#48 Rush by Maya Banks

Blogging about this book makes me glad that my mother never reads what I write.  :)

Rush is the first in an adult audience only trilogy by Maya Banks.  I will, with a red-face, admit that I read this book in less than 24 hours.  It was addicting, it was captivating, and, yes, it was incredibly sexy. 

In the style of 50 Shades of Gray, Rush tells the story of Gabe and Mia, a man who gets what he wants and the woman who is brave enough to stand up to him when required.  I loved their story however I disagree with the RT Book Reviews who said it was "highly believable." It's anything but believable.  OK--so I am sure that there are people out there who live this erotic lifestyle and draw up contracts before they become intimate with people.  But, are they all multi-millionaires who can make someone their personal assistant, complete with high salary and full benefits just so she can be within arms reach when the mood strikes?  Come on.  Really? 

There was one truly disturbing scene in the book that made my stomach hurt and that made me want to hurl the book across the room.  I can only hope that this one scene is not part of the "highly believable" nature of the book.  I hope that what Gabe put Mia through never happens to anyone in the real world ever.  It's gut wrenching and highly disturbing and if Gabe were real, he'd be on the news by now.  If you've read the book, you know that I am talking about.  If you haven't read this book, but are needing a Christian Gray fix with a new character, Gabe is for you and you should read his story.  Just muddle through that one scene and be done with it remembering that this is fiction.

Yes, I will also admit that I am ready to read the continuation of the series.  But, I'm reading it on my iPad this time.  I just get too embarrassed thinking that someone is reading over my shoulder or is staring at the cover and judging me.  Not like I am about to admit to the entire world that I read it and liked it, or anything.   Geez.

This one is a Beach bag book.  And it is a good one.
:) Dodie

#47 When Will The Heaven Begin by Ally Breedlove

I knew how this book was going to end.  Unless you've been living under a rock, you've most likely seen Ben Breedlove's now famous YouTube video "This is My Story."  I cried when I first watched it and had no idea who Ben was, nor did I have any idea what he had lived with his entire life.  Now that I know, I am afraid to watch it.  I haven't actually.  Maybe I will once I've posted this blog.

Ben's story is detailed in the words of Ally, his older sister and his best friend.  The book literally spans his entire life, hitting the highlights, and some low points, too.  Ben's story is amazing and I was touched.  I was also reminded of a few things. 

It's almost Thanksgiving and most of us are thinking about the things we have to be thankful for, but we often do so with qualifications.  For instance, I am very thankful to have a job.  I am not so happy that I am getting a new student on Monday.  I am very thankful to have two beautiful, healthy daughters.  I am not so happy to be in the middle of their daily drama or to spend hours each night driving them places.  But, the bottom line is that I should be elated for all of the above, the good with the bad.  I should be thrilled that I am getting a new student on Monday, and that I have to dress as a farmer tomorrow and hang pictures in the hallway after school.  I should be thrilled that my daughters want to talk about their lives with me and that I get the pleasure of driving them places.  Because, bottom line, it means we are all still alive, healthy, and moving forward.  I bet Ben's mom would love some drama, or to be able to drive Ben somewhere.  I bet Ally wishes every day that she could send him a text and he'd reply.  Now, Ben, on the other hand, likes where he is and I am happy for him in that respect (you need to read the book to fully appreciate that comment).

I am certainly doing to try to look at life through new lenses.  Perhaps not rose colored ones, but just ones that remind me that while I am still alive, still breathing, and while my heart still does what it's supposed to, life is pretty darn good.

Thanks, Ben,  Thanks, Ally.  I've heard your message loud and clear and I am thankful for the reminder.

:)Dodie

#46: The Little Women Letters by Gabrielle Donnelly

I am a big fan of Little Women. I did not read it until I was almost finished with college.  It was a book I picked up on sale at the bookstore,  and while I was buying the book, I was a bit embarrassed that as an almost graduate of college with a degree in English I had not yet read it.  Almost with the first page of the story, I fell in love with each and every character.  I identified most with Meg, being the oldest child myself and rather quiet and reserved.  I wished I had been more daring and outrageous like Jo, more beautiful like Amy, or just plain good like Beth.  I hoped one day I could be a mother like Marmee.  Once the movie was released, I was able to relive the story every time I cleaned my apartment or when I just needed to hear voices in the background as I worked on my school work.  I always hoped that my girls would love this timeless story as much as I do, but, alas, it has yet to happen.  Maybe one day they will stumble across the book and decide to give it a try on their own, despite the size of the book, which is the reason they have brushed it aside to this point.

Because of my love of Alcott's story, I was intrigued when I found The Little Women Letters.  I knew there had to be a connection to the original book and I was not disappointed in any way by this brilliant story that brought back my favorite little women, and reimagined their lives and their descendants in a whole new way.  

The idea is that Jo's great-great granddaughter stumbles upon a series of letters in her mother's attic while she is searching for recipes from another long lost relative.  Through these letters she learns first hand about her great-great grandmother, her sisters and their beautiful relationship, and her great love.  It was amazing to read more about those little women and how their lives went on after their first story ended.  And meanwhile, we, the readers, are introduced to four more remarkable modern day women: Lulu, Emma, Sophie, and Charlie.  Three are blood sisters; one is a close friend who should be a sister.  Quite in the same way as the original novel, we catch glimpses into the ordinary, yet extraordinary, lives of these four young women, each serving as a modern day parallel one of the original little women.  

The novel is brilliant and I am so glad that I stumbled across this gem of a book in the bookstore.  My only regret is that I did not read this treasure sooner.  For any fan of Little Women this book is a must-read.  I am going to happily place this book on my bookshelf next to my copy of Little Women  that I bought all those years ago.  Perhaps one day one of my own little women will stumble across both books and dare to give one, or both, a try.  Should one choose to, her life will never be the same.

Happy reading, 
:)Dodie

#45: The Bookstore by Deborah Meyler

I wanted to love this book.  I needed to love a book called The Bookstore, but sadly, I did not love it.  It made me sad and depressed and I walked away from the book shaking my head, not really understanding why an author would write an ending that way, with zero closure, or why she would create such sad and depressing, or just totally crazy and unrealistic characters. 

I can not recommend this book to anyone.  I wish I could, but I can't. 

On the off chance you want to read this book, however, I have a copy you can have. 

Happy reading, but pick something else this time.
:) Dodie