Coming Soon….

Posted on October 31, 2014 by opesopinions

…. On a Bookshelf near you!

In November I hope to read…

Publication Date: November 11, 2014
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Goodreads: After losing her son in an elementary school shooting that devastates the tight-knit community of Stillwater Bay, Jennifer Crowne finds herself unable to settle back into her role of perfect stay-at-home mom and committee organizer. Meanwhile, her best friend, Mayor Charlotte Stone, struggles to keep the town together, and Charlotte’s husband, the school principal, may not be the hero everyone thinks him to be.

As they try to heal from this irrevocable trauma, Jenn and Charlotte find themselves at a crossroads?within the town and within their friendship. For Jenn, broken and grieving, there is no going back, and she demands that the school be closed so that she can bury the past. Yet Charlotte is equally desperate to hold the town together, fighting the school closure and helping the shooter’s mother regain her place in the community. Jenn and Charlotte’s relationship is put to the ultimate test as each weighs her own interests against the bonds of their friendship.

What is coming soon …. to a bookshelf near you?

Let me know – I am always looking for a good read!

Ava and Pip

Posted on October 29, 2014 by opesopinions

Author: Carol Weston
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jaberwocky
Genre: Middle Grade
Source: BEA

Goodreads: An endearing tween story about friendship, family, identity, and inspiration

Outgoing Ava loves her older sister, Pip, but can’t understand why Pip is so reserved and never seems to make friends with others. When Ava uses her writing talents to help her sister overcome her shyness, both girls learn the impact their words and stories can have on the world around them.

Ope’s Opinion: I have to admit upfront that diary form is one of my least favorite ways to be told a story. It comes from only one point of view and your information is very limited.

The story of Bea, Ava and Pip was cute and meaningful. All of the references to palindromes became irritating. I felt like I was in English class instead of reading a story. I also thought the story was more for elementary classes then middle school classes. This was not one I think the parents will enjoy along with their student.

I did like that Ava and Pip learned some lessons. I thought Ava and Pip’s relationship was pretty normal for sisters. I also like the involvement of the parents. It was good to see Bea involved in some of the solutions for Ava and Pip.

Rating: Three Chairs – I like this book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.

Before the Storm

Posted on October 27, 2014 by opesopinions

Author: Steena Holmes
Publisher: Steena Holmes
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source: Purchase

Goodreads: Fans of Jodi Picoult and Elin Hilderbrand will fall in love with this new series that sets the stage for her upcoming novel, Stillwater Rising, from NY Times bestselling author Steena Holmes.

Before the first shots are fired within the walls of Stillwater Elementary School, life went on as normal for five women who were close friends. Their monthly girls’ night was coming up and they couldn’t wait to get together. They all needed this night to run away and be carefree – from their husbands, their children, their church – with no expectations, no responsibilities, where they weren’t mothers or wives.

No one expected their lives to be torn apart, their friendships tested in one short minute when their town is rocked by a danger lurking in their tight-knit community.

This novella gives you a glimpse into the town of Stillwater Bay and its residents. You will see what their lives were like BEFORE the storm that rocked their little community descended upon them.

This is a novella and comes before Stillwater Rising and a portion of proceeds from this novella will be donated to KidsPeace.org to help stop school violence.

Ope’s Opinion: Do not read this book unless you have Stillwater Rising in your hands – which does not comes out until November 11, 2014. Where this novella leaves you will haunt you until you get your hands on Stillwater Rising.

I loved getting an inside look at each woman before the incident. It is interesting to see their relationships to each other, their husbands and their children. It will make reading Stillwater Rising even more meaningful, as soon as I get it.

Steena Holmes has been an author I do not even have to read the synopsis of her books – I just see her name and pick up the book. She is an amazing writer.

Rating: Five Chairs – This book is so good it will be passed on and on and on….

The Fragile World

Posted on October 24, 2014 by opesopinions

Author: Paula Treick DeBoard
Publisher: MIRA
Genre: Adult Fiction
Source: Harlequin MIRA

Publication Date: October 28, 2014

Goodreads: From the author of publishing sensation The Mourning Hours comes a powerful new novel that explores every parent’s worst nightmare.

The Kaufmans have always considered themselves a normal, happy family. Curtis is a physics teacher at a local high school. His wife, Kathleen, restores furniture for upscale boutiques. Daniel is away at college on a prestigious music scholarship, and twelve-year-old Olivia is a happy-go-lucky kid whose biggest concern is passing her next math test.

And then comes the middle-of-the-night phone call that changes everything.Daniel has been killed in what the police are calling a freak accident, and the remaining Kaufmans are left to flounder in their grief. The anguish of Daniel’s death is isolating, and it’s not long before this once perfect family find themselves falling apart. As time passes and the wound refuses to heal, Curtis becomes obsessed with the idea of revenge, a growing mania that leads him to pack up his life and his anxious teenage daughter and set out on a collision course to right a wrong.

An emotionally charged novel, The Fragile World is a journey through America’s heartland and a family’s brightest and darkest moments, exploring the devastating pain of losing a child and the beauty of finding healing in unexpected ways.

Ope’s Opinion: The beginning of the book grabbed my attention. It made me want to keep reading. It was a bit sad, but I wanted to see where the story was going to go.

The middle was a road trip that was very long and tedious. There was too much detailed description with not enough really happening. At one point the mother was looking for the father and she just happened to know where he was at each turn – it felt unrealistic.

The ending is not anything you could figure out or guess ahead of time. The ending sort of frustrated me – can’t explain without giving too much away. The story was wrapped up at the end.

Rating: Three Chairs – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.

Rock Angel

Posted on October 22, 2014 by opesopinions

Author: Jeanne Bogino
Publisher: Prashanti Press LLC
Genre: New Adult
Source: Book Sparks

Goodreads: Shan is young, beautiful, talented, and addicted to heroin in Rock Angel, a novel that follows her meteoric rise to guitar goddess stardom in the 90’s. She is discovered in New York by a handsome, arrogant musical genius named Quinn, and sparks fly between them when he hires her as lead guitarist of his band. Although Quinn is accustomed to bedding a different groupie every night, he can’t ignore his deepening feelings for his new band mate. From gritty Greenwich Village clubs to L.A.’s Troubadour; gigging and touring the country to the cover of Rolling Stone, Rock Angel is infused with the passionate music and intense sexual chemistry of Shan and Quinn. Shan must work out her personal demons and learn to trust Quinn enough to love him, but still remain true to the music that has always been her salvation. A hot, hard-driving story set in an intoxicating world of sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll, Rock Angel is the first novel by author, Jeanne Bogino.

Ope’s Opinion: I liked all the inside view of the music industry. I also liked the realistic way the author dealt with addiction. It was written in a way that made you really root for Shan to beat and stay away from the drugs. In the music business it doesn’t seem like it would be easy to stay strong. I know sex, drugs and rock and roll are usually expected to be together, but there was too much description of the sex scenes.

I love the cover of this book. I think I would like to frame it! I really like it when the cover represents the book, but doesn’t give anything away.

The story was a little long and drawn out for me – which I know is realistic with addiction, but hard to read some times.

I hear there is another book coming out called Angel on High. I will be interested to see where she takes the story.

Rating: Three Chairs – I like the book so much I know several friends to share it with.

Touring in Nashville

Posted on October 20, 2014 by opesopinions

I went to the Ryman Auditorium for the tour there.

This is downtown Nashville.

This is on the stage at the Ryman Auditorium.

Next we went to the Grand Ole Opry!
This is the auditorium.
This is one of the dressing rooms at the Opry.

These are pictures of Kristi and I on the Grand Ole Opry stage.

Then we went to Chuy’s to eat. If you like Mexican it is an awesome stop!

Nashville Library

Posted on October 17, 2014 by opesopinions

Where ever I go, I try to visit the local library.
Some times they are the most beautiful buildings.

This sign was just inside the door of the library.

Then I went in up the stairs and there was another sign.

This library has an awesome atrium outside.

There is a fountain in the atrium.

I highly recommend visiting the Nashville library if you have the chance.

Downtown Nashville

Posted on October 15, 2014 by opesopinions

Our trip to Nashville started in our suite.

This was waiting for us when we checked in! Yum!!

We went for a walk down Broadway.

We went to a nice restaurant called the Standard.

I bought a guitar ornament to bring back home for my memories.

We went to the bridge bar at the hotel.

This young girl was singing at the bridge bar. She was amazing.

Book Stores in Nashville

Posted on October 13, 2014 by opesopinions

I had the opportunity to go to Nashville, Tennessee
with my daughter Kristin of
Kritters Ramblings.
She and I never pass up an opportunity to check out new book stores
where ever we find out selves!

The first one we went to is called Parnassus.

This is a really cute store with very friendly associates.

This is the cute book mark they stuck in with my book!

This is the book I chose from the Parnassus store.

Next we went to Logos book store.
It is a small Christian book store with a great selection.

This is the bag the book came home in.

This is the book I chose from Logos.
Looks like a good winter read!
I love Susan May Warren, so I will treasure this one.

If you ever get to Nashville, these two book store should be part of your tour!!

The Battle of Darcy Lane

Posted on October 10, 2014 by opesopinions

Author: Tara Altebrando
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Genre: Middle Grade
Source: BEA

Goodreads: It is summertime, and twelve-year-old Julia Richards cannot stand the anticipation. Everyone on Darcy Lane seems to be holding their breath waiting for the cicadas to emerge, but what Julia and her best friend, Taylor, want is some real excitement. Which arrives in the form of a new neighbor named Alyssa, who introduces a ball game called Russia . . . and an unwelcome level of BFF rivalry.

Suddenly nothing stands unchallenged—not Julia’s friendships, her crush, or her independence. But while Julia realizes that she cannot control all the changes in her life, she hangs onto the hope that everything will go in her favor if she can just win one magnificent showdown.

Acclaimed author Tara Altebrando’s middle-grade debut features a voice that is true to the adolescent experience, where everything is felt acutely in a whirlwind of all-or-nothing emotion.

Ope’s Opinion: Tara Altebrando really knows how to write from a young middle grade perspective. I think any one in that age range would enjoy this and I think any parent would approve their child reading this book.

This is a realistic look at how friendships grow and change. It also showed the pain of letting a friend go when that relationship doesn’t work anymore. Julia’s summer was full of learning experiences.

I was impressed with Altebrando’s writing of the parents. It seems a large number of books for young teens leave the parents out of the picture. In this book Julia has two wonderful involved parents, who also have a great relationship. It is great to read about parents who are setting a good example for their children.

The ending felt satisfying to me, but also open ended. I hope that means we will see Julia again. I would like to know how she does when she gets back into the school routine.

Rating: Four Chairs – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.

Ope's Opinions

Blogging about books, life, and the beach.

Monthly Archives: October 2014