Nancy Thayer - An Act of Love

98. An Act of Love by Nancy Thayer (1997)
Length: 245 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started: 18 October 2013
Finished: 20 October 2013
Where did it come from? From Paperback Swap 
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 7 October 2013
Why do I have it? I like contemporary fiction and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past. 

Novelists Owen and Linda McFarland have been married for seven years. During that time, they have been incredibly happy together and have worked hard to make their blended family feel loved. Living on their beautiful little Massachusetts farm, Owen's son Bruce has grown into a handsome high school senior with a girlfriend he's absolutely crazy about. Linda's daughter Emily, a sophomore, has come to love her new family. Both children are in a private boarding school that they enjoy.

They used to be such a happy family. Then her daughter accused his son...of rape. 

Shortly before Thanksgiving, Emily attempts suicide. Confined to the psychiatric ward of a private hospital, a sullen, angry Emily claims that in late summer, Bruce raped her. Bruce swears that the assault never happened. Who is lying? Who is telling the truth? 

There is no way to prove either child's statement. Finding out the truth may tear apart a lifetime of illusions, and a marriage. But Owen and Linda must believe their children and change their entire lives accordingly.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a truly engrossing story and was my absolute favorite book of the month. I give the book an A+! and will definitely put it on my 'Keeper Shelf' to read again at some point. 

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

David Bell - The Hiding Place

97. The Hiding Place by David Bell (2012) 
Length: 380 pages
Genre: Contemporary Mystery
Started: 16 October 2013
Finished: 18 October 2013
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 22 August 2013
Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and David Bell is a new author for me.

Twenty-five years ago, the disappearance of four-year-old Justin Manning stunned the small town of Dove Point, Ohio. When his body was discovered buried in a shallow grave in the woods two months later, the repercussions were felt for years...

Janet Manning has been haunted by the murder ever since she lost sight of her little brother in the park. Now with the twenty-fifth anniversary of Justin's death looming, a detective and a newspaper reporter have started asking questions, reopening old wounds and raising new suspicions. Could the man convicted of Justin's murder - who has spent more than two decades in prison - really be innocent?

Janet's childhood friend and high school crush, who was with her in the park that day, has recently returned to Dove Point. He is wrestling with his own conflicted memories of the events surrounding Justin's disappearance. And a strange man appears on Janet's doorstep in the middle of the night, claiming to know the truth.

Sometimes it's easier to believe a lie; but soon, years of deceit will be swept away, and the truth of what really happened to Janet's little brother will be revealed. And the answers that Janet has sought may be found much closer to home than she ever could have imagined.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The plot was fast-paced and the mystery wasn't so convoluted that I couldn't follow it - the story captured my attention right from the beginning. I give this book a definite A+! and have placed David Bell's other two books - Cemetery Girl and Never Come Back on my Wish List.

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Bentley Little - The House

96. The House by Bentley Little (1997)
Length: 360 pages
Genre: Horror
Started: 9 October 2013
Finished: 15 October 2013
Where did it come from? Mareena downloaded this ebook from Amazon back in December of 2011 as an early Christmas present for me. Then I acquired a physical copy from Paperback Swap.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 17 December 2011 as an ebook; Since 9 October 2013 as a physical book.
Why do I have it? I like horror and have read and enjoyed The Resort by the same author in the past.

Five complete strangers from across America are about to come together and open the door to a terror they couldn't even begin to imagine. Inexplicably, four men and one woman are having heart-stopping nightmares which revolve around the houses where each of them were born. When terrifying events occur, each person is drawn to their identical childhood home to confront an ancient evil that dwells in a place they all call home - a sinister supernatural presence which has pursued them all of their lives, and is now closer than ever to claiming their souls.

I must say that after reading The Resort by Bentley Little, my expectations about reading this book were quite high. Perhaps they were slightly too high. Not that this book wasn't tremendously frightening - it certainly was. I just found that the story couldn't quite sustain the fear enough for me throughout the entire book. I think I would have preferred The House to be about fifty pages shorter. I give this book a B+!  

B+! - (89-85%)
    
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Nancy Thayer - Summer House: A Novel

95. Summer House: A Novel by Nancy Thayer (2009)
Length: 657 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started: 7 October 2013
Finished: 9 October 2013
Where did it come from? From Paperback Swap 
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 30 September 2013
Why do I have it? I like contemporary fiction and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past.

After years spent wandering from whim to whim, thirty-year-old Charlotte Wheelwright still retains her free spirited ways. Ever the dreamer, Charlotte has apparently found her niche at last. She thoroughly enjoys running an organic gardening business on the island of Nantucket, thanks in large part to her spry grandmother Nona, who donated a portion of land on the family's seaside compound to get Charlotte started. Though Charlotte's skill with plants is bringing her success, cultivating something deeper with people - particularly her handsome neighbor Coop - might present more of a challenge.

Nona's generosity to Charlotte, secretly her favorite grandchild, just doesn't sit well with the rest of the Wheelwright family, as they worry that Charlotte may be positioning herself to inherit Nona's entire estate. With the summer upon them, the entire clan is preparing to make their annual pilgrimage to the homestead - some with the hope of thwarting Charlotte's dreams, others in anticipation of Nona's latest announcements at the annual family meeting, and still others with surprising news of their own. Charlotte's mother, Helen - a Wheelwright by marriage - brings a heavy heart. She once set aside her own ambitions to fit in with the Wheelwrights, but now she must confront a betrayal that threatens both her sense of place and her sense of self.

As the summer progresses, these three women - Charlotte, Nona and Helen, come to terms with the decisions they made. Revisiting the lives and loves that have crossed their paths and reflecting on the possibilities of the roads not taken, they may just discover that what they've always sought was right in front of them all along.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. In my opinion, Nancy Thayer is quite the author - I loved the portrayal of the family relationships and the family dynamics featured and it was a quick read for me as well. I give this book an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Bentley Little - The Resort

94. The Resort by Bentley Little (2004)
Length: 390 pages
Genre: Horror
Started: 1 October 2013
Finished: 5 October 2013
Where did it come from? From Bookmooch 
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 30 September 2013
Why do I have it? I like horror and Bentley Little is a new author for me.

Welcome to The Reata, a fashionably unique spa located in the isolated Arizona desert. Please try to ignore the strange employees and the unspeakable things in the pool. And when guests start disappearing, just pretend it isn't happening. Enjoy your stay, and relax. Oh...and do remember to lock yourself in tightly after dark.  

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The pace of the plot really drew me in, and although the book was so fast-paced, I took my time and really savored it. I give this book an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Sidney Sheldon - The Sands of Time

93. The Sands of Time by Sidney Sheldon (1988)
Length: 334 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started: 28 September 2013
Finished: 1 October 2013
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 20 April 2013
Why do I have it? I like contemporary fiction and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past.

Spain - a land of eternal passion and unceasing bloodshed. Fleeing the vengeance of a pitiless tyrant, four nuns find themselves suddenly thrust into a hostile world which they had long ago abandoned for the safety of the convent. Unwittingly, they become pawns in a battle between the charismatic Jaime Miró, leader of the outlawed Basque nationalists, and the ruthless Colonel Ramón Acoca of the Spanish Army.

Lucia - the fiery Sicilian beauty who harbors a murderous secret; she wins the heart of Rubio Arzano, a freedom fighter who risks his life to save her.

Graciella - whose guilt over one reckless, youthful sin continues to haunt her, even now; Ricardo is the courageous man who loves her.

Megan - the orphan seeking perilous refuge in the arms of a defiant Basque rebel; Jaime Miró, himself.

Teresa - the believer haunted by a faith that seemingly mocks her with silence; whose own guilty conscience may lead her to commit an unforgivable act.

Four women - and the men they are forbidden to love. Leaving innocence but not hope behind, they venture into an alien, dazzling world, where each will encounter an unexpected destiny - and the truth about herself.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read for me, and learning about the pasts of each of the women was certainly intriguing. I give this book a definite A!

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Reading Wrap-up For September at Moonshine and Rosefire

Hello everyone out there and I hope that you all had a terrific reading month for yourselves. I am known as Rosefire around the Internet and this is my new personal reading blog. I originally posted my reviews over at my daughter's blog, Emeraldfire's Bookmark but am now in the process of transferring them all over to my own blog. My daughter makes blogging look like so much fun that I thought that I would try it out for myself! :)

Anyway, I started out September with 758 unread books lying around the house and ended the month with 749 books unread. All the books that I acquired this month came from Amazon, a friend of mine, Paperback Swap and Bookmooch.


Let me try to break down the influx for you:

Rereads
- Whispers by Belva Plain 

Changes to the TBR pile

Read from my TBR pile (Yes! I am a reading machine :))
- All the Numbers: A Novel by Judy Merrill Larsen
- The Way we Were: A Novel by Marcia Willett
- The Doctor's Wife by Brian Moore
- Rescue: A Novel by Anita Shreve
- The Summer Visitors by Brooke Leimas
- Returning: A Spiritual Journey by Dan Wakefield 
- Summer Breeze: A Novel by Nancy Thayer 
- The Weight of Silence: A Novel by Heather Gudenkauf 

Added to my TBR pile (oh well, you win some and you lose some! Not too bad though, I suppose:))
- Swim: An eShort Story by Jennifer Weiner
- The Sea Glass Sisters: Prelude to the Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate
- The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe
- The Works of Edgar Allan Poe: Volume 2 by Edgar Allan Poe
- James Connelly: 'A Full Life' by Donal Nevin
- Lindbergh: The Crime by Noel Behn
- Needful Things by Stephen King
- The Dead Zone by Stephen King
- The Shadow Hunter by Michael Prescott
- Belonging: A Novel by Nancy Thayer
- Summer House: A Novel by Nancy Thayer
- The Black Book by Ian Rankin
- The Resort by Bentley Little
- The Children's Hour by Douglas Clegg
- Lonely Planet Ireland by Tom Smallman, Steve Fallon and Pat Yale

Taken off my TBR pile and sent to a new home (Yay! Happy Dance! :))
- Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee
- Neither Five Nor Three by Helen MacInnes
- Dreams and Miracles: How God Speaks Through Your Dreams by Ann Spangler
- A Place Called Saturday by Mary Astor
- One Simple Act: Discovering the Power of Generosity by Debbie Macomber
- Crossroads by Belva Plain
- Right Next Door by Debbie Macomber
- Hunter's Moon by Carole Mortimer
- The Stone Bull by Phyllis A. Whitney
- The Glass Flame by Phyllis A. Whitney
- Kept in the Dark by Nina Bawden
- The Way we Were: A Novel by Marcia Willett
- The Summer Visitors by Brooke Leimas
- All That Remains by Patricia Cornwell
- Summer Breeze: A Novel by Nancy Thayer

Well, there it is...the breakdown! All in all, a very good reading month for me. Here's a further breakdown:

Books Read: 9
Pages Read: 2, 614
Grade Range: A+! to B+!

So, there you go! The reading month that was September. I hope that you all had an equally good reading month; if not a little better. :) See you all next month! :)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight