In honor of meeting Dorothea Benton Frank today...

Since I got to meet my new favorite author today, I will review the other books I read of hers so far. I loved one more than the other. They get better and better. I will alert you as you read these books, I have discovered they need to be read in order of their copyright date. She references previous characters in her books, so it is important to read them in order. When you read a reference in a book, you will instantly say "Ooooh! I was wondering what they were up to!!!"

Shem Creek is a great book about a single mother of two daughters who is trying to find her place in the world at her age. She leaves her life behind and heads back to her hometown in South Carolina. Funny how everyone moves south, not north? I don't blame people. Moving to South Carolina has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. Sorry. Back to the book review. Her daughters are not keen on leaving the fast paced life of the north for the slooooow, laid back pace of the south. This is a story of the trials and tribulations this mother struggles through as she finds a job, love, and eventually a friendship with her growing girls. It is also centered around a restaurant and delicious southern dishes. Who doesn't love to read about food? Be prepared to laugh, cry, and get hungry for grits and pound cake. You are free to come for a visit if you can't find the grits and pound cake.

Plantation is a favorite for Frank readers, as I learned today. I have to agree, it was one of my favorites too. The main character, Miss Lavinia, is Ms. Frank's favorite character she has ever written about. Miss Lavinia is an independent, quirky plantation owner. No one can tell Miss Lavinia what to do or how to act. No one dare tell her that her indiscretions with the gardener are not something the owner of a southern plantation dare. Miss Lavinia could care less about the whispers behind her back. She is one of a kind. She has two children, a son that lives near her in the South and a daughter who moved away to NYC and never looked back. This book is about the reuniting of Miss Lavinia and her daughter and the realization that everyone needs their mother at some point in their life. It is also about the son and his crazy wife and children who try to find a place in the family. We all have that crazy family member. The crazy daughter in law of Miss Lavinia will have you laughing so hard. Just be aware of where you are when you are reading this book. This is such a beautiful story. Make sure you have your tissues handy!

Pawley's Island is about a trio of misfits who find each other in a time of need. One was born and raised there, one escapes there to hide from life, and the third returns home (again, who can blame her!!??) A gallery owner, a lawyer and a victim of domestic violence come together in this heartwarming book. It did take me through the prologue to get into this book, but once I realized where the story was going I could not put it down. You will be rooting for the victim, Rebecca, and screaming into your book for her. There is so many twists and turns in this book, be prepared for lack of sleep.

As you can see, I am in love with Frank's books. They are empowering, deep and hysterical. She has a way to pull you into her books, and make you feel like you are reading about your friends, your family, your enemies. She. Is. Amazing.

Meeting Dorothea Benton Frank!

I have had the most fabulous day! My girlfriend, Jill, and I got to meet Dorothea Benton Frank at a luncheon/meet & greet. We also received a personalized signed copy of her latest book, Hurricane Sisters that released yesterday. I am so excited to read it and let you know my thoughts. No doubt it will be amazing, as all her books have been so far. She was so down to earth, kind, and funny that I just loved listening to her speak. She came around to our table and she was so easy to chat with about everything. I wondered why she had such a fascination with New Jersey in her books, and it is because she raised her kids in Montclair, NJ. Someone asked her who she likes to read and she said Adriana Trigiani!!! I applauded her. She said she was a personal friend. Wow! I guess you can tell I was more than excited to meet her. It was like meeting an old friend...

New Author Alert!

It's true. I have fallen in love again. Don't tell my hubby! I have found someone new to keep up me up late at night. Her name is Dorothea Benton Frank and her books have kept me up all hours of the night. I just finished my second book by her at about 1 AM this morning. So, here's your warning. If you decide to pick one of her books off the book shelf, be prepared to lose sleep. Perhaps I loved both of these books because they were very relevant to my life. Perhaps you may not love them as much as I did. That is always my concern when I recommend books on this blog. I can only hope that you fall in love with the same books I did, but I realize that is not always going to happen.

The first book I read by Dorothea Benton Frank was Full of Grace. This one was a tear jerker. Up to a certain point, I thought I was reading about myself. Italian girl dates Irish boy. Italian girl falls in love with Irish boy. Italian family disapproves because he isn't Italian, AND he does stem cell research!! Alert the Catholic authorities!!! This book is about how her family evolves, how her relationship stumbles and falls and builds back up again, and is filled with drama and pain. This book is spot on with the Italian culture and family drama. I laughed so hard at the squabbles and Nonna's amazing ability to make everyone feel guilty with just one look. I also related to the Italian family moving to the South from the North and dealing with the change. Yanks in the South is always humorous. I hope you laugh and cry through this book as much as I did.

The second book I read by her is Isle of Palms. This one is still fresh in my mind since I just finished it last night. I will admit it took my a few chapters to get into this one, but I think it was because I was so in love with Full of Grace that I wasn't ready to let go of those characters. I finally gave in, and fell in love with this one as well. My mom joked me with me after I told her what these two books were about, "Marissa, are you sure you aren't writing this books under another name?" I wish! This one is tough to talk about, because I don't want to reveal too much. Just trust me when I say, read it. It is yet another South Carolina Low Country book, which is Frank's specialty. For my northern friends, the Low Country refers to the area south of Columbia to the coast line. The author primarily includes Hilton Head, Charleston and the islands that lie around Charleston in her books. The main character is a single woman in her late thirties with a daughter in college. She was raised in the Catholic faith and she is a hairdresser. She is dealing with a lot on her life, but I won't reveal any more than that. This book has the most fabulous cast of characters.

I absolutely love this new author in my life. I have several more on my shelf, and I can't wait to dive in. I also promised my friends I would read some books "outside my box." I will reveal which books I consider out of my comfort zone, and my thoughts on them soon. For those young local moms out there, continue to follow my other blog http://kiddingaroundgreenville.com/.

See y'all soon! In the meantime, I can't wait to hear what books have indulged your shelf lately....

another page turner...

Well, it's 12:37AM and I just turned the last page of my latest book, Little Night by Luanne Rice. It was one of those books that when I realized it was the end of the book, not the end of a chapter, I screamed out (in my head of course since it's quite late) NOOO!!!!! I loved this book. I often think I should come up with a rating system for books. For example, I would give this one a rating of 3 days. That means I read the book in 3 days. The lower the number, the better the book. This book was mind blowing. I held my breath through most of it. It had everything. Love, pain, hurt, tears, joy, family. It was an emotional rollercoaster and I didn't want to get off the ride. This book was about two sisters who grew up so close and were ripped apart from each other when one of the sisters fell in love with an abusive, degrading and possessive man. He keeps her from her family and the drama that follows will keep you up at night.  I will say it took me a few chapters to warm up to this book but I am so glad I stuck with it. Be warned. You will lose sleep.

So many good books, so little time...

I can't say enough how much I love to read. I do have another secret. I also love to write. My dream is to make it big writing a novel. For now, I am satisfying my love of writing by being a blogger for Kidding Around Greenville. Local friends, be sure to check it out. www.kiddingaroundgreenville.com It is a blog for parents looking for fun things to do with their children in the area. I have expanded the blog into the greater Clemson area, and I am loving every second of it.

Okay, let's talk books. I would love to get some feedback in the comments section below and hear about your favorite books. In the meantime, I will continue to list my favorites. My favorite read recently was Danielle Steel's Friends Forever. I don't often read Danielle Steel, but this was an exception. I had a love/hate relationship with this book. It was so disturbing that I couldn't put it down. How much trauma can one group of friends endure? You can judge for yourselves, but I am guessing it will keep you up late at night because "you just have to know."

I also have been reading an author I don't often read, Luanne Rice. She has written some amazing books, and I have just finished one and just picked up another. I just finished one of her older books, Summer Light. It was a beautiful love story about a hockey player that loses his vision and how he is saved by a clairvoyant little girl and her mother. I couldn't put this book down. I fell in love with this little girl, just as he did. She was so fascinating, and I found myself wishing I could speak to those I have lost in the past just like she is able to do. The book I am reading right now is also by Luanne Rice, Little Nights. This book is hitting a little too close to home for me, but I am sticking with it. Other than the persistent bird references that I find myself skimming over because birds aren't my thing, this is another page turner. I will be sure to let you know if I recommend it.

There are so many books that I read during my hiatus from this blog that I need to catch up on. Another series that came to an end was Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove series. This was like saying goodbye to dear friends forever. I put off reading the very last book in the series, 1225 Christmas Tree Lane. I finally gave in and accepted that the series was ending. It was a sweet book, with a lot of reminiscing over everyone is Cedar Cove. It didn't have as much substance as her previous books in the series, but I believe the intent was to say goodbye. For those of you that wish you lived in Cedar Cove, like myself, and wish you could ride bikes along side Olivia and have lunch with Justine at The Lighthouse restaurant, than you are in luck. Hallmark has renewed the television series based on this book series for a second season. It was difficult at first to watch, after picturing all the characters in my mind for twelve books. I did fall in love with the series, and can't wait for season two to start!

If you loved Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove series than you need to check out her new series, The Inn at Rose Harbor. This series is unique in that it starts with a novella, When First They Met, available as an e-book and is also found in the back of the first full book in the series. It is based in Cedar Cove, and you will get a glimpse into some of the characters in her cedar Cove series. The novella gives you the background on Jo Marie and why she opens the Inn at Rose Harbor. The first full length book, the Inn at Rose Harbor is one of my favorites. The book focuses on two guests at the Inn and their reasons for returning to Cedar Cove. Both guests are struggling with their return to town, and Jo Marie provides the comforts of home in her cozy inn to make their visit a little easier. It is such an easy read, and one that kept me up reading just one more chapter. I just love those kind of books!

Time is up for me! I need to get back to being a mom. I hope you enjoy the books I have recommended, and be sure to let me know what books you love in the comments section below!

Finally Back on the Shelf!

Wow. It has been so long since I have posted on my blog! As mentioned before, I am a stay at home mom of a three year old. He is getting ready to turn four, and he keeps me busy! He doesn't keep me from cuddling up at night with a good book and a cup of chai tea. I have read so many amazing books since my last post. Let's get started!

I will begin with my absolute favorite book I have read in a long time, True Colors by Kristin Hannah. Wow is all I can say. This is the kind of book that will prevent you from getting anything done. Before you start it, make sure you have dinner ready and the laundry done. This book is about three sisters who are raised by a not so attentive father and turn to each other for everything in life. They couldn't be more different. This book is about love, heart break, deceit, sisterhood, and choosing between love and family. You will hold your breath through full chapters. Please let me know if you loved it as much as I did.

Moving on to the next series of books I fell in love with. Nora Roberts has written so many beautiful stories, but one of my favorites is the Inn at Boonsboro Series.  This is a trilogy about the real town of Boonsboro, MD in which Nora Roberts and her family reside. In real life, her son owns the pizza shop and her husband owns the book store. My parents have visited this town, and it is very accurate to the books. Unfortunately, the Inn is only open to guests so they were unable to visit any of the ghosts from the books. This trilogy is such a beautiful story of a family of brothers who own a construction company with their mother. These handsome, but very different brothers treat their mother like the queen bee. They are protective, but she can handle herself. She has the vision when she sees a building like a baby bird that needs to be rehabbed back to health and they follow through with the construction. Each book in the trilogy focuses on one of the sons and their transformation from macho guy to romantic lover.  As they renovate the Inn they discover that love lives on through time. A ghost has not let go of her lover and the town comes together to help her reconnect with him.
I am not usually a fan of books about ghosts, but this one is so beautiful that you will be rooting for her in the end.

Another incredible book I have read in the past year is Beautiful Day by Elin Hilderbrand. This one is a tearjerker. The main character is planning her wedding, and she is modeling it after a notebook her late mother wrote before she passed away. Her mother knew she wouldn't be alive for her daughter's wedding day, and wrote an entire notebook with suggestions to help plan her perfect day. It is written in the views of the bride to be, the sister of the bride, the fiance, the father and the father's not so supportive new wife. This book will make you laugh, make you scream at the pages, but be warned... it WILL make you cry.

The next series I fell in love with is Robyn Carr's Thunder Point series. This is the same author that wrote the Virgin River series. I read all 20 of the Virgin Series in about three months. They were incredible. When I was done, I was devastated. I felt like I had lost my best friend. I even contacted Robyn Carr to ask her when she would be writing the next one. I was saddened to hear she was taking a break from the series, but was writing off shoots of the series, and occasionally she would have characters from the Virgin River series make a surprise appearance. One of these off shoots was the Thunder Point Series. I have read the first three, The Wanderer, The Newcomer and the Hero. I am anxiously awaiting the fourth one to come out in February, the Chance. These books are just pure, heart felt books that will touch you to your core. The characters are so familiar, they could be your neighbors and your friends. It will make you want to pack up, move across the country, and settle in to a small town in Oregon where everyone knows your name.

There are some books that I would have loved to stop reading half way through. It doesn't happen to me too often, but when it does I stick with it hoping they will improve. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. One trilogy I would include in my "Off the Shelf" list is the Irish Trilogy by Nora Roberts. I will admit that I liked it by the end, but it took me way too long to get into it. It was also a little more "out there" than I like to read, about Irish fairies and ghosts that are stuck in time. I always say to fellow readers, give it a chance, you may fall in love with it.

I could go on and on with all the books that I fell in love with this past year. I will keep you all in suspense, and wait til my next post to add some more. I promise, it won't be another year. In exciting news, look for me in the blog Kidding Around Greenville. I have teamed up with the amazing blogger, Bethany Winston, to expand the blog into the greater Clemson area. We are both very excited about this venture. If there is anything special you would love to have researched in the area, please let me know and I will do my best to cover it.

See you in my next post! In the mean time, let me know some of the books you have enjoyed and new friends you have made in the characters in these books in the comments below. Simply follow the instructions listed on the right to leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you, and it feels great to be back!

Book Vs. Movie

Has anyone seen the newest book turned movie, Safe Haven? I have not been able to see it yet, but it is one I really want to see! What were your thoughts if you did see it? Sometimes books turned movies are a major disappointment, and sometimes they are spot on. Sometimes you picture the characters to look completely different as you are reading it then who are cast in the movie and it is a downer. I personally did not read the Hunger Games, the Twilight Series or any Harry Potter Books. They are not my "kind" of book I prefer to read, but I know many of you have read them and have probably seen the movies. The Help was one book I absolutely loved, and I was not thrilled with the choice of Skeeter in the movie. It fell short for me. I am really looking forward to see who they decide to cast as Christian Grey and Anastasia, but I pictured one person only the entire time I read the Fifty Shades Series and I don't think they plan to cast him. I pictured James Scott who plays EJ on Days of Our Lives. Yum! Below is a great link to books made into movies. I would love to hear your opinion on what books turned movies you loved, or wished you hadn't wasted 2 hours of your life watching. http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/books-made-into-movies

Off the Shelf for good...

I just finished Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand. What a drawn out disappointment. I have loved all of Elin Hilderbrand's novels up to this point, and was surprised that I had such a hard time getting through this one. In this novel, a woman is shocked to discover her husband has been sentenced to life in prison for a Ponzi scheme. It is an all too familiar story with so many similar stories in the news lately, but this one focused on the scorned wife. She escapes to Nantucket, which is the setting for all of Elin Hilderbrand's books. The storyline is so scattered, and there so many flashbacks that sometimes I didn't know who or what she was writing about. There was some suspense, which kept pulling me back into the book and made me want to finish it. I needed to have the answers, but the whole time I was irritated that the book could have ended so much sooner. I would not count Elin Hilderbrand out completely as someone not to read, I loved all her other books. Some of my favorites include Summer People, Nantucket Nights, and The Island. The Island probably being my favorite of all, and there are so many more I have yet to read. Feel free to let me know your thoughts on Silver Girl once you read it....Silver Girl on Amazon

E Reader vs. Book

Which do you prefer? Your choice of E Reader or a good ol' book? I will admit that I do own a Kindle, and I use it when I want to read something quickly that I don't own and can't get to the book store to get it. But, there is nothing like holding a real book in your hands. The feel of the book, I feel like I am drawn into the story.

What's on your Shelf?

I'd love to hear what your fave books are! Let me know what books you think I would love and the books you have read that have stayed with you. Comment away...