One Plus One by JoJo Moyes

Jess Thomas is a single mom just trying to get by.  Her ten year old daughter, Tanzie, is a math genius whose only wish is to attend an elite school for math.  Jess' teenage stepson, Nicky, wears eyeliner and is constantly bullied by neighborhood kids. Jess works two jobs to support Tanzie and Nicky after her husband decided to leave her to find something better.  When the dean at the math school tells Jess about a math competition with a prize that would pay for Tanzie's first year at school, Jess concocts a plan to get them all (including their enormous dog Norman) to the competition.  

When Jess' plan fails, they are left stranded on the side of the rode only to be picked up by one of her cleaning clients.  Because his life has basically fallen apart, Ed decides to give them a ride to the competition.  Three long days of traveling offer up the occasion for Jess and Ed to really get to know one another and both are surprised by what they find. 

My Thoughts:  
In this much anticipated novel, Jojo tells a very unconventional love story.  Ed and Jess live in two different worlds and are thrown together unexpectedly.  True to Jojo's style, she tells a love story that isn't just fluff, but has well developed characters and a plot that will keep you reading all night long.  

Note: I received an advance release copy of this book via Edelweiss. The U.S. expected release date is July 1, 2014.  

Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen

Due to some very bad behavior, Andrew Yancey has been demoted from police investigator to health inspector. In a related incident, Yancey also has an arm in his freezer. How the arm got there is explainable, but what he can't explain is who it belonged to and how it became unattached. Yancey believes that if he can solve this mystery he might just get his spot back with the Monroe County Sheriff's department. With an unbelievable cast of characters, Andrew Yancey sets out on an adventure that is entertaining, hilarious, and suspenseful.  

The characters in this book are charmingly bizarre, each one more flawed than the next. Hiaasen does an excellent job of writing people that could be real people if they weren't in such an unusual situation. I found the mystery of the story delightful, and for once I truly did not figure out "whodunnit" until it was revealed to me.  I kept wondering how this ever-growing cast of characters were going to relate to one another, and Hiassen did a masterful job of weaving them all together. Bad Monkey is an entertaining read for lovers of the odd, funny, (possibly a little offensive), and mysterious.

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

The Girl You Left Behind begins in 1916 France when Sophie Lefevre is left by her husband, Edouard, to go and fight in the war.  Not wanting to be alone, Sophie moves back to her hometown to live with her sister and brother in their family owned and operated hotel.  Not long after her return home, her town is occupied by Germans and their hotel is commissioned to serve dinner to the soldiers every night. Hanging in the lobby of the hotel is a portrait of Sophie painted by Edouard.  Against better judgement, Sophie refuses to remove the painting and insists that in remain on the walls as a reminder of her husband.  The beautiful painting quickly catches the eye of the local German Kommandant and recognizing his fascination with her, Sophie risks her own life and the lives of her family in attempts to be reconciled with her husband.  

Almost a century later, the painting of Sophie hangs on the wall in Liv's home. The painting has become something that she truly cherishes, as it was given to her as a gift by her late husband. Nearly four years after his death, Liv is struggling to pay her mortgage and is knee deep in debt. One evening when in the pit of despair, Liv heads to a gay bar (in hopes that no one will bother her) to drink her sorrows away.  While in a drunken state her purse is stolen and she receives assistance from Paul, an ex-cop, who now specializes in returning art that was stolen during wartime to its rightful owners.  

The Girl You Left Behind is a dual-time narrative that tells the story of two women living in completely different worlds connected only by a painting.  

My Thoughts: 
Jojo Moyes has managed to capture me once again. In this novel, she beautifully tells the story of two women wanting to find love or love lost.  She weaves historical fiction in with the present day and shows how stories of the past are truly important.  Fans of historical fiction will not want to pass this one over. 

Longbourn by Jo Baker

In the novel Longbourn, Jo Baker takes the setting and plot of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and re-imagines the story by focusing in on the lives of the servantry.  Downstairs at Longbourn, the housekeeper, Mrs. Hill, lives with her husband who acts as both butler and chauffeur.   Longbourn also employs Sarah, ladies' maid to Elizabeth and her sisters, and Polly, who helps with many different chores around the estate.  The servants spend their days washing clothes, scrubbing floors, preparing meals, and attending to the Bennett family.  Things are pretty mundane until a new, mysterious footman arrives.  Sarah is quite curious about James and his past and is determined to find out more about him.  

My Thoughts:

It is apparent that much research went into the creation of this story.  Jo Baker does an amazing job of retelling Pride and Prejudice through the eyes of its servants.  She closely follows Austen's original plot, but gives readers an entirely different perspective.  While I am often skeptical of classical retellings,  I quickly became entranced with the characters in Longbourn and found myself plowing through the novel.  Fans of Downton Abbey are sure to devour this one! 

Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando

As soon as she receives her roommate assignment from UC Berkeley, high school senior Elizabeth shoots off an email to introduce herself to her roommate and figure out all the logistics of rooming together.  While Elizabeth is super excited to converse with her new roommate during the summer months leading up to their freshman year, Lauren does not initially show the same enthusiasm.  Alternating perspectives from both Lauren and Elizabeth give readers a glimpse into the lives of their families. Growing up with a single mom and an estranged father, Elizabeth's home life is very different from Lauren's.  While Elizabeth is a bit envious of Lauren's big family and parents who are not divorced, Lauren is jealous of the time that Elizabeth has to herself without siblings running around.  As the novel progresses and their first face-to-face meeting approaches, both Lauren and Elizabeth realize that having a roommate may not be as easy as they once thought.  

My Thoughts:  
While I am obviously not in the same stage of life as Lauren and Elizabeth, I remember the summer before my freshman year of college and all of the unknowns that went along with those summer months.  This easy to read, face-paced novel is one of those books that you just won't want to put down. I highly recommend it to female teens about to embark into the new world of college and to female adults wanting to reminisce a little. 

A Flavia de Luce Giveaway!

The new Flavia de Luce novel by Alan Bradley has just been released!  The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches is the 6th Flavia novel. If you haven't read any of the previously released Flavia novels, be sure to check out our review of the first book: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.  While the Flavia novels are part of a series, each one is a story on its own and you could easily jump in with book 6.  If you enjoy mystery mixed with laugher, you will love this series.  Use the widget below to enter. Good luck!

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Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Lou Clark leads a somewhat uneventful life. She lives at home with her parents, works at a tea and bun cafe, and has been dating the same man for seven years. Lou is content and does not seek out change or adventure, but her life is turned upside down when she loses her job. She does not possess many job trained skills and struggles to find the work she needs to help support her parents. When a position as a helper to a quadriplegic becomes available Lou decides to give it a try. 

Will Traynor is the exact opposite of Lou. Before the accident, he led a life full of excitement and adventure and as the head of a thriving business, possessed the means to do whatever he fancied. His life is changed forever when he is hit by a motorcyclist while trying to hail a taxi. As a result of the accident, Will is now confined to a wheelchair with only minimal ability to move his hands and shoulders. When Lou Clark walks into his life, he is a bitter man with no desire to live. 

As Lou and Will spend time together during her six month contract, they begin to develop a relationship that offers them each a new perspective on life.

My Thoughts:
Me Before You is the first book that I have read by Jojo Moyes. The cover and book blurbs are a little misleading, but I thoroughly enjoyed it even though it wasn't quite what I expected. This story is mostly told from Lou's viewpoint except for a few chapters that give perspectives from other minor characters. Lou is a strong, lovable character and I was drawn into her life almost immediately.  While this novel has many sad moments, it is also filled with much love and laughter.  I plan to read more by Jojo Moyes in the near future. 

Panic by Lauren Oliver

Heather and Dodge live in a small, dead end town of 12,000.  While Carp may be a boring town throughout the colder months, in the summer it becomes the home of Panic, a game that can only be played by graduating seniors. Heather has no intention of entering the game, until she attends the opening event with her friends Nat and Bishop.  In a last minute decision (partially made because she sees her ex-boyfriend with another girl), Heather jumps from the bridge that declares her a contender in the games. 

Dodge has been planning to enter the game since his sister was left crippled when she competed in Panic years earlier.  Partially motivated by revenge, Dodge's goal is to win and defeat the brother of the boy who left his sister in a wheel chair.  While Heather and Dodge are barely acquaintances before Panic, the game brings about new and unexpected friendships as the contenders face some of their most intense fears. 

My Thoughts: 
In Panic, the graduating seniors are competing in games that are life threatening and dangerous with the end game being recognition and a large cash prize.  As I read about the game, I assumed that Panic was another dystopian novel.  I partially came to this conclusion because Lauren Oliver's last series is dystopian, but the game of Panic also reminded me of the games in Suzanne Collin's The Hunger Games.  This initial confusion disturbed me a bit, because while I later realized that Panic is realistic fiction, it made me consider the idea that many elements of dystopian novels are becoming reality (i.e. the government spying on us). That being said, Panic is a very thought provoking novel that is full of suspense and one I highly recommend.  I look forward to hearing more reader's thoughts when this book is released.  

Note:  I received an advance copy of this book courtesy of Edelweiss.  It's scheduled release date is March 4, 2014.  In the meantime, check out the first book in Lauren Oliver's dystopian series:  Delirium. 

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

Violet and her twin brother Luke have been left to fend for themselves in their dilapidated home formerly owned by their deceased grandmother.  Their artist parents live abroad squandering the family money.  In their quiet little town of Citizen Kane, Violet only has two companions, her brother and their neighbor Sunshine, until River West arrives and rents out their guest house.  River first appears to be a dream come true.  He cares for Violet in a way that she has not been cared for in a long time.  The only problem is that strange things begin happening in Citizen Kane shortly after River's arrival.  A group of children are found running around the local cemetery, claiming to be chasing after the devil. A child goes missing. Strange and unexplained deaths occur.  Each time one of these mysterious events occur, Violet begins to suspect that something is very wrong with River.  But how could he be causing these horrible things if he is with her when they occur?  Is River the guy she has always hoped for or is he something completely different from what he appears to be? 

My Thoughts: 
This new novel by April Genevieve Tucholke will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. Throughout the first half of the book, I hoped that River would be the good guy in the story.  As the story progresses that possibility seems less and less likely.  I could not figure out how River could possibly be attached to the mysterious events that were happening in Citizen Kane.  The suspense really increases when River's true self is revealed. Fans of Lucy Christopher's Stolen, will definitely enjoy this exciting novel that leaves you unsure of who the bad guy really is.  

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Cath is a writer, a writer of fan-fiction that is, and she is obsessed with the Simon Snow series (Simon is a Harry Potter-like character fighting against evil that seeks to destroy his world of magic). Her twin sister, Wren, is also a fan, but has mostly moved on to new things. Cath and Wren have been connected at the hip since they were little, and Cath was surprised when Wren didn't want to be her roommate in college.  Left to navigate her freshman year on her own, Cath spends most of her time going to classes, writing Simon fanfiction, and avoiding the dining hall. When faced with loneliness, a new fiction writing class, and a mentally ill father, Cath absorbs herself in the world of Simon Snow, believing it is much better than her own.  Noticing her intentional seclusion, Cath's boisterous roommate, Reagan, and her boyfriend, Levi,  attempt to befriend her.  As she moves through her freshman year and forges relationships with unexpected people, Cath begins to see that her own world isn't so bad after all.  

My Thoughts:
Rainbow Rowell has done it again.  I have been in a reading rut lately, unable to find any really good books.  I am currently stuck in the middle of two novels that I am desperately struggling to finish. Because I absolutely loved Rainbow's other two novels (Eleanor and Park and Attachments), I hoped that Fangirl would be great as well.  I was not disappointed.  I picked up this book two days ago and barely put it down until I finished.  Rainbow does such a superb job of creating and developing characters that you will fall in love with.  I cannot recommend this book enough.  And if you haven't read any of Rainbow's other novels, what are you waiting for?  I predict there will be some awards given out to this phenomenal author in the near future.