The Preservationist by Justin Kramon

To Sam Blount, meeting Julia is the best thing that has ever happened to him.

Working at the local college and unsuccessful in his previous relationships, he'd been feeling troubled about his approaching fortieth birthday, "a great beast of a birthday," as he sees it, but being with Julia makes him feel young and hopeful. Julia Stilwell, a freshman trying to come to terms with a recent tragedy that has stripped her of her greatest talent, is flattered by Sam's attention. But their relationship is tested by a shy young man with a secret, Marcus Broley, who is also infatuated with Julia.

Told in alternating points of view, The Preservationist is the riveting tale of Julia and Sam's relationship, which begins to unravel as the threat of violence approaches and Julia becomes less and less sure whom she can trust. (GoodReads).

Review:  I'm not one who reads many thrillers, but Justin Kramon's new book THE PRESERVATIONIST really sounded good. The novel definitely starts off with a creepy feeling factor. Julia is just starting off a relationship with Marcus and Marcus seems a little...different. Then she kinda has a thing with Sam, also seems a little creepy! The guy is almost forty and likes being around young college kids.

As I first began reading, I really didn't feel any connection to the characters. They seemed flat for awhile. However, as the relationship between Sam and Julia really began to develop Julia begins to open up. She feels safe with him and really begins to share, this seemed to help me to understand her more. Just as their relationship begins to blossom, Julia is hit with a shocking revelation. Everything becomes complicated. A threat takes over the college. And Marcus reappears trying to destroy their relationship.

Overall the story itself isn't shocking (though I was taken back by the ending). With that being said, I still found THE PRESERVATIONIST to be enthralling! With each chapter I was further transported into a dark world where someone was always watching. At the end of most chapters, I would stop and  catch my breath, as my heart was racing. I could hardly put the book down! I am highly recommending THE PRESERVATIONIST!

Follow Justin Kramon

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Tuesday, October 15th: Booksie’s Blog

Wednesday, October 16th: Book-a-licious Mama

Thursday, October 17th: The Lost Entwife

Tuesday, October 22nd: BoundbyWords

Wednesday, October 23rd: No More Grumpy Bookseller

Thursday, October 24th: Books in the Burbs

Monday, October 28th: Book Addict Katie

Tuesday, October 29th: Tina’s Book Reviews

Wednesday, October 30th: A Novel Review

Thursday, October 31st: Lectus

Monday, November 4th: Under My Apple Tree

Tuesday, November 5th: Seaside Book Corner

Wednesday, November 6th: The Well-Read Redhead

Thursday, November 7th: nomadreader

Friday, November 8th: Kritters Ramblings

Tuesday, November 12th: Cerebral Girl in a Redneck World

Leaving Haven by Kathleen McCleary

Getting what you want is just the beginning. Now you have to discover what you truly need. . . . 

(GoodReads): Georgia Bing and Alice Kinnaird have always been there for each other. Eager to help her best friend have another baby after several miscarriages, Alice donates one of her eggs. When Georgia learns she's going to have the baby boy she's always wanted, she's thrilled—until a devastating discovery destroys her dreams.

While Alice is happy to help her friend get pregnant, she also feels a twinge of disappointment that her own life is missing something . . . something she desperately craves. On the surface, Alice has everything—a busy social life, a great job, a faithful husband, an amazing teenage daughter. But her well-ordered world is knocked off its axis when she's tempted by a forbidden passion that threatens the bonds of friendship, marriage, and motherhood that sustain her.

As the safety of their past is shattered, Georgia and Alice must embark on journeys of self-discovery—odysseys filled with surprising challenges that will test them and force them to confront the truth about their lives . . . and the choices they've made.

My thoughts: Let me start with, go buy this book! No joke! Go buy it! I absolutely loved LEAVING HAVEN! I am going to try very hard to not giveaway any spoilers.

During the novel, the reader is given both Georgia and Alice's perspective--which really really allow you the reader to relate to both women and this makes things trickier. You need to pay attention to the chapters because you get back story and forward moving story. I love this and it doesn't bother me, but I like to mention it.

On a personal level I related in a number of ways to Georgia. She wants to build her family, but has suffered miscarriages and has been for some time obsessing about a baby. This really hit home for me. I could relate to her struggle and even how she really wanted to let the idea of a baby go, but just couldn't bring herself to let it go. I really think McCleary did a wonderful job of really sharing Georgia's pain and desire. On the flip side, I didn't really relate much to Alice. But I know Alice types. I see the appeal in having a friend like Alice and as I got to know her more, I felt like Alice herself was slowly learning more about herself. The further I read the more I felt for Alice, she had clearly never dealt with the issues she had with her mother. I found her story complex and Georgia's story heartbreaking. Seriously, go buy it.

From the very first page I was hooked. I wanted to know...needed to know what the heck! Every time I put down LEAVING HAVEN I was thinking about it! I'm still thinking about it! There are a number of surprise twists to the story, I was shocked! Have you ordered it yet? What are you waiting for? I absolutely loved LEAVING HAVEN and I am highly recommending!!!

Follow Kathleen McCleary

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Buy a copy of Leaving Haven by Kathleen McCleary

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Tuesday, October 1st: Sweet Southern Home

Wednesday, October 2nd: Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books

Thursday, October 3rd: Kritters Ramblings

Monday, October 7th: Book-alicious Mama

Tuesday, October 8th: Cerebral Girl in a Redneck World

Wednesday, October 9th: BookNAround

Monday, October 14th: bookchickdi

Wednesday, October 16th:  A Novel Review

Tuesday, October 22nd: Reading Lark

TBD: Seaside Book Corner

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

The Girl You Left Behind is the October SHE READS book of the month. She Reads partners with some of the most savvy, talented, and intelligent book bloggers in the business. Every month these wonderful women read our selections and review them on their personal sites. They are kind and witty and love books more than air. We would love for you to visit each of them online and follow them on Facebook and Twitter. You don’t want to miss all the book goodness they have to offer!

From Goodreads:

In 1916 French artist Edouard Lefevre leaves his wife Sophie to fight at the Front. When her town falls into German hands, his portrait of Sophie stirs the heart of the local Kommandant and causes her to risk everything - her family, reputation and life - in the hope of seeing her true love one last time.

Nearly a century later and Sophie's portrait is given to Liv by her young husband shortly before his sudden death. Its beauty speaks of their short life together, but when the painting's dark and passion-torn history is revealed, Liv discovers that the first spark of love she has felt since she lost him is threatened...

My Review:

This is a two for one story.   The first part is set in 1916 St. Peronne.  It is fall and their little town has been occupied during World War I.  There is a new Kommandant in the town and he has set his sights on Sophie.  Sophie’s husband has been gone fighting against the Germans and she does not truly know where he is or what has happen to him.  In this part of the story there is two parts.  The story of the occupation of St. Perrone and how a community reacts and survives in the small town and the story of Sophie and Edouard’s love.   Throughout the story Sophie reflects back and tells how she met and fell in love with Edouard.   Sophie’s portrait, The Girl You Left Behind, is what keeps her strong and reminds her of the girl she use to be and who she wants to be again.  At the end of this part the reader was left wondering what had become of Sophie, I loved this.

The second part of this story is 2006 in London.  This is the story of Liv Halston.  On her honeymoon her husband purchases The Girl You Left Behind from a lady who was throwing it away.  When her husband passes away suddenly Liv becomes very attached to the painting.   When a company decides that the painting truly belongs to Sophie’s family and it needs to be return Liv is devastated and decides to fight it.  In the process of fighting it she discovers Sophie’s history and the paintings history.  I loved learning of the rest of Sophie’s life.  The outcome of who owns the painting is right on and I believe that Sophie would be extremely pleased with who the owner truly is.

The way these two stories come together is amazing.  I had thoughts and opinions of what should happen and how it should be, but am pleased to say that I was not always right on.  The surprise twists entertained me until the very end.

Although you experience the feelings of despair and hopelessness in The Girl You Left Behind, there are also the feelings of hope, love and optimism.  I will definitely recommend this novel. 

Purchase The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

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5W's of J.H. Cardwell

J.H. Cardwell has written Attainment, which was released in July 2013.   I am luckily enough to have been asked to read and review it for her.  My review will be coming up later this month.   In the mean time, I am very honored to introduce you to J.H.Cardwell.   Please check out her website, follow her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.  

WHO? I’m a wife, mother, daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, niece, cousin, friend, neighbor, and co-worker. After marrying my high school sweetheart and enjoying married life for a few years, we decided to start a family, basically never stopping…until now! We have four beautiful children – three daughters and finally a baby boy. I was originally a Registered Nurse and later went in to medical sales. Only recently have I allowed myself the indulgence of my passion for writing. 

WHAT?  What do you enjoy doing other than writing in your spare time? 

Spare time…what’s that? Oh, yeah, the time I crunch into my busy day of working, carpooling, helping with my children’s homework, cooking, cleaning, talking and trying to find alone time with hubby, seeing family and friends, eating, WRITING, READING, working out on my elliptical machine, hollering at kids, praying, attending church, keeping up with Instagram, Facebook, and my website, drinking wine (because I have to fit that one in) and the list goes on…And yeah, I actually enjoy doing ALL of these (except maybe cleaning). If I’m not busy, I’m not productive! But every now and then, especially in the winter, I love to mindlessly veg out watching America’s Funniest Home Videos, eating popcorn and drinking Dr. Pepper with my family! I also love date night, grilling out, beach time, shopping, listening to music, and fine dining.

WHEN?  When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always loved writing, pretending, and make-believe. In fact, I was sure I was going to be an actress growing up due to my overly active imagination. Of course, you can read my ‘Who’ above to know that didn’t happen. OH well, I’m very happy anyhow! I’m even happier now that I took the plunge and published my first novel. I read my one to three novels a week, and know that I too can bring characters to life for people to live through, just like some of my favorite authors.

WHERE?  Where do you write?

Well…this one is very telling. I write where my kids are not…typically. You can find me oblivious to the world around me in my car, in Starbucks, at kid’s birthday parties, and the list goes on. My favorite places are on my patio sitting in my glider, or in my sunroom on my comfy leather sofa, with my feet propped up. But, I don’t always get that luxury! If my kids must be around (which I guess I better admit they are at least sometimes, ha, ha), then I have learned to tune them out when I’m busy writing except for urgent questions. In fact, sometimes you’ll find them writing beside of me, working on their own stories. Typically, I do my best writing late at night when my children and husband are asleep and in the early hours of the morning.

WHY?  Why do you write?

I write to live vicariously through my words. My husband has always gotten on me for over-telling a story or a situation when I’m talking to someone. I love elaboration and details…I guess sometimes, too much so. I enjoy letting the thoughts dictate my fingers on the keypad; then I step back and read how the story transpired. It is a nice outlet for me for my daily stress, as well as a way to experiment with all sorts of different life choices and consequences. After all, God knows I’m happy with the one I’ve chosen, but either way, it’s the one I’m living. 

The Returned by Jason Mott

(GoodReads): Jacob was time out of sync, time more perfect than it had been. He was life the way it was supposed to be all those years ago. That's what all the Returned were.

Harold and Lucille Hargrave's lives have been both joyful and sorrowful in the decades since their only son, Jacob, died tragically at his eighth birthday party in 1966. In their old age they've settled comfortably into life without him, their wounds tempered through the grace of time ... Until one day Jacob mysteriously appears on their doorstep—flesh and blood, their sweet, precocious child, still eight years old.

All over the world people's loved ones are returning from beyond. No one knows how or why this is happening, whether it's a miracle or a sign of the end. Not even Harold and Lucille can agree on whether the boy is real or a wondrous imitation, but one thing they know for sure: he's their son. As chaos erupts around the globe, the newly reunited Hargrave family finds itself at the center of a community on the brink of collapse, forced to navigate a mysterious new reality and a conflict that threatens to unravel the very meaning of what it is to be human.

With spare, elegant prose and searing emotional depth, award-winning poet Jason Mott explores timeless questions of faith and morality, love and responsibility. A spellbinding and stunning debut, The Returned is an unforgettable story that marks the arrival of an important new voice in contemporary fiction.

My Thoughts: Once I read the synopsis of THE RETURNED I knew I wanted to read it. The idea of loved ones who have passed away showing up on your doorstep, I believe is a very exciting premise. I found the novel to be compelling and very well written.

Since the premise was so different than anything else I've read, I had no idea what direction the story would go. As people began returning, the Bureau took over the Hargrave’s small town of Arcadia. There were too many people returning, some families didn’t want them and the government needed to put them somewhere. There becomes not only an issue of where they are going to live, but they needed to be fed. These are natural consequences to something like this! So as the Bureau tries to keep control over the returns you begin having people feeling the pressures of the returning taking resources. Mobs begin. On the other side of the coin you also have people fighting for the rights of the returning.These are things I wouldn't have thought about.

I want to make sure to add, that as I was reading I kept having questions. The novel discussed some of the dilemma of what was going on in the world, but it seemed to me there would be more discussion and more internal thought of the characters than I found in the novel. Another issue that really jumped out at me was the time lapse for Jacob was never addressed; neither Jacob nor the other returns seemed to ask what was going on, how come you are now so old. I believe part of the reasoning would be to show how different the returned were to the living—but I would have liked to have seen this in more discussions, how they are different. I mention it because I felt like the main living characters weren't as complex as I would have liked them to be. I guess for me I felt the story could have gone a little deeper than it did.

Now even though there were a number of issues with the story I am not saying I didn’t enjoy THE RETURNED. I did. I believe it was an excellent book, but with a few differences I believe it could have been exceptional.

The complexity of THE RETURNED really makes you stop and think. What would you do, how would you feel, what would you think of them? Twelve years ago I lost my mother to breast cancer. After she passed away, she often showed up in my dreams. She would just magically appear. I’d tell her we thought she had died and she’d say no I’m here now and my brain just accepted it. We would talk and I would tell her everything that was going on…and each time I dreamed of her we would catch up from the last time. I miss those dreams and would do anything to have another one. I’ve never had one with my dad who passed away last year. THE RETURNED for me allowed me to stop and imagine them again, but the story took it where I think exactly where I think it would go if it really happened (hope that makes sense).

THE RETURNED is a thought provoking, well written, excellent book I am highly recommending. I also want to add the ending of this novel was perfect and might just be one of the best endings I have ever read.

Buy your copy of The Returned by Jason Mott

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Follow Jason Mott

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ABC is going to be airing "Resurrection" this fall based on Mott's book! And it looks amazing!

Jason Mott’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Monday, August 26th:  Jenn’s Bookshelves

Tuesday, August 27th:  Rinn Reads

Tuesday, August 27th:  River City Reading

Wednesday, August 28th:  Bookalicious Mama

Wednesday, August 28th:  From the TBR Pile

Thursday, August 29th:  Peeking Between the Pages

Friday, August 30th:  Adventures of an Intrepid Reader

Monday, September 2nd:  Col Reads

Tuesday, September 3rd:  Man of La Book

Wednesday, September 4th:  Books Speak Volumes

Thursday, September 5th:  BookChickDi

Friday, September 6th:  Sara’s Organized Chaos

Monday, September 9th:  No More Grumpy Bookseller

Tuesday, September 10th:  Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Wednesday, September 11th:  Simply Stacie

Thursday, September 12th:  A Bookworm’s World

Friday, September 13th:  The Book Wheel

Monday, September 16th:  Peppermint Ph.D.

Tuesday, September 17th:  Unabridged Chick

Tuesday, September 17th:  Melissa Firman

Wednesday, September 18th:  Bewitched Bookworms

Thursday, September 19th:  A Bookish Way of Life

Friday, September 20th:  Luxury Reading

Friday, September 20th:  5 Minutes for Books

Monday, September 23rd:  Happy. Pretty. Sweet.

Tuesday, September 24th:  The Best Books Ever

Wednesday, September 25th:  Silver’s Reviews

Thursday, September 26th:  Between the Covers

Friday, September 27th:  Literally Jen

Monday, September 30th:  Julz Reads

Tuesday, October 1st:  Ageless Pages Reviews

Wednesday, October 2nd:  Book Addict Katie

Thursday, October 3rd:  Broken Teepee

Friday, October 4th:  A Novel Review

Monday, October 7th:  Guiltless Reading

Tuesday, October 8th:  Life in the Thumb

Wednesday, October 9th:  Laura’s Reviews