Review of Only the Strongest Survive by Ian Fox

(This novel was provided to me by the author for review.)

The novel opens with a hair-tingling scene, as two men kidnap Emely Donnovan, one of the wealthiest women in America, and bury her alive. What is behind this horrific crime?

Raised in a strict religious institution, Emely never knew her parents. Fearing a life of poverty, she starts up a small business that deals mainly with buying and selling stocks. Thanks to her extreme dedication and knowledge, the company grows over time into a major conglomerate. In her desire for ever greater financial security, this beautiful, ambitious CEO has accumulated a number of enemies.

But now she finds herself locked in the basement of a remote house in the middle of a forest, watched over by one of her captors who makes her buy and sell stocks for him so he can get rich. Her challenge to survive becomes even more complicated when Emely’s captor falls in love with her …

My Review:

As the title suggests the heroine of the novel, Emely Donnovan, must be strong to survive the ordeal she is to go through. A tough-as-nails business woman who is used to getting her way in all things in regards to her business and personal life, she is about to undergo a horrific experience being kidnapped not for money, which she has plenty of, but for revenge involving being buried and left to die.

Mr. Fox amply delivers on the action in this novel. However, for me personally, the novel falls short because frankly I just didn’t care about the main character Emely Donnovan. Though trying to make the character more sympathetic to his readers by introducing glimpses into her past via conversations between a reporter and her friends/business associates, I found most of these not revealing enough or good enough to justify her behavior.

Further in the novel Mr. Fox begins to incorporate a romance between Emely Donnovan and one of the kidnappers. This smacks of Stockholm Syndrome, an apparently paradoxical psychological phenomenon in which hostage express empathy and have positive feelings towards their captors, sometimes to the point of defending them. These feelings are generally considered irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by the victims, who essentially mistake a lack of abuse from their captors for an act of kindness. Unfortunately because I did not care for Emely Donnovan nor for her kidnapper, the introduction of a romance aspect to this novel did not work for me.

This might have had a chance with me if it was written as a murder mystery novel where she was killed off and they had to solve the crime. But as it stands just not my cup of tea.

Quote of the Week

When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. 
~Author Unknown

In loving memory of Nala she was not just a dog she was an amazing and important member of my sister's family. My wish for her is to be lying on her own comfy couch in heaven.

Quote of the Week

I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day.  When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon.  ~Author Unknown

Review of The Woman Who Heard Color by Kelly Jones

Continuing in my theme of the things that will inspire us to pick up particular books I present The Woman who Heard Color. I saw this particular book on my local library’s “New” shelf and was immediately intrigued by the title. I was a bit confused by the cover art thinking this would be a romance novel, which it is not. Once I read the back cover I was hooked. I love historical fiction. Especially if it is historical fiction that is well done. This is most definitely one of those books.

This is a beautiful novel about creativity, passion, and a woman who would do anything to prevent the destruction of art. Hanna Schmid flees the family farm in Bavaria for a more exciting life in Munich in 1900, working as a housekeeper for the Fleischmanns, who own an art gallery. Hanna admires the artwork constantly moving in and out of the Fleischmann home, and her love for the colorful is intensified by a neurological condition, synesthesia, that enables hear to actually hear color and see music (hence the title of the book). There are always artists coming and going at the Fleischmann house, and when serving dinner one evening, Hanna meets Wassily Kandinsky — a man who would one day become “her artist.”

Kelly Jones tells Hanna’s story over a period of decades, beginning with her bonding with Moses Fleischmann over art, their eventual marriage, and their success as art dealers, and following her through the world wars. Much of the book is set during the Nazi party’s rise to power, setting the stage for what would become World War II. Through Hanna’s eyes, we see Germany’s economy fall apart, how Hitler’s promises of prosperity garnered him support, and how swiftly Hanna’s life fell apart when the Jewish businesses were targeted.

But the focus of The Woman Who Heard Color is on the art. Jones moves the story back and forth from the past to the present, via conversations between Hanna’s 82 year old daughter and Lauren O’Farrell, an “art detective” who makes it her mission to retrieve invaluable works stolen by the Nazis and flashbacks to Hanna living her story.

My Review:

This was an enthralling read that captured my attention immediately. I loved learning more about the art of those years and was riveted by Hanna’s attempts to save what art she could from Hitler’s purge of the “modern” arts.

Jones does a great job enabling readers to feel the tension that built up in Germany prior to WWII, and showing the lasting effects on one family made it all the more heartbreaking. Though the impact of power on art and the passion for preserving creativity are at the forefront, The Woman Who Heard Color is also a story about relationships and how sometimes history conceals the truth. The Woman Who Heard Color is a must-read for fans of historical fiction set during WWII and for those who are as passionate about art as its main character.

Review of Beauty Dates the Beast by Jessica Sims

There are many things that will inspire us to pick up a particular book and read it. It can be an amazing cover and/or title; a recommendation from a trusted source; the fact that it is one of your favorite authors; or just simply a great teaser of a back cover or flyleaf. Beauty Dates the Beast was a combination of several of these things. The cover art is appealing and the title a nice twist on a beloved fairytale. Then I turned it over and read this:

WANTED
Single human female to join charming, wealthy, single male were-cougar for a night of romantic fun—and maybe more.

Me: The tall, sensuous, open-minded leader of my clan.

You: A deliciously curvy virgin who’s intimately familiar with what goes bump in the night. Must not be afraid of a little tail. Prefer a woman who’s open to exploring her animal nature. Interest in nighttime walks through the woods a plus.

My turn-ons include protecting you from the worst the supernatural world has to offer.

Ready for an adventure? Give me a call.

Vampires and doppelgangers need not apply.

Ok call me intrigued! I mean seriously who can resist a hot paranormal shifter romance with fun and laughter included?!

My Review:

If you are looking for a fun, light, fast read this one is pretty good. I just wish that the promise of the back cover was realized throughout the book. Towards the end of the book, some of the heroine's choices don't make sense with the way her character is presented at the beginning of the book. Also, a few dark things happen at the end of the book that seem like they should matter more to the characters than is portrayed by the author, and the ending seems a bit abrupt.

Personally I feel some editing assistance might have been helpful here. I realize this is the first of a series and my hope is that these issues will be addressed and cleaned up in the subsequent novels. That being said, this is a promising first effort and I will read the next installment.

Quote of the Week

The proper behavior all through the holiday season is to be drunk.  This drunkenness culminates on New Year's Eve, when you get so drunk you kiss the person you're married to.  ~P.J. O'Rourke

Quote of the Week

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.
  ~Laura Ingalls Wilder