Christmas Time Already?!?!

Wow...

Where DID the time go?! Wasn't it Halloween just...yesterday? It certainly feels like it. Time moves at warp speed for me when school is in session. Even Thanksgiving Break flew by too quickly, but I found it quite relaxing...and productive. There's a lot going on around my house and my job these days. "Busy, busy, busy..." (to quote Professor Hinkle in "Frosty the Snowman").

I'm happy to say I've found some time to read (though, not as much as I'd like), and I do have a couple of books to mention to you I found quite entertaining.

First...

The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley is a wonderfully enjoyable book. It's part mystery, part historical fiction, and part supernatural (in a haunting kind of way). I saw a reviewer compare it to Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, and I have to agree it does have that kind of feel to it. It's set in Scotland and the plot surrounds a woman who has come to help on an archaeological dig, based on the search for an old Roman military camp that vanished centuries ago and no one knows what happened to them. Excellent read. And I love Susanna Kearsley's writing. (If  you like this one, you'll definitely enjoy her The Winter Sea.)

Next...

After Her by Joyce Maynard was a random choice for me. I've never read anything by her, but the synopsis on the back intrigued me. The story is told by a grown woman who is looking back at her childhood and telling about the time the Sunset Strangler hunted women on the California hillsides behind her house. Her father was the lead detective on the case. The story is as much about her childhood, her bond with her sister, and her confusion over her parents' relationship, as it is about the murders and the serial killer. The story is written well, and I enjoyed it on many different levels.

I consider this story historical fiction, as it is loosely based on the real Trailside Killer and a detective who worked on the case. The author acknowledges she based the story on the real one, as told to her by the two daughters of the detective. It's a fascinating (and, sometimes, a bit creepy) read.

And, last but not least, (not by a long shot)...

Someone Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson was a fun ride! Of course, Ms. Jackson never fails to entertain me with her writing style. I fell in love with her when I read A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty. She writes interesting, colorful characters that both surprise and amaze. Her characters are greatly flawed in the most beautiful ways. I feel like her stories shout to the world, "Hey, we all screw-up, but that doesn't mean we're not good people!"

In Someone Else's Love Story, it all begins when two people make a connection during an unexpected moment - when they're held at gunpoint by a convenience store robber. Any story that starts that way must be good, right? Absolutely. The great thing about Jackson's writing? You never know what twists and turns she's going to take you on. You just have to trust the ride,...and I do. I learned that from A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty.

In fact, I trust Jackson with my valuable reading time so much, she's my first choice for this weekend. I'm just about to start gods in Alabama (yes, little 'g'), and I can't WAIT to see what she has in store for me with this one!

Happy reading to you all and to all a good read! :-D

My Confession: I'm a Cover Lover

You know that old saying about how we shouldn't judge a book by its cover? Well, maybe,...sometimes we should! At least, that's what I decided after reading The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley. 

You see, if you asked me to be honest about what attracted me to the book, I would say it was the cover and the title. Pure and simple. It happens like that for me sometimes. It's almost like I can imagine the story just by looking at the cover. I've never read anything by this author before, so I didn't know what to expect. Once I found out it was a historical fiction, which I love, I was hooked. 

The Winter Sea is two tales in one (something else I love). The story is written in both the present day and in the past. The novel begins in the present with an author who is visiting Scotland to do research for a book she's writing. She finds more than she expects in the ruins of Slains Castle and is inspired to stay awhile longer. She begins to write a novel that almost seems to write itself. It is as if she is haunted by a story that must be told. 

The historical fiction part centers around the late 1600s and early 1700s. It has political intrigue, spies, castles, and the desire for "the true king" James to return and claim the throne. It speaks of sacrifice and hardships and the hope for a better world. There are strong female characters, which I appreciate, who aren't damsels in distress waiting to be saved. The novel reminds us that during times of war and unrest in a country, everyone must pull their own weight and be tough if they hope to survive. Remember, the good men are off at war fighting for what their country...or their king. Of course, that doesn't mean there isn't love and romance in the novel. What would anyone fight for if there wasn't that, eh?

While there was never any confusion for me 'where' I was when I was reading (present or past), Kearsley labeled the chapters of the book according to the time period the reader is in. I thought it was a nice touch. For chapters that are set in the present day, she has them labeled with the word "chapter" and a number. For chapters that are set in the past, she has them labeled with just Roman numerals. I must say, she does a wonderful job of weaving in and out of the past and present. The whole book flows wonderfully!

Slains Castle in Aberdeen, Scotland

I thoroughly enjoyed both stories in this novel, and I found myself wishing it would continue. For me, it did. Reading geek that I am, I loved that the author gave additional historical notes in the back and references to her information. I found myself on the internet reading all kinds of interesting things from that time period in Scotland and England. I now have a list of other books I'd like to read that are both non-fiction and historical fiction from this time period. I've also added Aberdeen, Scotland, to my list of places I'd like to go see in my travels. 

And, just so you know, I often judge a book by its cover. As much as I am an avid reader, and I am all about the words inside a novel, I can't deny my attraction to book covers and their titles. I am seldom disappointed when I choose one this way. It's almost...instinctual.

Of course, I AM a born bibliophile, so it all makes sense, right? ;)