNING: This is not your typical love story. The story has been known to cause bursts of random laughter, jaw dropping twists, heart filling hope, and scenes so steamy we cannot discuss them here but also contains some trigger worthy content.

*We were provided a copy of this book in exchange for the following honest review**

Oh, where to begin?! In case you missed it, The Knight's Grace is a New Adult romance, which means that there was some mature content.

'The Knight's Grace' was...different, to say the least. It was something that I had yet to come across in my new-adult genre bookventures. I laughed, I was embarrassed for Rachael (if you read you'll know what I mean), and I fell in love. I fell in love with not only the characters, but the story, their story, their love. I never wanted the pages to end. I sped through this book in half a day and I stared at the words "The End" for several minutes, trying to come to terms with the fact that my time with Jason, Rachael, and the Knight family was over.

It was a bit predictable for me, but it so worked. Toward the middle, I did see where the book was headed, but I still read through the pages as if I had no idea. I liked what was being worked toward. It wasn't really only about their relationship. In 'typical' new adult/young adult/all romance books you go through half the book with the main characters denying their love for each other, or dealing with a love triangle (even though it's OBVIOUS who they'll end up with), having pointless arguments, and so on. The Knight's Grace wasn't about two people avoiding their feelings, but rather dealing with things that normal people do and don't have to deal with. There were a few petty misunderstandings, but to quote Hannah: "Nobody's perfect".... and it's incredibly important for characters to have flaws if they're to be related to, or associated with humans.


The ending was horribly perfect. I wanted more of Jason and Rachael's story, but where DJ ended it was justified. I literally said, and I quote, "What?! No way that's the end. Noooooooooooooooooo!" It left it up to your imagination, but I have some hopes that I'll get to see how their story continues.

The title played into the book! That's such a huge thing for me, and I always, ALWAYS notice when that happens. It makes my heart smile! Titles should have weight and meaning; they're the first and last thing you see when you look at a book. They're important.

My one, and only, complaint would have to be the names. I understand that some families do the whole "let's all have names that start with the same first letter" thing...I mean, my mom's parents had that exact idea, but it makes it really, really hard to keep up with the characters. It's a small thing, but it's for sure one of my biggest book turn-offs.

I think that it's safe to say that I really enjoyed DJ Goldsmith's writing. I'll be following her future works closely. This one is  gonna be big, I can feel it. I'll scroll past The Knight's Grace on my Kindle, and save a little smile for Rachael and Jason.

Until next time, keep your noses in the pages! I've been up all night, so I'm going to sleep after this! I'll blog you lovelies later!! <3

P.S. I'm still majorly sick, so if there are any spelling/grammar errors, blame that. Also, blame it for the fact that there isn't a QOTR...not that really anyone bothers to answer it anyway haha!

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Book Review: The Thing Is (Kathleen Gerard)

The Thing Is

By: Kathleen Gerard

Genre: Women's Fiction

Ever since the death of her fiancé, Meredith Mancuso has shrunk from the world. Even with her successful writing career, she's not motivated to work. When her sister, Monica, begs for a favor, Meredith wants nothing more than to say no. But she’s ultimately roped into pet-sitting an orphaned Yorkshire terrier named Prozac. 

Blessed with spiritual wisdom and a high IQ, Prozac is an active pet therapy dog. To heal broken-hearted Meredith, he rallies his fan club at Evergreen Gardens, an independent living facility, where he visits each week. 

Prozac and the community of resilient older folks challenged by losses of their own propel Meredith, often against her will, back into the land of the living. Meredith learns that most people carry some sort of burden, but it's still possible to find meaning, purpose, and joy—and sometimes, even love—along the way.

**WE WERE GIVEN A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FOLLOWING HONEST REVIEW**

I know, without a doubt that this review will not do this book justice. The Thing Is is hands down one of the best books that I've ever read! It is a beautifully written inspirational story that will easily warm the heart of anyone who picks it up. I absolutely LOVED that some of the chapters were written by Prozac, the adorable Yorkshire terrier. It really offered some great insight into what he was really trying to achieve.

If you're looking for a book that'll make your heart happy, read this one. Prozac and Meredith's story is one that will brighten even the darkest of days.

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Book Review: The Struggle: Mom and the Summertime Blues (The Smith Family)

The Struggle: Mom and the Summertime Blues

By: Patrice, Donna, Shannon, Charity, and Faith Smith

Genres: Children's Fiction, Short

The story of four sisters-Diamond, Shelia, Crystal, and Felicity who dread their summer break because of their mom. A timely and hilarious read told through the eyes and voice of adolescent authors about their perspective of Mom's summertime "fun." Young readers will empathize with the youthful perspective of parents and "their ways." Parents will enjoy reading about the feelings of the four girls in the story, nodding in agreement from the beginning to the end. The entire family will enjoy this book. Instead of those great summer trips and long lazy days of summer, the four sisters complain about having to eat healthy and exercise, do homework and chores, and more. Throughout the book the girls tell of important life lessons taught by their parents. These lessons are told in a comical way.

**WE WERE GIVEN A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FOLLOWING HONEST REVIEW**

**First, sorry about the switch up! Kailei did the review scheduling this week and she didn't realize that Player doesn't release until September! Sorry, everyone!!**

This book was hilarious! I picked it up as a quick read a few nights ago when I couldn't sleep and found myself covering my mouth as I laughed out loud at the way these children described their 'overly-demanding' mother. Being the mom of two pretty dramatic teenagers, who often times think that no other mom in the world could be as demanding as I; I want nothing more than to present this book to children everywhere, as proof that their complaints aren't original. I think that this book will remind moms of their children and their antics, and that any child could relate to Diamond, Shelia, Crystal, and Felicity.

Mom and the Summertime Blues is a book that could find a place in any household. Whether you're a mother, or a child, you will find this book relatable, humorous, and just flat-out enjoyable.

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Book Review: Pedal (Louis K. Lowy)

Pedal

by: Louis K. Lowy

Genre: Contemporary, Women's Fiction

Forty-nine and single. Fired from her lifelong passion: teaching music. Stripped of her self-worth. Can she reclaim her life through bicycle racing? Joanne Brick's thirty years as an elementary school music teacher evaporated into the rising sea of layoffs. A lifetime of dedication gone. At forty-nine, single with an ailing mom and bitter divorced sister, the future looked bleak. Family relationships soured as conversations moved to "the lettuce zone"-cold and crisp. Then one day, while cleaning out the garage for a yard sale, inspiration struck as she dusted off an old long-forgotten bicycle. And when she took her first ride she knew it was time to sink or pedal. "Onward! That was the answer that had eluded her earlier. There was dignity in that word. There was hope." Never a sports fanatic and sorely out of shape, Joanne was barely able to ride straight, but she took up bicycle racing because it added purpose to her life. "Joanne increased her own speed. The wind whipped her face. The whirring of the spinning spokes and chains rose in pitch as she spun faster. She was flying again, beyond failed careers, spurned lovers, regrets, and mistakes. She spun even quicker. Her breath came in swift, hard grunts." She pedaled past unemployment, failed relationships, family drama, and career loss. Her life began to fill with new friends, an inspirational Desert Storm vet turned cycling coach, and a sleek new physique from all the training. Then she ran into a brick wall in the form of Sheila Dominary, a women's bike racing adversary. Will Joanne regain her confidence as she pedals toward redemption, romance, adventure, and life beyond unemployment? Pedal is an inspirational journey. It is a contemporary story that deals not only with family relationships, but also with life's turning points and how ordinary people handle them.

**WE WERE GIVEN A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FOLLOWING HONEST REVIEW**

I have so many things to say about this book! Pedal is such an inspirational and uplifting story. No one would have blamed Joanne for giving up, after losing her job.....the only thing she ever really did....at the age of forty-nine, BUT SHE DIDN'T. The passion that she developed for bicycle racing was admirable. I instantly found myself rooting for her, smiling at her accomplishments, and shedding a few tears as she struggled.

I think that the one thing that stood out the most was how easy it was to relate to all of the characters. Whether you're a middle-aged and recently divorced individual, someone who had the rug ripped from beneath your feet (wondering what the hell you're supposed to do now), the has-been who got an unfair break, a widow/widower, or anything in between, I can promise that this book has some of the best written and relatable characters you'll come across.

You may be wondering if someone who knows little, or nothing, about bicycle racing could enjoy a book that's main focus is well.....bicycles and racing. The answer is a resounding YESSSSSSSSS!! I am not ashamed to admit that before picking up Pedal I knew virtually nothing about the world of bike racing and cycling coaches, but that didn't stop me from submerging myself into a new unknown. I quickly realized that Louis K. Lowy had my back and would provide me with just enough information to make me understand what the characters were experiencing, without providing so much background that I felt like I was drowning.

Thank you, Mr. Lowy, for showing me that passion, drive, and determination doesn't have to die with age, that we aren't defined by the titles we obtain, and that life is worth living...to the fullest...regardless of our age. You successfully made me reevaluate my level of determination, and made me wish that I didn't leave my bicycle behind, in Italy.

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Book Review: Beside the Music (BJ Knapp)

Beside the Music

by: BJ Knapp

Genres: Women's Fiction

Can mailing a fan letter change a life? Brenda Dunkirk didn’t think so. She also didn’t think 80s metal star Keith Kutter would have actually read her letter. Watching him stand in the rain on her patio and compose a new song is something she never imagined. Brenda thinks she’s the luckiest woman in the world when Keith’s band, Hydra, and entourage declare her home their base camp while recording their comeback album. She fantasizes about late night lyric writing sessions at her kitchen table and being the first one to hear all the new songs. She is confident that with her help the band will get back on top where they belong. 

Swept up in the glamour of being the rock and roll muse, Brenda risks her already faltering marriage. Tim, her husband, walks out on her and Hydra’s chaos, and to make matters worse her boss is threatening to fire her if she doesn’t her act together at work. The band will not leave until the album is done--it could be another month or it could be another year. Ultimately Brenda must choose between the secure contentment of her marriage or the allure of rock and roll. She must decide: is it possible to be one man’s wife and another man’s muse?

**WE RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FOLLOWING HONEST REVIEW**

As I sit here pondering what I just read I'm not exactly sure how I feel. That's a lie....I guess the word I can use to best describe Behind the Music would be 'lacking'. Ughhhhhh, I really hate that I had to say that, because there are parts of the book that were amazing, but I can't get over the feeling that something was missing. Let me see if I can describe what I'm talking about....without giving too much away.

Brenda and Tim have a troubled relationship. He's a business owner, running for office and she's a publicist, longing to have children. Tim's mother, Portia, isn't a huge fan of Brenda...and Tim allows her to pretty much dictate his life, regardless of how that makes his wife feel. Oh, and Tim has a gorgeous campaign manager, Aria, who just so happened to find her way into his life via his controlling mother.

Okay, so Brenda and Tim meet Keith Kutter, entitled 80's superstar, as a result of Brenda reaching out to him, after reading his memoir. The initial meeting was at an upscale restaurant, where Keith lived up to every stereotypical label possible....the paparazzi showed up, Keith blamed Brenda for setting him up, and with the help of his bodyguard (Mike), he easily escaped. Through some strange twist of fate Keith and Brenda cross paths again, and thus Behind the Music is born.

So, now you're wondering what the problem is, right? The content that was provided was excellent. The characters were well developed and the story line flowed quite nicely, but it needed more. For example, Mike (the bodyguard) started out as a pretty important, and strong character.....then he vanished. Then, you have Tim & Aria's relationship. It's obvious that Brenda is jealous over the amount of time that her husband spends with his manager (there is even some very questionable situations), but she never, NOT ONCE, voices her concerns. Why?!?!?!?

In the end, although some questions remain unanswered, everything comes together beautifully. You don't often hear me express my feelings on how a book ends (mostly because I loathe endings), but this one came together better than I expected and I loved it.

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Book Review: The Edge of Juniper (Lora Richardson)

The Edge Of Juniper

by Lora Richardson

Genres: Romance, Coming-of-Age, Fiction

“You’re off-limits, so why can’t I stop thinking about you?”

Fay Whitaker, sixteen years old and yearning for adventure, is excited to spend the summer with her fearless cousin Celia in small-town Juniper, Indiana.

But Fay soon discovers that her summer home is not what she expected. She is alarmed by her uncle’s temper, and learns of the grudge he holds against the Dearing family. Celia handles the tension at home by escaping with her boyfriend, leaving Fay with time on her hands—time that leads her straight to Malcolm Dearing, off-limits because of his last name. Fay is captivated by Malcolm’s warmth and intensity. She finds that trying to stay away from him only makes her think of him more.

Fay and Celia are launched on a journey, and each must attempt to navigate the thrilling and unpredictable world of love. Everything Fay thinks she knows about love is put to the test, as relationships unfold and reveal themselves in ways she never before dreamed.



Here I am again, at nine (nearly ten) at night, writing a review for Lora! Oh, the nostalgia!

Lora Richardson is the author of Outspoken, which was one of our first EVER review requests and one of my favorite books. I loved it so much (I'll link the review below). So to say I was excited to see she'd emailed us would be a TOTAL LIE! I was more than excited.

Let's get down to business. I finished this book in a day, which isn't a surprise because I finished Outspoken in a day. And it didn't disappoint me. Sometimes I have the problem where I read a book by an author that makes me want to marry them (which is never an issue because same-sex marriage is legal now), but when I buy all of their books and start reading I get really disappointed really fast. Sometimes, the next book just doesn't quite live up to the hype of the first one. You build these expectations about the way your favorite author is going to write, and then get disappointed when all of your hopes and dreams are crushed by a...I dunno, a bridge? Sure, a bridge. I don't seem to have that problem here, and I'm really happy about that because if I did you guys wouldn't be getting this review when you are...I would pretend I'd never read it so that I wouldn't have to acknowledge the emotional trauma of having my dreams crushed by a bridge.

 I can see lots of aspects of myself in Faye. Her approach to relationships is the exact same one I have; blunt and honest. None of that beating-around-the-bush, do I like you? do you like me? crap that a lots of people/romance novels have.  Just like in Outspoken, she gets straight to the point of the story, no dilly-dallying. That's what I like to see!

Her characters (all of them, even the sub-characters (is that what they're called?)) are well developed and have depth.  Her story line was consistent, you could see where the story was headed and nothing was stopping Faye and Malcolm from getting there. It was just overall a relaxing read, one that makes you want to find your own Malcolm. While it may have been a tad cliche for some, it was everything I'd been looking for in a book.

So, straight to the point, Lora is an absolute amazing writer. I haven't a doubt that whatever she writes will make me fall in love. I impatiently look forward to whatever she has planned for the future; there's never enough of her words to satisfy me!

Each book is just a combination of 26 letters, but Lora always seems to find the combinations that will make you turn the next page. Some people are just born to be authors, and I'm confident that she's one of them. Pick up a few of her books, you won't regret it.

As always, links can be found just below my SPARKLY signature!

Keep your noses in the pages, and I'll blog YOU lovelies later!

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Book Review: Mount Everest (Jim Meirose)

Mount Everest

by: Jim Meirose

genres: Literary Fiction

Christine Zidar is a woman plagued by voices visions and delusions, but manages to keep her “business” together for a number of years, until she is suddenly forced to deal with the fact that her hoarder Mother with whom she lives has had their house condemned and she and Christine are forced with eviction.

**WE WERE GIVEN A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FOLLOWING HONEST REVIEW**

Can I just say 'wow'?  This is one of those reviews that I've put off until nearly (but not quite) the last minute, because I just don't know what to say....but I'll try my best.

 It was so strange, but so good. The author's conscious decision to omit quotation marks really spoke to the mental state of his main character. It was definitely a risk worth taking. The entire structure of the story constantly reminded you that you were in the mind of a mentally unstable person. I could for sure see her degrading, which I think speaks a lot about the author's ability to alter his voice to that of his characters. You never FELT like she was normal (but when is a main character normal?), and even if you were fooled for a second, you were bounced right back by one of her episodes.

This story made me feel FEELINGS, which is what good books should do. While I admit that many of those feelings were confusion (the good kind), the characters made me ANGRY at times. Why didn't they just clean the stupid house?! How could her mother do that to her?? I mean, the whole book just pulls you in. You get angry and confused with Christine and what on earth is going on in her head, but you want to know what the whole thing is leading up to. And let me tell you, you will be asking yourself "??why??" for a few days after finishing this work of art.

Now, I haven't read any of Jim's other books, but I haven't a doubt that they will be as well written and amazing as Mount Everest, even though those are some pretty high expectations....Mount Everest high... (sorry about that joke, it's horrible but I'm leaving it)

Why don't you guys comment some of your favorite cheesy/terrible jokes below?

As alwayssss the links and things will be below. I hope you lovelies have an amazing Friday and weekend!

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Book Review: Finding Audrey (Sophie Kinsella)

Finding Audrey

By: Sophie Kinsella

Genres: Contemporary, Fiction, Humor, Novel

An anxiety disorder disrupts fourteen-year-old Audrey’s daily life. She has been making slow but steady progress with Dr. Sarah, but when Audrey meets Linus, her brother’s gaming teammate, she is energized. She connects with him. Audrey can talk through her fears with Linus in a way she’s never been able to do with anyone before. As their friendship deepens and her recovery gains momentum, a sweet romantic connection develops, one that helps not just Audrey but also her entire family.



                        
Hello Lovely people!!! 'Tis I, Naomi!! Yes. I am still breathing. And today I will be reviewing Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella. 

This was a pretty good, boo, and I say "pretty good" because it didn't leave me with that feeling you get after reading certain books. Ya know how you read something and you just sit there after you've finished it and think "wow this book has made me think differently about this or that"? Yeah, well this book had none of that. In fact, it had very little effect on my emotions. I'm not saying it was BAD but just that I couldn't find the connection I wanted to with this book. 


So it takes place in modern day England and is about a girl named Audrey who suffers from severe anxiety. After meeting a guy named Linus things start to change. Now the thing about this book is that it is completely different from what it claims to be. I was expecting the author to go into a bit more detail about the relationship between Audrey and Linus but there is hardly any. I mean, he comes over they eventually kiss and that's about all you get. If this guy is helping her step out of her comfort zone and become herself again I would like to know why. Sure they play this game where they have to go up to people and say something and that's cool and it might help her but it's not enough. I don't want this "oh a guy came into my life so I'm happy now"...no. I want to know how he makes her feel, and how he is helping her through this. The author might give A LITTLE detail but not enough to grasp onto! And the whole thing between her brother and mom about the computer game gets real annoying real quick. It's kinda funny at first but diminishes soon after. You just wanna scream at the book "It's not that big of a deal!" in hopes the author can hear you and change it. It frustrates me to say the least hahahah. I did like the video diary though, it added a creative aspect that was pretty cool.

 Anyway, this book was okay. Maybe you should read it in hopes you enjoy it more than me lol. It was a quick read so it would be good for flights or long car rides but other than that I'm not really impressed. Have a great day you beautiful humans, you!!!
xoxo ~ Gossip Girl
Jk byyyyyyeeeee




 

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