Reading Out of My Comfort Zone: Harlequins

On 01.31.10, In Authors, Book Reviews, Fiction, By Natalie

On Saturday afternoon, my husband threw down the gauntlet and issued a reading challenge.  We were wandering the aisles at our local Target and came upon a wall of bodice-ripper romance novels.  We spent whole minutes admiring and comparing the covers, reading blurbs, and generally have a good laugh at the genre’s expense.  I fessed up to never having read a Harlequin and debate ensued about my book blogging credentials.

Anthony argued that being a book blogger who avoids an entire genre is akin to being a dermatologist who won’t lance boils because he or she finds that aspect of the job distasteful.  With that half-assed simile, he decided to pick a Harlequin (based on cover image and premise) for me to read and review on Book, Line, and Sinker.  I drew the line at covers featuring bare chests, heaving bosoms, or any type of undergarments.  This was our compromise:

Gotta love that title...

I zipped through the 192-page book in an hour or so and when it came to serving up cliches and insipid dialog, Kendrick didn’t disappoint.  Angie, the mousy secretary is transformed into a wanton hussy with the change of an outfit.  Her Italian boss is part playboy part chauvinistic pig, but the two manage to find some middle ground (her bed, his bed, his office floor, etc.).  Thankfully, the book wasn’t as graphic as I feared, and the sex scenes were positively tame compared to Jackie Collins and her ilk.

Can meek little Angie get Riccardo to change his fickle ways and finally settle down?  And can she also manage to repair her sister’s failing marriage and help Riccardo’s sister escape an arranged marriage and find true love?  You bet she can.

With that, The Italian Billionaire’s Secretary Mistress secures the dubious honor of being the first book to ever receive 1/2 of a bookmark on my rating system. (One bookmark is  ‘Not my cup of cocoa’, so you read into 1/2 of a bookmark however you see fit.)

Thanks to Anthony for suggesting this fun and adventurous challenge (and for footing the bill).

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Review & Giveaway: Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

On 01.21.10, In Book Blather, Book Reviews, Fiction, By Natalie

Title: Shanghai Girls

Author: Lisa See

Genre/Pages: Fiction/336

Publication: Random House; May 26, 2009

Rating: 4 BOOKMARKS

Source: Review copy courtesy of Random House for TLC Book Tours

Through war, death, arranged marriages, and the hardship of life, Pearl Chin and her younger sister May know that their bond as sisters is the one thing that will sustain them both.

A beautifully written novel that tells of just about every hardship a family can have, Shanghai Girls is not a light read but is a great one.  Lisa See expertly crafts a story that engrossed me from page 1 with rich descriptions of 1930s Shanghai (and later, Los Angeles), and characters who were flawed yet credible.

At times, I felt that See was actually relating a non-fiction piece because of her vivid and historically accurate imagery of war-torn Shanghai and life in America for Chinese and other minorities in the wake of Pearl Harbor.  As in Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, it’s evident that See did thorough historical and cultural research on the eras, cities, and customs of her characters.

Pearl and May overcome obstacle after obstacle and despite everything, manage to create or find scraps of happiness to cling to, preventing the novel from being one of total heartbreak and despair.  I can see how some readers might find this novel bleak–the last 50 pages left me reeling–but the news that See is working on a sequel allows for the hope that all is not lost for Pearl and May.

A book that spans decades and continents, Shanghai Girls has much to offer readers.  Ultimately, See captures the essence of a relationship between two sisters–the joy, pain, friendship, protective and competitive natures–no matter the culture.

To enter to win a copy of Shanghai Girls, please leave a comment below.  Two winners (US/Canada only) will be selected on Monday, January 25th.  Good luck! Congrats to Jenners and Jess, the lucky winners!

tlclogo

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to review this book!

For more reviews, please visit these other tour hosts:

Booking Mama

Savvy Verse & Wit

Dolce Bellezza

Word Lily (1/22/10)

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Review: Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

On 01.13.10, In Book Reviews, Fiction, By Natalie

Title: Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

Author: Beth Hoffman

Genre/Pages: Fiction/306

Publication: Viking; January 12, 2010

Rating: 3.5 BOOKMARKS

Source: Review copy courtesy of Viking


If you haven’t done so already, sign up before 9pm tonight to win a taste of Savannah with my Saving CeeCee Honeycutt giveaway!

Proving that families don’t have to conform to the traditional parent-child(ren) archetype, Beth Hoffman creates a loving family unit of distant relatives and friends in Saving CeeCee Honecutt.

Set primarily in Savannah, GA in 1967, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is a well-written debut novel with a cast of colorful characters, gorgeous imagery, and a few similies and metaphors that stopped me cold with their beauty.

CeeCee Honeycutt’s life was difficult from the onset.  Living for the first twelve years of her life with her manic mother in Ohio wasn’t easy.  Her mother’s antics made her the laughing stock of town and CeeCee took refuge at a kindly neighbor’s house each Sunday.

After tragedy strikes, Great Aunt Tallulah shows up to whisk young CeeCee away to a new life in Savannah.  Aunt Tootie is as sage and patient as they come, with a broad knowledge of gardening, historic homes, and Savannah in general.

Through Tootie, Hoffman is able to give a bit of history about Savannah and the homes there.  Using other characters, Hoffman touches on the social issues that plagued the South during the 60s. CeeCee has much to wrangle with during that summer and meets a network of strong women who each have something to offer.

CeeCee is a dynamic character who changes as a result of her interactions with each character and her experiences.  She is able to take away lessons from neighbors, her aunt’s friends, and most importantly, Oletta, Aunt Tootie’s cook.

Oletta helps CeeCee to confront the issues of her past while helping her acclimate to her new life.  She works to teach CeeCee new things and the bond between the characters grows with time.   I loved Oletta (and want her recipes!) but got a bit nervous from her frequent religious references.  I understand that her faith is part of who she is as a character, but thought the message was a touch heavy-handed at times.

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt was an enjoyable, sweet novel and quick read.  Hoffman’s use of characterization is strong and she is able to bring Aunt Tootie, CeeCee, Oletta, and all the other characters to life.  The storyline moved quickly and CeeCee finally gets the happily ever after that she deserves.

Thank you to Shannon at Viking for this review copy!

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