Thursday, May 30, 2013

Review - Sliver of Truth by Lisa Unger





Book Summary

Ridley Jones is on a mission to find a ghost from her past . . . a very deadly ghost.
In Beautiful Lies, Ridley Jones stepped off a street corner and into an abyss of violence, deception, and fear. She is being a lot more careful about where she steps and trying to get on with her life when another seemingly mundane act—picking up a few envelopes of prints at a photo lab—puts her at the nexus of a global network of crime. A shadowy figure of a man appears in almost every picture she’s taken in the last year, lurking just far enough away to make identification impossible. Everyone from the federal government to the criminal underworld wants to know who the man is, but the only thing Ridley knows for sure is that she has to get to the truth about herself and her past if she’s ever going to find her way home.

Published Date - 2007

My Review of Book 1 - Beautiful Lies 4 stars

My Review - 4 stars

A great continuation in a series that you should read soon after because many details can have you (me, lol) completely confused, in the end I remembered some but think I would have enjoyed even more if I had read sooner.  Beautiful Lies was more like Deadly Lies and Sliver of Truth was the line between innocence, naivety or to know the truth you must die.  Great thrillers, I highly recommend.

My favourite style was the chapter parts - Daddy's Girl, The Ghost and The Homecoming.

Ridley has moved on after the disaster of finding out who she is and family history that almost breaks her.  She is still with Jake, her boyfriend who gives mixed signals, we should move on or just enough to keep her engaged with her past.  She is feeling balanced and then is pulled off the street by detectives and shown pictures of someone they state is her father but her father is dead.

Everyone is asking her where is the ghost.  It becomes a chase against time but why are they chasing a ghost?  Another detective continues being in her life, does she trust him or is he the ghost they are chasing thinking it is her dad.  Lots of action and mystery to keep you thrilled.

Lisa Unger continued with the second person narrative, she executes this style perfectly, draws you in, making it more personal.

I look forward to reading more Lisa Unger, I won't wait as long as I did this time.  Any recommendations?

 

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Review - Believe like a Child by Paige Dearth




Book Summary from Amazon

Alessa is just seven years old when her uncle rapes her for the first time. As the years pass, his sexual appetite becomes more voracious and his perversion more twisted, until the abuse has become almost a daily ritual, with the unspoken involvement of the girl’s mother. She flees her home to escape this hell, only to find herself descending into a more dangerous one.

Wherever she goes, however, trouble keeps seeking her out, until she meets three people who change the course of her life forever. Though Alessa’s bittersweet journey is perpetually fraught with challenges, she does, nevertheless, manage to find fleeting moments of joy along the way. But as she begins to settle down, a ghost from the past comes to haunt her again, threatening to destroy the very foundation of her small world and plunging her back into an abyss of despair, until she makes her final bid for escape.

Publication date - June 22, 2011

My Review - 4 1/2

I would start out saying I was an emotional train wreck from beginning to end, deep breath.  This is one of the most emotional heart wrenching dark family horror stories I have ever read but with an alluring character, Alessa, she made it worthwhile.

This was a novel but rang so true.  This book was inspired from the authors life, a balance between what lives on in her imagination and the evil that lurks in the real world.  This was a story she used as therapy for her own personal abusive turmoil.

Hardcore details have to be appreciated before trying to read this book.  Rape, incest, murder, drugs, abandonment, homeless life, physical abuse and scary drama.  There is no holding back, all the bad things in life you will find in this book, frightening disturbing scenes.   This story will pull you in from the first paragraph and won't let go until the end.

Alessa is a joy to know throughout her journey, you cry with her, for her, praise her, celebrate with her, fear for her and torture yourself with why is she a continuous victim but has the strength to go on. 

The character building was executed perfectly, many you will hate but again Alessa helps you to see the good in others even if it is only a glimmer.  Alessa always believed if she died no one would notice and care but in the end she touched so many and helped to save so many lives from their personal turmoils that she finally achieved life.  Note, Believe Like a Child has an amazing ending but no means is a happy ever after one.

Favourite quotes

"I guess I've never seen it as survival.  It was just my life.  Most kids are raised on Cheerios, but I was raised on sex."  41% on Kindle

Listen, until other people walk in your shoes and live your life, they can't know or understand anything about you.  64% on Kindle


 

Monday, May 13, 2013

What are you reading?

Sheila over at Book Journey has an incentive for networking so go over and have fun while adding to your 2013 Wishlist.
I realised today that half the year is almost gone, how is that possible.....

I am currently reading the 2nd in this series,  another blogger, Stacy, told me not to wait to long to read on, sigh, why didn't I listen, I really enjoyed the first one and the this one is good but so tied in I am confused, lol.  I just started though so we will see.

1st in series - Beautiful Lies


 
 
I reviewed - 4 stars
 
 
 
 
My review of this one will be up tomorrow.  Sooooooo good.
 
 
 

I also did a personal post here, on my new home and the countdown to moving in.  I shared my inspiration on bookshelves and book art.


 
 
 

Friday, May 10, 2013

Countdown with Marce - My Houzz




Last year June, my partner and I bought a house but with a two year rental in place.  I was upset with the wait but now can't believe it is less than a year away.  I am always on Houzz, getting inspiration and choosing furniture and decorating ideas.  I spend as much time on that site as I do blogging now.

I decided I am going to share some of my choices here on my blog, one weekend every month.  Hope you enjoy my excitement.

My house is called Amethyst.  I was born and raised in Bermuda. I am a 1st time home owner. Bermudians say 'owning a piece of the rock'.

My first choice to share with you is my inspiration for the bookshelf and art.......

All pictures are from the site Houzz

I love the mix of shapes. I can see books, book art and our Swarovski crystals here.

 
 
  
 
 
 
Photos from Etsy for my book art sculpture inspiration
 
Reader in Vintage Krueger Beverage Divided Wooden Soda Crate (Original Sculpture)
 
 
Thinker with Triple Blossoms (Original Sculpture)
 
 
Book Art Sculpture "Peacock"
 
 
Letter "Home"  Folded book Sculpture-house warming gift-anniversary gift-bookshelf decor-book love
 
 
 
 
Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce
 
 

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Review - Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante



Book Summary from Amazon

As the book opens, Dr. Jennifer White’s best friend, Amanda, who lived down the block, has been killed, and four fingers surgically removed from her hand. Dr. White is the prime suspect and she herself doesn’t know whether she did it. Told in White’s own voice, fractured and eloquent, a picture emerges of the surprisingly intimate, complex alliance between these life-long friends—two proud, forceful women who were at times each other’s most formidable adversaries. As the investigation into the murder deepens and White’s relationships with her live-in caretaker and two grown children intensify, a chilling question lingers: is White’s shattered memory preventing her from revealing the truth or helping her to hide it?

Publication Date - July 5, 2011

My Review - 4 stars

It was suggested to me by Christa to read a summary of the book to see if I would enjoy the style of writing, I think this is the perfect idea to consider.  Christa's review at Mental Foodie: A book and food lover blog.

The whole book is told from Dr. White's perspective, who has different stages of dementia and from journal entries from the other characters.  They are simple paragraphs and having her as the unreliable narrator adds to the mystery.  At times it doesn't make sense initially but also ties in together at the end.  My favourite times is when she goes back to being an active physician, she was obviously respected in her work and the murder was a direct tie in with her profession also.

My dad has dementia and so reading this felt personal to me.  I have read enough books to know this novel was genuine on what goes through the heads of victims to this harsh illness.  Many times not making sense to the reader or Dr. White.

If you read mysteries you may not be surprised by the ending but I thought it was executed well in this style.

The relationship of Dr. White with her son, daughter and best friend was memorable.  Mixed emotions with  family drama, grief, loss, anger, humor and trust all surrounding her being the person of interest with the murder of her best friend.  She is the one who can answer the questions unanswered but she doesn't remember, glimpse are clear but did it really happen.....

This was a great novel with a unreliable character with dementia. 

I think Still Alice by Lisa Genova is the best novel for those interested in reading a book on Dementia/Alzheimers.

Favourite quotes

I've read enough about this disease to know that you can't predict the future by the past.  It's like they say about parenting:  Just when you think you've mastered it, everything changes. 22 % on Kindle

My plots are simple:  Walk to the door.  Wait until no one is looking.  Open the door.  Leave.  Go home. Bar the front entrance against all comers.  62% on Kindle

I added to my TBR list after reading the review of Tina says..... go here.

 

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Monday again - what are you reading?

Sheila over at Book Journey has an incentive for networking so go over and have fun while adding to your 2013 Wishlist.

I am slowly finding my way back to the joy of reading.  When overly stressed I realised reading was not helping as I couldn't concentrate on what I was reading but I'm getting there now.  Thanks for the inspiring stress free comments last week, I appreciate it.

I just completed Turn of Mind - Review up this week, I give it a 4


 
 
Last reviewed book - I recommend series
 
 
 
 
I also read Coraline - very weird, can't say I enjoyed it, haven't decided if I will review
 
 
 
 
I think this is next