The Perfume Collector - Book Review

The Perfume Collector by Katheleen Tessaro is the SheReads selection for the month of August.

Grace, a reluctant London socialite, has just figured out that her husband is having an affair when she receives word that she is the heir to a recently deceased woman in Paris. Once in Paris, she learns that a Eva d'Orsey, a woman she has never heard of, has left her an apartment and a very nice stock portfolio and a desire that Grace have "Le droit de choisir" (The right to choose). But before Grace feels she can accept the inheritance, she is driven to learn all she can about Eva.

Orphaned Eva d'Orsey is a young maid in a posh New York hotel in 1927. Her photographic memory and her developing friendships with several hotel patrons including an apprentice perfumer will thrust her into another world.

Kathleen Tessaro recreates the historical time periods smoothly and with exactness, taking the reader effortlessly from the debauchery of the 1920's in New York City and Monte Carlo to the high fashion of the post-war 1950's Paris. Tessaro tells a moving and unique love story but is most successful at describing the complex and fragrant perfumes. The book almost took on it's own scent and now I have a heightened awareness of the individuality of smells.

Evocative and irresistible, The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro is an enjoyable escape.



See what other book bloggers have to say about The Perfume Collector at She Reads.



** I received a complimentary copy of The Perfume Collector from the publisher through the SheReads Network in exchange for my honest review. No additional compensation was received. **

The winner of the Velata Fondue System

We went camping last night with friends from our neighborhood. We had a fabulous time visiting and snacking on roasted Starburst candies as we sat around the fire. It's my birthday today and I am now realizing that I am getting too old to sleep on the ground.

My birthday treat is that I get the honor of announcing the winner of the Velata Fondue System is ...

AmeliaB

Congratulations! Please get in touch with me as soon as possible so that you can receive your yummy and fun Velata Fondue System.

A Half Forgotten Song - Book Review

Zach is a young artist and gallery owner who is determined to write a new biography on the famous artist Charles Aubrey who died in his prime during World War II. Zach's grandmother regularly alluded to her own love affair with Aubrey and Zach has often wondered if he is actually the grandson of the great artist. Determined to find something new for his scholarly work and wondering about his own family connection, Zach travels to the village of Blacknowle where Aubrey spent his summers.

Dimity was fourteen years old when she first met the artist Charles Aubrey, his stunning and exotic mistress Celeste and their two daughters at the summer cottage in Blacknowle. The chance meeting will change Dimity's life as she becomes one of Aubrey's favorite models and falls deeply in love with him.

Atmospheric and mysterious, the novel's setting on the misty and moody English coast is perfect for this novel. Complete with ghosts, eccentric characters and a hidden cottage, the plot moves forward with nice foreshadowing, a hint of danger and secrets long buried.

Reminiscent of novels by Kate Morton and Daphne Du Maurier, A Half Forgotten Song by Katherine Webb was a welcome read this week. I loved the moodiness, the rich details of the English coastline and Morroco; and the twists and turns of the mystery as Zach is able to unravel the hidden truths.

The pacing of the novel is fairly slow which in some ways adds to it's effective moodiness thought it becomes a little drawn out towards the end. Overall, I enjoyed it. Katherine Webb is an accomplished story teller.


A Half Forgotten Song by Katherine Webb was published by William Morrow in May of 2013. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Velata - Fun Fondue - Review & Give-away

My boys are spending a few days with their grandparents so the girls were begging me yesterday to have a "girl party". Of course, one of the favorite things we love to do when the girls get together to party is eat treats and our favorites have something to do with chocolate.

Yesterday, for our "girl party", I pulled out the new fondue warmer I recently received from Velata. I sliced some apples, bananas and poured bitty marshmallows and pretzels into a bowl. Then melted the Belgian Milk chocolate pouch from Velata in the microwave. Once the chocolate was melted (just a minute), I poured the chocolate into the fondue warmer. The girls loved dipping the treats in the delicious chocolate. Utah Dad even joined us though the girls protested a bit.

The chocolate was delicious. The prep was mere minutes and clean up was a breeze. I am definitely a fan of how easy and yummy our special treat was courtesy of Velata.

Developed by a team from Scentsy, Velata Fondue Systems offer cute fondue warmers that are dishwasher and microwave safe. They use the heat from a light bulb to keep the chocolate or cheese warm. The sell premium Belgian chocolates in the easy-to-use packets and now they also offer Velata cheese fondue in fun flavors such as Rich Bacon Cheddar and Smoked Gouda.

Check out the Velata website for more information on products and parties.

One reader will win a Velata Fondue Warmer as well as two packages of Velata Premium Chocolate and a cheese.

To enter, leave a comment on this post. You may receive up to 2 extra entries by sharing this contest on Facebook or Twitter. Leave additional comments for sharing. The contest will be open to entries until Friday, August 16th at 11:59 pm MST. The winner will be chosen randomly from the comments and announced on Saturday, August 17th (my birthday present to you!). Open to US residents only.

The Execution of Noa P. Singleton - Book Review

I really wanted to stay up reading all night to finish reading The Execution of Noa P. Singleton. With 100 pages to go and the clock light flashing after midnight, I just had to put the book down and turn off the light. But I didn't want to. I've been hearing about the novel all summer. My online book loving friends have been talking all about this psychological thriller and I was anxious to include it as part of my "Conquering the Book Stacks" goal in August.

Noa P. Singleton has been on death row awaiting her execution for the past ten years. Six months before "x-day", the mother of her victim Marlene Dixon suddenly visits and introduces her to Oliver, a young attorney who is willing to help Marlene, herself a high-powered lawyer, seek clemency for Noa. Marlene has had a change of heart and doesn't want to see Noa die. Perhaps life in prison will be a better punishment for the murderer of her only daughter. But what Marlene really wants is the truth.

Written as a prison memoir by Noa, The Execution of Noa P. Singleton by Elizabeth L. Silver takes us back to her early life and the events that set in motion the crime for which Noa was convicted and sentenced to death by the state of Pennsylvania. Brilliant in style, Silver takes the reader into the mind of the convict. Noa is a memorable character, conflicted and sympathetic--who is simultaneously trying to impress with her pretentious vocabulary and metaphors, yet pass herself off as a humble victim of circumstance. Her story of how the girl, once at the top of her high school class and admitted into an Ivy League School, ends up on death row is compelling, dramatic and just a bit over-the-top.

There is swearing in the novel.

**I received a complimentary copy of The Execution of Noa P. Singleton in exchange for an honest review**

A Fatal Likeness - Book Review

Lynn Shepherd, the author of The Solitary House (read my review *here*), has written a new Gothic thriller A Fatal Likeness. The detective Charles Maddox makes another appearance when he is hired to look into some unfavorable documents regarding the Shelleys. Delving into the history surrounding Percy Bysshe and Mary Shelley, Maddox uncovers the macabre mysteries surrounding the famous literary couple.

Lynn Shepherd delights again with a well-plotted, chilling mystery regarding the celebrated and brilliant couple. Shepherd uses facts from history as well as the silences to fill in her own "what-ifs" and "might- have-beens" to create a wholly plausible explanation for the complex and unusual relationships between Shelley, Mary and Mary's step-sister Claire and the deaths of Shelley's first wife and children.

In A Fatal Likeness, Shepherd expertly captures the language from the Victorian period. Occasionally, the author's voice interrupts with bits of modern knowledge. It was awkward and my only real complaint with the book. The characters are equally devious and alluring and the story engaging. I enjoyed A Fatal Likeness and will surely read more novels from this talented writer.

** I received a complimentary copy of A Fatal Likeness in exchange for an honest review. **

Heather Frost - Utah Book Month - Author Spotlight

Even though I rarely read books from the YA genre, I have been hearing a lot of buzz about Heather Frost. It probably helps that her cousin and a big fan is one of my neighbors and a regular attendee at the monthly book club that I host. Once I found out I would be spotlighting Heather Frost for Utah Book Month, I gave my friend a call. She tracked down the copy of Seers that she had already loaned out to another friend and within a day I had it in my hands. Unfortunately, because of hectic schedules and traveling, I haven't been able to read it yet.

Heather Frost was born in Sandy, Utah. She is the second oldest in a family ten children. Her parents chose to home school her. She is very grateful for their sacrifices and for the relationships she has with her family. She plays the flute. She has always loved reading and writing. She worked as a writing tutor during her years at Snow College. Now she is pursuing a BS degree in English.

Seers was published in 2011 by Sweetwater Books and Demons the next year. Both received rave reviews.

Seers

From Heather's website : When Kate Bennett survived the car accident that claimed her parents' lives, she knew her world would be forever changed. But her life is more dramatically altered than she first realized. Not only is she able to see “mood auras” on the people around her, she's even started seeing invisible people with no colors at all. And no matter how attractive the new addition to her American Lit class is, Kate sees what no one else can—the dangerous truths this mysterious man threatens to pour into her life.

Patrick O'Donnell was killed in the Irish Revolution in 1798. He's here now to try and keep Kate alive, and stop her life from spinning out of control. The one thing he's not going to do is fall in love with her. But plans change, especially when Demons are involved . . .

Kate is about to enter the world of Seers; where immortals are at war with each other, and unfortunate mortals like Kate are in over their heads.

"The ending was wonderful and I think that I do see a sequel on the horizon, but nothing has been mentioned as of yet. Fans of Twilight will love this book due to the romance itself. I sure did!" - Nightly Reading

Demons

From Heather's website : Patrick O’Donnell 

May 10, 1797
Wexford County, Ireland

My lower back was beginning to ache. I’d been hunched over far too long, but I wasn’t about to move just yet. I was finally getting it right. The shading wasn’t too dark around her eyes, and the gentle planes of her small face were sloped almost to perfection.

This in itself would have been reason enough for me not to move. I was a painter—sketching had never come easily to me. When I worked with paints, it required no thought. The canvas called to me, guiding my strokes. The art of drawing was an entirely different experience, however. I would agonize over every line, second-guess every mark I tried to make. Sometimes I enjoyed the challenge, while at other times I had to force myself through every second. Today was surely a mixture of both.

"The climax of this book is a gripping page turner, and the epilogue had me shocked, it BLEW ME AWAY." - LDS Women's Book Review

August Bookish Fun

I've been so busy that I haven't posted for weeks! I will eventually post about some of our adventures in the next days when life settles down (haha! as if).

Briefly, I wanted to let you know about some August book fun that I will be participating in. First, some of my Twitter book friends and I decided to dedicate the month to reading from our huge book stacks instead of buying new books. We're all admittedly bookaholics and we have trouble resisting the purchase of a new book. I tend to buy more books than I can ever read. So, for this month, I'm just reading from the piles I already own. I have plenty of choices. We lovingly refer to it as Conquering the Book Stacks and use #ctbs on Twitter. Feel free to join in the discussion.

It is also Utah Book Month. During the month of August we will be celebrating the many Utah authors and book bloggers. I will be spotlighting a few on the blog in the coming weeks and there are many other events happening on other Utah Book Blogs. Check out Utah Books for the schedule and links.

We Need New Names - Book Review

In We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo, Darling and her friends sneak into the the city to steal guavas from the trees before returning to the shacks where they live in a place called Paradise. Everything has changed for them. Their homes were bulldozed. Their teachers have left the country. The schools have closed. Essentially homeless, the children play games to occupy their time, wait for the NGO to bring them candy, care for parents dying from AIDS and dream of leaving Zimbabwe for America.

Darling is able to join her aunt in Detroit, Michigan. In America she will find that not everything is as it appears on television. She struggles to fit into America while feeling the pull from her family and homeland and knowing that she cannot return.

Darling is a young narrator and I so appreciated her voice. It is authentic and innocent. She tells about what she observes and sees in the language and understanding available to a child. She is a remarkable character with determination to survive. Sometimes funny and often heartbreaking, Darling is an unforgettable character.

While the early chapters of the book were especially enlightening about Darling's childhood in Zimbabwe, I also found it interesting to read the perspective of the refugees and immigrants coming to America and trying desperately to fulfill their dreams here. Darling experiences culture shock and works to adapt to the use of technology, the cold snow of Michigan and the language.

We Need New Names is a powerful novel from a talented new author.

There is some swearing in this novel and graphic images.

**I received a complimentary copy of We Need New Names in exchange for my honest review.**

The Engagements - Book Review

17 years ago today, Utah Dad proposed to me. We were sitting together beside the fire pit in my parents' back yard. We had about five minutes before my younger brothers and sisters joined us. He didn't have a ring. It was spontaneous. After all, we had only known each other for two weeks.

(picture taken shortly after our engagement, circa 1996)

When we went a few weeks later to buy a ring, I was flabbergasted by the prices. At the time, I thought of everything as the price of tuition. I could go to college for years on the price of those rings! I was sure that I didn't need a ring. We left the jewelry store empty handed. When my mother-in-law heard our plan, she insisted that I did need a ring. I had to have a ring! I ended up with a beautiful diamond ring on my finger. It had a delicate gold band with a round diamond and four smaller marquise-cut diamonds as "leaves" around it (very 1990's).

Even though I was positive that I didn't "need" a diamond ring, I remember distinctly sitting in the temple before my wedding and admiring the way the light reflected from the stunning diamond. I wore it every day for the first few years of our marriage. After all, we were still students at BYU and the ring was an important symbol that you were "taken".

About two years after we were married, I was tired of snagging the diamond on everything. I took it off; put it in the jewelry box it came in and I haven't worn it since. Now, I just wear a tiny gold band to symbolize my marriage to Utah Dad.

So, it's perfect timing that I'm reviewing The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan on the anniversary of my own engagement.

Focusing on the relationships and marriages of several characters in The Engagements, Sullivan writes a novel about how marriage has evolved in our society throughout the years and ties it in with the history of the diamond as a symbol of love and marriage.

I found the story and information about Frances Gerety who created the famous line "A Diamond is Forever" and the advertising campaign that convinced a nation that the diamond ring was necessary very intriguing. The history of the diamond is also drenched in the bloody and horrific things that happen in the diamond mines of Africa (the book The Fever Tree goes into this a little) yet through the genius of advertising still symbolizes love. Sullivan weaves the research and facts in with the tales of of her characters and their marriages.

The Engagements seemed to have a pretty cynical view of marriage. Since I believe in the sanctity of marriage, I thought the book was very depressing at times. However, the writing is strong and the character development drew me in. I especially liked some of the characters and found myself genuinely caring about them. By the end of the novel, the stories had come together nicely and I was mostly satisfied.

There is some swearing in the book and brief sexual scenes.

**I received a complimentary copy of The Engagements in exchange for my honest review.**

Salt Lake Bees - Out and About in Utah

Tonight, the kids and I got to join other fellow Utah bloggers and their families at a

Salt Lake Bees (Utah's Triple-A Baseball team) game. 

Utah Dad had a work meeting this evening and couldn't attend so his dad came with us.

Today was really hot but fortunately our seats were in the shade and it was quite pleasant. 

We actually had really awesome seats with a fabulous view. 

We arrived early, got some dinner/snacks at the concessions and settled in to wait for the game to begin.

I was rather enjoying watching the baseball game. 

The Bees played the Las Vegas 51s and unfortunately trailed most of the game, ultimately losing 8 to 5.

 The Bees made some good hits though. 

Utah Dad always gives me a hard time for not loving baseball as much as he does.

It's patriotic. It's America's game. It's too bad he couldn't join us tonight.

But I was enjoying myself. Really.

My kids were interested in other things besides the game.

The watched the Bees' Mascot.

They wanted snow cones and cotton candy.

They were hot and wiggly.

They needed to go the restroom (which was pretty clean).

The kids LOVED riding on the Bumble Express.

It's free for kids under 12 and it runs along the back of the berm.

After their ride on the Bumble Express train, we spread out a blanket and sat on the berm. It was getting dark by then and cooler on the ground. I could still enjoy the ball game.

And the kids enjoyed, well, being kids. *Sigh*

Happy 6th Birthday to Lilly

While she's demanding the sun, moon and stars for her birthday and I'm feeling guilty for not delivering, I thought I would at least honor my Lilly's 6th birthday with a few pictures of her throughout the years. Happy birthday, dear Lilly.

Goat Mountain - Book Review

The annual deer hunt on the family's large ranch in North California turns to tragedy when they spot a poacher on their land. The father, siting the poacher in the scope of his gun, invites his 11 year old son to have a look. The boy, excited for his first chance to kill a buck and jumpy, pulls the trigger and kills the man.

An accident or an act of violence? David Vann brings to the surface the raw and painful emotions of survival, primal urges, loyalty, and morality in his newest novel Goat Mountain. The men, a grandfather, father, son and a close friend will be forced to make brutal decisions. They will discover just what caliber of men they are.

I was drawn to this novel because of my own experiences of deer hunting with my father as a young teenager. I still remember the morning of my first hunt. Waking before dawn and driving to the mountain. The  lights of the Aurora Borealis stretched across the Northern sky. I was excited to be with my dad. I felt like we were alone, secluded from the world as we hiked through the low brush to a steep ravine. A herd of deer ran down the slope on the other side of the hill. The firing started and I realized that we were far from alone on that mountain. As the deer fell, the hunters who had flushed them out, appeared with guns drawn behind the deer on the horizon. The exhilaration of shooting my first buck turned to fear. I never took to hunting--didn't care for it. And as my brothers got older, I didn't get to enjoy the time alone with my dad.

Fortunately, my own experiences were much less violent than the story in Goat Mountain. My dad was a kind, gentle man. However, some of the images created by David Vann of the hunt are so familiar and so real. His prose is beautiful and tragic. His characters are not likable. They are brutal and savage. Vann examines the philosophy of killing and combines the ancient Bible stories in his tale. The story is equally compelling and repulsive.

This story will probably not resonate with many of my readers. It is violent and there is some language.

**I received a complimentary copy of Goat Mountain in exchange for my honest review.**

The Winner of the Rubio's Gift Certificate

The winner of the $20 gift certificate to Rubio's is ...

 Laura said...

Always wanting to try new places-especially with fish tacos!!

Congratulations! Please contact me with your information so you can enjoy an Original Fish Taco right away!

Rubio's - Review and Give-away

Home of the Original Fish Taco

It was so hot on Friday. Nothing sounded good for dinner. I certainly didn't want to cook. We loaded up the kids and went to town for dinner (so unusual that the kids were literally shocked).

The sign said Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill and I wondered how different it could be from the other "Fresh Mexican Grill" restaurants that I've tried. I'm a fan of the others so I was fully expecting to love Rubio's too. What I wasn't expecting was that Rubio's offers a very different menu and that I loved it even more than I thought I would. The restaurant had a beachy, California feel with lots of natural light and plenty of seating.

Rubio's was empty when we arrived with our entire family last Friday afternoon. The restaurant was clean (including the bathrooms) and the servers were happy to help us. The friendly server helped us go over the menu and made suggestions for our brood. With so many of us, we ended up ordering a little of practically everything.

After we ordered our food, the restaurant started to fill up with other patrons. We found a quieter back corner to settle in and wait for our food.

I ordered the Pacific Mahi Mahi Burrito. It was filled with blackened fish, corn, rice, onions, cabbage, guacamole and delicious chile sauces. I shared with Utah Dad. We both loved it. He was supposed to give me one of his Grill Gourmet Steak Tacos but he was enjoying them so much that he only remembered to give me half of one. It was so delicious that I was a little irritated.

Thomas loved his chicken quesadilla and the fresh made guacamole and only had a little leftover to share.

Amberly, always adventurous with food and a lover of seafood, enjoyed the Atlantic Salmon Burrito.

Neal is super picky about food but he devoured the Classic Steak Tacos.

The little girls shared a plate of Classic Steak Tacos. They especially enjoyed the chips.

Since, Rubio's is famous for the Original Fish Taco, I got one to go with my meal. I've never had anything like it before. I wasn't sure what to expect. But I loved it and have been craving another one ever since.

The fare was perfect for a hot summer day. Fresh and filling without being heavy, we all enjoyed the blending of exciting flavors.

Have you eaten at Rubio's before? It is time to stop in and get some lunch. Try the fish taco. Really.

One reader will win a 

$20 gift certificate to Rubio's. 

To enter leave a comment on this post. You can get up to 2 additional entries by sharing this contest on social media. Just leave an additional comment for each time you share. The contest will be open to entries until Friday, July 5th at 11:59 pm MST. The winner will be chosen randomly from the comments and announced on the blog on Saturday, July 6th.