Katie Up and Down the Hall

Katie Up and Down the Hall
BY Glen Paskin
About the book:
 For families and animal lovers everywhere, Katie: Up & Down The Hall is the heartwarming story of how five neighbors living in a New York City apartment building are brought together by the purchase of a remarkable cocker spaniel.




Based upon a widely-read article published in Family Circle (“Granny Down The Hall”) here is the transcendent tale of how three generations of strangers and a dog create their own little family amidst the pressures, haste, and intensity of big-city life.



At the center of it all is Katie, an astutely intelligent spaniel with an unforgettable face who becomes a celebrity in her New York City neighborhood. There she is, alternately racing up and down an eighty-foot hallway between apartments, pushing open doors with her paws, or trotting outside along the Hudson River, surrounded by her “pack” of human friends. Through her soulful eyes, we witness nearly fifteen years of antics and family adventures spanning everything from Hollywood high times to the terrors of 9/11.


My Review:
There was so much hype surrounding this book from having the stories already published and loved in a magazine that I thought it would be better than it was.  It sounds like a great story, who wouldn't think a dog uniting an  apartment complex was a sweet story?  But i really found the book dull and somewhat lifeless.

*I received this audiobook free for review from Hachette Book Group*
Rating:3 carats

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Hollywood Ending

Hollywood Ending
By Lucie Simone

About the book:
Trina Stewart needs cash. Fast. She’s barely got enough dough to keep her fanny off the streets, let alone any spending money on Sunset Strip. And her job teaching English as a Second Language is seriously lacking in both pay and glamour. But not just any job will do. She’s after a real Hollywood job. The kind that makes her $100,000 in film school debt and ten years in Tinsel Town not seem like such a big fat waste of time and money. But a girl can’t fritter away all her time fretting over her next paycheck, can she? Certainly not when a man like Matiu Wulf, a s Maori from New Zealand, parks his oh-so-fine self in the apartment above hers while he takes his best shot at Showbiz.




If only Matiu didn’t seem so… repelled by Trina. Really, though, it’s Los Angeles that Matiu finds so revolting. He’s only in L.A. to get some scene design experience to beef up his resume, and then he’s headed back to New Zealand to follow his dreams in peace, thank you very much. That’s his plan, anyway, until he falls hard for Trina…and Trina falls under the spell of a toothy-grinned wannabe actor who charms the pants right off her.



With Matiu on a mission to win Trina’s heart, and Trina on a mission to nail down that ever elusive Hollywood job, these two soon discover that when love gets tossed in the mix, life in Tinsel Town isn’t all red carpets, after parties, and celebrity gossip.


My Thoughts:

This book is a quick, glitzy read about trying to make it in the film industry all while staying true to oneself.



The main character, Trina, has a lot of spunk and is bubbling over with wit. Her quest to pay off her film school debts and decide whether or not she wants to date her neighbor, Maitu, definitely kept for a curious plot. While the main characters offered a lot to the story many of the supporting characters acted in ways which seemed forced throughout the book.



Favorite Quote:

"Even Juliet's tropic-inspired surroundings couldn't soothe the prickles beginning to form under her skin."


Rating: 3 carats

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An Interview with Lucie Simone
1. What inspired the idea for your book?
Hollywood Ending was inspired by my own experiences trying to get ahead in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. While finishing my masters at a top film school, I taught English as a Second Language, and once I graduated, I found it very difficult to actually get a job in my field. I also wanted to write a story that depicted the Hollywood that I know and love. It’s more than just celebrities! And it’s got a lot of charm, if you know where to look. Many of the characters in Hollywood Ending are also based on people in my own life, whether that be a waiter, an ex-boyfriend, or my best friend.

2. If your book were a movie, who would you want to play the main characters?
Good question! I think for Trina, I’d love to see Ginnifer Goodwin in the role. She wouldn’t even have to wear a wig since Trina sports a pixie just like Ginnifer’s. She’s super cute and sassy like Trina, but also capable of portraying real emotional depth. As for Matiu, gee, I don’t know! The producers might have to head to New Zealand for him since he’s Maori, and whomever were to portray him would have to embody all that exotic manly charm with a Kiwi accent.

3. Which character interested you most while writing?
All the major characters were really fun to write, but the one that most intrigues me now is Trina’s best friend, Juliet. She’s facing a major life change and has some issues regarding love and men that she has to work through. Luckily, I’ll get to explore her character more in depth soon because she’s getting her own book!

4. You’re in line at Starbucks, what are you ordering?
A tall, non-fat, 4-pump Chai Latte. (I like it spicy!). If I’m hungry, I might also get a piece of Very Berry Coffee Cake. Yum!

5. What are you currently working on? What is next for you?

Right now, I’m in the middle of writing my second novel, Picture Perfect, about a TV producer whose soon-to-be-ex-husband and former assistant launch a smear campaign against her, which leads to a grisly murder and targets her as the main suspect. It’s Hollywood at its most scandalous best! I also just released my short story, A Taste of Italy, for the Nook and Kindle. At 99 cents, it’s a steal!

Hatteras Girl

 

Hatteras Girl
By Alice Wisler
Jackie Donavon has consistently asked God for two things; a husband and a bed-and-breakfast in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. As Jackie goes about her life striving for her dreams she comes across the Bailey Place, an old house with an outrageous price tag, in need of some fixing up, owned by the handsome and single Davis Erickson. Everything Jackie’s always wanted is falling into place, although Davis has a secret. Will Jackie ignore his past to go after her dreams?




The idea for the story was good but this book is so slow moving and drawn out that it wasn’t fun to read at all. The author described everything that happened and every movement each character took. It was like just get to the next scene already. I really wanted to like this book because it was set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and I have been there many times. I just couldn’t get into it. If the author was going to write such a descriptive book it would’ve been much better if she talked about the beauty of the islands or the inner dialogue of the characters and not what they were reading on the menu of a restaurant.



Favorite Quote:

“The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook”


I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers
Rating: 3 carats

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Safe Haven

Safe Haven
By Nicholas Sparks

In Safe Haven the main character, Katie Feldman, moves to a small, sleepy town on the east coast determined to make it her refuge. Katie rents a small cabin and begins to work at a local restaurant. As the days go by Katie meets a kindhearted widower, Alex, with two kids and an empathetic neighbor, Jo. She slowly lets her guard down and begins to feel part of the community. Can Katie really keep her past behind her? And will her secret put those she’s drawing close to in danger as well?




This book starts out like it is going to be a sweet southern love story and I really liked it. Halfway through the point of view shifts to that of Katie’s husband, Kevin, and we are drawn into his obsessive, controlling world as he stalks around trying to find where Katie has fled to. I stopped liking the book at this point. It turns into a thriller and just isn’t my style. However anyone who likes sitting on the edge of their seat would probably really like this book. Nicholas Sparks is an amazing writer and will definitely read another one of his books.





Favorite Line:

"That he would love her no matter what she told him, and that he was the kind of man who loved her already and would love her forever."



I received this book free for review from Hachette Audio

Rating: 3 carats

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She's Gone Country

She's Gone Country

By Jane Porter

After a painful divorce, Shey Lynn packs and moves to Texas from New York City to be with her family and regroup. She is left with three boys who do not want to be in Texas and her own doubt of whether she'll ever find happiness again. Conflict after conflict arises when Shey can't get along with her mother, doesn't feel comforted by her brothers, and her sons act out trying to get her to send then back to NYC. If that isn't enough she runs into Dane, her high school crush and begins to wonder what would happen if she had ended up with him.

The whole book seemed like Shey was just wandering aimlessly and even though there is a resolution in the end, it doesn't seem like Shey grew as a person or learned anything from her experiences. Shey is obviously hurt and struggling for answers but the books as a whole didn’t go anywhere or accomplish anything.



Favorite Line:

"Remembering hurts"

I received this book free for review from Hachette Book Group

Rating: 3 carats

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The Island

The Island
By Elin Hilderbrand

The Island is a story of four women taking a month long vacation on the island of Tuckernuck, Massachusetts, a remote island off the coast of Nantucket. All four bring their own heartbreak and try to sort through their problems together.




The story alternates between all four perspectives so you have the opportunity to get to know each character and why they wanted to escape to the island. This is supposed to be chick-lit but it didn’t seem very upbeat like chick lit traditionally is. Laced with pain the story was a bit depressing and listening to the audio version the narrators voice was dry, easy to lose track, and hard to follow.



Favorite Line:

“Plans for the vacation changed, and then changed again.”


I received this book free for review from Hachette Audio Group

Rating: 3 carats

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Men and Dogs

Men and Dogs
By Katie Crouch
After her husband cheats and abruptly leaves, Hannah Legare, is forced to face the life she fled years ago. Hannah leaves San Francisco, CA for her hometown of Charleston, SC to live with her mother and wealthy stepfather.




When Hannah was eleven her father disappeared while boating but a body was never found. Hannah believes that he is still alive somewhere and blames her inability to move on for attracting a cheating husband.



This story switches between the summer of 1984 when Hannah’s father disappeared and 2008 where she is searching for answers and following the presidential election. I really liked the in-depth descriptions of Charleston, SC and the quirky habits of the characters but all in all the book wasn’t that great. The characters don’t seem to relate to each other or draw you in as the reader. The plot was strange weaving sparks of real life politics and a fictional accident in 1984.



I received this book free for review from Hachette Audio Group



Favorite Quote:

“There isn’t always a why


Visit Katie's website
Buy the book HERE
Rating: 3 carats

Not a Sparrow Falls

Not a Sparrow Falls by Linda Nichols

Not a Sparrow Falls

A carefully planned escape helps Mary Bridget Washington run from an abusive relationship and a circle of friends to start her life over in Alexandria, Va. She takes on the name Bridie and begins working as a nanny for a Pastor with three children whose wife died two years ago.

Samantha, the Pastor’s oldest daughter, reaches out to Bridie in a note one night at dinner. Although Bridie is lost and confused herself, she remembers her childhood with her grandma and the godly way her grandmother lived her life. As the words of Bridie’s grandmother float through her mind, Bridie looks to the Lord and decides to do whatever possible to help Samantha. Little does Bridie know that reaching out to someone else will completely change and restore her view of life.

This book was a little strange because I didn’t always know if it was contemporary or old fashioned, even though it is listed as contemporary romance I’m not even sure where the romance was. The book felt very heavy and dark, even the scenes that were supposed to be uplifting. However it is a story about God’s forgiveness and how He stays with us all the time no matter how far we run from Him. Hence the title Not a Sparrow Falls.

I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers.

Favorite line:
"The arm of flesh will fail you," Bridie's grandmother had been fond of reminding her, especially after she'd started dating, bringing home this one and that one, going on and on about them. "Love with all your heart, but don't look to anybody but the Lord to fill up your empty spots. There's never been a man born who can do that, and I don't care if he's the finest thing since store-bought pickles.""

Visit Linda's website HERE

Buy the Book HERE
Rating: 3 carats

Never Say Never

Never Say Never by Lisa Wingate

For her 70th birthday Donetta Bradford decides to step out of her small town life in Daily, Texas and go on a cruise with her three best friends. On their way to the Texas coast they encounter bottlenecked roads from everyone trying to get out of town. After their car breaks down they stop at a gas station and see a giant hurricane is headed right towards Texas where they were supposed to leave for the cruise.

Kai Miller never had a normal life. She grew up moving from town to town as her father tried to make it as a musician. Never having put down roots and never knowing how to stay in one place for too long, Kai takes a job on a cruise ship. After accidently oversleeping Kai goes to work only to find out her cruise ship left post early because a major hurricane is on its way. Kai evacuates but runs out of gas and stops at a gas station to find three ladies stranded and offers to take them along to get out of the way of the hurricane.

Each chapter switches between the points of view of Kai and Donetta. This frequently became confusing because they both were first person points of view and I had to mentally remember who was narrating each chapter.

Although the southern drawl of Donnetta and her friends spelled out phonetically was sometimes amusing, at times it was hard too because it didn’t flow easily. Donetta’s points of view were filled with wonderful southern metaphors and similes.

All in all the book felt very long and drawn out moving slowly like Texas tumbleweed on a calm day. However, the book culminated with a sweet ending which put a smile on my face.

Review copy provided by Bethany House Publishers

Favorite Line:
“Maybe life is a balancing act between the things you choose and the things you sacrificed.”

Rating: 3 carats

Buy the book HERE

Look at Lisa's website HERE