Wednesday, May 13, 2009

74 Seaside Avenue [Macomber]

Book: 74 Seaside Avenue [Cedar Cove book 7]
Author: Debbie Macomber
Genre: Romance
Reason for Reading: for fun

Christine's Review: Book 7 in the Cedar Cove series centers on hairdresser Teri and her chess champion husband, Bobby Polgar. While Teri has a dynamic personality and is a great addition to the cast of characters, Bobby is not realistic. A chess genius, he has limited social skills but his scenes feel forced. The drama of this book revolves around a Russian chess player who threatens to harm Teri unless Bobby throws a chess match. I don't doubt the competitiveness of chess, but the whole story arc was ridiculous.

Recommend: No

Book Junkie's Grade: C

6 Rainer Drive [Macomber]

Book: 6 Rainer Drive [Cedar Cove book 6]
Author: Debbie Macomber
Genre: Romance
Reason for Reading: for fun

Christine's Review: Book 6 in the Cedar Cove series focuses on Justine and Seth Gunderson. After their restaurant is burned down due to arson, Seth is consumed with rebuilding while Justine wants to focus on their family and their new found ability to spend time together. When her old boyfriend starts to show up and offer her support, she is conflicted.

Gossipy, fun and a realistic look at a marriage in trouble. The side stories in this book were also strong: Lynette's troubled relationship, Mary Ellen's husband's relationship with his family and a new spunky addition in Teri, a hair dresser who falls in love with a famous chess player.

Recommend: Yes

Book Junkie's Grade: B

50 Harbor Street [Macomber]

Book: 50 Harbor Street [Cedar Cove book 5]
Author: Debbie Macomber
Genre: Romance
Reason for Reading: for fun

Christine's Review: Book 5 in the Cedar Cove series focuses on private investigator Roy McAfee and his wife Corrie. They are concerned when they start receiving cryptic postcards and a fruit basket from a mysterious source. While they work to solve the puzzle, their daughter Linnette moves back to town after completing a physicians assistant program.


As with other books in this series, Macomber notes the important plot points from previous books and follows multiple characters throughout the story. While the person responsible for the mysterious postcards is not so mysterious to the reader, I enjoyed the interactions between Roy and Corrie. Their daughter Linnette was grating at times and unrealistic. Macomber showed her age by describing a sparkly holiday sweater as something Linnette (in her mid-20s) would wear on a date. I had to laugh at that! All in all, this was once again a quick, gossipy read that is perfect for the beach or airplane.

Recommend: Yes

Book Junkie's Grade: B-

44 Cranberry Point [Macomber]

Book: 44 Cranberry Point [Cedar Cove book 4]
Author: Debbie Macomber
Genre: Romance
Reason for Reading: for fun

Christine's Review: Book 4 in the Cedar Cove series focuses on Bob and Peggy Beldon, owners of the Thyme & Tide B&B. After Bob's Vietnam buddy is found dead in one of their guest rooms, the Beldon's are worried about Bob's safety. They don't know who killed Max (the war Vet) and aren't sure if an incident that happened long ago in the military has come back to haunt him. When Max's distraught daughter arrives on their doorstop searching for shelter answers, Peggy welcomes her and they try to solve the mystery.

In addition to the Beldon's, we continue to follow other Cedar Cove staples like Grace, Olivia, Charlotte and Mary Ellen. Once again, Macomber spends a lot of time rehashing previous books. While I enjoyed certain sections of this book, the mystery was not hard to figure out and I became bored with Bob and Peggy's narrative.


Recommend: NO, skip to the next book, Macomber rehashing all the important details so you won't miss much

Book Junkie's Grade: C

311 Pelican Court [Macomber]

Book: 311 Pelican Court [Cedar Cove book 3]
Author: Debbie Macomber
Genre: Romance
Reason for Reading: for fun

Christine's Review: Once again, Macomber brings us into the lives of the residents of Cedar Cove. We follow the trials and tribulations of Grace, Olivia, Charlotte, and everyone's respective children. Book 3 focuses on Zach and Rosie Cox, the couple we met in Book 2 whose marriage was falling apart. After getting divorced, Judge Lockhart makes a unique custody ruling which allows the children to remain in the family home and the parents to move back and forth. Can Zach and Rosie put their differences aside and focus on their children? Meanwhile, Grace's daughter Mary Ellen has a child and struggles as a first time mom and single parent.

Like book 2, Macomber spends a lot of time rehashing the previous books and seemingly all the plot points. These sections can be skipped.


Book Junkie's Grade: B-

204 Rosewood Lane [Macomber]

Book: 204 Rosewood Lane [Cedar Cove book 2]
Author: Debbie Macomber
Genre: Romance
Reason for Reading: for fun

Christine's Review: This book takes off where book 1 left off and while there are many story lines, the book focuses on on Grace Sherman. After her husband deserts her after 35 years of marriage, Grace divorces him although she is not sure what happened to him. At the same time, she meets an attractive divorcee who is interested in dating her.

Many story lines from the previous book are expanded such as Judge Lockhart's love life and her daughter Justine's new marriage. New characters are introduced, such as Zach and Rosie Cox, whose marriage is crumbling.

This book is just as gossipy and fun as book one. Macomber spends a lot of time recapping the previous book and those sections can be skipped altogether.

Recommend: Yes

Book Junkie's Grade: B

16 Lighthouse Road [Macomber]

Book: 16 Lighthouse Road [Cedar Cove book 1]
Author: Debbie Macomber
Genre: Romance
Reason for Reading: for fun

Christine's Review: 16 Lighthouse Road introduces us to interesting cast of characters in the fictional town of Cedar Cove, Washington (just a ferry ride from Seattle). We meet Charlotte Jefferson, the nice, elderly lady who cooks up a storm and seems to know everyone. Her daughter, Judge Olivia Lockhart, a family court judge, and Olivia's daughter Justine, who is involved with man old enough to be her father. We also meet Olivia's best friend Grace, whose husband has seemingly disappeared and a myriad other people from the town.

Macomber does a good job blending story lines involving divorce, death, alcoholism, love and family. It is easy to connect with the characters and this is a quick read.

Recommend: Yes, perfect for beach or airplane reading

Book Junkie's Grade: B

Tempted [Hart]

Book: Tempted
Author: Megan Hart
Genre: Romance - Erotica
Reason for Reading: for fun

Christine's Review: Anne has the perfect life with her husband, James, and their little house on a lake. She thinks she has it all until her husband's best friend, Alex, comes for an extended visit. When she discovers that she wants Alex and James doesn't object, a complicated relationship begins which leaves Anne wondering who loves James most of all.

This book had some good moments but the character development and plot were not as strong as 'Dirty.' Anne was a boring protagonist who was consumed with portraying herself as 'perfect' and I never felt connected to James or Alex. There was a subplot involving Anne's family which wasn't earth shattering or that interesting. Overall, there were some sensual scenes but they weren't enough to salvage the read.
Recommend: NO

Book Junkie's Grade: C

Dirty [Hart]

Book: Dirty
Author: Megan Hart
Genre: Romance - Erotica
Reason for Reading: for fun

Christine's Review: Elle, a 29 yr old accountant, doesn't like to get emotionally close to people. She's estranged from her parents, has no real friends and doesn't date. Although she's stayed away from men the last few years, she's had a number of one night stands in her lifetime and she is not ashamed of her past. She is happy coming home to an empty house and she is content with her life. Until she meets Dan. It begins with flirting at an upscale candy store and turns into a torrid affair. Will Elle open up and allow Dan to see the real "Elle" or will she shut him out emotionally like everyone else?

This book is my first erotic novel and if I had to describe it with one word it would be "sizzling." Erotic novels are not for the faint hearted or conservative reader-this book was extremely graphic. However, there was an actual plot, character development and the book was well written.

Recommend: if you think you can handle the heat, YES!

Book Junkie's Grade: B+

Monday, May 4, 2009

To Kill a Mockingbird [Lee]

Book: To Kill a Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee
Genre: Fiction
Reason for Reading: book club

Christine's Review: 'To Kill a Mockingbird' follows Scout Finch, her older brother Jem and their father Atticus for a three year period during the great depression. Set in a small, souther town of Maycomb, Alabama, the novel explores friendship, family, class, race and justice.

This book is required reading in most middle/high schools so I was excited to reread it. Reading a book for pleasure vs. reading a book for school (to take a test or write an essay) was an interesting prospect-all I remembered about the book was the main character's name was Scout and there was someone named Boo Radley. After a few chapters into the book, I remembered other plot elements but was still able to enjoy the book. '..Mockingbird' is beautifully written and the story unfolds seamlessly. I fell in love with many of the characters and recommend that everyone reread this book.

Recommend: YES

Book Junkie's Grade: A+

The Shack [Young]

Book: The Shack
Author: William P. Young
Genre: Fiction
Reason for Reading: book club

Christine's Review: Mackenzie Phillips is on a vacation with his children when his youngest daughter is kidnapped by a sexual predator. When her dress is found in a bloody heap in a remote shack, she is presumed dead. After years of depression (or the Great Sadness as it is referred in the book), Mack receives a note from God inviting him back to the shack.

Unsure if the letter is indeed from God, Mack returns to the shack and finds God (a large black woman who loves to bake and make jokes, imagine Aunt Jemima and Paula Dean rolled into one), Jesus (a nice middle eastern guy) and Sarayu (the holy spirit, a small, Asian woman). Mack stays the weekend and by the end of the book he is lifted out of the great sadness.

This book has a great premise but falls short in the delivery. I was expecting a book about a grieving father who learns to cope with his tragedy but instead I found a poorly written, disjointed book on theology disguised as fiction. The theology aspects of this book did not bother me. It takes a very different slant from the bible and current traditional Christian beliefs about the trinity (very 'new age-y'): God does not judge anyone so we shouldn't judge anyone, God does not punish sin, God loves everyone, forgiveness, etc. etc.). However, if I want to read a book on theology, I would rather read something well written with interesting dialogue (like the Bible).

The overall problem with The Shack is the poor quality of the writing. I am someone who devours books in one sitting and it took me a week to read this (it isn't even 300 pages). The concept of a child being abducted and murdered should be a huge pull to reel a reader in and Young left me cold. I kept trying to become interested in Mack and his struggles but couldn't get there. The 'non-God' sections seemed rushed. Most of the book read like it was written by a high school-er with a target audience of a child. In fact-after reading it I researched the author to check his age because I couldn't imagine an adult writing something like this (I've read romance novels that were more compelling). Indeed, the author did write this book for his children (without the intention of it being published) however that does not excuse the poor execution.

Similar to 'The Pillars of the Earth' this book has generated a lot of positive buzz. I suspect people love Pillars since it is the longest book they have read and I suspect many love 'The Shack' because it displays such a loving, nonjudgmental God. Personally, 'The Shack' was not my cup of tea.

Recommend: NO

Book Junkie's Grade: D