Book Review: Emma’s Secret

Katie July 22, 2013 0 Comments

Emma’s Secret is the sequel to Finding Emma which I reviewed last year. (I also reviewed Dear Jack which is a novella that goes along with the series)  After Emma is stolen by Dottie and living with her and her husband Jack for 2 years, she is returned home in Emma’s Secret.  Her mom, Megan, is finding it hard to adjust and is incredibly overprotective.  Her middle daughter, Alexis is feeling ignored and like her mother doesn’t care about her. Hannah, the oldest daughter, feels guilty about Emma’s disappearance and tries to keep an eye on Emma at all times.  Megan and Peter are still trying to mend their relationship and Megan is still having doubts on whether or not he is cheating on her with his business partner.

Peter is keeping a few secrets from Megan – he isn’t cheating but he is taking Emma to see her “Papa” at the donut shop and has asked the police to drop the retraining order.  Emma misses her Papa and Peter realizes that this is good for her in helping her move on and not be so withdrawn at home.  But he doesn’t want to tell Megan because of how she will probably react.

Meanwhile, Megan’s BFF is dating the detective who was on Emma’s case that Megan feels close to.  She didn’t even tell her about it – Megan happened to show up at her home to find them kissing which made things worse.

I think this book brought a lot of closure to the story and the characters that I had grown to love in the earlier novel. It tied up a lot of loose ends and I think it ended in the best way possible.  If you read Finding Emma then you definitely need to read Emma’s Secret to see how everything concludes.

I received a free copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

For two years, Megan, Peter and their two older daughters, Alexis and Hannah, dream of nothing but being reunited with the family’s youngest child, Emma, who was kidnapped just before her third birthday. When Emma is miraculously found living with an elderly couple just miles from the family’s home, they are hopeful that her return will heal the wounds her disappearance created.

But Emma is vastly different from the sunny toddler they remember. She barely remembers her parents or her older sisters. She is quiet and withdrawn, and, worst of all, longs for the very people who kidnapped her.

Megan is consumed with bitterness, while Peter works later and later nights in the company of his gorgeous business partner. And in the middle of everything, Megan’s best friend has become suddenly distant and secretive.

Then a chance encounter in town leads to a secret that changes everything again for Emma. And Peter must decide between the happiness of his youngest daughter and the trust of his family.

STEENA HOLMES grew up in a small town in Canada and holds a bachelor’s degree in Theology. She is the author of two previous novels, Chocolate Reality and Finding Emma. In 2012, she received the Indie Excellence Award. Holmes enjoys writing stories other mothers of young children can relate to. She currently lives in Calgary with her husband and three daughters and loves to wake up to the Rocky Mountains each morning.

Book Review: Monumental Money

Katie July 21, 2013 0 Comments

 This book is awesome. It is only about 77 pages but it has photos of all the money that is in circulation and the different looks to it and it also gives you some history on the currency as well. But really I just like it because it’s pictures of lots and lots of money.  There’s only 1 $1 bill design in circulation, but there are 3 for $5s, $10s and $20s, $50s and $100s. (And 1 for $2 bills)  Kind of interesting.  But that’s because they haven’t gone and made colorful $1 bills yet.

Super interesting read for anyone who likes money. And that is just about everyone now isn’t it?

I received a free e-copy of this book to review from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

A unique, colorful, and fascinating journey in history through U.S. paper currency from Colonial times to the present day. It gives a brief review of the history of the U.S. monetary system, covering all banknotes that have been in use, including high-denomination notes no longer in circulation. It includes all banknotes in circulation today, those withdrawn as newer designs replaced them, color photographs and brief descriptions of the people and sites depicted on each note.

Book Review: Eric Clapton Day by Day

Katie July 20, 2013 0 Comments

Eric Clapton – Day By Day is another biography about Eric Clapton, but this book focuses on the early years – 1963-1982.  For the most part, each of the years represented in the book are their own chapter.  But there are also some additional chapters as well that focus a but more on recording sessions and go in to a bit more details on things.

The book is done kind of like a calendar – with summaries of some months as well as setlists from shows, dates he was on tour, etc.  It is a really fascinating compilation of details about Clapton – something that could probably easily be put together about a more modern band with the assistance of the internet and social media – but a lot of this information is not as abundant out there from the 60s-80s!  I must commend the author for all of the research, I can only imagine how much time that must have taken because the book is quite detailed! There are ad photos, tickets, etc. Kind of like a calendar mixed with a scrapbook.  So much content!

This book is volume 1 – and I am looking forward to checking out future volumes as well and perhaps even day by day of some other artists too! (Although, that might be a huge undertaking to all be done by the same author!)

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

Eric Clapton, Day by Day presents Clapton’s professional life in music in a day-by-day format, giving details of which bands he joined and left, all recordings made – both released and unreleased – as well as guest appearances he made on other artists’ records, and concert tours.

Based on years of extensive research from around the globe and interviews with musicians, film directors, producers, and studio engineers, Roberty covers every detail of Clapton’s live and studio work in this detailed biography.

Volume 1 covers Clapton’s early years, offering an insight into how this artist slowly found his own musical identity. Volume 2, to be published in the fall of 2013, will continue the story, covering Clapton’s comeback after problematic years of drug and alcohol abuse, and his going on to become one of the world’s most respected and admired musicians.

With Eric Clapton’s 50th anniversary in the music business approaching in 2013, now is the perfect time for this comprehensive biography.

Book Review: Heartbeat

Katie July 17, 2013 1 Comments

This book.  I’m not sure what to say about it, exactly.  It really messed with me!  It starts with Katie and her grandmother getting in a car accident.  Obviously that hit a little close to home since I am also Katie and dealing with car accident aftermath.  Katie is very close with her grandmother and lives with her and her father.  Her father is well… not the nicest guy.

Adam is the ambulance driver who comes to the scene and takes Katie’s grandmother to the hospital after the accident.  Katie rides with him in the front seat and there is instantly a connection.  Neither can stop thinking about the other and Adam breaks all the rules by getting her number off the charts but both are too scared to really make a move due to being screwed up by the opposite sex in the past.  Katie had a bad experience at a bar and Adam’s ex broke his heart and led to him moving away across the country.

Will the two meet up again?  The chapters alternate between Katie and Adam which I thought was a nice touch and really helped you find out more about each of them.

The book is relatively short, under 200 pages and I had no problem reading it in an evening and perhaps becoming a little bit obsessed with it. (I couldn’t go to bed until I found out if their paths crossed again!)

And then it ended.  And I was not happy.  I even made nasty posts about it ending on Twitter AND Facebook which I hardly ever do (twitter, yes. Facebook, not so much.) about how I had to re-read the last couple of chapters to see if it would end the same way and I didn’t like the ending at all. I didn’t know what to think. I don’t want to say more than that.  But I did read a write up from the author on Good Reads (check it out here) and I have to say, my reaction was pretty much what the author intended so I have to say the book was a home run, a grand slam even. Even if I am not happy about it! haha

If you are looking for a quick summer read (that is set in the winter to help you feel a bit cooler!) then I definitely think you should check out Heartbeat… but don’t say I didn’t warn ya!

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book