House Of Stone

House of Stone

By:Anthony Shadid

307 Pages

Anthony Shadid recounts the rebuilding of his ancestral home. As he takes you on that journey, he tells you the history of the Middle East this home lives within. He also allows you to meet his family.

Anthony gives you an eye opening look into the world of war that he reports on. The things he sees will affect you. What drew me the most was the story of the house and his family.

The Middle East is a part of the world I know next to nothing about, but have a  new appreciation for. I encourage anyone who is fascinated by the Middle East to read this book. Anthony Shadid takes you by the hand and introduces you to this world and all the people who live there.

The Book Of Lost Fragrances

The Book Of Lost Fragrances
By: M.J. Rose
384 Pages
*** Reviewed By: Betsey Brooks ***

Summary:
 "...When Robbie L’Etoile of the failing House of L’Etoile perfumery discovers, in the family’s Paris workshop, pottery shards holding traces of a perfume that can cause recall of previous lives, he shares his discovery with archaeologist Griffin North, an old family friend who’s the ex-lover of Jac, Robbie’s clairvoyant sister and a myth scholar. After exposure to the shards, Jac finds herself balancing visions of the lives of grieving lovers from the past with her own complicated feelings about Griffin. Robbie, a Buddhist, later disappears after the Chinese mafia learns he intends to give the pottery to the Dali Lama to support the hopes of Tibetans in exile." ---Publisher's Weekly

This was a wonderfully fast paced read with a surprise in each chapter. The story swirls around pieces of pottery found in an Egyptian tomb. They have a sent of an ancient perfume which has an unusual effect on those that smell it. The L'Etoile who was there for the discovery has hidden it. Finding and having these pieces mean different things to a variety of people. The story tell of journey each person takes trying to obtain them. 

The main character is Jac L'Etoile. The  L'Etoile family has been making perfumes in France  for many generations and is well known internationally. Jac and her brother, Robbie, are now in control of the company. Their father developed Alzheimer's and is no longer able to continue. Unfortunately, his condition wasn't diagnosed before he made many poor business decisions. Between that, and the failing economy, the company is in deep financial trouble. Robbie has taken over the company and is attempting to get things back on track.

Jac never wanted anything to do with the company. She moved to the United States and is a well known author who has her own television show called Mythfinders. In both her book and show, Jac explores the origins of myths and legends. Jac is very different from the person she presents to people around her. She has visions of past lives that take over her consciousness.  While Jac is in the US, Robbie has been working to make some sense of the mess his father has made both physically in the lab and in papers left all around. He finds something that he feels can put the company back on its feet. Robbie needs Jac's help. Robbie disappeared and a body is found in the lab. Jac comes home to find her brother.

A second character is Xie  Ping. He is an award winning student artist in a Chinese college and  a person of interest to the Chinese government. Xie's earliest years were spent in Tibet but that ended with his "rescue" from a burning Buddhist  temple. A group of 4 artist have been invited to go on and exhibition tour in Europe. The tour may change Xie's life forever.

The past and the future are woven throughout this story and play a key roll in it's climax.

Another strand of the story tells of various people that want the pieces of pottery because of the effect they have. Proving reincarnation is a driving force to some. Others want it because of its historic value. But then there is another group that  want it to disappear forever. It becomes a life and death struggle as their paths intertwine.

If you are looking for a book that will capture you from the very first page and not let go until the very last word, look not further than The Book Of Lost Fragrances. M.J. Rose takes you on an adventure you won't want to stop reading about. It was  hard to put down once I got into it. However each chapter is so well crafted, it was easy to pick back up. I read this in 2 sittings. If I had been on a vacation I would have read it straight through. That is the pull it has on you. This is a remarkable book you will not forget about once you've finished it.

I would encourage any reader to purchase this book. The historic information is fascinating and come to life through the exquisite details. Thank you to the author for taking me on a wonderful journey.

Rating: Buy It!

Explosive Eighteen

Explosive Eighteen
By: Janet Evanovich
305 Pages

Summary:
Stephanie is slipped a photo without her knowing. Turns out the photos is more than just a picture. Hired thugs are chasing her down to get it.

Once upon time a I looked forward to the Stephanie Plum releases. I waited impatiently to read what new adventures Stephanie and company would find themselves into. I couldn't wait for the laughter and hilarity to begin. However, I fear those days are fading fast.

Not only did this book fall way short of my Stephanie Plum expectations, it was an anti-climatic storyline followed by an anti-climatic ending. My favorite characters have always been Grandma Mazor and Lula, and both were off their game this time around.

The story line's in the book were barely there and easily forgettable. There was little to no of the magic that made this series the smash it was. As usual, the love triangle between Stephanie, Joe, and Ranger is still in effect and makes no progress. Stephanie has botched attempts at getting her FTAs, but none of them were funny this time around. In fact, I got annoyed with Stephanie for putting up with the crap she does.

Joyce comes back in a storyline that had potential. She was trying to sell information to a group of jewel thieves. Thinking they wanted her dead, she goes into hiding. Turns out she wasn't on their radar and they aren't what she thought they were.

I've never been so disappointed in the Stephanie Plum series as I am with Explosive Eighteen.

Rating: Borrow From The Library/ Return It if You Bought It!

How To Eat A Cupcake

How To Eat A Cupcake
By: Meg Donohue
270 Pages

Summary:
...what happens when two childhood friends, Annie and Julia, reconnect as adults and decide to open a cupcakery. But success in their new baking business venture will depend upon their overcoming old betrayals, first loves, and an unexpected and quite dangerous threat. -- bn.com

Annie and Julia literally grew up together. The two were inseparable all through their childhoods, but things changed once they entered High School. Annie is painfully aware that she's the daughter of the help surrounded by wealthy kids. Things go from bad to worse when she's accused of stealing things belonging to other students. She's placed on suspension, and her college of choice is notified. The future she holds so dear suddenly hangs in the balance. Was she right in assuming it was Julia who started the rumors of Annie being the school thief?

Before everything could be resolved, and her name cleared, Annie's beloved Mother dies. Now there is no reason to stay. Once she's able, she goes to her college and Julia goes to hers. Never the two shall meet again, if Annie has her way.

A decade passes and Annie has been asked to cater a party for the wealthy Lolly St. Clair- Julia's Mother. To further the shock of being back in the house she swore never to set foot in again is seeing Julia there as well. Julia is back at home planning her wedding. However, there's more to her moving back home than anyone knows. Life in New York came to a screeching halt for Julia, landing her in the hospital. No one knows she was even there, and no one knows why she was there- not even her fiance, Wes. What secret is she withholding? Will she ever get the nerve to tell Wes the truth behind it?

After eating one of Annie's cupcakes that Julia has hidden after the party, she has an ingenious idea: She & Julia could open a cupcakery! Annie isn't as enthusiastic and rejects Julia's offer. However, she later changes her mind and agrees. While Annie is the reluctant partner, there is someone who is dead set against the idea.

While planning and opening Treat, incidents begin to occur. From graffiti being sprayed on their counters, to throwing a rock at the front window, the incidents grow more serious. Mild scare tactics don't stay mild, but take a dangerous turn. Who is doing all of this? Why are they against the store? Is it someone they both know? Could the mysterious hooded man be the culpret or is a saving grace in disguise?

Throw in the guy from high school Annie had a crush on, but Julia dated and you have a wonderful reunion that is screaming for cupcakes. Jake is now pursuing Annie, but doesn't turn down meeting up with Julia for drinks at bars. One meeting goes too far when Annie catches the two in a kiss. Does it matter who kissed who? Can she forgive them?

This book was fun to read. I will admit that during the reading of this book I had to buy cake mix, but that's beside the point. I enjoyed reading about the turbulent relationship Annie and Julia had. It was interesting to see what wedges drove the two apart, and how they were able to get passed them. I was caught off-guard by a few surprises. How To Eat A Cupcake was a very nice and welcome distraction to my stressful weekend. I must warn you: don't read this book without a plate of cupcakes with you. It just makes the reading all the better.

Rating: Borrow From The Library

Chasing The Cyclone

Chasing The Cyclone

By: Peter Thomas Senese.

Summary (provided by the publisher):

Paul Francesco is an independent, successful single man in his late thirties who has everything in the world going for him: financial stability with the real possibility of obtaining significant wealth, a dedicated and loyal group of family and friends, and a challenging, exciting, and rewarding career. Except Paul has one problem: he lives with a deep, dark secret that torments him: he is a ghost living in purgatory despite his relative success.

Unknown to Paul, there is an evil plan to extort his hard-earned assets from him and in the process deny him the one thing that is more important to him than anything else in the world: to be an active part of his son Alex's life. Unfortunately, his innocent and trusting seven-year old son is at the center of this vicious and diabolical plot directed at him.

When things go from bad to worse to unbelievably insane - when judges choose not to uphold the laws of their nations, when law enforcement turns a blind eye, and when one government after another's hands are tied due to bureaucratic issues of jurisdiction or non-participation of the international treaty on child abduction, the only thing that could prevent Alex from becoming another sad and sorry statistic on a report that nobody wants to read or think about is his father's vow to never abandon him no matter what. As a result, Paul is forced to become a hunter, chasing the predators who have taken his son to the other side of the world. With the situation becoming more and more desperate, he is forced to find other resources to help him.

As the hunt moves across international borders, taking Francesco to the other side of the world, he gathers together an extraordinary group of individuals, each with their own powerful stories, to help him. The story moves from The United States and Canada, to the island nations of Oceania, and culminates in the horrifying black-markets of Asia.

In this well written suspense novel, Senese leads the reader on an all-out emotional roller coaster. Senese uses his first-hand experience to weave a fantastic tale of international child abduction by an ex-spouse. Throughout the novel Senese uses his platform to spread real information about what a Chasing Parent goes through and what types of resources are available.

The story revolves around the main character, Paul Francesco, and his loving relationship with his son, Alex. The outrageous predicaments that the ex-wife forces upon Paul creates a patchwork of suspense that encircles half the globe. The story is laid out well, and the main and many of the secondary characters are well described and fleshed out. The fact that this story is based on true events make it easy for the reader to empathize with the main character and what every loving parent would attempt to do to retrieve an abducted child.

This thrill ride will have you run the gamut of emotions. Prepare to be taken from outright rage when certain court rulings and actions by the ex-wife are described, to elation when even the little battles are won, and misery and despair at the thought of never seeing your child again. Despite all of the emotions that will be present, this book focuses mostly on the idea of hope. For without the hope of the father and son, both lives would be ruined forever.
Rating: Buy It!!

The Detour

The Detour
By: Andromeda Romano-Lax
304 Pages

Summary:

Ernst Vogler is twenty-six years old in 1938 when he is sent to Rome by his employer—the Third Reich's Sonderprojekte, which is collecting the great art of Europe and bringing it to Germany for the Führer. Vogler is to collect a famous Classical Roman marble statue, The Discus Thrower, and get it to the German border, where it will be turned over to Gestapo custody. It is a simple, three-day job.

Things start to go wrong almost immediately. The Italian twin brothers who have been hired to escort Vogler to the border seem to have priorities besides the task at hand—wild romances, perhaps even criminal jobs on the side—and Vogler quickly loses control of the assignment. The twins set off on a dangerous detour and Vogler realizes he will be lucky to escape this venture with his life, let alone his job. With nothing left to lose, the young German gives himself up to the Italian adventure, to the surprising love and inevitable losses along the way. --bn.com

I had such high hopes for this book upon starting it. The time period, the subject matter, how could it not be a page-turner?! Well, I was sadly mistaken. So mistaken, in fact, that I couldn't finish the book. I got half way through and could go no further.

To me, the plot was too slow-moving and uneventful. I was not able to get interested in Ernst Vogler's strained relationship with his father. The journey that is the subject of the book wasn't able to suck me in, either. What I read of it was dull and uneventful.

I am always saddened when I don't like a book. Not being able to finish a book is worse for me because I run the risk of missing out on the good stuff. However, if you aren't able to grab me and keep me within the first half of the book, I no longer care how it all ends.

The Darlings

The Darlings

By: Cristina Alger

338 Pages

Now that he's married to Merrill Darling, daughter of billionaire financier Carter Darling, attorney Paul Ross has grown accustomed to New York society and all of its luxuries: a Park Avenue apartment, weekends in the Hamptons, bespoke suits. When Paul loses his job, Carter offers him the chance to head the legal team at his hedge fund. Thrilled with his good fortune in the midst of the worst financial downturn since the Great Depression, Paul accepts the position.

But Paul's luck is about to shift: a tragic event catapults the Darling family into the media spotlight, a regulatory investigation, and a red-hot scandal with enormous implications for everyone involved. Suddenly, Paul must decide where his loyalties lie-will he save himself while betraying his wife and in-laws or protect the family business at all costs? -- bn.com

I had a hard time getting into this book. I'm not one who understands the stock market or the financial circuit, so I'm not surprised that I struggled. The story breaks down the days and hours in the aftermath of Morty Reis's suicide. It comes as a shock to everyone who knew him.

I was really hoping to get The Darlings. However, I just wasn't able to do it. The whole financial plot was just not one that sucked me in.
I hope you have better luck than I did. This is definitely a book I'll be routing for, despite my not being able to finish it. I know there are tons of people who love these books, and I think those are the readers who will be able to appreciate The Darlings.