BOOK REVIEW: "Garden Spells"

Garden Spells

By Sarah Addison Allen

Copyright 2007

Bantam Books

Adult Fiction

4 Bookmarks

I don't normally read too many fantasy-type books, but this one had just the right touch of magic.  In Garden Spells, we are introduced to the Waverly family.  Each member has a special gift.  Evanelle has a tendency to give people things that they only later on realize they need (two quarters for someone who, days later, needs to make an emergency call; new sheets for someone who suddenly receives a surprise visitor, etc.)  Sydney is a Waverly sister with a knack for cutting hair in such a way that it brings out the very best in a person's apearance. Bay is Sydney's daughter.  She knows where things belong; where a fixture in a house belongs, where a person belongs. 

And then there's Claire.  Claire lives in a special home with a special apple tree in the backyard.  Anyone who eats one of that tree's apples will see the most important event of their life happen.  The herbs in Claire's garden are also special.  They help Claire to make delightful foods for her catering business that help people to see things in a different light; a woman who wants her husband to notice her more, a person who wants their friend to show more understanding, and discouraging unwanted attention from a new neighbor.

The author does a great job of weaving the mystical elements into the story without it feeling like a mystery.  This is just the world of the Waverly's and everyone in the small town where they live knows it.  It was a fun story, a quick read, and would be great for a women's book club. 

BOOK REVIEW: "The Golden Prince"

The Golden Prince

By Rebecca Dean

Copyright 2010

Broadway Paperbacks

Adult Fiction

3 Bookmarks

What happens when a prince who is destined to rule England falls in love with a commoner?  This is a fictional tale about the controversy surrounding Prince Edward in the early 1900s and his refusal to accept the expectations of his position.  Prince Edward (David, as he is known to his family) falls in love with Lily Houghton and tries every possible way to disobey the king's command that he marry a princess.  His father, instead, sends him away and thinks he has put his son far from the tempting situation. 

But the distance only makes David more sure of what he wants.  He decides he will refuse to take the crown and will pass his kingly torch to his brother Albert.  Lily knows that David will make a wonderful king and decides that she, a simple commoner, cannot be the reason for David to give up his birthright. 

The result is unhappiness for all involved parties.  Prince Edward (David), although he is eventually crowned as king, refuses to marry the princess his parents had courted on his behalf. 

I don't care for stories that end sadly, but this one had so much that was based in fact that I truly enjoyed the historical nature of it.  Although we don't know the exact circumstances of this time in Prince Edward's life, we do know that he later on does abdicate the throne to his brother Albert, who becomes a great leader during World War II.  Nice historic touch to this one. 

BOOK REVIEW: "Love Walked In"

Love Walked In

By Marisa de los Santos

Copyright 2006

Penguin Books, Ltd.

Adult Fiction

3 Bookmarks

I hate stories with an "ick" factor.  And this wasn't your typical "ick" either.  This is a story about Cornelia Brown who is waiting for her prince to ride in on a white horse.  Well, more specifically, she is waiting for Cary Grant to show up in her life.  Fixated with the old, classic love story movies, Cornelia's dates just never seem to measure up.  That is, until Martin Grace enters her life.  Not only is he the spitting image of Cary Grant, but he is a true gentleman besides! 

Cornelia thinks she is in love, but there's just something that's not quite right. 

In the meantime, the story flashes to 11-year-old Clare Hobbes.  Clare's mother is slipping deeper and deeper into psychosis every day until Clare is faced with the realization that her mother can no longer care for her.  Estranged from her uncaring and mostly absentee father, Clare doesn't feel she has anywhere to turn.  When she realizes things have become dire, Clare makes a desperate phone call to her father to tell him what is going on.  He doesn't listen and casts her worries aside, as Clare had expected he would.  So Clare makes a plan.  She creates lists for how to make it through each day so that no one finds out what is going on and takes her away from her mother.  She manages for quite some time, but then her mother takes off, abandoning her completely, and her father is the only one to turn to. 

Clare's father, of course, has no clue how to handle the situation, and even less clue how to comfort Clare over the loss of her mother and the fact that he had ignored her previous concerns.  It is only when her father's girlfriend Cornelia steps in and holds her during her tears that Clare finally feels safe. 

Cornelia, of course, cannot understand why Martin has no connection with his child, especially when she falls in love with her within minutes.  And frankly, as the reader, I couldn't understand it either.  I felt decidedly uncomfortable with the thought that there are parents out there who feel absolutely no connection with their child at all, and what can happen as a result of that.  Ick. 

The ending does make up for some of the ickiness, but I was definitely uncomfortable reading some of the passages in the book.  As a parent of an 11-year-old, I was just sickened at the thought of such a young child feeling so unloved and having to be so grown up.

BOOK REVIEW: "Safe Haven"

Safe Haven

By Nicholas Sparks

Copyright 2010

Grand Central Publishing

Adult Fiction

4.5 Bookmarks

Okay, so maybe I have a little secret crush on Nicholas Sparks (I do keep reading his books, after all).  But this one was a little bit of a departure from his typical lighthearted love story. 

The main character, Erin, has escaped her abusive cop husband and is hiding as Katie in a small town far, far away from her previously life.  Katie works as a waitress and keeps to herself, until she meets a widower named Alex, and a new neighbor named Jo.  Katie opens up a bit to Jo, and then Alex and his two children become friends with Katie.  She eventually lets her guard down enough to consider the possibility of that friendship becoming more.  As Sparks develops those relationships, the story flashes back periodically to her abusive marriage and the intricate planning she had to go through in order to escape.  It also focuses on her husband, Kevin, who has never stopped looking for her and is spiralling deeper and deeper into an alcohol-induced psychosis. 

I didn't want to put this book down until I found out how it ended (so many of Sparks' stories, after all, have sad endings).  And I don't want to spoil it for you, but the twist at the end was a good one!  I really enjoyed the character development, especially Erin/Katie, who showed extreme strength in overcoming the obstacles that she faced in her life.  I have always had a soft place in my heart for women who are trapped in situations that they cannot get out of, and her character definitely showed through.  The book had just the right amount of suspense and storytelling.  This would be a great book club read! 

BOOK REVIEW: "Girls in White Dresses"

Girls in White Dresses

By Jennifer Close

Copyright 2011
Knopf, Borzoi Books Random House
Adult Fiction
2 Bookmarks

A somewhat tamer version of "Sex and the City", this faintly entertaining tale of three friends who deal with the constant pressure of other friends getting married and having babies ended up being a little bit disappointing by the end. 

Lauren, Isabella and Mary pop in and out of each other's lives, and the lives of too many other friends to list.  The story basically follows the three who navigate their way through different jobs, different boyfriends, singleton times, and all sorts of craziness and jealousy.  Of course, everything pretty much works out in the end (you wouldn't have expected anything to the contrary with as predictable as the storyline flowed).

But the author was pretty good at creating fun anecdotes and side stories so I wasn't ever really bored reading it.  The story just lacked any meaning or real purpose.  I didn't really care about any of the characters by the time I was done reading it and the whole "adults who's lives aren't keeping up with their friends' lives" theme is so overdone, I was just underwhelmed by this one.