The Time Mom Met Hitler, Frost Came to Dinner, and I Heard the Greatest Story Ever Told: A Memoir by Dikkon Eberhardt

Synopsis: He was predestined for literary greatness. If only his father hadn’t used up all the words.

As the son of the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet laureate Richard Eberhart, Dikkon Eberhart grew up surrounded by literary giants. Frequent dinner guests included, among others, Robert Frost, Dylan Thomas, Allen Ginsberg, W. H. Auden, T. S. Eliot, and Sylvia Plath. To the world, they were literary icons. To Dikkon, they were friends who read him bedtime stories, gave him advice, and, on one particularly memorable occasion, helped him with his English homework.

Anxious to escape his famous father's shadow, Dikkon struggled for decades to forge an identity of his own, first in writing and then on the stage, before inadvertently stumbling upon the answer he'd been looking for all along--in the most unlikely of places.Filled with unforgettable stories featuring some of the most colorful characters of the Beat Generation, "The Time Mom Met Hitler, Frost Came to Dinner, and I Heard the Greatest Story Ever Told" is a winsome coming-of-age story about one man's search for identity and what happens when he finally finds it.

My review: I loved reading about the author's interactions with various poets who have long been special to me. As a poet myself, I grew up reading a lot of their work, and being inspired by them. To get to see a little more "human" side of them was fascinating. 

It was sad to read how Dikkon, surrounded by all these famous people, as well as his own family, often felt lonely as a child--almost unseen by his parents at times. Some of those stories definitely tug at the heartstrings.

I could also relate to his spiritual search, as I spent many years of my life on that same type of journey. Reading his joy and excitement at finding his answers was one of the high points of the book.

The title and cover of the book were what originally enticed me, but the story inside is what drew me in and kept me reading to the end. If you're a fan of poets and the literary world, this is the book for you.

My rating: Five stars

BOOK TOUR: The Road Home (The Letter Series Book 2) by Kathleen Shoop

NEW RELEASE....
Find your way home...

1891—Living separately for three years, fourteen-year-old twins, Katherine and Tommy Arthur, have done their best to make each boarding house feel like home. But unrest grows as they are driven to questionable actions just to survive. Meanwhile their desperate mother is confronted with breaking yet another promise to her children. Then a miracle descends. Hope rises on a cold, rainy night and changes everything. If Jeanie could just get word to Katherine and Tommy, she knows she can set their lives right again. Agitators, angels, and dangerous “saviors” illuminate the Arthurs’ unmatched determination and smarts.

1905—Though she tries to forget the awful years that hurt so much, the memories still haunt Katherine. Now, tearful mourners at her mother’s funeral force her to revisit a time in her life that both harmed and saved her in the most unexpected ways. Tommy grieves his mother’s passing as well. He too is thrust backward, compelled to rediscover the events in his life that shaped the man he has become. Will he commit to reconstructing his broken life? The Arthurs come to understand that forgiveness is the only way back to hope, the only way to find all that was good in the misfortune that transformed their lives forever.

Book available to buy from the following sites...

Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble   Kobo   iBooks

My review: It took me a while to get used to the idea that chapters went back and forth between characters and between time periods--sometimes I had to go back to a previous chapter to get the thread of the story again.  Since this is the second book in the series, and I didn't read the first, I wonder if I might have had more of a connection by reading the original first.

In spite of that, the stories of the children and their mother over the years are very well written. Some of the situations described are heartbreaking--and yet they all find the strength and courage to make it through. I'm extremely grateful that women no longer have to face the trials that Jeanie went through,

The story shows that forgiveness of a family member can be a slow painful process. It's a very realistic story of life in that era, and it's definitely a tear-jerker. 

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

My rating: Four stars

"Kathleen Shoop has woven a story that crosses over several years with events that define lives. Katherine and Tommy are two characters that will stand out in my mind for a long time. The way the story blends back and forth between the two time periods is seamless and enjoyable, slowly painting a whole picture for the reader to see. I have not read the first book in this series, but I honestly feel that this one stands alone beautifully. You will take a journey with these characters that will evoke emotions and entertain you. This is my favorite kind of historical fiction; emotional and fun at the same time. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves a great book." 
Reviewed By Kathryn Bennett for Readers’ Favorite- 5 stars!

"I loved this riveting tale of hope and redemption. The Road Home comes to life with gorgeous imagery and a setting that eased me seamlessly and beautifully back and forth in time. Each character stood out, coaxing me into her story, making me want more. With the turn of every page there’s a revelation, something hidden or something wonderful and unexpected. The Road Home is a must-read for any book lover and a perfect follow-up to The Last Letter." 
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Melissa Foster

Letter Series Book 1 - The Last Letter

A Father’s Deceit

A Husband’s Betrayal

A Loved One’s Death

A Mother’s Choice

A Daughter’s Resentment

A Time to Forgive

For every daughter who thinks she knows her mother’s story…

Katherine wouldn’t have believed it if she hadn’t found the last letter…

Katherine Arthur’s dying mother arrives on her doorstep, forcing her to relive a past she wanted to forget. When Katherine was young, the Arthur family had been affluent city dwellers until shame sent them running for the prairie, into the unknown. Taking her family, including young Katherine, to live off the land was the last thing Jeanie Arthur had wanted, but she would do her best to make a go of it. For Jeanie’s husband Frank it had been a world of opportunity. Dreaming, lazy Frank. But, it was a society of uncertainty — a domain of natural disasters, temptation, hatred, even death.

Ten-year-old Katherine had loved her mother fiercely, put her trust in her completely, but when there was no other choice, and Jeanie resorted to extreme measures on the prairie to save her family, she tore Katherine’s world apart. Now, seventeen years later, Katherine has found the truth — she has discovered the last letter. After years of anger, can Katherine find it in her heart to understand why her mother made the decisions that changed them all? Can she forgive and finally begin to heal before it’s too late?

Book available to buy from.......

Amazon.co.uk    Amazon.com    Barnes and Noble   Kobo   iBooks

About Kathleen Shoop

I have a PhD in Reading Education and have worked in schools for over twenty years. I work with teachers and their students in grades k-8 and am lucky to learn something new from them every time I walk through their doors. This experience was a huge help in writing LOVE AND OTHER SUBJECTS--a quirky, post-college coming of age story with a splash of fun romance.

My first novel, The Last Letter (2011 IPPY Gold Medal--Regional Fiction, Midwest, 2011 Indie Excellence Finalist Award for Historical Fiction and Regional Fiction, 2011 International Book Awards Finalist for Historical Fiction and Best New Fiction), was a fascinating trip through history, punctuated with fictional characters and events. The idea for the story grew from my great-great grandmother's letters (see My Dear Frank for the complete set of letters!) written during the year of her engagement to Frank Arthur. The beautiful letters are the inspiration for the novel, the seed from which The Last Letter's characters and their voices grew.

I've also written women's fiction--LOVE AND OTHER SUBJECTS-- and have written another historical fiction novel, AFTER THE FOG, set in 1948 in Donora, PA. AFTER THE FOG is also an award winning book--A finalist in the Eric Hoffer Book Awards, a silver IPPY and WINNER in the literary category of the National Indie Excellence Awards.

I adore writing historical fiction (The Letter series, After the Fog) but am having a blast writing romance like Home Again and Return to Love (Endless Love series) Thank you so much for the time you take to read.

Follow the author on the following sites...

Website   Facebook   Twitter   Pinterest   Google+   Goodreads   Amazon

Follow the tour

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY !!

Win $15 Amazon.com Giftcard - 3 Winners!!

Ending on Sunday 8th August at 11.59pm EST

Open Worldwide

Enter Below & Good Luck !!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

What I read last week:
1) Summer Secrets by Jane Green
2) A Cat To Die For by Maria Grazia Swan
3) Much Ado About Felines by Kathi Daley
4) The Road Home by Kathleen Shoop
5) Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee
6) My Spouse Wants More Sex Than Me by Ruxandra LeMay
7) A Different Kind Of Same by Kelley Click
8) Murder In The Paperback Parlor by Ellery Adams

What I listened to last week:
1) The Status Of All Things by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke
2) The Escape Artist by Diane Chamberlain

What I'm currently reading:
1) Fire Season by Hollye Dexter
2) The Time Mom Met Hitler, Frost Came To Dinner, And I Heard The Greatest Story Ever Told by Dikkon Eberhart
3) Chef Maurice And The Wrath Of Grapes by J.A. Lang

What I'm currently listening to:
1) The New Neighbor by Leah Stewart

What I plan to read this week:
1) Veils and Vengeance by Rachelle Christensen
2) The White River Killer by Stephen Wilson
3) Maybe In Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
4) A First Date With Death by Diana Orgain

What I plan to listen to this week:
1) The Dress Lodger by Sherri Holman

BOOKSPARKS SUMMER READING CHALLENGE: Summer Secrets by Jane Green

Destination: Cross the pond to London.

Synopsis: June, 1998: At twenty seven, Catherine Coombs, also known as Cat, is struggling. She lives in London, works as a journalist, and parties hard. Her lunchtimes consist of several glasses of wine at the bar downstairs in the office, her evenings much the same, swigging the free booze and eating the free food at a different launch or party every night. When she discovers the identity of the father she never knew she had, it sends her into a spiral. She makes mistakes that cost her the budding friendship of the only women who have ever welcomed her. And nothing is ever the same after that.

June, 2014: Cat has finally come to the end of herself. She no longer drinks. She wants to make amends to those she has hurt. Her quest takes her to Nantucket, to the gorgeous summer community where the women she once called family still live. Despite her sins, will they welcome her again? What Cat doesn’t realize is that these women, her real father’s daughters, have secrets of their own. As the past collides with the present, Cat must confront the darkest things in her own life and uncover the depths of someone’s need for revenge.

My review: A fascinating page-turner, this novel shares a look into the world of an alcoholic. The novel starts with Cat refusing to admit she has a problem, at least until she finds herself in a situation that is definitely her "rock bottom." From there, we see Cat in recovery. Not only are there descriptions of AA meetings, but we also get to see Cat working through the twelve steps. Much of it deals with Cat's work on the ninth step, making amends, specifically with her half-sisters.

All of the characters are very well-developed, and the settings are exquisitely described. It's a great summer read if you are looking for a family drama with life lessons for everyone. 

**I received a copy of this book from BookSparks as part of the Summer Reading Challenge, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.**

My rating: Five stars

About the author

Jane Green's fifteenth novel, Tempting Fate, is soon to be released; she is the author of fourteen previous New York Times Bestselling novels. Initially known for writing about single thirty-somethings, she has gone on to write mature stories about real wo

A former feature writer for the Daily Express in the UK, Green took a leap in faith when she left, in 1996, to freelance and work on a novel. Seven months later, there was a bidding war for her first book, Straight Talking, the saga of a single career girl looking for the right man. The novel was an immediate top-ten bestseller in England, and Green was an overnight success.

Now in her forties, Green has graduated to more complex, character-driven novels that explore the concerns of real women's lives, from marriage (The Other Woman) to motherhood (Another Piece of My Heart) to divorce, stepchildren, affairs, and most recently, midlife crises (Family Pictures and Tempting Fate).

She joined the ABC News team to write A Modern Fairytale - their first enhanced digital book - about the history of Royal marriages, then joined ABC News Radio as a live correspondent covering Prince William's wedding to Kate Middleton. She has written a micro-series for Dove starring Alicia Keyes, many short stories, and has contributed to various anthologies, as well as regularly appearing on television shows including Good Morning America, The Martha Stewart show, and The Today Show.

Together with writing books and blogs, she contributes to various publications, both online and print, including Huffington Post, The Sunday Times, Cosmopolitan and Self, has taught at writers conferences, and does regular keynote speaking.

A foodie and passionate cook, Green filled one of her books, Promises to Keep, with recipes culled from her own collection. She says she only cooks food that is “incredibly easy, but has to look as if you have slaved over a hot stove for hours.” This is because she has six children, and has realised that “when you have six children, nobody ever invites you anywhere.”

Most weekends see her cooking for a minimum of twenty people in her home in Westport, Connecticut, where she lives with her husband and their blended family. When she is not writing, cooking, gardening, filling her house with friends and herding chickens, she is usually thanking the Lord for caffeine-filled energy drinks.

RELEASE DAY BLITZ: What Happens In Cornwall by T.A. Williams

Book Information

Title: What Happens in Cornwall...

Author: T.A. Williams

Release Date: July 20, 2015

Genres: Chick Lit

Publisher: Carina UK

Summary

For a very British summer holiday…

When archaeologist Sam realises her relationship is as dead as the skeletons she’s exhuming, she knows it’s time to make a change. But with bills to pay her options are limited…until a discovery on Rock Island in Cornwall gives her a reason to escape…

Head to the Cornish coast!

In Cornwall, questions are thrown up at every turn: who is the glamorous owner of Rock Island that the paparazzi are so interested in? How has the irresistible, but impossibly arrogant, history professor James Courtney managed to get so far under Sam’s skin? And will it ever stop raining so Sam can lose the cagoule and sip a cool drink in the sun? One thing’s for sure: there’s never been a holiday quite like this one!

Enjoy a summer of surprises and romance with What Happens in Cornwall…, the perfect retreat for fans of Fern Britton.

Goodreads Link

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25672068-what-happens-in-cornwall

Buy Links

Amazon US: http://amzn.com/B00YUTHNNY

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00YUTHNNY

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-happens-in-cornwall-t-a-williams/1122082544?ean=9781474036580

Author Biography

Firstly, my name isn't T A. It's Trevor. I write under the androgynous name T A Williams because 65% of books are read by women. In my first book, "Dirty Minds" one of the (female) characters suggests the imbalance is due to the fact that men spend too much time getting drunk and watching football. I couldn't possibly comment. Ask my wife...

I've written all sorts: thrillers, historical novels, short stories and now I'm enjoying myself hugely writing humour and romance. Romantic comedies are what we all need from time to time. Life isn’t always very fair. It isn’t always a lot of fun, but when it is, we need to embrace it. If my books can put a smile on your face and maybe give your heartstrings a tug, then I know I’ve done my job.

I‘ve lived all over Europe, but now I live in a little village in sleepy Devon, tucked away in southwest England. I love the place. That’s why you’ll find leafy lanes and thatched cottages in most of my books. Oh, yes, and a black Labrador.

I've been writing since I was 14 and that is half a century ago. However, underneath this bald, wrinkly exterior, there beats the heart of a youngster. My wife is convinced I will never grow up. I hope she's right.

Social Networking Links

Website: http://www.tawilliamsbooks.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrevorWilliamsBooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TAWilliamsBooks

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/GRTAWilliams

Amazon Author: http://www.amazon.com/T-A-Williams/e/B00FDVNVMA/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee

Synopsis: From Harper Lee comes a landmark new novel set two decades after her beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece, To Kill a Mockingbird.

Maycomb, Alabama. Twenty-six-year-old Jean Louise Finch - 'Scout' - returns home from New York City to visit her aging father, Atticus. Set against the backdrop of the civil rights tensions and political turmoil that were transforming the South, Jean Louise's homecoming turns bittersweet when she learns disturbing truths about her close-knit family, the town and the people dearest to her. Memories from her childhood flood back, and her values and assumptions are thrown into doubt. Featuring many of the iconic characters from To Kill a Mockingbird, Go Set a Watchman perfectly captures a young woman, and a world, in a painful yet necessary transition out of the illusions of the past - a journey that can be guided only by one's conscience.

Written in the mid-1950s, Go Set a Watchman imparts a fuller, richer understanding and appreciation of Harper Lee. Here is an unforgettable novel of wisdom, humanity, passion, humor and effortless precision - a profoundly affecting work of art that is both wonderfully evocative of another era and relevant to our own times. It not only confirms the enduring brilliance of To Kill a Mockingbird, but also serves as its essential companion, adding depth, context and new meaning to an American classic. 

My review: I've been waiting for this one since the day I heard it was going to be published. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my excitement.

To Kill A Mockingbird has always been one of my favorite novels, because of the way it battled racism and injustice. I've read it over and over, and never get tired of it. I don't think I'll be reading Go Set A Watchman more than this one time.

At the time of this story, Jean Louise (Scout) Finch is 26, and comes home to Maycomb County, Alabama from her new home in NYC. She finds things are different than she remembers them, particularly in terms of race relations. Worst of all is when she discovers her father and her boyfriend at a community council meeting where everyone appears to be spewing racial hate.

This book doesn't have the action of Mockingbird, and I didn't find myself attached to any of the characters. The characters seemed less developed and defined this time--if I'd read this one first, and then Mockingbird, I might have enjoyed it more.

The end of the story seemed just a little too predictable and rushed for my liking as well. I would have liked to see a little more time spent on Jean Louise working through her feelings.

My rating: Three stars

The Status Of All Things by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

Synopsis: What would you do if you could literally rewrite your fate—on Facebook? This heartwarming and hilarious new novel from the authors of Your Perfect Life follows a woman who discovers she can change her life through online status updates.

Kate is a thirty-five-year-old woman who is obsessed with social media. So when her fiancé, Max, breaks things off at their rehearsal dinner—to be with Kate’s close friend and coworker, no less—she goes straight to Facebook to share it with the world. But something’s changed. Suddenly, Kate’s real life starts to mirror whatever she writes in her Facebook status. With all the power at her fingertips, and heartbroken and confused over why Max left her, Kate goes back in time to rewrite their history.

Kate's two best friends, Jules and Liam, are the only ones who know the truth. In order to convince them she’s really time traveled, Kate offers to use her Facebook status to help improve their lives. But her attempts to help them don’t go exactly as planned, and every effort to get Max back seems to only backfire, causing Kate to wonder if it’s really possible to change her fate.

In The Status of All Things, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke combine the humor and heart of Sarah Pekkanen and Jennifer Weiner while exploring the pitfalls of posting your entire life on the Internet. They raise the questions: What if you could create your picture-perfect life? Would you be happy? Would you still be you? For anyone who’s ever attempted—or failed—to be their perfect self online, this is a story of wisdom and wit that will leave you with new appreciation for the true status of your life.

Review: This was a fun summer read (I seem to be enjoying a lot of magical realism this summer!). Kate discovers she is able to use her Facebook status to change her life and the lives of those close to her. As you can imagine, things don't always turn out the way she hopes, which leads to more wishes and more chaos.

Although I spent a lot of the book wanting to shake some sense into Kate, and tell her that changing herself to try to hold on the man who left her at the altar before she whisked herself back in time 30 days was just plain CRAZY, I was happy with the way the story played out. There is a lesson to be learned about social media vs. real life, the value of friends, and the importance of being true to yourself.

Rating: Five stars