Diary of a Mad Fat Girl by Stephanie McAfee: Book Review

It took me a couple of starts to get into Diary of a Mad Fat Girl simply because the protagonist, "Ace" Graciela Jones was truly that - a mad, mad girl. The fat description was more of a pleasantly plump with a gorgeous face and to-die-for hair.  Ace has a few bees in her bonnet and is so not afraid to tell the world what she thinks or believes.

The true shine to this story is the friendship of the three women, Ace, Lilly and Chloe, best friends since high school. When Chloe ends up in the hospital thanks to her no good, nefarious husband, Lilly and Ace put aside their recent differences to rescue their best friend.  The antics these women pull by stalking Chloe's husband in order to catch him in his cheating ways and how the matriarch of the town comes to the women's rescue and wraps up many of the town scandals with a few clicks of her buttons from her media room lends for a comedy of immense proportions!

A fun, funny book - but one that should be read by those who are not easily offended. Ace was abrasive and at times her personality showed that she was fearless while other times Ace was a big scaredy cat and wouldn't move - the following scene is from Ace and Lilly's adventure stalking Chloe's husband:

Something moves in the darkness ahead of us and I don't know if it's a possum or the devil coming to get us. I yelp like a dog and scan the area for varmint or a pitchfork. Lilly laughs so hard I'm afraid she's going to piss her pants. Then a bat swoops down, she screams like a banshee, and we both hit the grass and let the chiggers have their way with us for a few minutes.
"We are going to jail," Lily whispers.
"It's not illegal to lay in the grass!" I whisper back. "What would we be charged with, Failure to Yield to Common Sense?"
"If that was a crime, you would've been sent to prison years ago!" Lilly giggles.

Many of Ace's adventures in Diary of a Mad Fat Girl were outrageously funny - laugh-out-loud hilarious.  This book is a light gem of true hilarity - go out and get it if you need laughter therapy - I guarantee you will not be able to keep from laughing!

Author's Site | Buy the Book

Publisher: New American Library/imprint of Penguin | Published:  2/7/2012

Genre: Fiction | 368 pages | ISBN: 978-0451236494

Many thanks to the publisher for the complimentary review copy!

Last Literary Sport for February - Tribute to Oscar

I lost count of the number of books-turned-movies nominated for tonight's huge Hollywood party - The Oscars!  So, I stuck with ten questions all regarding this year's nominated books/movies.

Do you love to read?

Love everything about books and their authors?

Are you a trivia novice or do others run when you have your game face on?

Then join in to play a Literary Sport!  Answers will be collected through February 29th at 11:59 pm.

Please use your own smarts for the game - internet smarts are not valid. (it's the honor system around these parts....)

On March 1st, the individual who has the most points for February will receive a $15 gift card to either Amazon or The Book Depository (winner's choice). If more than one player has the same number of  points then those names will be thrown into the random.org generator in order for the winner to be selected.

Play on and best of luck to ya!

Guest Post: Mary Burton on "My Writing Process"

I'm thrilled to welcome Ms. Mary Burton, author extraordinaire to A Novel Source! It always fascinates me to learn the habits of a writer ~ I hope you enjoy!

I spoke several times last year about my writing process and I received quite a few follow-up questions.  I thought I’d take a little time today and share a few of the questions and answers.  And if you think of more, just ask.  I’ll do my best to answer!

How long does it take you to write a book?

About six months.  And that’s working 5 days a week working 6-8 hour days.  However, when I started writing my children were just babies and I could only write when they napped.  In those days, the writing just didn’t go as fast because I had so little time.  I think it took me 18 months to write that first book that never sold.  I always tell new writers though it may be slow going in the beginning, stick with it.

How many drafts does it take you to write a book?

Before She Dies took seven drafts, which is about average for me.  The 1st draft is my sloppy copy.  I’m just trying to get the story on the page and I don’t stop for anything.  The 2nd draft is about putting all that stuff I wrote in the first draft into a logical order. The 3^rd draft is more plot fine-tuning and generally this is when I really dig deep into the characters.  This is also the stage where you are most likely to find me in the kitchen baking and just thinking about the book.  The 4th draft is the Big Read.  I print the whole book out, put it in a binder and read it.  It always amazes me what I’ll discover about the book when I read it in hard copy versus on the computer screen.  Drafts 5 and 6 are all about smoothing the story more and concentrating on word choices.  And Draft 7 is the proofing stage where I try to catch as many mistakes as I can before I send it off.

Where do you do your research?

I’ve taken the local police citizens’ academy as well as the FBI academy.  I also attend the Writers Police Academy every year in Greensboro, NC.  For Before She Dies I drove to Alexandria, Virginia quite a bit so I could walk the streets and just get a feel for the place.  And if the local is too far to visit, I scour the internet and read all the travel logs I can find.

What are you reading?

Though I write darker, romantic suspense, my reading is really varied.    Here’s what I’ve read in the last month.

The Black Hawk by Joanne Bourne.  Joanne is a Virginia author and writes regency historicals with very rich detail.  There was also a strong mystery/suspense thread that I really enjoyed.

Dangerous Instincts: How Gut Feelings Betray Us by Mary Ellen O’Toole.   Written by a retired FBI agent, this is a fascinating look at how the bad guys can fool us.

Joy's Life Diet by Joy Bauer.  I love diet books, which I suppose balances out my love of cookbooks.

And next, but yet to be read…Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner

Thanks for letting me visit!

And thank you Ms. Burton for taking the time to share your writing process with us!

A big congrats to Debbie for winning Before She Dies! 

Before She Dies by Mary Burton: Book Review & Giveaway

The past has come back to haunt high-profile defense attorney, Charlotte Wellington.  As a teenager, Charlotte and her sister, Mariah, worked as "Madame Divine" for the traveling carnival.  When Mariah is found murdered, Charlotte escapes the carnival and Mariah's newborn baby to find a life of her own, outside of being a carnie.  Grady, Charlotte and Mariah's uncle and owner of the carnival promises to find a real family for Mariah's baby.  Eighteen years later, Grady shows up at Charlotte's law office asking her to represent Sooner, the baby left behind, in a bogus theft charge.  Charlotte realizes Grady never did find a real home for Sooner....and then women's bodies begin to pile up in the Alexandria area....with the word "witch" tattooed on their forehead. Throw in the hunky detective and his truly psychic Russian grandmother, and the mixture becomes one enjoying thrill of a ride (no pun intended!)

When I pick up a Mary Burton book, I know I am in for a real treat.  Her idea of romantic suspense is more suspense, engaging plot and creating strong women. I love that her heroine overcomes great obstacles to make a life for herself.  The characters in her books are all flawed in a very real way so that it is easy for the reader to connect and empathize.  And oh the bad guys are all so very bad!  Ms. Burton has outdone herself with the evil-doer in Before She Dies - this sick puppy is truly demented!

The world Mary Burton has created in Before She Dies takes us from the drama of the courtroom to the dusty field where the carnival thrives.  It is easy to smell the popcorn, feel the cake of dust and hear the shouts and laughter of those on the rides.  Some of the truly great things I appreciate about reading a Mary Burton novel is the quirkiness of some of the characters, like the Russian grandmother who has the “sight,” the defense attorney who grew up with nothing and scrambled to make something of herself, the endearing Detective who takes care of his elderly grandmother….and in the end everything cycles around and all of the underlying stories are brought to a close.  It is apparent that Mary Burton does thorough research and writes from a wealth of knowledge and experience.  A truly enjoyable ride! 

Sites of Interest: Author's Site | Buy the Book

Publisher: Kensington Books | Published: February 1, 2012

Genre: Romantic Suspense | 416 pages | ISBN: 978-14201-10210 

About the Author:

Mary’s commitment to realism has led to eye-opening interviews with local law enforcement, to forensic seminars and to the firing range. She is a graduate of the Henrico County Citizens Police Academy and the Richmond FBI Citizen’s Academy, participated in Sisters in Crime’s Forensic University program and attended the Writers Police Academy in Jamestown, North Carolina for seminars on autopsies, undercover work and motive.

Mary Burton is an avid baker and an accomplished cook. When not writing, researching or baking, Mary practices Astanga yoga, enjoys her miniature dachshunds Buddy and Bella, pursues her Baking & Pastry Arts Certificate at the University of Richmond’s Culinary Arts program, attends professional conferences, and visits with readers and booksellers.

Many thanks to the Joan Schulhafer Publishing & Media Consulting Group for the complimentary review copy.

For the chance to win a copy of Before She Dies, please complete the form below. The winner will be chosen on February 23rd with the help of random.org.

Saturday Snapshot: Do You See What I See?

As an early birthday present to myself I bought the camera of my dreams, a Canon T3i. And for Valentine's, my darling romantic boyfriend took me to my favorite place in the entire world - La Jolla, California. These pictures are taken on that very beach this past week.

Have you ever looked to the sky and seen shapes formed from the clouds - like a mermaid, ice cream cone, Mustang GTO?  I find the same to be true of rock formations, and those surrounding the Pacific in La Jolla are perfect for finding images.

I've hidden my thoughts of the formations in parenthesis below each picture. I don't want to inhibit your creative juices as you view these rocks.

After you study the rocks, tell me dear reader, do you see what I see?

Highlight the space between the parenthesis to discover what I think.  Enjoy!

(the toes of a giant hanging from the largest rock)

(it's a rock turtle!)

(i'm an Egyptian pyramid in the shape of a lion's head)

Did you see the same images or something completely different?

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by At Home With Books. 
To participate, please visit Alyce's site.

First Chapter First Paragraph: The Detour

   

I love books set in World War II so when I heard about The Detour being set just before the Great War, in none other than beautiful Italy .... with priceless artwork at stake...along with everything else on the cusp of World War II - well, I knew I had to read this book!

The russet bloom on the vineyards ahead, the yellow-leafed oaks, a hint of truffles fattening in moldy obscurity underfoot - none of it is truly familiar, because I first came here not only in a different season, but as a different man. Yet the smell of autumn anywhere is for me the smell of memory, and I am preoccupied as my feet guide me through the woods and fields up toward the old Piedmontese villa.

When a salt-and-pepper blur charges out of the grass and stops just in front of me, growling, I stand my ground. I resist retreating; I reach out a hand. Foam drips from the dog's black gums onto the damp earth. I am in no hurry, and neither is she.

To participate in First Chapter ~ First Paragraph or to check out some fantastic Tuesday Intro's on other blogs, visit the lovely Diane at Bibliophile By the Sea.

What great books are you reading this week?

Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis by Lauren f. Winner

If you have ever felt a distancing from God then Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis is for you.  If you are spiritual and divorced and find that the divorce just does not fit in with what you believe about the Bible then Still is for you.   

Winner is a theology professor at Duke University in North Carolina.  Her mother passed away just before she got married and during the five years of marriage, Winner became distanced from God.  Then Winner committed a clear sin according to the Bible and divorced bringing further questions regarding faith.

Still is an introspective, honest look at what someone of devoted faith faces when life happens.  As many know, my absolute favorite author in the entire world is Madeleine L’Engle who has also written numerous books regarding her faith. In the first chapter, heck, almost on the very first page – I felt like Winner was channeling L’Engle’s style of graceful writing. Ever since I was exposed to L’Engle’s books beginning in 7^th grade, I have patterned much of my beliefs about God based upon her poetry and writings – that’s how much I respect and adore Madeleine L’Engle. Even today I keep Glimpses of Grace by my bed to read most every day.

I say all that to share I had similar feelings as I was reading through Still.  Her heart-breaking questioning of her divorce; the bereft-ness left in her life when Winner’s mother passed away; and the questioning of her faith even while teaching pastors-in-training.  How does one make it all make sense?

Winner answers the question about being divorced and scripture:

…I am still very much sorting through things pertaining to my divorce. Among other things, divorcing has shaken up the assumptions I bring to reading scripture. In leaving my marriage, I was doing something that was simply not permissible, not in the way I have always interpreted scripture, and that is something I remain troubled by, confused by – it is not something about which I feel cavalier…What does it mean to be someone who affirms scripture’s authority, someone who wants to live inside the scriptural story, but who has made a major life choice that contradicts something about which Jesus in the Gospels is pretty clear? I don’t have a straight-forward, stable answer to that.

The different chapters labeled:

Failure

A poem at Thanksgiving

Ode on God’s absence

Visits to my mother’s grave

Exorcism; blessing. . . . .each give a sense of what is to come and makes it easy for the reader to find the solace amongst the pages he or she may need.

Those going through a breakup – especially of a marriage – can relate to Winner’s expressive verbiage. For example, in the chapter titled “loneliness, ii” Winner speaks of “intimacy alienated:”

I have a friend, also recently divorced, who explains to me that the loneliness he experienced in his marriage was more devastating than anything he has experienced since. ‘Lying in bed at night next to someone you once promised to love and knowing there is no way to bridge the gulf between you,’ he says. ‘That is the most crushing loneliness of all.’ (p. 57)

Winner shares her desire to pray, but the terrible block she had to the actual act of praying:

Because it is easier to read about prayer than to pray, I have shelves full of books: meditations on the Lord’s Prayer by a dozen different authors; scholarly accounts of prayer in the twelfth century, the eighteenth century; Hasidic wisdom on prayer; manuals for knitting a prayer rug, a prayer shawl, a prayer blanket, a prayer tree. (I don’t, alas, know how to knit.)  Sometimes I think that all this reading gets in the way, that the books become excuses, something to do in lieu of praying. Other days, I know that to read about prayer is at least to indulge my desire, to acknowledge that I want this thing, that I long for it, even if this afternoon the closest I can get is reading voyeurism, greedy spying on other people at prayer. (p. 75)

Winner writes with an intelligence and graceful fluidity that fills the cracks inside – allowing us the chance to remorse a distancing from God while witnessing her journey that it is possible to get through to the other side…and the other side of a mid-faith crisis brings wisdom and a grounded faith.  Still is a beautiful book – a picture of “Be still and know that I am God;” realizing God is still there even amidst the turmoil of mistakes in life; and still in the awareness that we are God’s children. Still is highly recommended.

About the author:

Lauren f. Winner has written several titles including Girl Meets God and Mudhouse Sabbath.  She teaches at Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina and is currently seeking ordination within the Episcopal Church.

Sites of Interest: Author’s Site | Buy the Book

Genre: Religion/Spirituality | 244 pages | ISBN: 978-0-06-176811-8

Many thanks to the publisher for the complimentary review copy.

Have a blessed day!

Mary Burton is Back!

I am thrilled to announce a giveaway for the first two books in Mary Burton's Alexandria, VA series: Senseless and Merciless! See my review of both here.


If you enjoy romantic suspense/thriller then Mary Burton has just the books for you!  Every time I open up the first page of a Burton book, I know I'm going to have to devote the next few hours so I can finish it that same day! Her books are un-put-downable!

And on top of the giveaway, I can share a few paragraphs of her latest book in the series, Before She Dies:

                “Identification?” Sinclair knelt by the body and stared into the woman’s face half cloaked by her hair.

                “No ID. No jewelry. And there are red marks on the side of her neck.  Looks like he got her with a stun gun several times.” Paulie knelt down and examined the hair draping her forehead. He snapped more pictures and then gently moved the hair back. “Have a look at this.”

                Sinclair squatted and glanced down. “She’s been tattooed with the word Witch.” The bold letters covered most of the delicate forehead skin, still puckered red and raw from the tattoo needle. “Shit.”

                Rokov’s half-baked theory had been correct, but it gave him no pleasure.  “She have any other tats or markings?”

                “Not on the exposed areas. But there could be other body art under the clothes.”

                “I can’t imagine anyone willingly doing this to themselves,” Sinclair said. “But we’ve seen all kinds of oddities.”

                Rokov glanced around the room. The flowered wallpaper was peeling off in frayed strips, and the ceiling was soiled with a dozen watermarks.  All the furniture had been stripped out, and a shadow imprint on the back wall suggested there’d been a bar at one point. A thick coating of dust covered the room.  “Footprints?”

                “Two distinct sets,” Paulie said.  “The first I identified as Barrows. He was kind enough not to trample all over the floor, which left me with clear impressions of the second set.” Paulie pointed to the window. “The best impression is over by the window, and I’ve marked it with a cone.  I’ve got an electrostatic dust print collector. It will pull an impression.”

                “Rokov moved toward the footprints carefully to mirror Barrow’s path.  “It looks like a size eleven or twelve.” He studied the grooved pattern. “Sneakers?”

                “That’s my guess, but it will take time to narrow the brand.”

                “The impressions are clear and defined. He walked carefully and with precision.”

                Paulie shrugged. “You know I don’t make impulsive calls.”

                “I’m not holding you to it,” Rokov said.

                “That’s what they all say.  I’ll have a report by tomorrow.”

                Rokov studied the impression.  “Inside back right heel looks worn. He’s favoring the foot.”

                Paulie snapped more pictures. “Could be an injury or he could have had a wart at one time, and it changed the way he walks. Doesn’t mean he noticeably favors the foot now.”

                “So he moved her here,” Rokov says. “Positions her, stakes her, and then moves to the window to stare at what?”

                “The river. The full moon. It was a clear night last night. He stops to enjoy the full moon.  Maybe he heard a sound.”

                “If he’s got a thing about witches, the moon makes sense,” Rokov said. “The full moon has a lot of power in some circles. Stands to reason he’d be drawn to the moon.”

                Sinclair rose. “We need to figure out who she is. I’ll head downstairs and put a call into Missing Persons and see what they have.”

                “Good.” Rokov turned to Paulie. “Does she have defensive wounds? Did she fight for her life?”

                “I’m going to bag her hands. Hopefully, the medical examiner will find something under her nails.”

                Rokov knelt by the victim’s right hand and studied the crude stake that had pierced the flesh of her palm. It would have taken tremendous force to drive the wood through the flesh. He wondered if she’d known her attacker.  Most murdered women knew their killers. Lovers. Husbands. Boyfriends. Love could turn vicious instantly.

                “I wanted you to see her before I pulled the stakes.  If I can pull them out now, I can roll her over.”

                “Need a hand?” Rokov said.

                “I got it.” Paulie slid on workman’s gloves over his surgical gloves and grabbed a hold of the stake. “The floor boards are rotted.” He pulled hard, and the stake wriggled free of the floor and the victim’s palm. Carefully, he moved to the other side and repeated. Then it was on to the feet. The last stake proved stubborn and it took assistance from Rokov to free it.

                Paulie laid the stakes out and photographed them.  Then very carefully, he turned the body on its side. The victim’s jacket was embossed with the word Magic.

©Mary Burton

For a chance to win the first two books, Senseless and Merciless, please complete the form below.  The winner will be chosen on February 16th using the random number generator. Please, US and Canada residents only. Best of luck!

and just a hint - check back next week for my review of Before She Dies and another giveaway!

The Seventh Stone by Pamela Hegarty

Books about religious artifacts have become quite popular since Dan Brown exploded on the scene with his Angels and Demons series. Pamela Hegarty takes us into New York City, Princeton and the Colombian rain forest for an oft-overlooked treasure from Moses' day - the Breastplate of the High Priest, also known as the Breastplate of Judgment and the Breastplate of Aaron.

To view a larger size, please click on the picture above.

In The Seventh Stone, Princeton historian Christa Devlin is on a mission to find the seven missing stones of the Breastplate before the sociopath "Prophet" can get his hands on the gems.  With tremendous twists and turns along the way, including the water of New York City and Princeton being contaminated with a deadly poison that kills within seven days, The Seventh Stone is a grand adventure and jaw-dropping suspense all in one.

What I would have liked better:
For me, someone who really loves a long book - especially a suspenseful adventure, I found some sections to be slower in the 423 pages.  It may be that sometimes it was difficult {for me} to keep track of the numerous characters important to the story. For example, at the beginning of a chapter the brother-in-law is introduced but it took me until the end of the same chapter to realize Percival was the brother-in-law and not the husband.

Please give me more:
I really liked Christa's gung-ho, never-give-up attitude throughout the book, even when all seemed lost.  And the historical aspects of this novel were fascinating - including Mayan and Anasazi Indians and the Spanish priests and conquistadors!

The villain in The Seventh Stone was truly a man you could love to hate. He had the face of an angel and the heart of a snake! Any more and I'll be disclosing spoilers!

Interesting to Note:
Most gem scholars agree that the tradition of birthstones developed from the Breastplate of Aaron: the twelve gemstones that represented the twelve tribes of Israel also correspond with the twelve signs of the zodiac and the twelve months of the year.

About the Author: 
Pamela Hegarty has adventured in more than thirty-five countries on six continents. She summited Mount Kilimanjaro, backpacked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and camped with lions in the Serengeti. A novelist who has adventured the world enough to write a heroine we could adore!

Final Thoughts:
I liked the Seventh Stone for the strong female lead and vast amounts of historical aspects included in the novel. If you are a mystery/suspense/adventure junkie like me then this book will certainly keep you entertained!

Sites of Interest: Author's Blog | Author on Twitter |

Genre: Suspense | 423 pages | ISBN: 9780963079138

Many thanks to the author for the complimentary review copy.

Happy Reading!

Inspirational Sunday: Tres Mini-views and a Grande Giveaway

I had so much fun judging the Mystery/Thriller section of the INSPY's this past December and read some great inspirational fiction.  The clear winner {for me} was The Bishop by Steven James - review here; however the rest of the shortlisted books were a pleasure to read.

Over the Edge by Brandilyn Collins opened my eyes to a nightmare of a health scare as it followed a family affected by Lyme disease - scary, real-life stuff! See my review here.

Back on Murder by J. Mark Bertrand
Det. March has been given one last chance to prove himself when he's the only one to find evidence of a missing female victim at a crime scene.  Before he can investigate however, Det. March is transferred to a much higher-profile case - that of a famous Houston evangelist's missing teenage daughter.   Back on Murder has Detective March opening his eyes to faith but not quite ready to take the leap - raw, gritty and more mystery than faith.  




Darkness Follows by Mike Dellosso 

Sam Travis lives in a Civil War era farmhouse near Gettysburg, PA with his wife and young daugher, Eva. Sam has been on disability from a mysterious work accident for several months when he awakens one morning to find a journal with an entry by Lt. Whiting, a Union soldier...and it was written in Sam's own handwriting.  As the entries continue and Sam's behavior becomes more erratic, his wife questions his health, Sam questions his sanity, and his daughter tells him every chance she gets that "God loves him" - the nice man in her dreams, in her room, tells her she must keep reminding her dad of the fact. 

Darkness Follows was probably my 2nd pick for the INSPY's as the story was fresh with ever-increasing twists and characters that were truly endearing. A clear picture of spiritual warfare and the power of unconditional love.

 

Digitalis by Ronie Kendig
The second book in the Discarded Heroes series had us following the clandestine mission of a former Marine while guessing at the secrets of his long-standing crush, Piper. I adored the courtship of Marine sniper, Colton "Cowboy" Neeley, and department store clerk, Piper. I wanted to jump through the pages and throttle Piper on numerous occasions with her "do not trust anyone" belief. And, Cowboy's PTSD that he liked to sweep under the rug was infuriating. No big faith crises in this one - just pure, clean thriller.... 

I am giving away all five of the the shortlisted Mystery/Thrillers to one lucky winner for February.  This giveaway is open to International friends as well.  Winner will be announced February 28th. Good luck!

Saturday Snapshot: Sumo Wrestler meets Dog

The sweet 'lil Jellybean is so grown up now at 7 months! My how time does fly!

My big 'ole 100 lb. standard poodle is a giant scaredy cat, but we were able to get this one shot of the big baby with the Jellybean! Are they not just too precious!

and was it Frank Sinatra who was called "Blue Eyes?" . . .I think he is in for a run for the money with the Jellybean's blue eyes - I swear these are not colored contacts.

and one last picture simply because I have to share this adorable little (big) guy who has captured the hearts of so many!

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by At Home With Books. 
To participate, please visit Alyce's site.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Who Am I? February Literary Sport

Do you love to read?

Love everything about books and their authors?

Are you a trivia novice or do others run when you have your game face on?

Then join in to play a Literary Sport!  This week's contest ends Wednesday, February 8th. Please use your own smarts for the game - internet smarts are not valid. At the end of the month, the individual who has the most points for February will receive a $10 gift card to either Amazon or The Book Depository (winner's choice). If more than one player has the same number of  points then those names will be thrown into the random.org generator in order for the winner to be selected. Best of luck!

What Would You Do - Anything by Michael Baron: Book Review

What would you do if offered an answer to "What is your wildest wish with your significant other?"

Would you jump on the chance to discover what would happen if your wildest wish came true?

What if it was to change something horrible in your loved one's childhood?

Would you do Anything for the one you love?

First Line: "You have to let go of me," Melissa said, looking down at the grass.

These are questions pondered and realized in the the latest novel from Michael Baron. The protagonist is an attorney in an old-money'd law firm.  When we meet Ken he is a week away from marrying the love of his life, Melissa.  During their courtship, both stumbled upon a quite unique jewelry store that sells one-of-a-kind pieces.  When Ken goes in to see Stephon, the store's owner, a week before the wedding for a special gift for his bride-to-be, Stephon asks the question "what is your wildest wish for your life with Melissa?"

What happens next is the subtle and not-so-subtle changes which occur in Ken & Melissa's life and even that of the friends around them.  I loved the premise of the story and Ken's endearing love for Melissa is palpable throughout the novel - sometimes even sappy. But oh, how to be loved like that!

The story centers around the changes that occur because of Ken's choices. It truly brings home the message of we are not fully aware of how our actions (and in-actions) affect the world around us.  I have always believed that everything we do has tremendous consequences on the world - this comes from my 7th grade love of Madeleine L'Engle's, A Wrinkle in Time series.

To watch the story play out and read about Ken's devotion and love for Melissa was a pleasure. I would liked to have learned more of Melissa's character, what she was thinking, feeling.....And Ken's tunnel vision of "fixing" Melissa's life at times seemed impetuous, impulsive; however, the imagery of Michael Baron's writing is wonderful.

The grass celebrates by tickling your nose with the scent of life. And everything is in synchronous motion, from birds flitting among the budding trees to office workers shedding their pinstripe skins. This is about as right as the world gets. (pg. 9)

The love story is sweet and I found myself pondering the questions of the novel for my own life.  Read Anything if you like a love story, you enjoy a male lead, and to see inside the psych-ii of a man in love.

About the Author:
Michael Baron is a pseudonym for a non-fiction writer.  He taught high school English before receiving his first book contract. Michael left teaching when the school system he worked for told him "there are more important things than being a dynamic teacher." Michael attributes his inspiration for his love stories to his wife and children.

Sites of Interest: Michael Baron | Buy the Book

Publisher: The Story Plant | Published: October, 2011

Genre: Romance | 290 pages | ISBN: 978-1611880212

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary review copy. 

Would you accept the opportunity to have your wildest wish for the one you love come true?

Happy Reading!