Chick Lit

Looking for an action-packed dystopian that's different than what's already out there? You'd do well to pick up PROXY then. The synopsis: Knox was born into one of the City's wealthiest families. A Patron, he has everything a boy could possibly want—the latest tech, the coolest clothes, and a Proxy to take all his punishments. When Knox breaks a vase, Syd is beaten. When Knox plays a practical joke, Syd is forced to haul rocks. And when Knox crashes a car, killing one of his friends, Syd is branded and sentenced to death. Syd is a Proxy. His life is not his own. Then again, neither is Knox’s. Knox and Syd have more in common than either would guess. So when Knox and Syd realize that the only way to beat the system is to save each other, they flee. Yet Knox’s father is no ordinary Patron, and Syd is no ordinary Proxy. The ensuing cross-country chase will uncover a secret society of rebels, test both boys’ resolve, and shine a blinding light onto a world of those who owe and those who pay. Some debts, it turns out, cannot be repaid.My thoughts:It's sorta funny that I read this right after putting up my post about animal death in fiction, because PROXY kills off a bunch of zoo animals and some poor horses. I was able to keep reading though, because although the animal death wasn't entirely justified, it was understandable in the context of the brutal setting. The action flows really well and Syd is relatable and someone worth rooting for.Even if I didn't 100% buy it from a characterization standpoint, the ending is a great example of poetic justice and sets up some interesting questions for the sequel.And now, here's the author to talk about the book!Proxy excerpt: “‘…why else do you think I hired you?’‘Because I have small hands and I don’t steal.’‘These things are all true,’ Mr. Baram answered. ‘But that doesn’t make them my reasons. Perhaps not even I know my reasons.’‘I’m sure your reasons are as noble as your visage.’ Sydney joked.‘My visage, eh?’ Mr. Baram chuckled. ‘You’ve been reading through my library.’‘You should password protect better if you don’t want readers.’‘Oh, I want readers, my boy.’ Mr. Baram sighed. ‘A world of readers, I want, and yet, all I have is you. You want information, mere data, just like everyone else. That’s not reading. Wisdom? Inspiration? Phfft! Their time has passed, eh?’ He waved his hand in the air. ‘You cannot nourish the soul with data!’” – page 35, PROXYAlex London on the best aspect of the society in Proxy: I suppose the technology they have in Proxy is pretty great, but it is also that technology that isolates people from each other and from the context in which they live. If you can afford it, you can do or get or be anything you want anytime you want it. Some might say that kind of freedom is ideal. There are no laws-- only corporate regulations, agreements and contracts. It's an entirely free market, where you get whatever you can pay for...and nothing more. None of this sounds very good does it? I suppose the good side of that is, that in that society you are free to be awful and to exploit your neighbors and abuse your proxies--no laws will stop you--but you are also free to be kind, to be generous, to be a boon to those less fortunate than you. Of course, one of my main characters chooses to be like that and one most decidedly doesn't, but they are both free to change. Exploring that, how much of what they think and know comes from the society around them and how much they can defy its expectations is the crux of the Syd and Knox’s journey. I suppose that's true of everyone growing up, in a bleak imaginary future, or now, in our society, in our time. We all have to decide who the best version of ourselves is and how much we are willing to do to become it. So the best aspect of the world of Proxy? The people in it, just like our world. About Alex London: Alex London writes book for adults, children and teens. At one time a journalist who traveled the world reporting from confli

DUEL WITH THE DEVIL The True Story of How Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr Teamed Up to Take on America's First Sensational Murder MysteryBY PAUL COLLINS ABOUT THE BOOK:Duel with the Devil is acclaimed historian Paul Collins’ remarkable true account of a stunning turn-of-the-19th century murder and the trial that ensued – a showdown in which iconic political rivals Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr joined forces to make sure justice was done. Still our nation’s longest running “cold case,” the mystery of Elma Sands finally comes to a close with this book, which delivers the first substantial break in the case in over 200 years. In the closing days of 1799, the United States was still a young republic. Waging a fierce battle for its uncertain future were two political parties: the well-moneyed Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, and the populist Republicans, led by Aaron Burr. The two finest lawyers in New York, Burr and Hamilton were bitter rivals both in and out of the courtroom, and as the next election approached—with Manhattan likely to be the swing district on which the presidency would hinge—their animosity reached a crescendo. Central to their dispute was the Manhattan water supply, which Burr saw not just as an opportunity to help a city devastated by epidemics but as a chance to heal his battered finances. But everything changed when Elma Sands, a beautiful young Quaker woman, was found dead in Burr's newly constructed Manhattan Well. The horrific crime quickly gripped the nation, and before long accusations settled on one of Elma’s suitors, handsome young carpenter Levi Weeks. As the enraged city demanded a noose be draped around the accused murderer’s neck, the only question seemed to be whether Levi would make it to trial or be lynched first. The young man’s only hope was to hire a legal dream team. And thus it was that New York’s most bitter political rivals and greatest attorneys did the unthinkable—they teamed up. At once an absorbing legal thriller and an expertly crafted portrait of the United States in the time of the Founding Fathers, Duel with the Devil is a masterpiece of narrative nonfiction. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:PAUL COLLINS is the author of eight books. An assistant professor of English in the MFA program at Portland State University, Collins is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and the founding editor of the Collins Library imprint of McSweeney's Books. His work has appeared in Slate, New Scientist, and the New York Times, and he is regularly featured on NPR's Weekend Edition as their "literary detective." To read more about Author Paul Collins, visit his website "Bio" HERE. PRAISE FOR DUEL WITH THE DEVIL:“Lively, immediate and dishy in the style of a top-notch tabloid columnist…fizzes with the energy and irreverence of an infant republic…Collins provides a saucy breakdown of the twisty and interlocking interests behind Weeks’ case. This is New York politics in all its gritty glory.”– Salon“Collins not only skillfully squeezes the maximum juice out the combined history and mystery of his story, but may even have solved the crime.” – Christian Science Monitor“NPR's "literary detective" once again applies his skills as a historian to a now obscure crime that was a cause celebre in its day…Using the court transcript as a primary source, Collins makes the most of the inherent drama of the case, and goes one step further to unearth convincing proof of the identity of the real killer.”--Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)“This tautly constructed narrative, infused with period atmosphere, holds the reader’s attention…Collins delivers fine true-crime verisimilitude.”--Booklist“The author’s New York is a fascinating place [and] once the trial begins, the narrative truly takes off, as Collins reveals the immense talents of the three attorneys…A rousing tale of the longest murder trial to that date in Manhattan…the author’s conjecture as to the true vill

Reviewed by Lauren Cannavino Eleanor Amore has a promising life ahead of her on paper. She attends Yale, has a famous mother, a chance to study abroad in Florence and a great boyfriend. Underneath that picture perfect life lies so much more. Eleanor, or Elly as she is affectionately called, has a baby on the way with that very perfect boyfriend who happens to abuse her, her mother is dramatic and detached and she quickly learns that life and people are not always what they seem. When Elly decides to leave the life she has somehow stumbled into and doesn’t exactly belong to and head to the Bronx to stay with her mother Carmen’s estranged family, the Amore women, the novel takes a magical turn. Carmen doesn’t speak to or of the Amore women to Elly. It also comes out that Elly has no memory of her early years whatsoever. When she arrives in the Bronx, she is hit hard with immediate love, fleeting memories that remain just out of reach of her grasp and magic. Elly soon sees that this isn’t a typical house and the women who inhabit it are not typical women. The Amore women that Elly moves in with are Mimi, Itsy and Fee, each a bit eccentric, wise and full of their own quirks. Her three family members have been waiting for and expecting her return, as has the handsome neighbor Anthony who Elly met as a child but is part of her hazy memories. The longer that Elly is in the Bronx, her memory begins to unfold and her own skills at “the Sight” begin to improve. As memories of Amore family secrets and tragedies begin to spill out and her family history takes shape, Elly is further reminded of how nothing in life is often what it seems. This realization also encompasses Elly herself and as the action and mystery picks up in the book, so much truth is pushed to the surface.Suzanne Palmieri blends the characters past with the present effortlessly and the result is a clear, fun and interesting read. Even though The Witch of Little Italy is a perfect, light beach read, the material is heartfelt, introspective and interesting. The magical elements of the book are not too far fetched to be relatable, and the magic adds a certain something to the text rather than becoming the main focus. I also enjoyed how the chapters were broken down into character viewpoints; it provided for a fresh prospective to the story, but also organized and outlined the plot. Emotions run rampant, yet contained, in Palmieri’s book, and each emotion, good or bad, lays the groundwork for growth and revelation for Elly who is truly a character that the reader can get behind from start to finish. Rating: ★★★★☆ Lauren Cannavino is a graduate student, freelance writer, wine lover, and avid reader. Random musings can be found over at www.goldiesays.com. Review copy was provided free of any obligation by St. Martin’s Griffin. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received. Pin It

Today Chick Loves Lit welcomes K.A. Tucker’s ONE TINY LIE! Because I love to read excerpts so I can get a feel for the author’s writing, I am very excited to offer you an excerpt of her new book! “Look, about Saturday night… Can we just pretend it never happened?” he asks, sliding his hands into his pockets. My mouth drops for a second as my brain replays those words. The words I’ve been playing over and over in my own head for the last three days. Can I? I’d like to. It would make it easier if I could just press a Delete button on all the images that still blaze in my head, making me suddenly blush and lose focus on…everything. “Sure,” I say with a smile. “Well . . . as long as we can get my sister and Reagan to pretend as well.” One arm lifts to rub the back of his head, pulling his shirt tighter against his chest, enough that I can see the curves. The ones I had my hands all over. “Yeah, well, I figure your sister can’t cause too much trouble, being from out of town.” “No, she can’t,” I agree. She can just randomly text me pictures of a chubby bald man holding a tattoo gun to your ass, like she did yesterday. I promptly erased it, but I’m sure that’s not the last of them. “And Reagan won’t say a word,” I hear Ashton say. Dropping his arm to his side, he looks off in the distance, muttering more to himself, “She’s good like that.” “Okay, great, well . . .” Maybe I can just put all this behind me and get back to being me. Livie Cleary. Future doctor. Good girl. Ashton looks back at my face, his eyes dropping to my lips for a second, likely because I’m chewing on the bottom one so much I’m about to gnaw it off. I feel as though I should say something more. “I hardly remember it, so . . .” I let my voice drift off as I deliver that lie with a degree of coolness that surprises me. And impresses me. His head tilts to the side and he looks off again, as if deep in thought. Then an amused grin touches his lips. “I’ve never had a girl tell me that before.” A tiny smile tugs at the corner of my mouth as I look down to study his sneakers, feeling like I’ve finally scored a point. Livie: one. Mortifying conversation: a million. “I guess there’s a first time for everything.” His low, throaty laugh pulls my attention back up to see twinkling eyes. He’s shaking his head as if thinking of a private joke. “What?” “Nothing. It’s just . . .” There’s a pause, as though he’s not sure whether he should say it or not. In the end, he decides to, delivering my pinnacle of humiliation with a wide grin. “You had a lot of firsts that night, Irish. You kept pointing each one out.” I can’t keep the strangled sound from escaping, as if I’m dying. Which I might be, given my heart just stopped beating. I don’t know whether my arms slackened or I actually threw them in the air to cover my gasp, but somehow I’ve lost the death grip I had on my textbooks. They end up scattered all over the grass. Right next to the last shred of my dignity. I practically collapse to collect my books as I rack my brain. The problem is, I don’t remember talking to Ashton a whole lot. And I certainly don’t remember pointing out all my— That stupid vault opens up in my brain, just enough to let another explicit memory slip out. A flash of that brick wall against my back and Ashton against my front and my legs wrapped around his waist and him pressing against me. And me, whispering in his ear that I’ve never felt that before and how it’s harder than I thought it would be… “Ohmigod,” I moan, clutching my stomach. I’m sure I’m going to be sick. I’m going to become an exhibitionist vomiter. About One Tiny Lie: Livie has always been the stable one of the two Cleary sisters, handling her parents’ tragic death and Kacey’s self-destructive phase with strength and maturity. But underneath that exterior is a little girl hanging onto the last words her father ever spoke to her. “Make me proud,” he had said. She promised she would…and she’s done her best over th

Please welcome Susan Shea, author of the novel The King’s Jar. And don’t forge to enter to win a copy of the book below – open to US and Canada! by Susan Shea Little did I realize when I sent in an entry to a writing contest decades ago that it would lead me down the long, winding, and wonderful path that I’m on today with the publication of the second Dani O’Rourke mystery, The King’s Jar. The old San Francisco Examiner held a contest to finish a John D. MacDonald novel that was being serialized. I won, joined Mystery Writers of America’s San Francisco chapter, met all these cool people, and decided this was the life for me. Well, not the bill-paying life. I listened to the advice other MWA members shared: Don’t quit your day job. I was fortunate to work for and with a number of colleges and universities, combining marketing, and fundraising responsibilities. Having grown up in the halls of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, I went to every art museum in every city I touched down in. For a handful of years, I was the ED of a research organization that works in Africa, and I saw close up some of the political issues that arise when working in developing countries and in highly competitive disciplines. And somewhere in that stew of observations and experiences, the idea for The King’s Jar was born. A priceless artifact, a country that wants it back, the billionaire who owns it, and the museum fundraiser who is caught in the middle of the tug of war when it goes missing. Africa is always a good place to reference in a mystery. It’s a huge continent, the origin of humankind, full of amazing animal species (well, less so since that same humankind is bent on exterminating much of it), and very little physical evidence of the civilizations that must have existed before recorded history. Africa’s climate is hard on physical objects, and much of sub-Saharan African culture was created from quick-decaying materials like sticks, animal hides, feathers, and unglazed clay. The artifacts that are found are hugely significant and much studied. The “King’s Jar” is entirely fictional but to make it more likely to have survived and to give it its priceless quality, I added a big twist. The jar is actually Chinese, glazed, from the 12th century. The theory of how it wound up in a burial mound in Africa has made the reputation of the scientist who has had custody of it for 20 years. Sadly, for the story’s sake, I had to kill the scientist early on. And the jar has vanished. Dani O’Rourke, my fundraising protagonist, is facing a black tie dinner for 400 people without the object it’s supposed to celebrate or a good explanation for why the museum she works for can’t lay their hands on it. And so a mystery is born and an amateur sleuth is set on a path that will put her in conflict with rich and powerful people, in romantic situations with three interesting men, and in search of enough apricot colored roses to decorate 40 tables at a fancy Manhattan club. a Rafflecopter giveaway Pin It

Publisher: Vagabondage Press Publish Date: May 28, 2013 Interview: Q. Please tell us about your current release. ‘Werecat: The Rearing’ is the story of a gay college senior who goes on Spring Break to Montréal, hooks up with a handsome drifter and takes a free fall into the world of feline shapeshifters. Here’s some more from the back cover blurb: For Jacks Dowd, a college senior who feels ungrounded from his family and life in general, an alcohol and sex-infused weekend in Montréal sounds like a pretty good escape. His Spring Break binge takes a detour when he meets Benoit, an admiring drifter with startling green eyes. A hook-up turns into a day, two days, and then a full week in Benoit’s hostel, making love and scarfing down take-out food. But at the end of the week, Benoit demands that Jacks make an impossible choice: stay with him forever or never see him again. The night before Jacks is supposed to return to college, he meets Benoit in Mont Royal Park to try to work things out. Benoit springs on Jacks an unfathomable secret: he’s a Werecat. He traps Jacks in an abandoned cabin and performs an occult rite so they will be mated forever. With his dual nature, Jacks can shape-shift at will, and he has amazing new senses and physical abilities. But how will he live as an unfathomable hybrid creature? When Benoit shows Jacks the violence he’s capable of, Jacks may need to find a way to destroy the one person who can help him survive. ‘The Rearing’ is the first book in a series of Jacks’ Werecat adventures. The publisher is Vagabondage Press, and the books are coming out as e-novelettes, 70-150 pages each. I’d describe ‘Werecat’ as a mash-up of genres: fast-paced paranormal adventure and dark romance, with some gritty suspense for horror fans and a moderate heat-level for the M/M erotica set. Q. How did writing this book affect you? I've written short fiction for several journals and e-zines, but ‘Werecat’ is my first long-form publication. The platform for it is a lot bigger. It’s exhilarating, even overwhelming at times to see something I’ve written out there at on-line booksellers, being blogged about, getting reviews and retweets and all that. I’m very proud of this particular story, and I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to share it with so many readers. Q. Can you tell us about the journey that led you to writing? I wrote stories as far back as I can remember. I wanted to be a writer before my next childhood ambition—to be a veterinarian—and way before I decided to become a social worker. I think I lacked the confidence to pursue creative writing seriously. So I kept it as a hobby for most of my life. I made a career as a social worker and an activist for the LGBT community through my twenties and thirties. It was very rewarding, and I was satisfied by throwing my passion into social justice for quite awhile. When I reached a point where my life settled down – both career-wise and through putting down roots with my husband – I returned to writing fiction. I rediscovered the joy in it, and for the past six or seven years, I committed to getting my work published. Q. What is the hardest part of writing for you? Finding the time to write and finding the time to market my work, which is something that falls on authors to a large extent even when you have a great publisher. I still have a full-time job, and I have a life with my husband and our friends and family. There’s quite a balancing act to work out for most writers I think. Q. Do you have a musical playlist you listen to while writing? If so, what kind of music? I actually need complete silence when I’m deeply involved in writing a story. But when I take a break or I’m getting warmed up to write, I sometimes listen to an epically dramatic movie-musical soundtrack like ‘Phantom of the Opera’ or ‘Les Misérables’. It would be a lot of fun creating a soundtrack for ‘Werecat’ if it makes it to the small or large

Rating: 5/5 Publisher: Musa Publishing Publish Date: March 8, 2013 Origins: From Publisher for Review Format: E-book Order Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Musa Publishing Synopsis: When his brother goes missing en route to the Wiccan Haus, Edouard discovers an unexpected ally--and more.Edouard Bonsaint has a bear-sized problem. He hasn't shifted in ten years, and isn't sure he even can anymore. Chaperoned by his youngest brother, Bruno, he heads to the Wiccan Haus to ask Rekkus for help. But when Bruno doesn't show up on the other side of the portal, Edouard's inability to shift is no longer his biggest problem.Lincoln Tucker has it all: money, fame, and a golden voice. But he's in the closet twice over--few people know he's gay, and even fewer know he can shift into a songbird at will. Downtime at the Wiccan Haus between tours allows him to be himself. Throw a big toppy bear-shifter into the mix, and Lincoln might just have all he's ever wanted--if he can trust himself to hold on to Edouard.With passions and tempers burning hot, can Lincoln help Edouard bring forth the bear and save his brother? Review: Edouard Bonsaint is a bear shifter who doesn’t shift into a bear. He’s going to the Wiccan Haus to work with Rekkus on his shifting issues. Lincoln Tucker is a tween-heartthrob who has more than one secret. He’s determined to enjoy his vacation at the Wiccan Haus without any interruptions. When Lincoln and Edouard meet, they’re drawn to each other, but will outside influences and deep-seated emotional issues keep them apart?Please be advised: This book contains m/m sexual content. ‘Shifter’s Song’ is the second Wiccan Haus book featuring the Bonsaint brothers. Edouard has locked down his bear so tightly he can’t shift anymore, but now he has a reason to with his younger brother missing. Lincoln Tucker is a pop star who wants to be himself, but is scared to based on familial pressures and the price of fame. The passion and promise between Edouard and Lincoln is palpable and in a few short pages, I found myself truly caring about these characters and their happiness. Ms. North has a deft touch in creating well-rounded characters with emotion and depth. It’s also the first featuring a m/m relationship and proves love is love. Very well done! Wiccan Haus Series: Shifting Hearts (1), A Man Worth Fighting For (2), An Apple Away (3), Siren's Serenade (4), Psychic Lies (5), Shifter's Dance (6), Unveil My Heart (7), Shifter's Song (8) Author Website Author Twitter

Graphic is not mine, found via an image search on Google, if you know source LMK and I will link Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and today's topic is all about the books that are on our Summer TBR lists. There are so many books that I want to read but when I think of summer I think of those lighter books, those that are good to read when sitting on the beach. Now I'm not sure if I'll be able to get to all of these but I sure hope to. 1. How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True by Sarah Strohmeyer. I really loved Smart Girls Get What They Want and am really looking forward to this sophomore follow up by Strohmeyer. (I'm also giving away a signed copy here for those interested.) 2. Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham. I've had this one my shelf since it came out and hope to get to it soon. After all its a road trip book! 3. The Distance Between Us by Kasie West. This just sounds like a really fun contemporary. 4. That Summer by Sarah Dessen Can you believe that I've never read a Sarah Dessen book? I really need to fix that. This is her first book and I'm tempted to read her backlog in chronological order. 5. The Boy on the Bridge by Natlie Standiford. A contemp/historical (its set in 80s and people are divided on how to classify) set in Russia...plus I've been told that its the Best book evah by a friend so I am intrigued. 6. Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCarfferty. Book Bully Tiffany says that I should read this series so I need to listen to her. 7. Charming by Elliot James. Read the synopsis...how can you not be intrigued? 8. Phantom Eyes by Scott Tracey. Oh this will probably break my heart but I need to know what happens next. 9. Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning. I've been getting back in touch with my love of adult paranormal by reading Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson series. I've heard good things about Moning's books and want to check them out. 10. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. I picked this one up at the BEA Power Reader Day and I am intrigued even though its like a bazillion pages long. I didn't really have YA when I was growing up so my genre of choice was fantasy and sci-fi. I've been meaning to get back to my roots of reading. Maybe this summer I can do so. These are just a fraction of the books that I want to read. I am a bibliophile and as you can imagine my TBR pile is astronomical. If only I could have a clone (or two) then maybe I could get through them all.

MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDRENNow In Paperback! BY RANSOM RIGGSABOUT THE BOOK:A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of vintage photography. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, a spine-tingling YA fantasy illustrated with haunting black-and-white photography. The hardcover edition spent more than 52 consecutive weeks on the New York Times Best-Seller List. This beautifully designed paperback edition features an exclusive interview with author Ransom Riggs and a sneak preview of the upcoming Miss Peregrine novel.ABOUT THE AUTHOR:RANSOM RIGGS is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. He is also the author of Talking Pictures (Harper Collins, 2012) and The Sherlock Holmes Handbook (Quirk, 2008). He is a graduate of the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts and lives in Los Angeles. OTHER BOOKS BY RANSOM RIGGS: GIVEAWAYTHANKS TO ERIC AND THE GOOD FOLKSAT QUIRK BOOKS, I HAVE ONE COPY OFTHIS BEST SELLER, NOW IN PAPERBACK,TO GIVE AWAY TO A LUCKY READER --U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY --NO P. O. BOXES---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESSIN CASE YOU WIN!--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!HOW TO ENTER:+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHAT YOU READ ABOVE ABOUT MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK, AND DON'T FORGET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS +1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG AND/OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK HERE AND LEAVE ME YOUR LINK +1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FIND INTERESTING WHEN YOU VISIT AUTHOR RANSOM RIGGS' WEBSITE HERE +1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE OTHER CURRENT GIVEAWAY YOU HAVE ENTERED. IF YOU ENTERED MORE THAN ONE, YOU MAY COMMENT SEPARATELY TO GAIN MORE ENTRIES +1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU CAN COMMENT SEPARATELY AND EACH WILL COUNT AS AN ENTRY GIVEAWAY ENDS AT 6 PM, EST, JULY 5 GOOD LUCK! As required by the FCC: I received one copy of this book/item in order to write my review. I received no monetary compensation for this review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are mine alone. This post and all images contained herein are © 2010 BOOKIN' WITH BINGO's Book Blog. All Rights Reserved. If you’re reading this on a site other than BOOKIN' WITH BINGO's Book Blog or its RSS feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is being used without permission.

Please join Katherine Webb, author of A Half Forgotten Song, as she tours the blogosphere with TLC Book Tours! Reviewed by Kathie Smith Katherine Webb masterfully intertwines the past and present in A Half Forgotten Song. Zach Gilchrist has fallen off course somewhere along the way. An aspiring artist specializing in Charles Aubrey, with whom he may or may not share a biological connection, Zach finds himself divorced, facing the reality of his much-loved daughter moving to America, and selling art in a floundering gallery. His one hope is the advance he received to write a book about Charles Aubrey. He realizes that this cannot be yet another book about Aubrey’s work and life. This book needs an angle, a catch. Blacknowle, England was the summer vacationing spot for Aubrey’s family for several years and this small village along the Dorset coast is where he met Dimity “Mityz” Hatcher – a frequent subject for his prized artwork. Zach believes this is the one place he may find answers concerning the mystery of Charles Aubrey. Surprisingly, Dimity “Mitzy” Hatcher is still alive yet has never been interviewed by any previous writers of books about Aubrey. Zach is instantly fascinated by an unusual woman whose eyes hold promise of endless possibility. As Zach builds a tenuous relationship with Mitzy, he slowly learns the story of the summer of 1937: Aubrey’s last summer in Dorset before unpredictably entering the war after the death of his daughter and mysterious disappearance of his wife. Mitzy was a beauty as a child but outcast and ridiculed due to her ragged appearance and unloving mother’s reputation. When Aubreys arrive one summer and Mitzy is quickly befriended by the children, Delphine and Elodie, she feels her heart open with hope and possibility. It is not long before Charles takes notice of Mitzy’s beauty and begins to sketch her. The attention leads to what appears to be a young crush on a handsome man who has, unlike so many others, taken an interest in her. Mitzy’s relationship with Charles and the rest of the Aubrey family is complex and fascinating. The world is opened for her during a vacation to Morocco, yet she returned to Blacknowle where she remained for life. Mitzy no longer cares that she is considered the odd spinster recluse as she lives with memories, and ghosts, of her past with the seemingly misguided notion that her relationship with Aubrey came to fruition and remains a strong reality for her to this day. The startling, haunting, heartbreaking and hopeful truths begin to emerge and allow Mitzy to release the ghosts of her past while allowing Zach to see new possibilities for his future. Everything is nicely wrapped up at the end, but it is impossible not to ponder the possibilities of what may come next. Elizabeth Webb has created a captivating modern gothic novel in A Half Forgotten Song that will satisfy fans of Kate Morton, Daphne du Maurier and countless others. Rating: ★★★★½ Kathie is a writer, wife, mother and volunteer living in the beautiful Appalachian mountains. Her passion for the written word is fulfilled by creating her own fictional work, freelancing, acting as an adviser to another author, and reading with her six year old daughter. Review copy was provided free of any obligation by William Morrow Paperbacks. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received. Pin It