She Reads Shorties

I have been horribly remiss in my She Reads Reviews.  I love this group of women, created and nurtured by authors who love books, I have discovered books I would have never read by being a member of the She Reads Blog Network.  I'm going to do some short bullet points to review these books.  Quick and dirty is going to do the trick this time! The February choice was written by She Reads co-creator Ariel Lawhon. 

Written By:  Ariel Lawhon

Published By:  Doubleday Books January 28, 2014

Length:  304 pages

Source: Publisher/She Reads Book Club in exchange for an honest review

Set in 1930 New York Judge Joseph Crater goes missing, this fact is true.  What happened to Judge Crater is what makes this book so interesting. With his wife away in Maine and his current mistress, Ritzy, taking up much of his time, Judge Crater appears to have it all.  He's practically bought his way onto the high courts of New York, we learn all the dirty dealings of politics and gangsters of the time.

As the title infers three women play a role in the plot of this novel.

Judge Crater and his disappearance are real.  The fiction in this novel is that no one really knows what happened to him, and yet it must have been so much fun to create these scenarios for this book.

His wife is a survivor, but I didn't really like her all that much.  The maid thought she had it all figured out, how to help her hubby get ahead and then she learns the hard way how corrupt politics is.  The mistress is the most sympathetic of the characters, Ritzy is a good girl gone bad, and yet I still cheered her on and loved her pure gumption!

This book is fabulous!  Both the research and writing is so very well done. I felt completely immersed in the era of this book.  I love that it's a real life unsolved mystery, a hidden gem that Ariel found and created this wonderful piece of fiction with. Highly recommend and you won't be sorry.

March She Reads Selection:

 

Written By:  Sarah Addison Allen

Published By:  St. Martin's Press

Length:  296 pages

Source:  Publisher/She Reads Book Club in exchange for an honest review

Suley, Georgia, is home to Lost Lake Cottages and not much else. Which is why it's the perfect place for newly-widowed Kate and her eccentric eight-year-old daughter Devin to heal. Kate spent one memorable childhood summer at Lost Lake, had her first almost-kiss at Lost Lake, and met a boy named Wes at Lost Lake. It was a place for dreaming. But Kate doesn't believe in dreams anymore, and her Aunt Eby, Lost Lake's owner, wants to sell the place and move on. Lost Lake's magic is gone. As Kate discovers that time has a way of standing still at Lost Lake can she bring the cottages—and her heart—back to life? Because sometimes the things you love have a funny way of turning up again. And sometimes you never even know they were lost . . . until they are found. (goodreads)

I have to admit that I must be one of very few people that didn't love this book.  I had a very hard time getting into the book, and I sadly don't want to sway others opinions, so I'll just recommend visiting the She Reads page to view some other lovely reviews of this book. 

April is just around the corner, and while I can't yet share what the next book selection is...I'm reading it now...and wow I can't wait to share it with you!!!  It's a fabulous new book, and it's perfect for book lovers..........come back soon for the reveal!