The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain

A beloved daughter. A devastating choice. And now there's no going back.

Four years ago, nineteen-year-old Travis Brown made a choice: to raise his newborn daughter on his own. While most of his friends were out partying and meeting girls, Travis was at home, changing diapers and worrying about keeping food on the table. But he's never regretted his decision. Bella is the light of his life. The reason behind every move he makes. And so far, she is fed. Cared for and Safe.

But when Travis loses his construction job and his home, the security he's worked so hard to create for Bella begins to crumble...….

Then a miracle. A job in Raleigh has the power to turn their fortunes around. It has to. But when Travis arrives in Raleigh, there is no job, only an offer to participate in a onetime criminal act that promises quick money and no repercussions.

With nowhere else to turn, Travis must make another choice for his daughter's sake. Even if it means he might lose her.

Paperback, 368 pages

Published April 24th 2012 by Mira (first published January 1st 2012)

more details...

ISBN

0778313468 (ISBN13: 9780778313465

My Thoughts:  Let me start by saying that this is the first novel by Diane Chamberlain, that I have read.  There are many other books out there that I have on my TBR list, that need to be pushed to the top of my list. 

I love how Ms Chamberlain develops vivid characters whom you can’t help but to care about.    I felt and cared about each of them in different ways during the shifting of their personal stories.
 

"The Good Father" is much more than choices parents make.  I could feel Travis's hopelessness and despair trying to provide for his daughter.   My heart just ached during the time of their homelessness.
We sympathize with Erin's grieving the  loss of her daughter, and not being able to grieve with her husband.   I felt so for Robin, who survived so much in her life, and in the end is able to see what is really important to her.   This novel has so many facets, elements of suspense, deception, romance.   There were parts of this story that were absolutely heart-wrenching, and I just kept turning pages just to see what was going to happen next. 

I am rating "The Good Father" a 9/10, all the elements of a perfectly written story. 

Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult

Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult

From GOODREADS:   Edward Warren, twenty-four, has been living in Thailand for five years, a prodigal son who left his family after an irreparable fight with his father, Luke. But he gets a frantic phone call: His dad lies comatose, gravely injured in the same accident that has also injured his younger sister Cara.

With her father’s chances for recovery dwindling, Cara wants to wait for a miracle. But Edward wants to terminate life support and donate his father’s organs. Is he motivated by altruism, or revenge? And to what lengths will his sister go to stop him from making an irrevocable decision?

Lone Wolf explores the notion of family, and the love, protection and strength it’s meant to offer. But what if the hope that should sustain it, is the very thing that pulls it apart? Another tour de force from Jodi Picoult, Lone Wolf examines the wild and lonely terrain upon which love battles reason

Hardcover: 432 pages

Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books; First Edition edition (February 28, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1439102740

ISBN-13: 978-1439102749

 My Thoughts:  First of all, the reason for reading this novel is that I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult.  There are only a couple of her books that I have not read, but plan to at some time.  Like Jodi Picoult's other novels, Lone Wolf deals with real life issues; situations that no one wants to find themselves in but that we know people deal with every single day.  For me, being able to identify with real life issues, and real life characters(without reading Non-Fiction),  keeps me reading from page 1 to the end.

The authenticity of rankings of a wolf pack and how they lived were of  little interest to me while reading this story.  I felt the storyline of the wolf pack was used as a correlation to family (packs)  The main interest was the family dynamics, the subject of traumatic brain injury, advance directives, living wills, and end-of-life care.  I read a review on-line and needed to add this to my review, because I could not have said it better.

 "Everyone is entitled to their opinion and we definitely don't have to agree! That being said, fiction, at the end of the day, is still what it is, what fiction readers appreciate about it, and will never be anything else. I read fiction for a story. A good time. An escape from any reality I will ever know. Characters take me to far away places. I love spending time with them during the duration of a book."

One of Jodi Picoult's trademarks, if you will, is that all the different fonts are not a mistake.  I enjoy her way of separating each character’s feelings, emotions and thoughts.  This was wonderfully done in each chapter of the Lone Wolf.

Like other Picoult novels, there are multiple levels of conflict – from simple brother and sister arguments to court room drama, conflict between, mother and son, mother and daughter and husband and wife.     Because of the way Picoult handles these conflicts, with a caring touch and balances, it was very easy for me to see and care about all parties involved in this terrible decision that had to be made.    

I cannot say that I was surprised at the ending, but as always I was not disappointed.  Even though I am trying to branch out and experience other authors, Jodi Picoult continues to be my favorite.

I am giving this book a  5/5 because of my favorite author.

This completes Book I for Spring Thing Challenge 2012.  Now onto Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, for Book II, and the Secret Garden Read-A-Long.

Happy Reading Everyone!!  See you Soon!


                                                             
                                         

I COULDN'T LOVE YOU MORE BY JASON INGRAM

This is my first children's book sent to me from Tyndale Publishers for review  I wasn't sure how I was going to review this adorable book.   When I saw the cover and the beautiful illustrations, I put my hands to my face and worried if I would be able to give this story the review it deserves.

My first thought when I saw the cover was "What a beautiful soothing bedtime story for my granddaughter Hayden, who by the way just turned 3 last week.   Then I started turning the pages and fell in love with the cutest animals; little bunnies, kittens, baby bears, baby ducks, and little cuddly piglets.

This story is more than a parent reminding their children that they love them, but that Jesus will always be with them and "Couldn't Love Them More".  Telling our boys that we love them unconditionally has been an important part of our parenting.  It was (is) very important that even though they are now grown men with families of their own, they know that we are always here for them.  We are all in different towns, and states, but we talk on the phone regularly.  Our conversations always end with "I Love You".  I see through my grandchildren, an their young age of  3, these 3 words and the understanding have been passed down to them. 

I feel truly honored to be given the chance to read and review this wonderful children's book, but also to be able to pass this book onto my granddaughter Hayden Paige.

Spring Reading Thing 2012

I just found this challenge and was really taken by the thought of reading a book title starting with the letters in Spring.

When? March 20th – June 19th

What? Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, will be to read the word SPRING plus we’ve added three bonus mini challenges. How do you read the word Spring? Good question. You have three options:
a. Read books whose titles begin with each letter in the word SPRING.
b. Read books where the authors’ first names begin with each letter in the word SPRING.
c. Read books where the authors’ last names begin with each letter in the word SPRING.

Bonus:
1. Read a book with the name of a flower in the title.
2. Read a book with a flower(s) on the cover.
3. Read a book where the main character’s name is the name of a flower.

Example:
S ~ Sheriff’s Surrender, The by Susan Page Davis or Susan Page Davis, The Sheriff’s Surrender or Stevenson, Robert Louis – Treasure Island
P ~
R ~
I ~
N ~
G ~

I went thru my list of books on my TBR list and found that I have books of every letter just waiting to be read.  Surprise, Surprise.  Here is my list of books that I am going to attempt to read:

S =  Sisters by Nancy Jensen

P = The Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult

R = The Rest of Her Life by Laura Moriarty

I = In Leah's Wake by Terri Giuliano Long

N = Night Swim by Jessica Keener

G = The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain - just received from Net Galley

I am really looking forward to reading some of your reviews of books relating to SPRING!!!!

Happy Reading

Sworn By Silence

Hi Readers: As I said I was going to try and read Sworn By Silence mainely because of the Amish setting. I could not even get past the 1st paragraph and had to put the book away. --- There are too many books that are so beautifully write on waste my time on graphic violence. Without even reading this I am giving the book an F.

I am on to the Russian Winter by Daphne Kalotay which has been on my TBR pile for a long time.

Happy Reading
Cathy

Wherever Grace Is Needed by Elizabeth Bass

SUMMARY

When Grace Oliver leaves Portland for Austin, Texas, to help her father, Lou, recuperate from a car accident, she expects to stay just a few weeks. Since her mother's divorce thirty years ago, Grace has hovered on the periphery of the Oliver family. But now she sees a chance to get closer to her half-brothers and the home she's never forgotten.

But the Olivers are facing a crisis. Tests reveal that Lou, a retired college professor whose sharp tongue and tenderness Grace adores, is in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Grace delays her departure to care for him, and is soon entwined in the complicated lives of her siblings-all squabbling over Lou's future-and of the family next door…
Ray West and his three children are reeling from a recent tragedy, particularly sixteen-year-old Jordan, whose grief is heightened by guilt and anger. Amid the turmoil, Grace not only gives solace and support, but learns to receive it. And though she came to Austin to reconnect with her past, she is drawn by degrees into surprising new connections .... from Reading Group Choice

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed how this story was more about characters than plot. I thought Elizabeth Bass did a great job in developing the personalities of each of the characters. Grace is such a believable character. Can't you picture yourself thinking that you are going to help out a parent for a short time, and finds more and more reasons to stay longer? I can !!!! My heart really when out to the West family. Each of them trying to deal with the loss of 2 family members (mother/wife)and (sister/daughter), killed in a horrible car accident. Jordan full of grief and guilt and putting this wall up so that she doesn't have to feel the pain. Grace finds herself entwined in their lives. As it turns out in a very positive way.

I felt that I was emotionally invested through this whole novel. The most emotional part for me was when Grace finally faced the fact that her dad has early stages of Alzheimer and that there would come a day when he would not know her.

This is the first novel of Elizabeth Bass that I have read. I intend to read more of her work. I am giving this charming book a B+, and would highly recommend this for any Book Club.

Sworn By Silence

A little bit of fun on a Friday, this weekly meme is hosted by A Few More Pages.
I'll share the first line (or two) of the book I'm currently reading (including the title and author) and let you know what my first impressions are - good or bad!

She hadn’t believed in monsters since she was six years old, back when her mom would check the closet and look beneath her bed at night. But at the age of twenty-one, bound and brutalized and lying naked on a concrete floor that was as cold as lake ice, she believed.

This is my next read. This is the first in a series by Linda Castillo. Am so looking forward to reading about my favorite Amish Culture and a good mystery. It may be a little graphic but I will do my best to get past that.

Happy Reading Everyone

Cathy