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The Leader in Me

BEA BOOK #? I've lost track.

The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I read the other reviews and I don't know what I'm missing but this book was not 5 star worthy. It was brilliant in places but tedious in others. It all felt TOO contrived and TOO predictable.

WARNING SPOILER ALERT IN THE NEXT TWO PARAGRAPHS: Amy Tan likes to address the mother daughter relationship and does so again in this book although I could not relate. I would do ANYTHING to find my child even if I was told she was dead.

As I read the book I couldn't help but feel like we were romanticizing prostitution and that good prostitutes find a way out and live happily ever after (think Pretty Woman). I read the whole book and I learned a lot about courtesans and Shanghai. So if you like romance novels and if you like some historical fiction then this is not bad--not great--but not bad.



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YA

Divergent by Veronica Roth

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Entertaining car-ride read. I started the next one but I just never really got invested in the characters enough to finish book 2, Insurgent. My teen daughters raved about this book.



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How To Read a Book. Let's not EVER forget the joy a great (hardcopy) book can bring.

BEA ARC #7

Who Asked You? by Terry McMillan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I have never read a Terry McMillan book before but I had heard a lot about her books. I found this to be witty and wry and just plain enjoyable. I felt like it was honest look into the life and world of middle class African Americans of which I know very little about. Buyt I do know that this is a heartwarming story that applies to my generation. We question what we did right and wrong with our children and we're here to pick up the pieces as we watch our own children make mistakes that we feel we caused.

This is an easy read and you'll love the characters--especially Betty Jean.

To be released September 17, 2013.



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BEA Book #6

I feel like I've read a whole lot of less than stellar titles lately. Here's to finding a real gem amongst this year's BEA ARCs.

Heart Like Mine by Amy Hatvany

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I think I would have liked this a whole lot more if I had liked Victor. The female characters were well fleshed out and the story was interesting and appealing. But, it was all too predictable. I didn't care a lot for Kelli and in fact, I frequently skipped or skimmed her chapters.

It's quick and entertaining.



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BEA Book #5

A Killing in the Hills by Julia Keller

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Release date August 2013.

I picked this book up at BEA because I like this kind of book. I like the murder-mystery-detective series and I really hope there is a follow up to Belfa Elkins. Well written, thought provoking, geographically descriptive, and timely topic. For a first time novel by Julia Keller, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, this is pretty darn good. There were a few week spots, I was totally bugged by Carla's story line.

Please write another one soon Julia.



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