Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More


Aug 15

3

Review & Giveaway: Monday, Sunday by Fenton Grace

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on August 3, 2015
Posted in Book Tours • Books Read in 2015 • My Past Giveaways  | Tagged With: , , , , | 3 Comments

Fenton GraceMonday, Sunday by Fenton Grace:


Publisher: Hanover Press (May 4, 2015)
Category: Women’s Fiction, Literary, Contemporary, with a Noir edge
ISBN: 978-0-9961534-0-9
Tour Date: August/September, 2015
Available in: Print & ebook, 287 Pages

Set in a small town in Colorado, Monday, Sunday tells the enthralling story of Laney Secord.  She is a 32-year-old single mother who finds herself attracted to a 16-year-old Eagle Scout, Christopher.  Unable to accept her feelings, Laney becomes involved with Christopher’s father, Bill.  In the course of a week, a romantic triangle envelops the trio and changes their lives in ways in which none of them could have imagined.

A gripping story of a complex woman at a crossroads in her life. A woman who is determined to rediscover herself.  She becomes powerfully aware that every decision she makes could mean life or.. death.

“In this beautifully written and compelling novel, author Fenton Grace explores the consequences of flawed choices, the nature of betrayal and forgiveness, and the boundaries of sexual attraction.” Noah, Book Reviewer

My Thoughts on Monday, Sunday by Fenton Grace:


Laney is a 32 year old widow.  Her husband died three years ago and she has put her life on hold.  She feels guilty for his death and for the brief affair she had before he died. She doesn’t feel she’s ready to date yet and has not been motivated to work.  Then Christopher, a 16 year old boy turns up at her house looking for a donation for the Eagle Scouts. He is instantly attracted to her and though she brushes him off, she is attracted to him as well.

Christopher wont let up and starts pursuing Laney.  He tries to talk her into sleeping with him and says he wont tell anyone.  Laney’s 7 year old son is also quite fond of Christopher. Meanwhile, Laney meets Bill, Christopher’s father.  He asks her out and she accepts.  After their first date he asks her to marry him.  This is all overwhelming for Lacey and going way to fast for comfort. 

This well written novel delves into the triangle relationship between Laney, a 16 year old boy and his father.  Though Christopher professes his love to Laney, in my opinion, this is not a love story. It is said to be in the romance/thriller genre but I wouldn’t label it as such.  It is literary and contemporary, for sure. It definitely has a noir edge. It is about passion and guilt and what happens once you let the proverbial genie out of the bottle.

4/5

I received the Kindle version for my honest review.

About Fenton Grace:Fenton Grace


Fenton Grace was born and raised in New England.  She graduated from Brown University with a degree in French.  She enjoys playing piano, tennis, and keeping in shape with Pilates.  She’s worked in the entertainment industry at several television and movie studios in a variety of business services roles.  Happily married for 17 years, she is the proud mother of two kids and currently lives in beautiful Southern California.  Monday, Sunday is her first novel.

Website: www.FentonGrace.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/fentongraceus

Buy Monday, Sunday by Fenton Grace:


Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository
LuLu

Giveaway of Monday, Sunday by Fenton Grace:


This giveaway is open internationally however, print is available for the U.S. only.  This giveaway ends on September 25, 2015.  To enter, please use Rafflecopter only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Follow the Monday, Sunday by Fenton Grace Tour:


Teddy Rose Book Reviews Aug 3 Kick Off & Giveaway

BitchesbeWriten Aug 4 Excerpt

Mallory Heart Reviews Aug 5 Review

Infinite House of Books Aug 6 Interview & Excerpt

Books & Tales Aug 10 Interview

Pomegranate Radio Aug 11 Podcast Review

Mythical Books Aug 12 Interview

JBronder Book Reviews Aug 13 Review

The Book Rest Aug 14 Review

Two Children and a Migraine Aug 18 Review

Lisa’s Writopia Aug 19 Review & Interview

Eskimo Princess Book Reviews Aug 21 Excerpt  & Giveaway

Deal Sharing Aunt Aug 24 Review & Interview

Room With Books Sept 11 Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

Totally Addicted to Reading Sept 18 Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

Writer In Progress Sept 24 Review & Giveaway

Fenton Grace

















Aug 15

2

Review: Searching For Wallenberg by Alan Lelchuk

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on August 2, 2015
Posted in Books Read in 2015  | Tagged With: , , | 1 Comment

Alan LelchukDescription of ‘Searching For Wallenberg’ by Alan Lelchuk:


After reading a graduate student’s thesis about the fate of Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who saved thousands of Jews in Budapest from 1944 to 1945, Professor Manny Gellerman–part-time detective, historian, and novelist–follows the twists and turns along unorthodox paths and uncovers some uncomfortable truths that may explain what happened when Wallenberg was arrested by the Soviets in 1945, taken to Moscow, and left to fester in a Lybianka prison.

Now more than 65 years later, Gellerman begins unthreading these mysteries–and discovers that the deepest may be Wallenberg, himself. Who was the real man behind the legendary persona of noble diplomat and savior of Budapest Jews? Gellerman’s quest eventually leads him to a Jewish Hungarian woman, who claims she is Raoul Wallenberg’s daughter. At once a detective story and an unusual love story, this novel within a novel is filled with multiple layers and surprising characters that all lead to a deeper understanding of this enigmatic hero.

My Thoughts on ‘Searching For Wallenberg’ by Alan Lelchuk:


Professor Manny Gellerman has always been fascinated with Raoul Wallenberg and the mystery of his disappearance after WWII.  This novel is a book of fact mixed with fiction.  The facts are that Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat, saved thousands of Jews in Budapest from certain death.  After WWII he was taken by the Soviets to prison and he was never heard from again.

This novels is the fictionalized investigation into Wallenberg’s disappearance.  Manny  Gellerman has always been fascinated by Raoul Wallenberg and what might have happened to him after he was hauled off by the Soviets.  He becomes even further intrigued after reading his graduate student’s thesis on Wallenberg.  During her study and investigation, she met a woman in Budapest who claims that she is Wallenberg’s daughter.  The records show that he hadn’t been married and Manny had suspected that Wallenberg was gay.

Manny travels to both Russia and Budapest to try to find out more about Wallengerg’s disappearance and the possibility that this woman could indeed be Wallenbergs daughter.

The visits Manny has with the woman are quite odd, especially at first.  She isn’t very forthcoming but overtime she begins to trust Manny but should Manny trust her? 

It took me a good 50 pages to get into this story but once it got into the actual research, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.  Lelchuk gives us enough factual background into Wallenberg to make the reader interested in the man himself and weaves a credible scenario around it.  This is a great book for WWII historical fiction fans.  If you don’t know who Raoul Wallengberg was, you should and this novel is a good introduction.

4/5

I received the ebook verion for my honest review.

About Alan Lelchuk:Alan Lelchuk


Alan Lelchuk is a novelist and professor, who was born and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He received his B.A. in World Literature from Brooklyn College in 1960, studied at University College (London) in 1962-63, and received his M.A.in 1963 and Ph.D. in 1965, both in English from Stanford University.

His critically acclaimed novels are American Mischief, Miriam at Thirty-Four, Shrinking: The Beginning of My Own Ending, Miriam in Her Forties, Brooklyn Boy, Playing the Game, and Ziff: A Life? He co-edited 8 Great Hebrew Short Novels and has written, for young adults, On Home Ground.

He is a co-founder of Steerforth Press, has taught at Brandeis University and Amherst College, and since 1985 has been on the faculty of Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.

Jul 15

6

Book Review: Cherry Harvest by Lucy Sanna

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on July 6, 2015
Posted in Books Read in 2015 • Historical Fiction • WWII  | Tagged With: , , , | 6 Comments

Lucy Sanna Description of Cherry Harvest by Lucy Sanna:


A coming-of-age story and love story, laced with suspense, which explores a hidden side of the home front during World War II, when German POWs were put to work in a Wisconsin farm community . . . with dark and unexpected consequences.

The war has taken a toll on the Christiansen family. With food rationed and money scarce, Charlotte struggles to keep her family well fed. Her teenage daughter, Kate, raises rabbits to earn money for college and dreams of becoming a writer. Her husband, Thomas, struggles to keep the farm going while their son, and most of the other local men, are fighting in Europe.

When their upcoming cherry harvest is threatened, strong-willed Charlotte helps persuade local authorities to allow German war prisoners from a nearby camp to pick the fruit.

But when Thomas befriends one of the prisoners, a teacher named Karl, and invites him to tutor Kate, the implications of Charlotte’s decision become apparent—especially when she finds herself unexpectedly drawn to Karl.

So busy are they with the prisoners that Charlotte and Thomas fail to see that Kate is becoming a young woman, with dreams and temptations of her own—including a secret romance with the son of a wealthy, war-profiteering senator. And when their beloved Ben returns home, bitter and injured, bearing an intense hatred of Germans, Charlotte’s secrets threaten to explode their world.

Teddy’s Thoughts on Cherry Harvest by Lucy Sanna:


With the war and food rations Charlotte is having trouble feeding her husband Thomas and daughter, Kate.  She even takes and butchers one of the rabbits Kate is raising to help pay for college.  Charlotte doesn’t understand why Kate would want to go to college anyway. 

With the cherry harvest coming near Charlotte wonders how Thomas is going to be able to harvest the cherries all by himself.  Their son and most of the other men in town are off fighting in the war.  Then she hears that German prisoners of war are going to be staying near town and comes up with the idea to have them pick the cherries.  She even persuades the local authorities to allow it but the town folk are against it.

The Germans are bused to the farm with guards and stay in the workers barracks on the grounds. Soon Thomas befriends Karl, one of the prisoners.  He is not like the rest.  He was a teacher in mathematics the one high school course Kate is struggling with.  Thomas convinces Charlotte into letting Karl tutor Kate.  They even invite him into their home for dinner.

It about then when things start to unravel. I won’t tell you anymore because I don’t want to risk spoilers.

I ran hot and cold with this book, one minute I liked it, the next, not so much.  I was so excited about it when I read the description because as much WWII fiction and non-fiction I have read, I haven’t come across much on German POW’s in the U.S. or anywhere, for that matter. 

I saw so much potential for this book but it just didn’t seem to come together in a cohesive book.  There were several interesting plots but none really explored to their potential.  I would have liked to have know more of Karl’s history and into some of his thoughts.  I also think there should have been more about the PSTD (post traumatic stress disorder) that Kate’s brother and other men returned home with.

Even with it’s flaws, I am glad I read ‘Cherry Harvest’ and think that Lucy Sanna has potential to be a better writer, possibly even great.  I would like to see more plot and character development from her.  For her first novel, it was a good effort and I would be interested in reading her next to see where her writing takes her.

3/5

I received the ebook version courtesy of Edelweiss and William Morrow for my honest review.  

About Lucy Sanna:


Lucy Sanna has published poetry, short stories, and nonfiction books, which have been translated into a number of languages. Born and raised in Wisconsin, Sanna now divides her time between Madison, Wisconsin, and San Francisco.The Cherry Harvest is her first novel.

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