In time for Valentine's Day - Nicholas Sparks' Dear John

I haven't read all of Nicholas Sparks' books, but I've read a lot of his early ones (The Notebook, A Walk to Remember, Message in a Bottle) and some newer ones (Nights in Rodanthe). Even though he writes just about the saddest stories one can imagine sometimes, he writes them about these characters that you cannot help but love. Sometimes one of the characters is lost in life and finds his way after finding love . . . but the character was essentially a good person anyway, if they are able to make a turn around like that. And yes, you usually cry your eyes out at the end because something so tragic happens, you can't fathom it.

Dear John begins with John, a soldier, finding love with a sweet college girl named Savannah. Without giving the plot of Dear John away, I feel like Nicholas Sparks veered from the formula. I was pissed at the book's end. He had a gorgeous story, full of hope and love, and then . . . the ending. Instead of crying, I wanted to rip the book up! Read this book if you think love is a crock, and you'll feel much better on Valentine's Day.

I'd love to hear your thoughts if you've read it . . . and I plan on seeing the movie. This is the first time I've ever hoped that a movie will not be exactly like the book!

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Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin

Emily Giffin loves to tackle awkward situations. Her debut novel, Something Borrowed explores what happens when your best friend falls in love with the love of your life, they get engaged, then her new fiancee falls in love with you. It's the same story with her latest novel, Love the One You're With. I knew I had to read it, regardless of the fact that the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song of the same name was a "theme" for a spring break once spent in the Bahamas.

Giffin does not disappoint. Her main character, Ellen, has just recently married the greatest guy ever, Andy. Good-looking, successful and a true Southern gent, the two are starting their lives together in NYC, when out of the blue, Ellen runs into her ex, Leo. Leo, "the one that got away," is the exact opposite of Andy - a hipster writer with dark hair and dark moods. To say their relationship ended badly is an understatement. Leo contacts Ellen after their run-in about a possible photo shoot, as Ellen has become a well-known photographer. Ellen is torn between her past and her present when all of a sudden she is presented with a life-changing decision. What will she do?

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Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews

Looking for something light and fun to read? But maybe a little suspense, too? Check out Mary Kay Andrew's Savannah Blues. The laughs begin when we learn that the protagonist, Weezie Foley, is living in the carriage house of her former home, while her ex-husband lives in the big house with his new fiancee. Weezie is trying to make it on her own as an antiques dealer, and finds herself right in the middle of a murder mystery when she decides to get a sneak peek at the biggest estate sale to hit Savannah.

When Weezie's boyfriend from high school, Daniel, shows up as the new chef at her best friend BeBe's restaurant, Weezie's life takes an interesting turn . . . officially hooking the reader in! Andrews has created some very likeable characters, and I'll guarantee you'll be planning a trip to Savannah after you finish! This fun southern novel is an easy and fun read - perfect for February!

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The Wettest County in the World by Matt Bondurant

Fascinated by moonshine and like historical fiction? This is a book for you - and anyone who likes a compelling story. Matt Bondurant, from Alexandria, Virginia, based this book on his grandfather and great uncles, who were legendary as moonshine makers and bootleggers during Prohibition in Franklin County, Virginia.

The story is told through the three brothers, along with famous writer Sherwood Anderson, who lived in Franklin County at the time, trying to dig up information on these, and other infamous bootleggers in the area. Although the novel jumps in time, you start to get a hold of the rhythm of the novel, and then you're hooked. Bondurant creates enthralling characters, and the vivid descriptions of life on a farm contrasted with the shoot-em-up scenes of bootlegging life make this novel one of the best I've read in awhile.

Definitely check this one out - and get excited for a movie version! Rumor has it that Ryan Gosling and Shia LaBeouf have signed on to play two of the Bondurant brothers. Hopefully Hollywood does this amazing novel justice.

[Photo: www.coverbrowser.com]

Must Reads for 2010

With January coming to a close, I've been deciding on my new year's resolutions - and the books that I absolutely have to read before year's end. Here's my top 5!

1. Bloodroot by Amy Greene
2. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Jane Austen and Ben H. Winters
3. Nanny Returns by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus
4. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
5. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

What are your top must-reads for 2010? Post below or on Facebook!

Happy Reading!

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Dune Road by Jane Green

I've read a couple of Jane Green novels (Mr. Maybe, The Other Woman) and enjoyed her story telling, so I picked up Dune Road when I saw it under the new releases at the library. There were several aspects of the book I enjoyed - it takes place in Highfield, Connecticut, a rich coastal town, where the protagonist Kit Hardgrove lives. Kit is recovering from her divorce and finally starting to feel like herself again. She befriends her neighbor Edie, who becomes a mother figure for Kit, and Kit gets a great job as a personal assistant to Highfield's resident celebrity, the author Robert McClore.

Then the drama starts to unfold. I loved the the plot line, but I couldn't help but feel like everything ended just a little too neatly and nicely towards the end. While I do love a happy ending, this ending felt rushed and a bit incomplete. Green creates a great cast of characters though, and I enjoyed getting to know all of them.

If you're a fan of Jane Green, then it's worth a read. If you've never read her - start with Mr. Maybe or The Other Woman.

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Guilty as Charged

For pure laziness! Or busy-ness. Take your pick. Either way, my hiatus lasted longer than I thought!

Just got back in town from Florida and I'm back on a reading roll, thanks to a bunch of great "Barefoot Bookworm" books from Santa!

Stay tuned . . .

Dedication by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

The hilarious pair of authors that brought you The Nanny Diaries score again with this laugh-out-loud tale about finally moving on from the one that broke your heart. Kate Hollis, affectionately known as Katie in high school, moves to the small town of Croton Falls, Vermont in sixth grade. She befriends Laura, and the two are quickly inseparable. Part of small town middle school life is "claiming" which boy you like. Katie randomly picks a cute boy, Jake Sharpe, and to prove herself to her mean-girl classmates, stands up on a desk and admits her crush in front of everyone.
Flash forward eighteen years and you learn that Jake and Katie finally did get together, he left the night before prom, became a mega-star, and wrote all of his songs about Katie . . . yet they haven't spoken since senior year. The novel goes back and forth in time, putting the pieces together for the reader as Kate makes the journey back to Croton Falls when learning that Jake has returned to film a holiday special for MTV. All through the novel, you will be torn between falling in love with Jake right alongside to high-school Katie, and hating his modern-day guts with grown-up Kate. The book has a great ending - definitely unexpected - and McLaughlin and Kraus have done an impeccable job recreating the different time periods. A must read this winter if one of your New Years resolutions is to finally get over that ex . . . or if you just want a compelling story with a lot of laughs.

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