Tag Archives: debut novel

The Informationist by Taylor Stevens

Posted on November 28, 2011 | 8 Comments

Word Lily review

The Informationist by Taylor Stevens, book 1 of the Vanessa Michael Munroe series (Crown/Broadway, March 2011), 320 pages

Summary
Vanessa “Michael” Munroe deals in information. If you need to find out something undiscoverable — and have the resources to pay — she can figure it out for you. She grew up as a missionary kid in Cameroon, and she still bears the scars of her past life (literally and figuratively). Her gift for languages comes in handy in her work. When a Texas oil man wants her to find his daughter, who disappeared in Africa, she’s thrust back into the jungle haunted by her past.

Thoughts
I knew I wanted to read it when I heard the first whisperings of the hardcover. When I had the chance to read the paperback, I was thrilled. When I cracked open the pages, I wasn’t disappointed.

I love so many things about this book, about Vanessa Michael Munroe. I love the West African setting, the heart-pounding story arc, the genuine pain of past hurts that comes through (not that I’m glad the pain exists, but I’m glad it shows up and feels real). I love Munroe’s skill with languages and reading people. I enjoy the [few] personal connections she does have.

While the blood and sex and language might make this book an uncomfortable read for some, I found it generally appropriate for the setting and the characters.

I finished reading this book a couple weeks ago, and I’m still over the moon about it. Love it!

My biggest problem with this book is that, when I finished it, I couldn’t yet get my hands on the second book in the series, The Innocent, due out December 27. It doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, but I want more! I can’t wait.

Rating: 4.75 stars

About the author
Taylor Stevens (@Taylor_Stevens, Facebook) was raised in communes across the globe and denied an education beyond the sixth grade; she broke free of the Children of God and now lives in Texas. She’s working on the third Vanessa Michael Munroe book.

Other reviews
Jenn’s Bookshelves
Leeswammes’ Blog
S. Krishna’s Books
Beth Fish Reads
Toothy Books
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Book Spotlight: Proof of Heaven by Mary Curran Hackett

Posted on November 11, 2011 | 2 Comments

About the book:
Colm recognizes the truth: He’s sick and not getting better. Cathleen fiercely believes her faith will protect her young, ailing son, but Colm’s not so sure. With wisdom beyond his years, Colm has come to terms with his likely fate; he just has one wish. He wants to meet his father, who abandoned his mom before Colm was born.
The quest to find the dying boy’s missing parent becomes a journey of emotional discovery — a test of faith and an anxious search for proof of heaven.

Read an excerpt of Proof of Heaven by Mary Curran Hackett.

I received this book from the publisher as part of the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance. I am an Amazon Associate and receive a small commission on sales through my affiliate links.

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When Sparrows Fall by Meg Moseley

Posted on May 31, 2011 | 7 Comments

Word Lily review

When Sparrows Fall by Meg Moseley (Multnomah, May 3, 2011), 352 pages

Summary
When the pastor of young widow Miranda Hanford’s close-knit church announces his plans to move the entire congregation to another state, Miranda jumps at the opportunity to cut ties with Mason Chandler and his controlling method of ruling his flock. But Mason threatens to unearth secrets from her past, and she feels trapped, terrified she’ll be unable to protect her six children.

Thoughts
I like the characters, and I especially like the themes explored in When Sparrows Fall. I think it was pretty well-done, too. The comparisons and contrasts drawn between this small, fringe (large home-schooling families, marked by homemade dresses and long hair for the women and girls), body of believers and the church more generally were well handled and intriguing. I actually know someone whose pastor told his congregation they were all moving to another state, like Mason did in the book, and I was sucked in immediately.

But the romance felt obligatory, separate. I wasn’t a fan.

This probably sounds nit-picky, but Moseley frequently mentions (describes, even) the trademark clunky shoes all the women of this group wear. But even with all the various context and descriptors, I couldn’t picture them. This disappointed me.

I found it interesting how the book brings in praying for the souls of people who have already died, especially since it’s published by a large Christian publisher. And I found myself disappointed by how the idea was so quickly rationalized away in the text.

The story dealt with gender roles, art, medicine, and more in connection with the church. Excellent! When Sparrows Fall is compelling, and I look forward to reading many more books by Meg Moseley (this is her debut novel).

Read the first chapter.

Rating: 4.5 stars

About the author
Meg Moseley (blog, Facebook) has written a column for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She home schooled for more than 20 years. She and her husband live in northern Georgia.

Other reviews
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Juniper Berry by M.P. Kozlowsky

Posted on May 2, 2011 | 3 Comments

Word Lily review

Juniper Berry by M.P. Kozlowsky, illustrated by Erwin Madrid (Walden Pond Press, an imprint of HarperCollins, April 26, 2011), 240 pages

Summary
Juniper Berry is the daughter of movie superstars. She has fond memories of spending time with her parents, but since their stardom really took off, they’ve become distant, obsessed with maintaining their status. What’s more, they’ve also — in attempt to safeguard their privacy — essentially shut Juniper up, she never gets to leave the house. Her parents’ eyes are empty, and when a neighbor boy wanders into her backyard, she not only gains a friend but also incentive to figure out what’s wrong with her parents.

Thoughts
I appreciated the first part of the book, the part that details Juniper’s everyday goings on. Her looking through her monocular, telescope, and playing with the family dog, Kitty. The scene involving the home-video of Central Park is especially poignant.

Once it got past the beginning part (I can’t help but think of it as two separate parts, the transition was abrupt), the story was quite dark, which surprised me. Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was. Dark, and scary, and background-wise, there were quite a few holes I wish had been filled in.

The characters. The cast of characters who actually shows signs of life is very small: Juniper, Giles, Dmitri, and Theodore. Dmitri and Theodore have very little screen time. Even Giles feels like a type, rather than a real person.

I usually really enjoy middle-grade fiction, but this one didn’t succeed for me. It was OK, but *only* OK.

Rating: 2.75 stars

About the author
M.P. Kozlowsky was a high school English teacher before becoming a writer. Juniper Berry is his first book. He lives in New York with his wife and daughter.

Other reviews
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Posted in books, fiction, Middle Grade, review, review copy, speculative

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Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (review and giveaway)

Posted on April 25, 2011 | 23 Comments

Word Lily review

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (Dutton, April 14, 2011), 336 pages

Summary
Lincoln, thought by some to be a perpetual student, finally quit school (after several degrees) and moved back home. Now, he’s working at the newspaper, overseeing internet security and fixing printers when they need it. It’s not a great job; Lincoln’s working second shift, in a windowless office all alone. He can’t meet people, because he works when they’re awake. And he really doesn’t like snooping through private emails, but that’s what he’s paid to do.

Thoughts
Much of the book consists of email exchanges between two women, friends. Lincoln can’t bring himself to send them a warning, and he kind of feels like he’s become friends with them — even while feeling like a creep for reading their email.

In some ways, this is a coming of age novel. Although Lincoln’s not a teenager, when the book opens he doesn’t have a clear picture of who he is, and he’s lacking direction and motivation.

The Y2K scare and preparation aspect of the book (it’s set in 1999) is fun. I love the Omaha, Nebraska setting. I also loved being back in a newspaper office, talking about inky fingers, second shift, and copy-editing.

Overall, I found this book charming, and not entirely shallow. The book touches on themes of self-concept, esteem, ethics, fertility, and marriage.

Rating: 4 stars

About the author
Rainbow Rowell (Facebook @rainbowrowell), is a columnist for the Omaha World-Herald. She lives in Omaha with her family. She has a journalism degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Other reviews
Teresa’s Reading Corner
Books, Movies, and Chinese Food
TinasBookReviews
Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Books
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Thanks to the publisher, one of you can win a copy of Attachments! (U.S. or Canada only.) To enter, leave a comment on this post. (One entry per person.) I’ll accept entries through Monday, May 2, 2011.

ETA: This giveaway is now closed. See who won.

I received this book from the publisher. I am an Amazon Associate and receive a small commission on sales through my affiliate links.

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Posted in blog tour, books, fiction, giveaway, journalism, newspapering, reporting, review, review copy, TLC book tour

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Stalking Susan by Julie Kramer (Moonlighting for Murder)

Posted on April 4, 2011 | 18 Comments

Word Lily review

Stalking Susan by Julie Kramer, book 1 in the Riley Spartz series (Doubleday, 2008), 320 pages

Summary
Riley Spartz is still recovering from her husband’s tragic death, but it’s sweeps month, she’s back from leave, and she has to prove herself. With big stories. With ratings. She has a rare investigative reporter gig in television news for Channel 3 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. When her long-time police source hands her two homicide files, she senses a connection — and an urgency — as the anniversary nears.

Thoughts
This is Julie Kramer’s debut novel, and it received a lot of hype when it was released a few years ago now. I’d wanted to read them since then, partly because of what I’d heard, partly because of the Minnesota setting, and also — I’ll admit it — because of the excellent cover art. I’m glad I finally took Jen’s Moonlighting for Murder as my excuse to dive into this series, this character.

The mystery in Stalking Susan is fun, and the tension ratchets up nicely. Riley herself, however, was another matter for me. I found her quite dumb, not to the level of quintessential blonde, but in a way that was actually more harmful. There are blondes who happily play dumb because it suits their ends but who are actually intelligent. And there are blondes who are really dumb. And there are blondes who don’t act blonde. (I feel like I can say this because hey, we’re talking about my hair color, here.)

Riley Spartz wasn’t aware of her miscues. And while I’m sure we’ve all been there, she didn’t seem to realize the gravity of the situation she was in. Which, when you actually, intentionally, pursue a serial killer, isn’t very smart. And while I feel for her — she’s been through too much in her years — I didn’t find her sympathetic, on the whole.

I appreciated the setting and the story, and I’m certainly not calling it quits with Riley. I’m looking forward to reading more of this series.

Here’s the trailer for the book:

Stalking Susan is followed by book 2, Missing Mark (review soon), and book 3, Silencing Sam.

Rating: 3.5 stars

About the author
Prior to becoming a novelist, Julie Kramer had a career as a freelance news producer for NBC and CBS, as well as running the WCCO-TV I-Team in Minneapolis. She grew up along the Minnesota-Iowa border, fourth generation of a family who raised cattle and farmed corn for 130 years. An avid reader, she tired of fictional TV reporters being portrayed as obnoxious secondary characters who could be killed off whenever the plot started dragging, so her series features reporter Riley Spartz as heroine. Julie lives with her family in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

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The Mailbox by Marybeth Whalen

Posted on December 31, 2010 | 1 Comment

Word Lily review

The Mailbox by Marybeth Whalen (David C. Cook, June 1, 2010), 320 pages

Summary
Lindsay Adams has been visiting the Kindred Spirit mailbox at Sunset Beach, North Carolina, since her teens. She’s shared more of her life — the good and the bad — with this unknown person than with anyone else. As she goes back to Sunset Beach this summer, though, she’s struggling with how to put all the pain on paper.

Thoughts
Really a great book, especially for a debut novel. Love it!

This book is notable, I think, for its treatment of divorced protagonists. This is still pretty rare in Christian fiction, and I feel Whalen handled the subject matter — and the characters — well.

One small thing I like about this book is its celebration of letter writing and journaling. I’m not good at these practices, either, but that doesn’t mean I don’t admire the practices!

The Mailbox is a sad story, but it’s mostly about healing, recovery, choosing to trust (or not). It’s a book that feels deeply. This book deserves more attention than it’s received.

About the author
Marybeth Whalen (@MarybethWhalen) has written several books of nonfiction. The Mailbox is her debut novel. Her next novel, She Makes It Look Easy, is due out in June 2011. She and her husband, Curt, have six children and live in North Carolina.

Other reviews
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Should Be Reading
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The Familiar Stranger by Christina Berry

Posted on December 30, 2010 | 5 Comments

Word Lily review

The Familiar Stranger by Christina Berry (Moody, September 2009), 320 pages

Summary
Denise’s husband skips church one Sunday, and during the service she gets a call that he’s been in an accident. For that to be the case, he couldn’t have been where he told her was headed. Although she’s filled with questions, they’re pushed aside as she keeps vigil at his bedside, praying for him to regain consciousness.

Thoughts
This book surprised me. As I got started with it, I thought I wouldn’t like it. But I couldn’t make myself put it down (and abandoning books is something I got a fair bit of practice at this year). As the book went along, I found myself more and more caught up with these characters.

I thought it would be predictable, but I was pleasantly surprised. The characters burrowed into my psyche, I hurt with them. This is a family drama, and most of the book takes place within Denise, but it also has a fair touch of thriller. A really good story.

I really enjoyed the reading experience of this book, and I look forward to more from this debut author.

About the author
Christina Berry (blog) is a single mother and foster parent; she lives with her family in rural Oregon. The Familiar Stranger is her debut novel.

Other reviews
5 Minutes for Books
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