The Swallow: A Ghost Story

Title: The Swallow: A Ghost Story
Author: Charis Cotter
Published: September 9th 2014 by Tundra Books
Format: ARC ebook; Hardcover, 320 pages
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Netgalley
Ages: Age Level: 9 - 12 | Grade Level: 4 - 7

Once you pick up this book, you cannot put it down.

Rose and Polly, two early teen girls interweave a friendship that has the reader wondering which parts are real and is it possible that Winnie is not the only ghost that needs to find peace.

Like a movie from M. Night Shyamalan, the reader falls under the spell of The Swallow. Two young girls meet through the wall of their adjoining attics and form a quick friendship. One wishes that she could see the ghosts that she reads about, the other wishes that the ghosts she sees would go away. One feels invisible, ignored and alone, the other wishes that her large family full of annoying siblings and foster children, would just go away and leave her alone. What appears on the surface as two girls wanting what the other has, turns darker when the realities of their lives are exposed.

Like the movie, The Sixth Sense, there were clues along the way, but until the very end, you do not see the clues for what they are. Either that or you did not want to believe what you were reading. Either way, the conclusion is so encompassing that you literally get lost in the book. Like the clouded bubble that is mentioned, this is how you feel. The world falls away from you until you are sitting in the attic with Polly and Rose hearing the sad truth unfold.

Though a ghost story, this book is not terrifying. It is tragic and powerful. It is a story of love and friendship and coming to terms with your purpose.

Happy and Merry

Title: Happy and Merry: Seven Heartwarming Holiday Essays
Author: Lisa Scottoline, Francesca Serritella
Published: October 26th 2012 by St. Martin's Press
Format: ebook, 28 pages
Genre: Essay

After reading Have a Nice Guilt Trip I went looking at Lisa and Francesca’s book listings and realized that somehow I had skipped one. Not sure how that had happened I quickly located to small book and quickly downloaded it.

Guess what?

At 28 pages, it is a republication of prior essays written by Lisa and Francesca in their on-going book series and Chick Wit column for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

At first, I was a little bothered that this was a complete reprint of what I had already read, until I started in on them again and found myself revising old friends and hearing the same stories that you do when you visit friends and family over the holidays.

This book is not actually necessary, but it is a good one to pull out during the holidays to unwind and enjoy.

Have a Nice Guilt Trip

Title: Have a Nice Guilt Trip
Author: Lisa Scottoline, Francesca Serritella
Published: July 8th 2014 by St. Martin's Press
Format: Hardcover, 288 pages
Genre: Essay's
Series: Reprints of their Chick Wit column, from The Sunday Inquirer's Arts&Entertainment section

My boyfriend, My boyfriend, My boyfriend – I get it Francesca, you have a boyfriend.

Not to say that Lisa does not get carried away with her dogs and her pipes, but still, the repetition of Francesca going on and on about her boyfriend was a bit off putting.

I love this series and it has become a tradition as I am taking my daughter back to college. The essay’s that are shared have mirrored parts of my life and I think, in some way, are preparing me for the future. Mother and daughter relationships are unique, we might not always see the world in the same way, but we want to do our best in handling them with love.

I cannot say that I loved one story more than another, each of Lisa’s made me laugh or cry or wonder. Maybe it is an age thing and I can relate to her experiences more. Francesca’s essay, on the other hand, did not appeal to me except for the writing on her grandmother and that was her best of the bunch. It was heartfelt and a wonderful good-bye to a woman that had been ever present.

Each year I wait for this series with both anticipation and dread. I look forward to the laughs and idiosyncrasies of life and the dread of knowing that yet again, I have to say good-bye to my daughter I’ll see you at Christmas.

Mr. Miracle

Title: Mr. Miracle
Author: Debbie Macomber
Expected Publication: October 7th 2014 by Ballantine Books
Format: ARC Approx 250 pages
Genre: Holiday Romance
Source: Amazon Vine Program

This book hit a raw nerve for me, just having paid college fees for my daughter, I have to get this off my chest, colleges do not give books to students; they are expensive and each student is responsible for seeking out their own, I do not believe the excuse of grants that was given in this book, that is usually for the instructor and classroom space. Second, a person transferring from out of state has either to spend a year attaining residency or pay the outrageous out of state fees. Sorry, but this bothered me throughout the book and I just needed to rant.

Addie Folsom has come back home to Tacoma after finally admitting her failure in mining and realizing that working in a diner was getting her nowhere. She regrets leaving high school prior to graduating and needs one class so she enrolls at the local community college to acquire her much-desired diploma.

Harry Mills is an angel who has been sent to earth in human form as a college instructor placed in a rag tag class with the sole purpose of befriending Addie and guiding her towards Erich a childhood neighbor and the future love of her life.

Erich has recently been in an accident and with his mother and Addie’s mother heading out of town on a long planned cruise, Addie volunteers to help Erich until they return. Who did not see this coming? I am however, curious as to how a man with two broken wrists can take care of his bathroom needs, but then again, I tend to let my mind wander.

Told in the usual Macomber style of romance and fluff, the reader follows Harry’s bumbling as a first time emissary of heaven and Addie and Erich’s budding relationship.

When I look back at this book, I think that I am still bothered by the abrupt ending which is staying a lot since throughout the reading I kept dwelling on Debbie Macomber’s lack of knowledge of sending a person to college. However, I have already ranted about that and I will not go through it again.

I could not understand how the reader is in the middle of a party and within a couple of pages the book is over. Then I did a little research and have found out that the Hallmark channel is already filming this book as an upcoming holiday movie. Now, I am beginning to wonder about the chicken and egg thing. Did they write the movie first and then quickly threw a book together to fit around it? Maybe I am being skeptical, but I do wonder.

Mr. Miracle does appear to be the first in a series and if the students in Harry Mills’ class are any indication, Debbie Macomber has a franchise with just these people.

The book is a quick read, does not delve too deeply into either romance or religion and lovers of Macomber’s previous Mrs. Miracle books, will appreciate this new series. I just wish that there had more substance and research prior to publication.