October's Book of the Month

Hello Everyone! I chose the picture posted above because it reminds me of reading to my daughter Mareena when she was little. Every afternoon until she was about eight or nine years old, we would take one of her books that she wanted to read or that she was reading and we would curl up together on my big bed. 

We would spend an hour or so reading a chapter of her book, and then take a nap together. Her absolutely favorite author at that time was an English author named Enid Blyton. Ahh, nice memories...

My picks for 'Books of the Month' will be decidedly more adult these days, but they will be from almost any genre. October's Book of the Month is: 

 An Act of Love by Nancy Thayer

Published as: An Act of Love in September 1997

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Birth Name: Nancy Patton

Born: 14 December 1943 in Emporia, Kansas

Canonical Name: Nancy Thayer

Pseudonyms: None

An Act of Love by Nancy Thayer was the ninety-eighth book that I read in 2013. I have had this book on my TBR shelf since October 7, 2013 and it took me two days to read. This book is a definite keeper for me.

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Dan Wakefield - Going All the Way

101. Going All the Way by Dan Wakefield (1970)
Length: 307 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started: 27 October 2013
Finished: 29 October 2013
Where did it come from? From Paperback Swap
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 2 October 2013
Why do I have it? I like contemporary fiction and have read and enjoyed Returning: A Spiritual Journey by the same author in the past.

Two former soldiers who served during the Korean War meet each other on the train going back home to Indiana. Willard 'Sonny' Burns - the photographer for the school newspaper when he was in high school - was a quiet, shy and rather introverted student, whose high school years were wholly unremarkable. Sonny has grown into a quiet, shy and rather introverted adult - preoccupied with thoughts of sex and women. Tom 'Gunner' Casselman - the typical 'Big Man on Campus' when he was in high school - was incredibly popular, with the type of reputation that inspired awe in his peers. 

For good or ill, Sonny and Gunner search for love and fulfillment throughout their travels in middle America. They form an unlikely friendship after that first meeting on the train. In fact, it comes as a huge surprise to Sonny.to discover that Gunner truly respected him in high school. Sonny's unpretentious and inconspicuous demeanor was the quality that Gunner most admired. What follows is a coming-of-age novel about growing up in a time before free love, Vietnam and AIDS. 

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book; quite a bit more than I was actually expecting I would. It was a very funny story, although in my opinion, Sonny and Gunner's friendship was probably not the most advantageous relationship for either of them. This book was a best-seller in 1970, and is considered to be Dan Wakefield's most famous novel. I give this book an A+! 

Going All the Way was made into a movie in 1997 and won an award at the Sundance Film Festival. It starred Jeremy Davies as Sonny and Ben Affleck as Gunner. 

A+! - (96-100%)
          
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Michael Phillip Cash - The Hanging Tree: A Novella

100. The Hanging Tree: A Novella by Michael Phillip Cash (2013)
Length: 77 pages
Genre: Horror
Started: 25 October 2013
Finished: 26 October 2013  
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Michael Phillip Cash and to Red Feather Publishing for sending me a copy of this book to read.  
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 23 October 2013  
Why do I have it? I like horror and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past. 

Set amid the eerie backdrop of Long Island, an area famously infused with age-old legends, two young would-be lovers contemplate their future while visits from those who have come before them reveal the lure of fate...and the power of free will. At seventeen, Arielle's relationship with her parents is slowly deteriorating. Angry and defiant, she is at a loss on how to cope with the tumultuous situation in which she finds herself. Arielle's only comfort is her relationship with Chad - an eighteen-year-old young man who seems to truly understand her struggles.  

Arielle and Chad often meet beneath the low-hanging branches of an ancient and majestic landmark, which the local community has nick-named the "Hanging Tree". It has long been rumored that the tree is haunted by ghosts. These apparitions span various centuries and differ widely in age, but each one of them shares one thing in common: their deaths are all somehow connected to the tree itself. 

As Arielle and Chad commiserate over their current situation and the precarious nature of their future, the spectral inhabitants of the Hanging Tree witness their conversation. One by one, the ghosts begin reminiscing about their own lives - and deaths - as they examine the inner demons with which their human forms long struggled.

I must say that I enjoyed reading this book very much. In my opinion, the plot and characters were well-developed and believable considering the length of the story. I give this book an A+! and look forward to reading more from Michael Phillip Cash in the future.

A+! - (96-100%)
        
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Nancy Thayer - Belonging: A Novel

99. Belonging: A Novel by Nancy Thayer (1995)
Length: 341 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started: 20 October 2013
Finished: 25 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.

Joanna Jones seems to have it all. As the successful host of a New York based television show - Fabulous Homes - Joanna is blessed with great looks. She has a wonderful lover and a job that gives her money and fame, while allowing her to indulge in her passion for beautiful homes. Today, Joanna has the life she's always dreamed of, tomorrow she just might lose it all...

Suddenly and shockingly, Joanna will discover what she doesn't have: a committed relationship she can depend on. Now she faces a stunning discovery alone and makes the tough decision to leave her glittering life in New York behind for a quaint Nantucket home with an ocean view. Joanna will soon discover new friends, and unexpected enemies. 

The choices ahead will test her courage; the surprising twists of fate will challenge her faith as she faces a day of ashes, a time of sorrow, and an extraordinary new chance for love, happiness, and...Belonging. 

This book was a good read for me; although, I must say that it was not as good as I was expecting. I found that the central character of the story just wasn't as sympathetic as she probably should have been - at least in my opinion. Anyway, I give Belonging: A Novel by Nancy Thayer a B+! I will certainly be reading more books by this author in the future; although perhaps not right away.

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

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