Lunara: Seth and Chloe by Wyatt Davenport

The Skinny: A well-developed scifi story with extensive world-building

When Earth is destroyed, the population moves to Mars to create a new community. Lunara, a small colony, is developed on the moon to mine minerals from passing meteors. When Lunara is invaded, a group of survivors travels to Mars to seek answers.

Fans of science fiction will enjoy Lunara: Seth and Chloe. The world Davenport created is rich with details. The story is fast paced and storyline is well-developed. Davenport provides a significant amount of background information to provide his audience with important facts.

Though I do not usually read science fiction, I am impressed with Davenport’s writing. It is evident how much time and effort the author put into his first novel.

*Received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review

Follow Friday

I enjoy reading while sitting on my wooden bench in the garden. I also sit in the guest bedroom, because it has great light and I enjoy the solitude.

Follow Friday!

I like unique names for characters and am looking forward to coming up with some when I start writing. What's the most unique character name you've come across?

The most unique names I have come across are Crispin, Scout, and Pip. One of my favorite names, in general, is Fiorella. It is Italian and translates to little flower.

Follow Friday!

Q: What would you prefer: reading your favorite book over and over again until you got sick of it OR reading 100s of mediocre books?

I would rather repeatedly read my favorite book than read a series of mediocre books. Reading hundreds of subpar titles would be a slow death, and I would gladly welcome a lifetime with Elizabeth and Darcy.

The World We Found by Thrity Umrigar

The Skinny: If you are a fan of Jhumpa Lahiri’s work, you will certainly enjoy this newest addition to Umrigar’s growing portfolio. 

Four college friends reflect on their friendships and lives in The World We Found. The foursome grew up in India and attended college together before getting married, having children, and growing apart. Each woman is examined and the stories of each character are woven together to create a comprehensive look at how decisions have the ability to destroy and repair relationships.  Despite years of separation, the women reconnect in light of an illness that claims one of their number as a victim.

Umrigar’s descriptive writing and attention to details are the main highlights of this novel. The stories she created for each of her characters are unique and blend together nicely. Her greatest talent, I believe, is her showing how one event influences a string of decisions, which ultimately impacts the lives of others.

The publisher kindly sent me a copy to review.

Follow Friday

Define what characteristics your favorite books share:

My favorite nonfiction books introduce me to new concepts or events. My favorite fiction titles must include strong characters, imagination, and good writing. Poor grammar holds the top spot on my list of unforgiveable book peeves.

The Insider by Reece Hirsch

The Skinny: This is the best legal thriller I have read.

From the first sentence to the last page, Reece Hirsch composes a suspenseful account of an attorney who, at every turn, is confronted with one mystery after another. Will Connelly, a biglaw corporate attorney, is ambitious and intelligent, and readers will cheer for him as he maneuvers around traps designed to end his career and possibly his life.

Hirsch is a talented writer, and I commend his lovely manipulation of words. Take this sentence, for example: “The wind was already whipping up a light chop on the bay.” Such charming imagery. Every sentence is deliberate and every character is clearly described. I appreciate the conciseness of Hirsch’s writing and admire his ability to take ordinary scenes and transform them into absorbing events.

The Insider is an enthralling story, and if you are a fan of legal thrillers, this should be at the top of your reading list. It is excellent, and I am excited to read more from Hirsch.

*Copy received from author to review

Paris, My Sweet: A Year in the City of Light (And Dark Chocolate) by Amy Thomas

The Skinny: The perfect book for Francophiles, foodies, and New Yorkers (or bloggers attending BEA!).

Amy, an advertising executive, is chosen to take over her firm’s Louis Vuitton account for a year… in Paris. Amy moves to The City of Light to immerse herself in French culture and desserts.  In addition to creating adverts for Vuitton, Amy is a chocoholic and is determined to try every delectable dessert in the city. Lists are provided of the best dessert locations in New York and Paris. A combination of desserts and French culture comprise this fun, easy read.

The descriptions of deserts and her transition to French life are mouthwatering and interesting, respectively. Though I enjoyed reading pages and pages of pastry conquests, I assure you that my new trousers do not. Whenever I read Paris, My Sweet, I had to eat a bit of chocolate or nibble on a gluten-free biscuit. If you are on a diet, you should probably avoid this book. It is weight-loss kryptonite.

The one feature of the novel that I did not enjoy was the constant use of French. Although I was able to understand a good portion of the dialogue, I would have appreciated English translations. This book made me sad that I learned Spanish and Italian while neglecting French.

Paris, My Sweet will definitely occupy a small space in my suitcase during my next visit to France. I do not recommend this book for readers who are looking for an insight into expat life or culture transitions. It is more suited to those interested in eating yummy treats.

*Copy received from publisher