Change of Heart: A Novel by Jodi Picoult
I have to admit, this was my first book by Jodi Picoult. I have heard a lot of great things about her other books so when I realized I had this one on my Kindle already decided to read it to see how she is as an author.
I’m not sure Change of Heart
The book isn’t bad, I was engrossed from start to finish. There were a few parts that kind of bored me but I really wanted to get to the end to see what happened. For that, I give it a thumbs up.
On the other hand, I had a hard time reading some of the religious “stuff” put into the book which turned me off. If this had not been my first book written by this author it probably wouldn’t have had such an effect on my opinion. It was, however. But, I’ll try another one since I’ve heard so many raving reviews of other books by Picoult.
Despite my issues with the religious points brought into the story the book was good.
=====
From the Cover
Shay Bourne – New Hampshire’s first death row prisoner in 69 years – has only one last request: to donate his heart post-execution to the sister of his victim, who is looking for a transplant. Bourne says it’s the only way he can redeem himself…but with lethal injection as his form of execution, this is medically impossible. Enter Father Michael Wright, a young local priest. Called in as Shay’s spiritual advisor, he knows redemption has nothing to do with organ donation – and plans to convince Bourne. But then Bourne begins to perform miracles at the prison that are witnessed by officers, fellow inmates, and even Father Michael – and the media begins to call him a messiah. Could an unkempt, bipolar, convicted murderer be a savior? It seems highly unlikely, to the priest. Until he realizes that the things Shay says may not come from the Bible…but are, verbatim, from a gospel that the early Christian church rejected two thousand years ago…and that is still considered heresy.
Daring Chloe (A Getaway Girls) by Laura Jensen Walker
So to end my holiday three-day weekend, I finished my sixth book. I know, insane. A couple I’d started before the weekend and just finished them the last few days. The rest, well, I needed some rest.
So, book #6 this weekend was Daring Chloe
I will admit, that the Parish section was a little slow for me. A little too descriptive and it dragged on quite a bit. But, the rest of the book was really good.
Heck, I actually wanted to be a little more adventurous because of the book and it piqued my interest on a few other books I’d like to read.
All-in-all a good, light read.
=====
From the Cover
When Chloe Adams’ fiance dumps her—the night before their wedding—two girlfriends from her book group decide a little adventure is in order for the three of them. After all, why let a perfectly good honeymoon cruise go to waste?
Adventure? Chloe Adams? No way! Chloe’s lived in one town her whole life. The closest she’s ever gotten to actual adventures is reading about them. But her girlfriends won’t take no for an answer.
One good adventure calls for another as Chloe’s friends try to coax her out of her post-dumping funk, and soon she finds herself living out the adventures in her book club’s latest selections. Hiking. Sailing. River rafting. Traveling to new places and eating exotic food. The play-it-safe Chloe begins to blossom into a new, daring Chloe. A Chloe who just might be ready to take on her biggest adventure of all …
Laura Jensen Walker has a knack for quirky heroines and real-life humor. In Chloe, she’s created another memorable character who will live on in readers’ hearts.
Talk of the Town by Lisa Wingate
So, in my mad reading frenzy this weekend I finished another book. I actually started Talk of the Town
So, verdicts still out. The book got really good reviews, it surprises me that so many people gave it 5 stars, but, whatever. It was a fun read, I guess just not 5 star material in my opinion.
In all honestly, the story read like the life and times of Kellie Pickler. It’s the story of a girl on a reality TV show that has a music contract at the winner. The girl is small town, lives with her grandfather, hick-chick.
Honestly, I think my mom would love the book. But, she likes American Idol too much…it might ruin it for her.
Anyway, the story was OK. The kindle download was free and it wasn’t a complete waste of my time reading it.
=====
From the Cover
The show American Megastar is the hottest thing on television but its associate producer, Mandalay Florentino, is worried. She’s just arrived in the tiny town of Daily, Texas, to arrange a surprise “reunion concert” for hometown finalist Amber Amberson. Only it turns out everyone in town seems to know the secret. And paparazzi are arriving. Word from Hollywood is that Amber has disappeared with a “bad boy” actor. Can anything go right in this tumbleweed town? Imagene Doll loves her town of Daily, Texas, but things are lonely without her beloved husband. Life seems dull. At least until that fancy-dressed woman pulls into town, looking terrified and glamorous all at once. Soon life’s not the least bit boring as Imagene and the rest of Daily find themselves at the center of a media maelstrom–with a young girl’s future on the line.
A Scattered Life by Karen McQuestion
I woke up yesterday not feeling well and after working all day (bleh, I had meetings and appointments) I left a little early after texting a friend that I needed to find some good reading for a weekend on the couch under some blankets. She recommended two books, one being A Scattered Life. This looked interesting, and it was on the shorter side, so I decided to read this one first.
It was good.
The writer does an excellent job bringing you in to the character’s lives. I actually felt sorry for the meddlesome mother-in-law. I laughed and cried while reading this story.
If you have a Kindle, I’d recommend picking it up, it is most definitely worth the $1.99 price tag! Karen McQuestion is a new-to-me author that I’ll definitely be adding to my list of authors to watch and read.
=====
From the Cover
When free-spirited Skyla marries proper and predictable Thomas Plinka, she finally finds the love and stability she’s craved since childhood. She also acquires a new family: mother-in-law Audrey, disapproving and suspicious of Skyla’s nomadic past; father-in-law Walt, gruff but kind; and Thomas’s brothers, sofa-bound Jeffrey, and Dennis, who moved across the country seemingly to avoid the family.
Skyla settles into marriage and motherhood, but quiet life in small-town Wisconsin can’t quell feelings of restlessness. Then into her life comes Madame Picard, the local psychic from the disreputable bookstore, Mystic Books, and new neighbor, Roxanne, whose goal in life is to have twelve kids even though she can’t manage the five she has. Despite her family’s objections, Skyla befriends Roxanne and gets a job at the bookstore, and life gets fuller and more complicated than she ever imagined.
Exceptionally heartwarming and inevitably bittersweet, A Scattered Life is a story that will stay with the reader long after the last page is read.
