Review: Scones & Bones

Scones & Bones (Tea Shop Mystery - Book 12) by Laura Childs

Publication Date: March 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group USA
Genre: Cozy Mystery
ISBN-13: 9780425238967
ISBN: 0425238962

(Received for review from the author)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Laura Childs on the WEB: Website

Excerpt from Scones & Bones

Synopsis (Book Blurb):

A search for a missing treasure stirs up the waters of the Charleston social set in the latest novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Teaberry Strangler.

Indigo Tea Shop owner, Theodosia Browning is lured into attending the Heritage Society's Pirates and Plunder party by her master tea blender. Amid the gold earrings and doubloons, an antique skull ring set with a huge diamond steals the show - and gets plundered by someone who murders a history intern in the process.

Even with that on her plate, Theodosia still has to attend the Charleston Food and Wine Festival, where she's hosting a tea and cheese tasting - the latest culinary trend. But as her thoughts keep drifting to the victim, Theodosia knows she'll have to whet her investigative skills to find the killer among a raft of suspects...

Thoughts:

Laura Childs once again thrills readers with her latest addition to the Tea Shop Mystery series, Scones & Bones. This is the twelfth book in long running cozy series that offers the reader more than just a great whodunit. Childs brings Charleston, South Carolina to life, with interesting facts and bits of nostalgia, as well as, local folklore and tales. Readers will fall in love with Theodosia and the Indigo Tea Shop as she once again finds herself in the middle of a murder.

Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston, South Carolina is always getting herself into one mystery or another. This time she and her master tea blender, Drayton are attending the Heritage Societies, Pirates and Plunder party, where lots of artifacts and pirate lore are on display including a cup made from a diamond encrusted skull reportedly belonging to Blackbeard himself. When history intern, Rob Commers is murdered and the cup stolen, it's up to Theodosia to figure out who did it before the Heritage Society fires it's long time director, Timothy Neville. When Max Scofield, a local museum PR man arrives on the scene, Theo may have more on her mind than the mystery at hand. Will she have to choose between Max and her boyfriend Parker Scully? Who would be willing to kill for the skull cup?

As many of you know I am a huge Laura Childs fan. I love all three cozy mystery series' that Laura writes: The Tea Shop mysteries, The Cackleberry Club mysteries and The Scrapbooking mystery series. Each of the three focuses on a different theme and appeals to a different type of cozy reader.

The Tea Shop mysteries are definitely among my favorites for a lot of reasons. Scones & Bones as well as the other eleven books in the series are set in Charleston, South Carolina, a beautiful town with lots of history and atmosphere. I believe one of Childs strengths is her descriptions of the scene and the place. She gives readers a real sense of what Charleston is like. The charm of the city, it's historical significance and how that relates to it's citizens. She makes it come alive for readers with historical details, descriptions of the buildings the festivals and things that make Charleston what it is. I love that about her writing, I think it lends an air of authenticity and sophistication to her novels.

Theodosia is such a great character. She gave up a high powered job to become a shopkeeper in a picturesque community by the sea. How many of us wish we had the guts to give up our jobs to follow a dream? Her attitude is sassy yet, sophisticated. Theo comes across at well educated and very analytical about things, which lends itself to finding those little details that others seem to overlook. Her investigative style is interesting. She leans a lot on her own intuition and tries to work inside the line with the authorities instead of under the radar or in opposition to them. She just gives Burt Tidwell a nudge in the right direction now and then.

The supporting cast in this series is a lot fun. Drayton the master tea blender is very engaging. Readers will love his bow ties and his hobby of working with the Heritage Society. Drayton adds color the scene with his observations of the human condition as well as his upscale Charleston attitudes. I like him as a character a lot. Hayley, baker extraordinaire gives a bit of a younger and more fresh appeal to the series. She puts her own spin on the food at the Indigo Tea Shop as well as on whatever mystery Theodosia has gotten herself into. There are many other characters for readers to fall in love with as well including Earl Grey, Theo's dog and local shopkeepers who pop in from time to time.

Sconces & Bones is full of great tidbits of Charleston's history as well as pirate lore. This book focuses on the legends of Blackbeard and the pirates who were supposed to have sailed these shores long ago. The whole pirate backstory is very interesting and added a real sense of adventure to this book. The flow of the book is smooth and the pace is just right as the clues start to lead the reader along the path to finding the killer. Childs adds just enough in each chapter to keep the reader glued to the next page. I loved this one and can't wait for the next. I recommend this book to those who love a great mystery, especially cozy fans.

Scones & Bones is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!





Laura Childs is also the author of the Scrapbooking mystery series and the Cackleberry Club mystery series. In her past life she was a Clio award-winning advertising writer and CEO of her own marketing firm.

Review: I am the Chosen King

I am the Chosen King (The Lost Kingdom 1066 - Book 2) by Helen Hollick

Publication Date: March 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical Fiction
ISBN-13: 9781402240669
ISBN: 140224066X

(Received for review from Sourcebooks)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Helen Hollick on the WEB: Website, Blog, Facebook, Twitter

Book Trailer:

Synopsis (Book Blurb):

England, 1044. Harold Godwinesson, a young respected Earl, falls in love with an ordinary but beautiful woman. he marries Edyth despite her lack of pedigree, pitting him against his turbulent family and his selfish King, Edward.

In France, William, the bastard son of a duke, falls in love with power. Brutal and dangerously smart, William sets his sights on England, finding ambition a difficult lust to conquer.

With Edward old and dying, England falls vulnerable to the winds of fate - and the stubborn will of these two powerful men.

In this beautifully crafted tale, Helen Hollick sets aside the propaganda of the Norman Conquest and brings to life the English version of the story of the last Saxon King, revealing his tender love, determination, and proud loyalty, all shattered by the unforgiving needs of a Kingdom. Forced to give up his wife and risk his life for England, the chosen King led his army into the great Battle of Hastings in October 1066 with all the honor and dignity that history remembers of its fallen heroes.

Thoughts:

Harold, last of the Saxon King's is brought to life in Helen Hollick's latest release, I am the Chosen King. Hollick dispels a lot of the propaganda surrounding the Battle of Hastings and tells the story from a decidedly English point of view. Readers will be so enthralled by story and engaged by the characters that many will wish a different fate for King Harold. Hollick's research and knowledge of the time period give this book an edge in the historical fiction market. A must read for historical fiction fans!

In 1043, Queen Emma watched as her son, Edward became King of England. Edward known as "the confessor" never really wanted to be King and it showed in his reign. He was a weak king much like his father, Athelred. As Edward lays dying the winds of change brew in and outside England. Left vulnerable through Edwards inabilities as King and repeated warfare, England is about to face a Norman invasion.

Harold Godwinesson, Earl of Wessex is next in line to succeed Edward as King. He is the King chosen by the people, but Harold has problems of his own. By marrying a young woman named Edyth, a commoner, Harold faces the wrath of his family and their greed for power, while across the channel, William of Normandy is preparing to find glory of his own.

Hollick tells the story of the last Saxon King from England's standpoint. History portrays the Norman invasion as a good thing for England, but Hollick is able to blur the lines and show this point in history from a differing viewpoint. Being a former history major, most of the English history I learned started at the Battle of Hastings. Little consideration was given to the events that led up to the Battle or before and I was really interested in this series for that reason.

Starting with the Forever Queen, Hollick begins to tell a tale that centers on England before the Battle of Hastings. In I am the Chosen King she brings us to the brink of the Norman invasion. Her research is impeccable and I found her characterizations of those in the forefront engaging and real. The characters came alive and were very believable. The reader will be transported and become a part of the story as they ride with Harold by the River Lea when he first see's Edyth and they will ride with him again as he faces the battle of his life. I thought the author did such a wonderful job of making these characters become more than just names in a history book.

Hollick also does a great job of showing the character of Harold. Harold is shown as loyal and determined, a good king, though his ambition was to be a good husband and father. Harold's romance with Edyth is tender and gentle. It is not the main subject of the novel, but adds a sense of wonder and joy to the book, lightening the mood in some of the more dire parts of the story. Harold's relationship with his family is very volatile. His sister wishes to be Queen and will stop at nothing to see that happen. His brothers see a better future with William of Normandy than with their own brother. They seem a very cutthroat bunch, ready to sacrifice Harold in order to get what they want. Yet Harold, tries again and again to bring peace between them. Hollick portrays Harold as a wise and discerning King, who knew what he would face in the Battle of Hastings, and would not back down from the challenge.

I really enjoyed this book and I know that historical fiction fans will absolutely love it. Hollick has the ability to take a very detailed historical account and give it life. Her style is very approachable and leaves the reader feeling like they have learned a lot, while still being entertained. I recommend this one to historical fiction fans, history buffs, even historical romance fans. This book has a little bit of everything to satisfy many different types of readers.

I am the Chosen King is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one a very resounding 5 out of 5 apples!





Helen Hollick lives in Northeast London with her husband, daughter and a variety of pets, which include several horses, cats, and two dogs. She has two major interests: Roman/Saxon Britain and the Golden Age of Piracy - the early eighteenth century.

Interview: Helen Hollick

Please join me in welcoming Helen Hollick to Debbie's Book Bag today! Helen is here to talk about her new book, I am the Chosen King.

DEB:Helen, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
HELEN: I’m older than I’d like to be, broader than I’d like to be and can’t get about as much as I’d like because I need a hip replacement and the rest of me has failed its annual “not as young as I once was” check up. Just as well I’m a writer not an Olympic athlete then isn’t it? *laugh*

I live in North East London, England, with my husband, Ron, and adult daughter, Kathy – plus Rum our dog and Mab the kitten. Mab spends most of her days asleep in a basket on my desk. When she’s not patting at the cursor on the screen or trying to pounce on my fingers as I’m typing, that is.

DEB: Tell us a little about your book, I am the Chosen King?
HELEN: The English edition is called Harold the King. I wrote it about twelve years ago – it took a year to research and a year to write. It is the story of the man who is my hero – King Harold II. He died on October 14th 1066 defending England against foreign invasion by Duke William of Normandy.

I wrote the novel because I was so fed up with the history books starting with the Norman Conquest, and the common idea that the Normans were a “good thing” for England. They weren’t. William had no right to the throne and Harold was our legitimately crowned King.

I wanted to strip the widely believed story of Norman propaganda and tell of the events that led to the Battle of Hastings from the English point of view.

It is a novel of battles and betrayal; of love, of life…. a story based firmly on history, but with the missing gaps filled in by imagination and emotion.

I am also co-scriptwriter to the UK movie 1066 – which is currently in pre production – a very exciting project!

DEB: What was your inspiration for the book’s leading up to the Battle of Hastings?
HELEN: Having finished my Arthurian Trilogy (Kingmaking, Pendragon’s Banner and Shadow of the King) I had to decide what to write next. Two things convinced me to write Chosen King (Harold)

I went on a day trip outing to see the site where the Battle of Hastings took place in 1066. While walking down the hill to one side of the battlefield, the hairs prickled along the nape of my neck and I suddenly felt that if I turned round I would see King Harold’s army arrayed along the ridge, ready to fight. A scary but exhilarating moment. Then shortly after, I dreamt the scene that eventually became chapter two – where Harold was riding alongside the River Lea with his brothers and father and saw for the first time the woman who was to become the love of his life – Edyth Swanneck.

After that, I just had to write the whole story.

DEB: What type of research did you do for your books?
HELEN: I read as much as I could – professional works by historians such as Pauline Stafford, Frank Barlow, David C. Douglas. The British Museum and the London Museum are easy for me to get to and both have very good Saxon collections. And I visited the actual sites of places in the book – Waltham Abbey is very close to where I live, as is Nazeing. I went to York and Stamford Bridge – and the Battle Site itself, where Battle Abbey now stands.

DEB: What is your normal writing day like? Do you have things that have to be in place to write comfortably?
HELEN: I answer e-mails first, usually while in my dressing gown with a fresh cup of tea to hand, and I put something new up on Facebook every day. Then it’s a shower and get dressed and I work through all the things on my “to do” list (like answer these questions)

After lunch I might have a quick browse on Twitter and answer a few more e-mails, then I concentrate on my writing – whether this is actual writing, researching or editing.

I like having my desk tidy and I don’t like being distracted by the sound of the TV coming from the sitting room – but as my husband is now retired and a little deaf that’s something I have to put up with. I can’t complain, he does do most of the housework!

DEB: What was it like when you got the word that your first novel would be published?
HELEN: It was rather a long time ago now. 1993 actually. My agent at that time had told me that William Heinemann of Random House UK might be interested in what was to eventually become The Kingmaking and the first half of Pendragon’s Banner. I was obviously very excited, but it was early April and everything was shutting down for Easter. I was due to go on vacation with my family and friends to the Lake District in the north west of England. We had a fabulous time, but I was on edge as there were no cell phones back in those days, and I had no telephone access.

Back home I was disappointed that there was no letter waiting. Then a few days later I received a phone call – I had been accepted for a three book deal! I think I made a sort of squeeeeee noise and danced around the room for a bit (these were also the days before I had a disintegrating hip!)

There was one extra cherry on the cake – I heard the good news exactly one week after my 40th birthday!

DEB: Do have any advice for new writers?
HELEN: Along with my UK freelance editor, Jo Field, I have written an article about getting started with writing – your blog readers who want a few hints and tips about writing might find Discovering the Diamond useful: http://www.helenhollick.net/culpa41.html

(I am hoping that it will soon be on Kindle as well)

DEB: When your not writing, what kinds of books do you like to read? Do you have a favorite author?
HELEN: I go through phases of what I read. I like a good thriller (not horror – I have a hard enough job sleeping as it is!) Science Fiction or fantasy I enjoy. At the moment of writing this I am reading C. W. Gortner’s historical novels, but I have just finished Maria Snyder’s Spy Glass series – and I am eagerly looking forward to Elizabeth Chadwick and Sharon Penman’s next novels.

My all time favorite author, though, has to be Rosemary Sutcliff, especially her Eagle of the Ninth and Mark of the Horselord. She has such a beautiful way of using words.

DEB: What are you working on right now?
HELEN: My next historical adventure novel – the fourth in my pirate based Sea Witch Voyages, featuring my Captain Jesamiah Acorne. These are exciting adventure novels, a sort of mixture of Pirates of the Caribbean, Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe series, Hornblower and Indiana Jones. Good fun to write and read. Ripples In the Sand is almost finished. Now for the editing!

DEB: Tell us one thing that people may not know about you?
HELEN: Ooh, what secret can I give away? I love having a cup of tea and a couple of digestive biscuits before I go to bed – which is usually about 1 or 2 in the morning!

Stop by later on today for my review of I am the Chosen King by Helen Hollick!

2011 Cozy Mystery Challenge March Reviews!

First of all, I want to thank everybody who has signed up so far and I hope that we'll all have a great time reading cozies this year!

This will be the place you need to come to in order to post any cozy reviews you do in the month of March.

Every person who submits at least five cozy reviews during the challenge (Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2011) will be entered in a drawing for an ENTIRE cozy mystery series from one of your favorite cozy authors.

My favorite so far is Laura Childs!

Please enter your name and blog (Deb@Debbie's Book Bag) in the first blank and the URL to the post with your cozy review in the second. Thank-You!

Review: The Liberation of Alice Love

The Liberation of Alice Love by Abby McDonald

Publication Date: March 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Chick Lit, Contemporary Women's Fiction
ISBN-13: 9781402253133
ISBN: 1402253133

(Received for review from Sourcebooks)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Abby McDonald on the WEB: Website, Twitter

Synopsis (Book Blurb):

Alice Love keeps her life (and boss, and family) running in perfect order, so when her bank card is declined, she thinks it's just a mistake. Sadly, someone has emptied her bank account, spending her savings on glamorous trips, sexy lingerie, and a to-die-for wardrobe - and leaving Alice with lots of debt. As a dashing fraud investigator helps her unravel the intriguing paper trail, Alice discovers that the thief is closer to home than she ever imagined. What's more, it seems like her alter ego's reckless, extravagant lifestyle is the one Alice should have been leading all along. As the little white lies begin to stack up, how far will Alice go to find the truth? And whose life, exactly, is she fighting for?

Thoughts:

Author Abby McDonald brings readers a glimpse into the life of someone who has had their identity stolen. The Liberation of Alice Love is a book that will have readers laughing out loud, as well as applauding Alice as she searches for answers. Why did this happen to her and who did it? McDonald's ability to take a plot idea that doesn't sound all that interesting and turn it into a romantic page-turner is a wonder.

Alice Love has a perfect life. Perfect, but ordinary. As a lawyer in London, Alice is putting away money for a nest egg, she intends to use for a new home. When her credit card is denied she knows it has to be a mistake. Alice soon finds out that her identity has been stolen and the fake-Alice is using all her money to do the things that Alice has always wanted to do, but never took the risk. With glamorous trips and sexy lingerie fake-Alice is leaving a paper trail behind a mile long. Real Alice must become a detective to figure out who did it and why. With the help of a handsome investigator, Alice transforms her life from ordinary to extraordinary!

McDonald really gives the reader a great plot based on a not so great topic: Identity theft. In today's world we hear about identity theft all the time, but I don't think people understand how bad this can really be unless they have experienced it. It is demoralizing and disheartening. I thought McDonald did an excellent job of showing the reader just how much this could affect someone. In Alice's case it changes her life completely. Sure it was a bad thing to happen but in the end it became more than just finding out who did it. It became a journey in which Alice really found out who she wanted to be and what was important to her. I loved real-Alice as a character. She was funny and determined and once she got out of her comfort zone she really started to become a different person. I enjoyed her growth through out the novel.

Alice's alter ego was doing all the things she dreamed about doing herself and I thought it was a stroke of genius for the author to have Alice kind of follow in the thief's footsteps, even to the point of dressing like her and effectively stealing the thief's identity back. Readers will empathize with Alice, but they will enjoy seeing what lengths she goes to find out who did this and why. I found it somewhat hard to understand why this was soooo important to Alice. What was driving her to go to such extremes? In the end though, it was a very fun book. It was exciting and the author's sense of romance was awesome. Alice finds not only her true self, but love as well and that's what makes this book so good. She gets her happy ending, but it's totally not what the reader expects when they pick up this book. McDonald surprised me with this one and it was a pleasure to read.

I recommend this one to anyone who loves a good romance or a good chick lit read. It's a great weekend or beach read and it's very current and refreshing. A really different sort of book than most people would expect. Abby McDonald makes it clear that not only can she write great YA novels, but her adult fiction is just as potent and interesting.

The Liberation of Alice Love is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!






Abby McDonald grew up in Sussex, England and studied politics and philosophy at Oxford University. She began writing in college, completing her first novel before graduating to work as a music journalist and receptionist extraordinaire. She is now a fulltime novelist and screenwriter. Her first novel, The Popularity Rules was a Glamour "must read" and was dubbed "brilliantly written, full of humor, heartbreak and attitude." She is also the author of young adult novels Sophomore Switch, Boys, Bears and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots, and The Anti-Prom. She currently lives in Los Angeles, California.

Review: The Queen's Rival

The Queen's Rival: In the Court of Henry VIII by Diane Haeger

Publication Date: March 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Genre: Historical Fiction ISBN-13: 9780451232205
ISBN: 0451232208

(Received for review from Berkley NAL)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Diane Haeger on the WEB: Website

Book Synopsis (Barnes & Noble):

From the author of The Queen's Mistake comes the untold story of King Henry VIII's first well-known mistress.

As the beautiful daughter of courtiers, Elizabeth "Bessie" Blout is overjoyed when she secures a position as a maid of honor to Katherine of Aragon. But when she captures the attention of the king himself, there are whispers that the queen ought to be worried for her throne.

When Bess gives birth to a healthy son the whispers become a roar. But soon the infamous Boleyn girls come to court and Henry's love for her begins to fade. Now, Bess must turn to her trusted friend, the illegitimate son of Cardinal Wolsey, to help move beyond life as the queen's rival...

Thoughts:

Well-known historical fiction writer, Diane Haeger's latest novel, The Queen's Rival is historical fiction at it's best. Haegar's attention to detail and research is flawless. Her ability to bring to life, obscure or little known historical characters is showcased with this book. Readers will fall in love with Bess as the follow her progress from maid to the queen, to rival for king Henry's affections.

Elizabeth "Bess" Blout can't believe her luck when she is given the position as maid of honor to Kathrine of Aragon. At only fourteen years old she has always dreamed of a life at court, complete with a handsome prince to sweep her off her feet. What she gets instead is the attention of a very fickle Henry VIII, king of the realm and more trouble than she bargained for. When Henry's affections turn to Bess, the queen becomes her enemy as the rumors of Henry's conduct begin in earnest. When Bess becomes pregnant and bears Henry a son, the queen in livid. The child is taken from her and she is forced to leave court as the Boleyn sisters are just coming on the scene. Elizabeth marries her friend, Lord Gilbert Tailbois and bears him three children before his death. She died of consumption while she was only in her 30's.

Author Diane Haeger takes the little known character Bess Blout and tells her story with flair and purpose. Bess was one of many conquests by King Henry VIII. He was well known for his sexual liaisons with the women who frequented his court, but Bess was different than the rest. Her character is very well developed by Haegar and readers will see Bess as an innocent young girl who fell in love with a king. Bess dealt with many things in her life. The stigma of being the mistress to the king, whispers and accusations, the queen's righteous anger, and the loss of her child. Yet Haeger shows her strength and determination as Bess eventually finds love and family. It is obvious that Bess always carried a love in heart for Henry even after he tosses her aside for the Boleyn's. She is just a wonderful character that the reader will come to love as the story progresses.

Diane Haegar is well known for her historical writing and I feel that this one is on par with her other books. The Tudor period has always interested me and I loved the fact that Haegar shows us King Henry VIII as a young man, with passions and dreams, just like any other person. Henry ruled his court with a very stiff hand and expected to get everything he wanted, including women. But he was fickle and tired of them quickly, moving on the the next best thing, in this case that was Anne Boleyn. Haegar shows us a side of Henry that is refreshingly different from how most author's portray him. I liked seeing him through the eyes of young girl who truly had affection for him and not just his position as king. This is a very well written novel.

I recommend this one to historical fiction fans, especially those who are interested in the Tudor period. This novel is an excellent example of how to bring a little known historical character to life. Readers will love the innocence of Bess and the down right ruthlessness of the King. This is a great read for those of us who are very interested in history and those who lived it.

The Queen's Rival is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!





Diane Haeger in her own words, from her website:

Writing is a career that found me when I had actually given up looking for it. In the middle of a doctoral program in Clinical Psychology 15 years ago, and quite by accident, I came upon the true, breathtaking story, which spanned over two decades and began when the legendary Diane de Poitiers was 31 and her lifelong love was the scandalously young second son of the King of France. That story, which unfolded for me on several research trips to France--- and which became my first published novel Courtesan, really changed the course of my life. I grew absolutely driven to accurately tell to an American audience the true story of Diane de Poitiers' strength, love and commitment to a man she loved but could never marry.

Being willing to adapt my writing to changing times has also been integral for me to staying published, and it is the thing about which new writers seem to ask me most. My best advice is to stay true to yourself and your goals, but be willing, if necessary, as it was for me, to "pay your dues" to get where you want to be. Every book, no matter how different, is a learning experience and a chance for you to grow as a writer.

Review: Walking With Elephants

Walking With Elephants by Karen S. Bell

Publication Date: January 2010
Publisher: Literaryroad.com
Genre: Women's Fiction/Chick Lit
ISBN-13: 9781934037690
ISBN: 1934037699

(Received for review from TLC Tours)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Books-A-Million

Karen S. Bell on the WEB: Website, Blog, Facebook

Excerpt from Walking With Elephants

Synopsis (Book Blurb):

Susan Hall is at a crossroads. Her nemesis at work, Wanda, has been promoted and is now her boss. Her husband, Bob, is leaving her and their three kids for a six-month sabbatical down under. Meanwhile Suze has to reunite with an old boyfriend in order to save her job and her best friend, Marcia, is missing in action - playing footsie with some new boyfriend instead of lending a sympathetic ear!

Walking with Elephants, is a lighthearted slice-of-life story that explores the modern dichotomy of a workplace that is filled with homemakers who still must cook, clean, carpool, and still make time to "create" the holidays. But it is also filled with women who have the same drive as men, have no family responsibilities, and will do whatever it takes to get ahead.

So step into the shoes of Suze Hall and commiserate over workplace politics, titillate your sexual fantasies, and ride the wave of a working mother, and fall-down laughing.

Thoughts:

Karen S. Bell's debut novel, Walking With Elephants, takes readers on a whirlwind ride into the daily life of a working mother. Workplace politics, old boyfriends, and a husband on sabbatical come together in this wonderfully crafted novel about one woman's struggle to find herself amid the chaos of life. Bell's use of humor is engaging and allows the reader to feel at home and take comfort in the fact that no matter how things are going around you, you can still take time to see the lighter side of things.

Suze Hall is a working mom with three kids at home and a career in publishing. But life is about to make some changes! Suze is shocked to find that her husband has decided to take a sabbatical to Australia to work on a research project, and he intends to leave her and the kids at home for six months. On top of that the publishing company where she works has been bought out and her former boss is taking early retirement. It might not be so bad but her new boss is her worst work enemy, Wanda. Suze is given the task of working with some art books, which she knows nothing about and fears that Wanda plans to do away with her all together. When her ex-boyfriend from college re-enters her life, Suze comes face to face with some big decisions at home, at work, and inside herself.

Bell's use of humor really works in this novel . Sometimes when readers get really engrossed in a novel there needs to be something to break the tension and a good laugh-out-loud moment will really do the trick. Bell uses Suze's dialog with herself and her friends to bring across these moments with flying colors. Walking with Elephants is a funny, realistic glimpse into the life of a working mother. She goes to work everyday, but still has another life at home.

The main character Suze is so easy to identify with. There are so many women today that have to balance home and career and it's not easy to juggle carpooling, making dinner, cleaning the house and giving everyone the holiday they expect and still get up and go to work everyday. There just aren't enough hours in the day sometimes. Bell's portrayal of this working mom with issues as home as well as work is expressive and funny, but still carries the theme that you don't have be superwoman to have the life you want. Suze is charismatic and a little quirky. She has a great sense of humor and readers will really get a kick out of some of the stuff she says and they will sympathize with her as well. They will be mad a Wanda too, unsure of David and wonder what's up with Bob. As a reader I really enjoyed Suze, and felt that the supporting characters could have been developed a little more, but still added lots of flavor to the book. Suze's friend Marcia is a hoot and her gay co-worker Elliot is a life saver.

This is a book that women will fall in love with. The title for me was a little confusing, but once I got into the book I felt more at ease with it. The cover is interesting, using the black silhouette, but I think the combination of title and cover may not have been enough for me to pick it up off the shelf and think I would enjoy enough. Luckily, I did read this one and was able to find a great story within. Just goes to show that sometimes you can't judge a book by it's cover.

I recommend this one to women who are looking for a great character driven read that is humorous and easy to identify with. With solid characters and a great premise this one you won't want to miss. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

Walking With Elephants is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!






Walking With Elephants is Karen Bell's first novel, although she is not new to writing. After earning a graduate degree in mass communication she spent 15 years as an editor and writer for business materials. She says, "Inspiration for this novel came from my direct contact with the joys of Corporate America and the balancing act that comes with being a working mother." Currently, Ms. Bell resides in Ponte Verda, FL with her husband and photos of her children, granddaughters, and sonogram of her new grandbaby who live everywhere BUT Ponte Verda, FL.