Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™

THE ART OF CRASH LANDING by Melissa DeCarlo

September 19, 2015

Click to purchase

If you’re looking for your next book discussion selection, look no further. Melissa DeCarlo’s debut novel about a dysfunctional family set in a small town full of secrets is bound to fit the bill.

Mattie Wallace is a self proclaimed screw up. We meet her as she has packed all her belongings into several trash bags, stolen her boyfriend’s prize possession, and jumped into her old car heading off for a visit to her stepfather. There she learns that the grandmother she never knew has died and possibly left her something.

On an impulse, she jumps in her car and drives off to the small town in Oklahoma where her mother grew up and her grandmother died. Mattie lost her mother several years earlier but we don’t find out how or why until much later. The story moves and back and forth between Mattie’s childhood with her single, alcoholic mother and her present day circumstances. To complicate things further, Mattie is pregnant.

While staying in her grandmother’s house, Mattie learns more about her mother and her family than she expects, and even more about herself. At times poignant, funny and occasionally even inspirational, Mattie is a well drawn character that is simply unforgettable. Enjoy this warm, wonderful, witty read.

9/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THE ART OF CRASH LANDING by Melissa DeCarlo. Harper Paperbacks (September 8, 2015)). ISBN 978-0062390547. 432p.

Kindle

1 Comment | Book Reviews, Fiction, Women's Fiction | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

THE SPARROW SISTERS by Ellen Herrick

September 18, 2015

Click to purchase

Sorrel, Nettie, and Patience, the last of the Sparrow line, are quite well respected in their little town of Granite Point. Together the three run a nursery that supplies plants and arrangements for folks near and far, and Patience sells holistic and natural remedies made from the herbs and flowers of her medic garden.

For newcomer and doctor Henry Carlyle, Patience’s potions defy most everything he believes in. Sure plants are the basis for many medicines, but Patience has no formal training and, to his mind, can’t possibly be a reliable substitute for a licensed medical practitioner. Of course that’s before Henry meets Patience and gets to know her. The doctor soon falls head over heels for the healer and even begins to see the merit of her work.

But then Patience is blamed for the death of a young local boy. Suddenly, the townspeople who have relied on her help begin to turn against her and even as her most staunch supporters rally to her side, it may not be enough to help the Sparrows or Granite Point get through this tough time.

The Sparrow sisters are enchanting characters. Three sisters who were orphaned early on and ultimately never married – not that there isn’t time for that – they’ve relied on one another to get themselves through hard times in the past and are determined to do so once again. But this time they’re facing something that could ruin everything they’ve built in Granite Point.

The Sparrow history is so tightly woven into that of the town itself that it’s not just the nursery or the sisters’ reputations that are at risk. The town also suffers because of Patience’s fear and sorrow. And it’s not the first time in Granite Point or Sparrow family history that such a thing has happened.

Ellen Herrick’s debut is a mesmerizing and gorgeous read. With its lush and vibrant detail, strong sisterly bonds, romance, and just a hint of magical realism it brings to mind the works of Sarah Jio and Sarah Addison Allen, making The Sparrow Sisters the perfect read for fans of both authors. And while this tale stands on its own, there’s more than just a hint of possible additional Sparrow sisters’ tales – something I certainly hope we get to see in the very near future.

9/15 Becky LeJeune

THE SPARROW SISTERS by Ellen Herrick. William Morrow Paperbacks (September 1, 2015). ISBN 978-0062386342. 384p.

Kindle

Audiobook

4 Comments | Book Reviews, Fiction, Women's Fiction | Tagged: Magical Realism | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

ENTRY ISLAND by Peter May

September 16, 2015

Click to purchase

Peter May gives us a two part fascinating story; one a tale involving murder, the other a love story spanning a hundred years. The two sections are woven together in the most mesmerizing fashion it has been my pleasure to read and enjoy in a long time.

Entry Island is a small piece of land, only 1 1/2 miles long and a 1 ¾ miles wide, situated in a group of small islets along the St. Lawrence River in Canada. Its population is just over 100 people who eke out a living from fishing.

The story begins with the murder of the most affluent man living there. The only suspect is his wife who was interviewed covered in blood and telling a tale of a masked man breaking into their house, attacking her also, but fleeing, leaving her dazed. Sime Mackenzie is a detective attached to the police department in Montreal under whose jurisdiction the murder falls. He is sent along to aid in the investigation as the only true English speaker in the group, which is due to residence in the French speaking Quebec province.

The investigation seems just a formality since the widow was covered in blood, and the masked intruder is seemingly something made up by her. Sime goes to question the widow and is astonished at the fact that he seems to know her from somewhere. This appears an impossibility, until his insomniac nights turn up dreams of a relationship from another time and another place. He places their relationship in Scotland in the past with both having roles to play.

A very important fact in the story is that the widow has never left Entry Island in her life, nor did her mother and grandmother. In spite of the great deal of evidence against her, Sime gets the overwhelming feeling that she is innocent. A mutual attraction develops between them with Sime doing what is his duty as a policeman but working to prove her innocent. Set in a locale that is not part of most of our experience, the novel adapts a somewhat surreal atmosphere which adds to the enjoyment felt by the reader at finding this book and an author such as Peter May.

9/15 Paul Lane

ENTRY ISLAND by Peter May. Quercus (September 15, 2015). ISBN: 978-1623656638. 544p.

Comments Off on ENTRY ISLAND by Peter May | Book Reviews, Crime Fiction | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

THE ZIG ZAG GIRL by Elly Griffiths

September 15, 2015

Click to purchase

The smell at the Brighton train station led the police to find the head and legs of a woman packed in two cases. Shortly thereafter, Detective Inspector Edgar Stephens receives the body’s torso in a package addressed to him, using his recent World War II rank of Captain.

The body reminds Edgar of an old magic trick called the “Zig Zag Girl” perfected by Max Mephisto. The men served together in a special unit called the “Magic Men,” and Mephisto is still performing on the circuit but sees that times are changing.

Stephens gets Mephisto to help him investigate, and the time period is classic mystery era, pre-cell phones, computers or DNA, when murders were solved by face-to-face investigation and brilliant deduction.

Another death attributed to a magic trick amps up the tension, especially as Edgar realizes the Magic Men are being targeted. The setting of the shabby, post-war beach town during the 1950’s adds another layer to the story. This is a clever, original plot and the quirky characters bring it all to life in this well written mystery. Classic mystery fans will find this an enjoyable read.

9/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE ZIG ZAG GIRL by Elly Griffiths. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (September 15, 2015). ISBN 978-0544527942. 336p.

Comments Off on THE ZIG ZAG GIRL by Elly Griffiths | Book Reviews, Crime Fiction, Fiction | Tagged: Mystery | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

A NEW NAPA CUISINE by Christopher Kostow

September 13, 2015

Click to purchase

There are cookbooks that have great recipes that I can’t wait to try, and there are cookbooks that have the most gorgeous pictures. This is one of the latter. This is a beautiful coffee table book, from the cover, which is a sort of burlap-like fibrous material, to the stunning photos of the Napa Valley, the local artisans, the farms, and of course the food.

If you are not familiar, Chef Christopher Kostow is the critically acclaimed chef of The Restaurant at Meadowood. Located in the Napa Valley in St. Helena, California, Kostow is the third youngest chef to ever receive three Michelin stars (according to his author biography on Amazon.com.)

I don’t see any dinners at Meadowood in my future – Forbes reports the price fixe is $225 per person for a 10 course tasting menu, wine pairings an additional $225, or $500 for an 18-20 course Chef’s Tasting Menu, wine pairings who knows how much. But I can afford the cookbook, and it truly is a gift.

I don’t give up easily and I was bound and determined to find something to try. Most of the recipes contained ingredients that are not easily sourced here in southern Florida. Most were so complex that I would need a weekend to even attempt something. Then I had an idea.

There is a recipe for a spectacular Chocolate Cherry Tart that involves three recipes, for the Cherry Vinegar, Chocolate Shortbread, and Chocolate Tart Shells. The shortbread is ground to a fine crumb for this tart, but I had the thought that I could make that part of the recipe. So I made the Chocolate Shortbread and I kept the cookies whole. They were delicious.

But that is not why you should buy this cookbook. But if you collect cookbooks, like reading cookbooks, or just want a coffee table book with drool-worthy pictures, buy it. (Click on the picture of the cover at the top of this page and I’ll even earn a couple of cents.)

The book is divided into four sections; The Growers, The Artisans, The Wilds, and Materia Prima. Each section features recipes that highlight that aspect of the Restaurant at Meadowood, as well as lovely essays explaining each section, Chef Kostow’s philosophy and his passions and they way he expresses them through his food.

The growers, as you may suspect, are the local farmers and a fascinating look at modern family farming today. The Artisans include a local potter who makes the dishes for the restaurant; some recipes inspire the potter, and the potter inspires some recipes – a symbiotic relationship, if you will. The Wilds are all about foraging, something Chef Kostow originally resisted as too trendy or precious, but has added a new dimension to the restaurant. Materia Prima is the food grown locally, or as Chef Kostow puts it, “What can we do that no one else can do…owing to our place in the world that others cannot because they are not here.”

The photographs by Peden+Munk are worth the price of admission alone. Every recipe is photographed in simple yet spectacular fashion and printed on heavy, beautiful paper. It is truly a cookbook to be savored and treasured. Plus I just loved reading this book.

9/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

A NEW NAPA CUISINE by Christopher Kostow. Ten Speed Press; First Edition edition (October 14, 2014). ISBN 978-1607745945. 304p.

Comments Off on A NEW NAPA CUISINE by Christopher Kostow | Book Reviews, Cookbook, Nonfiction | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

THIS HEART OF MINE by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

September 11, 2015

Click to purchase

Chicago Stars Book 5

I don’t know why but I generally just don’t care for the covers of Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ books, and this one is no exception. But I was looking for a fast read and I love her books and somehow missed this one so I went for it. Turns out this was her first hardcover book, although now it is available in paperback and eBook, which is how I read it.

The Chicago Stars are a fictional football team owned by Phoebe Calebow and run by her husband Dan. Phoebe inherited the team from her father and the rest of his 15 million dollar estate went to her younger sister Molly. After going on a shopping spree, Molly decided she didn’t like the life of the idle rich and gave away all her money, turning her hand to writing children’s books to make her living.

Molly is barely making ends meet but she’s happy until her publisher informs her they want some changes in her latest book due to political pressure. She decides to go off to the family cabin to console herself but is surprised to find Chicago Stars quarterback Kevin Tucker already there. Molly’s had a crush on him for a while and does something rather shocking, then has to live with the consequences. Molly is pregnant and Tucker, the son of a minister, does the obligatory thing and marries her.

Things don’t turn out as she planned but then what would the fun be in that. Kevin and Molly have a lot of ups and downs as they work towards an annulment and then a divorce, except that there has to be a happy ending and there is.

Phillips’ trademark humor is here as are her hot sex scenes, including some with a (gasp!) middle aged couple. I loved these characters and couldn’t help rooting for all of them. This is another charmer from the queen of contemporary romance. Now I have to go back and see if I missed any other books in this series!

9/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THIS HEART OF MINE by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Avon (February 5, 2002). ISBN 978-0380808083. 420p.

Comments Off on THIS HEART OF MINE by Susan Elizabeth Phillips | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

MAKE ME by Lee Child

September 8, 2015

Click to purchase

Jack Reacher, Book 20

When I review a new Jack Reacher book, it often feels like I will run out of superlatives or lapse into another review that sounds much like the one before it. But really, it’s not my fault if Child keeps pumping out series books that get better every time – especially considering that he started out with a winner. A lot of series get stale or repetitive but somehow Child manages to not only keep things fresh, but bring fresh perspectives to a character that readers feel they already know so well.

Make Me is a bit darker than the previous books, but that darkness is offset by a romance. Yes, you read that correctly. Now read on.

As is his wont, Reacher is riding the rails, but gets off in a small Oklahoma town called Mother’s Rest because he is simply curious about the name. A woman sees him and scurries over, then realizes he is not the man she is seeking. Tom Cruise aside, his sheer size makes him easily discernible from most mortal men so that also arouses his curiosity.

But his curiosity is not to be slaked. While he asks around town for the meaning of the name, no one will tell him. Mother’s Rest is a tiny town miles from anything but wheat fields, and it just feels wrong to Reacher that no one seems to know.

The woman, Michelle Chang, is a bit more forthcoming. She is a private investigator who can’t find her partner. Reacher decides to help her look, and that leads them both into danger as well as into research into the Deep Web. Their search takes them to Illinois, Arizona and California, and their mutual attraction leads to the usual, only this time, with longer lasting results.

This is a dark and twisty story as only Lee Child can tell it, and I stayed up late into the night to finish it. Another winner from the master.

9/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MAKE ME by Lee Child. Delacorte Press (September 8, 2015). ISBN 978-0804178778. 416p.

Kindle

Comments Off on MAKE ME by Lee Child | Book Reviews, Crime Fiction, Fiction | Tagged: Thriller | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

THE BEST HORROR OF THE YEAR, ed. by Ellen Datlow

September 5, 2015

Click to purchase

Volume 7

Once again Ellen Datlow has culled through the past year’s mass of horror shorts and novellas to put together a collection of some of the best highlights for genre fans.

Datlow not only has great taste, but with these “best of” anthologies she’s essentially offering readers a snapshot of the year’s releases. The chosen tales are narrowed down from multi-author anthologies, single author collections, magazines, online publications, and any other place that might have featured horror shorts for the previous year. What’s more, Datlow also takes the time to list additional readings of note including shorts that didn’t quite make the cut (because there are such a plethora to have to choose from), genre novels, award winners, etc from the calendar year.

This year’s twenty-two tale selection runs the gamut of horror with tales inspired by Lovecraft (Brian Evenson’s “Past Reno” and Livia Llewellyn’s “Allochton” were both originally part of the Letters to Lovecraft anthology edited by Jesse Bullington), a sin eater (Genevieve Valentine’s “A Dweller in Amenty”), vengeance from beyond the grave (Laird Barron’s “The Worms Crawl In”), and of course a couple of tales of the apocalypse as well, just to mention a few.

Some of my own favorites this time around include Garth Nix’s “Shay Corsham Worsted” and Keris McDonald’s “The Coat Off His Back,” both of which center around some quite historic criminals, the abovementioned “Past Reno,” and Angela Slatter’s revenge tale “Winter Children.”

Here’s the full table of contents:

The Atlas of Hell by Nathan Ballingrud

Winter Children by Angela Slatter

A Dweller in Amenty by Genevieve Valentine

Outside Heavenly by Rio Youers

Shay Corsham Worsted by Garth Nix

Allochton by Livia Llewllyn

Chapter Six by Stephen Graham Jones

This is Not for You by Gemma Files

Interstate Love Song (Murder Ballad No. 8) by Caitlin R. Kiernan

The Culvert by Dale Bailey

Past Reno by Brian Evenson

The Coat off His Back by Keris McDonald

The Worms Crawl In by Laird Barron

The Dog’s Home by Alison Littlewood

Tread Upon the Brittle Shell by Rhoads Brazos

Persistence of Vision by Orrin Grey

It Flows From the Mouth by Robert Shearman

Wingless Beasts by Lucy Taylor

Departures by Carole Johnstone

Ymir by John Langan

Plink by Kurt Dinan

Nigredo by Cody Goodfellow

9/15 Becky LeJeune

THE BEST HORROR OF THE YEAR 7, ed. by Ellen Datlow. Night Shade Books (August 18, 2015). ISBN 978-1597808293. 368p.

Kindle

1 Comment | Book Reviews, Fiction, Horror | Tagged: Historical, Paranormal | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

ABANDON by Blake Crouch

September 4, 2015

Click to purchase

Blake Crouch is noted for his many suspenseful novels and most recently Wayward Pines, which was made into a successful television series. Abandon is the name of a small midwestern town that saw its entire population suddenly disappear on Christmas day, 1893. No trace was ever found of any of these people and their houses were found with food on the tables, personal belonging in place, no messages left and no answers to what had happened.

A history professor in present times hires two guides and enlists the aid of his estranged journalist daughter to try and find out what did happen to the people of Abandon. They travel to the town and begin attempting to find answers.

Crouch sets up a scenario in which events are described back and forth between 1893 and the present day search. The reader is introduced to the two sets of characters, their motivations and finally what happened by rapidly changing the scene from one group to the other. The differences between the professor and his daughter, Abigail, are part and parcel of the novel with a logical making up between the two as the search goes on.

The book is suspenseful, but not otherworldly as was Wayward Pines. The plot development and the method of using both sets of events, 1893 and the present day, keeps the reader glued to the book and anxiously awaiting the next steps in both periods. Very well done.

9/15 Paul Lane

ABANDON by Blake Crouch. Thomas & Mercer; Reissue edition (September 1, 2015). ISBN: 978-1503946194. 529p.

Comments Off on ABANDON by Blake Crouch | Book Reviews, Crime Fiction | Tagged: Mystery | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

CHASING JUSTICE by H. Terrell Griffin

September 3, 2015

Click to purchase

Matt Royal is a retired attorney and self proclaimed beach bum, enjoying his comfortable life on Longboat Key off the west coast of Florida, except he comes out of retirement for each book – and this is the ninth – of the series.

This time the police chief’s wife, Abby Lester, is accused of murder. The best way to keep Abby out of jail would be to find the real killer, so Royal hires an investigator to help out. The evidence is shaky at best; a wine glass found bedside with Abbey’s fingerprints on it, and a series of emails, supposedly signed by Abby, sent to the victim, including one on his last day on earth threatening to kill him, except the emails weren’t sent from her computer, and her fingerprints are nowhere else in the apartment.

Royal’s detective girlfriend is working on a different murder case, but you don’t have to be a detective to realize these two murders are related somehow. Royal stumbles through the case, leaping over every hurdle thrown his way until the foregone conclusion. A comfortable, if not exciting read for legal thriller fans.

9/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

CHASING JUSTICE by H. Terrell Griffin. Oceanview Publishing (September 1, 2015). ISBN 978-1608091416. 384p.

Comments Off on CHASING JUSTICE by H. Terrell Griffin | Book Reviews, Crime Fiction, Fiction | Tagged: Florida, Legal | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi