REVIEW: The Lake of Dreams – Kim Edwards

THE LAKE OF DREAMS – Kim Edwards

ON AUDIO – read by Anne Marie Lee

2.5 STARS

Currently unemployed, Lucy Jarrett returns home to Lake of Dreams to see her mother who has injured her arm.  She leaves behind her boyfriend Yoshi in Japan. While at home she revisits her past and her family’s.  She suffers guilt over her father’s death 10 years ago when she did not go fishing with him; her regret over the high school boyfriend she left behind and stopped talking to when her father died; her uncle and cousin that are greedy and maybe leaving her brother in a dead-end position vs. his fair share; and feeling lost in her own life.  She discovers pamphlets stored away from the early 1900s and a connection to the glass windows in the church.  This starts a mystery into her family history and who this woman was that hid these pamphlets.  This starts to give her a purpose that seems to upset everyone in her life

I consider The Memory Keeper’s Daughter one of my favourite novels.  It had me from the beginning to end and I have recommended it to many people.  I was looking forward to Edwards’ next novel and saw this audio was available.  It is read by Ann Marie Lee – an actress.  I was a bit disappointed with both to be honest. Edwards writing was too descriptive and actually repeated her own sentences a few times.  I tended to drift away and am sure I missed some things.  I liked the story of Rose and Iris more than present day stuff (and found Lucy a bit annoying because of overconfidence in herself).  I think this novel needed a bit more editing and tightening

Anne Marie has this breathy voice that sounds like she is either try to whisper or seduce someone…and when she read the letters I was not sure when they ended unless there was a clear “sincerely, name”.  Maybe Anne Marie was bored with Edwards’ descriptions as she had a monotone voice through them. 

Home Away from Home

Have you ever wanted to escape from your life just for awhile? Take time away from the stress and problems that seem to pile up?  If this sounds fabulous right now…come with me to small town VIRGIN RIVER (California).

Map of Virgin River

http://www.robyncarr.com/maps_of_virgin_river.html

VIRGIN RIVER

(Book #1)

3.5 STARS

Melinda (or Mel) Monroe, an ER nurse in LA has burned out especially since the murder of her doctor husband, Mark.  In a quick decision she to sell her house and move to a small town she has never seen to help the local doctor as a midwife.  She soon discovers this is a bad idea as the cabin she is given is falling apart, dirty and plain unliveable.  The local doctor, Doc does not think he needs help and the town is so small there is not much to do or go.  Things start to change when she meets Jack Sheridan – the owner of a bar/diner and when she delivers her first baby.  Will this be enough for Mel to stay in Virgin River for good?

If you are a fan of  Susan Wiggs or Luanne Rice you will soon add Robyn Carr to the list.  These are sweet cozy novels about love and life.  They are not fluffy or light but neither are they depressing.  From the first few chapters I was drawn into Mel’s life and the town of Virgin River. I like the way Carr introduces main and secondary characters.  I love the romance between Jack & Mel and the crotchety-ness of Hope and Doc.  

SHELTER MOUNTAIN

(Book #2)

3.5 STARS 

Paige Lassiter, and her young son Christopher show up at Jack’s bar lost, hungry and  Paige beaten.  John “Preacher” Middletone quickly finds himself not only feeling protective of the two strangers, but actually falling for both of them.  Also going on in Virgin River…Liz is pregnant with Rick’s baby and they must decide what to do next….Mel is pregnant as well still practicing with Doc. And Jack is getting in everyone’s business – including little sister, Brie whose husband has just left her for her best friend.

I really like this novel!  It reminded me of Susan Wiggs’s Lakeshore Chronicles that you continue to know what is going on in the past characters lives (and adding new characters).  You definitely have to read these in order but you will not regret it…it is like visiting new or old friends. 

WHISPERING ROCK

(Book #3)

4 STARS 

There is a lot going on this novel…Brie Sheridan, Jack’s little sister and pet, has been raped and is now recovering slowly psychologically. (She is a prosecutor and was raped by the man she was prosecuting).   Mike, a former womanizer and cop , steps up to make Brie feel safe again and show her he loves her.  After being shot on the job Mike know what Brie is going through. And Jack of course interferes every step of the way. 

Preacher is trying to get Paige knocked up but it just isn’t happening – their problem might be too much sex!  There is also a new family in Virgin River – the Booths -former General Walt Booth with his teenage son Tommy and his daughter Vanessa.  Vanessa is pregnant while her husband, Matt, is still in Iraq. His best friend, Paul Haggerty (who is in love with Vanessa) is there to help her every step of the way. 

The young girls in VR are being date-raped with roofies and contracting a STD. Mike and Mel are on the case. Brenda, the girl Tommy is interested in, was one of the victims.

This is so far my favourite book in the series (which might be the case with every new book – lol).  I love the Mike and Brie storyline as well as Tommy and Brenda’s.  I found that the action started right away and did not stop till the last page.  The multiple storyline only makes it a better novel as it makes you feel like you really are in Virgin River. 

I cannot stop reading these novels and I blame them for my lack of posts 😉  I will continue to review the Virgin River series – every 3 books.

Virgin River
1. Virgin River (2007)
2. Shelter Mountain (2007)
3. Whispering Rock (2007)

4. A Virgin River Christmas (2008)
5. Second Chance Pass (2009)
6. Temptation Ridge (2009)

7. Paradise Valley (2009)
8. Under the Christmas Tree (2009) (in That Holiday Feeling) novella
9. Forbidden Falls (2009)
10. Angel’s Peak (2010)

11. Moonlight Road (2010)
12. Midnight Confessions (2010) (in Midnight Kiss) novella
13. Promise Canyon (2010)
14. Wild Man Creek (2011)

15. Harvest Moon (2011)
16. Bring Me Home For Christmas (2011)
17. Hidden Summit (2011)

COMING SOON:

18. Redwood Bend (2012)
19. Sunrise Point (2012)

Author’s website and more fun Virgin River stuff:

http://www.robyncarr.com/index.html

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Susan Wiggs’s Lakeshore Chronicles:

   Lakeshore Chronicles
Homecoming Season (2008) (in More than Words: Stories in  Courage) novella
1. Summer at Willow Lake (2006)
2. The Winter Lodge (2007)
3. Dockside (2007)
4. Snowfall at Willow Lake (2008)
5. Fireside (2009)
6. Lakeshore Christmas (2009)
7. The Summer Hideaway (2010)
8. Marrying Daisy Bellamy (2011)

COMING SOON

9. Return to Willow Lake (2012)

AUTHOR’S WEBSITE:  http://www.susanwiggs.com/

Luanne Rice’s Hubbard’s Point / Black Hall:

Hubbard’s Point / Black Hall   
1. Firefly Beach (2001)
2. Safe Harbor (2002)
3. True Blue (2002)
4. The Perfect Summer (2003)
5. Beach Girls (2004)
6. Last Kiss (2008)

AUTHOR’S WEBSITE: http://luannerice.net/

R.S.V.P. Yes to Berg’s The Last Time I Saw You

THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU

Elizabeth Berg

              

4.5 STARS

Divorced and defeated Dorothy cannot wait wait for the 40th high school reunion as she longs to finally sleep with Pete Decker.  If she can get the most popular guy maybe her life won’t be so sad. Her ex-husband has already found someone new and her grown daughter is getting married with no input from Dorothy.  Mary Alice is still single and back living in her childhood home and helping her senior neighbour, Einer and his caretaker.  She longs to go back and show them how far she has come – not that she was ever really bothered being herself – she may even try and seduce Pete Decker.  Einer demands to be her escort in case any of them try anything.  The still handsome Pete Decker has just slept with his wife, Nora (separated) cheating on his mistress.  This has cleared his brain and he now knows he wants his childhood sweetheart Nora back – but she has moved on.  The reunion becomes his obsession in that he hopes it will remind Nora of the good times and bring her back to him.  Lester the once nerdy student is now a vet in the next town over and a widower of many years.  He is bullied into going to his reunion by his receptionist who insists he needs a woman ASAP.  Finally there is Candy Sullivan – beauty queen, the object of lust for men and envy of women.  She has gotten bad news about her health and realized that she missed out on having kids for the sake of her husband who isn’t even really there.  She feels alone and lonely and realizes that it has always been like that.  One night will rock these 5 characters life and for once seen beyond their 17 year old eyes.

I listened to this novel on audio – read by the author and LOVED IT!!! Berg is a great reader as well as author.  She has a great depth of emotion and humour.  I loved the characters even when I strong disliked them as people – that is what makes them so realistic – they are flawed and no one is better than another.  I’m in my 30s and I could totally understand the characters’ emotions whether male or female.  I still love berg’s writing.

My Top 10 Reads for 2011 (Part I)

In no particular order:

(1) ANNABEL – Kathleen Winter

4.5 STARS

Wayne has never felt right in his own body and how he feels about the things around him.  His inclination towards the feminine clashes with his father’s view on normalcy and what defines a man.  His mother loves him for who he is but often finds herself in a tug of war of telling Wayne the truth of who he was born as.    What Wayne does not know is that he was born with both genitalia and his father chose male (this is what the medical profession deems should be his gender), while his mother thought he should be a girl.

This is an incredibly beautiful haunting novel written with such grace and compassion that I could not put it down.  I first heard about this novel on BBC radio where they had adapted it for radio.  I was totally blown away by it!  A must read!!!

(2) A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES (Book 1) – Deborah Harkness

4 STARS

See review from previous post:  https://anoveladdiction.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/how-twilight-s…e-been-written/ ‎

(3) SILENT IN THE GRAVE (Book 1) – Deanna Raybourn

4 STARS

See review from previous post:

https://anoveladdiction.wordpress.com/2011/12/15/victorian-ladies/

(4) THE CONDITION – Jennifer Haigh

4 STARS

Wow, this is her third book and I STILL LOVE HER WRITING!!! It is an amazing story of a family that has been coming apart for years. When they discover their daughter Gwen has Turner’s Syndrome – Frank retreats to science to cure his daughter and Paulette focuses on her appearance as if nothing is wrong. Billy their eldest son is distant and struggling with his sexuality as he is trying to date women but they are never enough for him. Scott the young rebel is married with children in Burbs and hating every minute of it. As the Holidays approach the McKotch family will either break or make it. Each family member has their own distinct voice and at times you find yourself loving and hating the same characters

(5) THE GREAT DELIVERANCE (Book 1) – Elizabeth George

4 STARS

A wonderful old time detective mystery story that keeps you engaged at every step. This is the first book in the Inspector Thomas Lynley series that teams up the Oxford educated Inspector with Barbara Havers, a working-class Sargent. They argue their way through the case as their opinions of one another clash with their theories.

An  older man is found butchered with his spinster daughter standing above him with the weapon. He was newly engaged to a widow in the village, his nephew and heir is back in town but are butting heads and there is his other daughter who ran away from home many years ago.

Part II of this list will appear later this week just in case I read a mind-blowing book in the meantime 😉

How TWILIGHT Should Have Been Written

Ever feel like the teen angst and whining in the Twilight was going make you crawl the walls?  Not that it is a bad series it just felt simplistic, unedited and a lacked passion.  The kind of love that when you shut the book it makes you swoon a bit.  I have the solution of you…

THE DISCOVERY OF WITCHES – Deborah Harkness

4 STARS

An epic forbidden relationship between a powerful Witch and ancient Vampire. It had Daemons, Witches and Vampires picking sides – for or against mixing of supernaturals. Enemies from all sides…threatening notes, kidnapping, stalking and murders. That is just the first part of the long yet quick novel.

It is a well written story that takes you away to another world and holds you a voluntary prisoner till the end! There is no flat love triangle or disturbing relationships. The characters are lively and jump from the pages.  And, the love…there is longing where he tries to keep her away from his dark side, but the push and pull has passion behind it.

 Matthew should be added to the list of tasty vampire men – handsome, worldly and of course brooding.   Diana, the hesitant witch, is his love and a strong heroine.  Did I mention this is only book one in the series?

http://deborahharkness.com/discovery-of-witches/

 

 

I am currently reading FALLEN (Book 1) by Lauren Kate another teen paranormal novel.  I am only halfway in the book and still in suspense.  This might be another good teen novel – will keep you posted.