Etta and Otto and Russell and James - Emma Hooper

I've gone. I've never seen the water, so I've gone there. I will try to remember to come back.'

Etta's greatest unfulfilled wish, living in the rolling farmland of Saskatchewan, is to see the sea. And so, at the age of eighty-two, she gets up very early one morning, takes a rifle, some chocolate and her best boots, and begins walking the 2,000 miles to the water. 

But Etta is starting to forget things. Her husband, Otto, remembers everything, and he loves her: surely they can balance things out?

Their neighbour Russell remembers too, but differently - and he still loves Etta as much as he did more than fifty years ago, before she married Otto.

Rocking back and forth with the pull of the waves, Etta and Otto and Russell and James moves from the present of a too-quiet-for-too-long Canadian farm to a dusty past of hunger, war, passion and hope, from trying to remember to trying to forget as, from prairie to forest to mountain to sand, Etta walks. 

My thoughts:

I like this kind of fiction. Time moves slower, the prose is different. It's even jumpy at times. But I need it in my book diet.

But sure it took some getting used to when there were no quotations marks when someone spoke. It's like no one ever spoke in a way. A silent book, that I read fast because the writing was good.

Etta is over 80 and decides she wants to see the ocean so she packs her things and walks. Otto her husband misses her but tries to cook and bake by himself for once. Their neighbor Russel worries for her, and James is a coyote that she becomes friends with.

In between the walking, and Otto trying to cope, there are passages from the past. Otto growing up, meeting Russell. Etta growing up, and meeting them both. Their life in the village, and then the war coming. I did like the images from the past. But I also liked the present, Otto was interesting.

The end was, honestly I am not sure what happened. Was I supposed to figure it out? Or make my own? Or nothing happened? Beats me.

Conclusion;

A good book. 

cover

I did not see the people at first

Paperback, 281 pages
Published January 29th 2015 by Penguin
Fiction / Historical fiction
Own

Review and Giveaway: Love by the book - Melissa Pimentel

An American living in London, Lauren is intelligent, beautiful and loves to party. So why can't she convince a man she isn't after something more serious than scrambled eggs and goodbye in the morning?

Determined to snare some regular male affection, she embarks on a project: each month she will follow the rules of a different dating guide - from refusing to pay the bill to chatting up every man in her path - and will switch seamlessly to the next book at the end of each month. 

Lauren's love life is about to get scientific . . 

My thoughts:

I have missed the more chic-lit kind of fiction. It's always so funny, cute, weird, and embarrassing.

Lauren is an American in London. She has a failed relationship behind her and she it not looking for anything big. Just a bit of fun. But man, guys are so serious and run if they think you want more. She was fun and we could totally have been friends. And that is all I want from my main character.

But right, the story. So after the latest guy runs out she decides on this experiment. To read relationship guides and follow them for a month at a time. Yes hilarious. Because some of those, ha. She follows one made for men, one written in the 19th century. Those poor guys (if she dates them for more than one month) must think she is schizophrenic. 

At the sidelines is her roommate, her on and off guy, and a few other minor parts. This is after all about her and the men she finds one way or another. That last way, ok, do not follow any more guides is all I have to say.

Conclusion:
Funny, and the kind of books that is just so light that the pages move on their own. Just what I needed. And hey it even has a happy ending for everyone. 

Cover

Nice

Paperback, 336 pages
Expected publication: February 3rd 2015 by Penguin Books
original title: Age, Sex, Location
Fiction
For review

Giveaway

1 copy of Love by the book, + wine charms

1. US only

2. Ends Feb 7th

3. Just comment  :)

Covenant's End - Ari Marmell

The thief Widdershins and her own "personal god," Olgun, return to their home city of Davillon after almost a year away. While Shins expects only to face the difficulty of making up with her friends, what she actually finds is far, far worse. Her nemesis, Lisette, has returned, and she is not alone. Lisette has made a dark pact with supernatural powers that have granted her abilities far greater than anything Widdershins and Olgun can match. 

Together, Widdershins and Olgun will face enemies on both sides of the law, for Lisette's schemes have given her power in both Davillon's government and its underworld. For even a slim chance, Shins must call on both old friends--some of whom haven't yet forgiven her--and new allies. 

Even with their help, Widdershins may be required to make the hardest sacrifice of her life, if she is to rid Davillon--and herself--of Lisette once and for all. 

Hardcover, 250 pages
Expected publication: February 3rd 2015 by Pyr
Widdershins Adventures #4
YA / Fantasy
For review

My thoughts:

The end, that is always sad. But a good series has to end sometime. And better it end good, then go on and on...

Widdershin is back in the city she left. Old friends are happy, and angry to see her. Old enemies want her dead. Well Lisette wants her dead, and Lisette is such a B.

The city is in trouble in this one. Monsters outside, thieves killing and robbing inside. The noble Houses are fighting. The police are patrolling and everyone is on edge. Not to mention she is on their bad list.

Widdershins kicks ass as always, but she is not indestructible and she does get hurt too. She has bad enemies, and not even Olgun can help her. Awww Olgun, I think I like him most of all. Our favorite God who talks to her as she is his only follower and if she dies, then no one will remember him. Olgun never says anything, but it's not needed, she talks to him and it's like I hear him too.

Conclusion:

A book with a bang to end this series. Though...I want more! Yes it ended, it ended well. Everything fixed but but, I'd like more! Like what is she up to after 10 years? No good, I presume, or maybe all good. See I am curious :) I do want more.

cover

Good

Carole's Sunday: The blood of the fifth knight - EM Powell

Author: EM Powell

Title: The Blood of the Fifth Knight

Genre: Historical Fiction & mystery

Pages: ebook

First Published: Janurary 2015

Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me for my honest and unbiased opinion by the author/publisher)

England, 1176. King Henry II has imprisoned his rebellious Queen for attempting to overthrow him. But with her conspirators still at large and a failed assassination attempt on his beautiful mistress, Rosamund Clifford, the King must take action to preserve his reign.

Desperate, Henry turns to the only man he trusts: a man whose skills have saved him once before. Sir Benedict Palmer answers the call, mistakenly believing that his family will remain safe while he attends to his King.

As Palmer races to secure the throne for the King, neither man senses the hand of a brilliant schemer, a mystery figure loyal to Henry’s traitorous Queen who will stop at nothing to see the King defeated.

It was nice to read a different POV during this time period. 8 out of 10 books are set in Eleanor's POV; which I adore her to bits, but it was a nice change. That is why I picked this book up! Not only are there parts with Henry's POV, but there are a few side characters that get their say as well. It was nice and done in a way that I never got confused who was talking. So yayy! 

The book started a little slow, it was actiony, but slow since it was in Henry's POV mainly. I don't like Henry at all. He is a snotball. However, it was fun to read his thoughts and views on his wife. The books begins with Henry's little penance after murdering an archbishop (which according to Palmer and Theodosia said he didn't do it - so he is such a hero for taking the blame. Meh). From there the story gets juicy...someone is trying to kill Henry's mistress and so Henry has summoned a great knight, Palmer. Henry trusts this Palmer guy because he is married to his bastard daughter, Theodosia. Was she real? How do you say her name? Hmmmm.

Now, the only thing I thought was super, duper silly was the fact that Theodosia is a royal bastard child who was recognized and accepted by Henry (he even adores her), however, they are living in secret. Okay, totally get it. They fear Eleanor will see them as a threat to her throne, but they are living as peasants. What? They barely have enough to eat. What? C'mon. Henry would just hid them in a nunnery or whatever like he did Amelie. Super silly. 

ANYWAYS.

This was a fun adventure, I pretty much guessed who was the assassin right off the bat. Granted, at one point the author gives the assassin's POV, but they are hiding and you don't know who they are pretending to be. However, its one of my talents to guess who is the murder or whatever. ;) There was ONE part that through me for a loop and I did not expect it. I cannot say, but dammit...the author got me. hahaha. It upset me that this person was working for Eleanor. Oh well.

Even though I am team Eleanor, I was kinda sorta rooting for Palmer 0.0. I know, I know, I am a traitor, but I liked him! I wish he was on the Queen's team fighting for her and the boys. 

The ending was pretty good. It was perfect, in my opinion. 

In the end, this was a fun adventure. After the first couple of chapters, the story got really good and I could NOT put it down. I loved the side characters like Palmer, they made the story. I do not like Henry still, but it was a nice change to see other POVs besides for the Queen. Love her, but its a nice shake-up. I shall stamp this with...mmmm...4 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Palmer, Theodosia, & Eleanor (of course - even though she really didn't have any spotlight...she was mentioned in passing and a portrait).

Not-so Favorite Character(s): Henry & Joan (tsk)