Belinda’s Book Nook Review: The Last Camelia

October 17, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio

The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio

A romantic and suspenseful tale about two women whose destiny is bound across the years

On the eve of World War II, the last surviving specimen of a camellia plant known as the Middlebury Pink lies secreted away on an English country estate. Flora, an amateur American botanist, is contracted by an international ring of flower thieves to infiltrate the household and acquire the coveted bloom. Her search is at once brightened by new love and threatened by her discovery of a series of ghastly crimes.

More than half a century later, garden designer Addison takes up residence at the manor, now owned by the family of her husband, Rex. The couple’s shared passion for mysteries is fueled by the enchanting camellia orchard and an old gardener’s notebook. Yet its pages hint at dark acts ingeniously concealed. If the danger that Flora once faced remains very much alive, will Addison share her fate

I picked up this book in a Chatham Massachusetts bookstore while on my Anniversary Escape with Leao.  First drawn to the cover (What can I say?I love beautiful books.)  and read the back cover and knew it needed to be added to my book collection.

I found this book so easy to slide right into. The story draws you in going back in time first with very vivid details. And then delivering you to the present every other chapter. This never was a nuisance it actually made me want to keep reading and guessing what happened. I love gardening and was fascinated by the concept of story line around the Camellia flower. I  truly enjoyed the descriptions of the garden in the book.

This was my first book by Sarah Jio and I will definitely be looking for another of her novels to read.

Happy reading!

Belinda

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Gone Girl

September 24, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Marriage can be a real killer.
One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. The Chicago Tribune proclaimed that her work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit and deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn.

I have been reading but not posting any reviews in a long time.  So I thought while this is fresh in my mind I would share my thoughts.

I just finished this book on Sunday and I have to tell you about me first. I tend to stay away from the NYT bestseller list. Much of the time, I do not like the books they have on the list. I also believe I don’t like to be told what I should enjoy reading.  I always peak at the list but vary rarely am persuaded to read something from the list.  I also find that over the years I have become very sensitive to violence and vulgar language. Probably from being a mom of two young children and watching a whole lot of cartoons.

So when my bookclub selected this book, I kind of went into it reluctantly.  Despite all of the praise from some close friends who had already read the book.

So I may be from the unpopular  opinion that did not enjoy the first 200 pages of the book. I probably would have put it down had it not been our reading selection.  Which is one of the main reasons I joined a book club – to grow my reading genres.  When I reached 200 I finally got engrossed in the tale laid out by Ms. Flynn.  I always believe I can solve a mystery before a book ends but I can tell you that rarely happens.  And I did not see many of the twists coming in this book.

This book had so many twists and turns and possibilities that it keeps you reading. I enjoyed the second half of the book but I am not sure if the ending worked for me.  I am still processing.

Overall a good read if you can get yourself past the gore and vulgarity and past page 200.

I just read online that there are rumors that the following might be cast for the movie version:

Ben Affleck could play Nick Dunne

Rosamund Pike as Amy

Emily Ratajkowski as Andie

So I will keep my eyes out for the movie release.  In the meantime, I am off to go read on my deck!

Happy reading!

Belinda

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Belinda’s Book Nook Review – The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley

April 29, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley

The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley

Verity Grey is thrilled to be asked to join archaeologist Peter Quinnell’s dig in the Scottish borders, but after her first day she isn’t so sure. Quinnell, having spent his whole life searching for the resting place of the lost Ninth Roman Legion, is convinced he’s finally found it – not because of any scientific evidence, but because a local boy has seen a Roman soldier walking in the fields, a ghostly sentinel who guards the bodies of his long-dead comrades. The worst thing is that Verity believes in Peter, and the boy, and even in the Sentinel, who seems determined to become her own protector…but from what?

This is my second book by Susanna Kearsley and again another enjoyable read. I really gravitate to historical fictions because they take me away on an adventure and allow me to have fun while learning bits of history. This book allowed me to explore a bit about the field of archeology and a bit about the Ninth Roman Legion. Something I don’t recall reading about in history classes.

What I enjoyed most about the book is the building up of the main characters and the setting for the dig. I felt the characters were all fully developed. Verity Grey (the main character) is another strong female character that the is an archaeologist by profession who is originally from London.   It was fun learning they frequently used Scottish words the local characters used throughout the book.

And what would a good historical fiction be without a  little romance in there to keep the story moving. The book went at a nice pace to keep you engaged with the story while sprinkling in some history.

I would give this book 4 stars.

Next on my list from Kearsley is ” The Rose Garden” which I will definitely will be looking forward to read.

Happy Reading!

Belinda

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Unmasking Maya by Libby Mercer

April 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Unmasking MayaHello! Welcome to another Belinda’s Book Nook Review.  Today I part from my historical fiction to a light romance. The book is called “Unmasking Maya” written by Libby Mercer. This is my first Mercer book.

I downloading this book on my nook a while back but decided to take a peek yesterday while at pick up for the boys at school. I tend to go about 45 minutes early to secure a good spot (pathetic I know) and to get some reading in. So I began to read and you know how good books draw you in and the surrounding sounds begin to fade and all you are left with is the characters and you are there? Well usually I hear all the cars arriving or the middle-schoolers cutting through since they get out earlier than elementary students.  I did not look up once. I was completely absorbed.

I enjoyed Maya’s character a great deal. She was fun and to watch in the different scenarios and I liked the way Derek was introduced in the book. As I said, this book is a stray from my usual historical fiction or mystery although there was a little mystery in this book.  As I have gotten older, I often like historical fictions because I can still have fun and feel like I am still using my time to learn something.

But I also believe that books like this give you the escape that is pure fun even if predictable.  I liked all the characters in the book and of course was on the edge of my seat at pick up waiting for sparks to fly.  I somehow managed to tear myself away and get the boys on time then quickly drove home and after they had their snacks, I dove back in for round two and can I tell you again, everything faded around me (and that’s tough to do with two young boys in the house) and finished the book.  I enjoyed it thoroughly and would recommend it as  fun beach read type of book.

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