THE SWEETHEART by Angelina Mirabella

I must say I was attracted to the novel, THE SWEETHEART (Simon and Schuster) by Angelina Mirabella when I saw the cover. The folks at Simon and Schuster did a swell job creating a catchy picture that didn’t quite tell you what the book was about, but certainly made you want to pick it up and take a look inside. I know I did. After I read a few pages, I have to say, holy moly, I didn’t see that coming! But I took the bait and I’m glad I did!

17-year old, Leonie Putzkammer is too tall, athletic and too pretty for her single daddy to raise alone in Philly. He knows it and so does she. One night he takes her to a professional men’s arena wrestling match and she falls in love with the sport, wondering if girls do that kind of thing. One thing leads to another and she’s accepted to Joe Pospisil’s School for Lady Grappling and on a train to the swamps in Florida. Leonie’s transformed into “Gorgeous Gwen Davies” and teamed up with “Screaming Mimi Hollander” and soon they’re stars on the ladies wrestling circuit. But being a headliner means being a “heel,” and that means being the one the fans hate, and all Gwen wants is to be loved.

THE SWEETHEART is about more than wrestling; it’s about growing up, making compromises, falling in love, finding inner confidence and learning to love yourself. It also highlights a time in history when women were torn between their hearts and dreams of succeeding in their careers. They couldn’t do both and were expected to quit the ring and become full-time wives and mothers.

THE SWEETHEART is written in second person which if you’re not familiar with the technique, may feel distant, as if there’s a wall between you and the action. Personally, it’s not my favorite, but I like to try different things.  Angelina Mirabella is an incredibly gifted writer, educated at a highly respected MFA program at Florida State University, by outstanding teachers including professor/author, Elizabeth Stuckey-French, whose quirky influence is not missed.

Check out Elizabeth’s novels, as well when you get a chance.                                                            http://www.elizabethstuckeyfrench.com

Keep reading and supporting your local book stores, libraries and authors my lovely chickadees. We love you for it! xx

Be sure to check out http://www.cindyroesel.com for more of my reviews and news about my novel, VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED.

It’s hard to believe THE SWEETHEART is Angelina’s debut novel. I look forward to reading more of her work. Have a wonderful week.

OF THINGS GONE ASTRAY – Book Giveaway – You can be a Winner!

“Mrs. Featherby had been having pleasant  dreams until she woke to discover the front of her house had vanished overnight.”

Sound a bit odd? Most definitely intriguing. It’s the opening sentence of Janina Matthewson’s debut novel, OF THINGS GONE ASTRAY(The Friday Project/HarperCollins). From there the book only gets stranger, but in a good way, sort of. The thing is, each character loses the very thing their life depends on. Methodically, chapter by chapter, each one experiences a significant loss.

Mrs. Featherby wakes up to the wind blowing in her face, sees the front of her house missing, while the regular activities of her neighborhood continue on. She calls the police to report it missing and then makes another call to the builder for repairs. Delia has lived and cared for her mother and has basically never left her home. But mom is getting better, so when she decides to venture out, she realizes she’s lost her sense of direction, as well as purpose. Robert goes to his office one day to find the building he worked in daily for six years, gone.

But at the same time, young Jake whose father brought him to London after his mother’s sudden death, finds himself attracted to other people’s lost things. Ironically, he may end up losing his most valuable possession, his relationship with his dad.

There are numerous characters in OF THINGS GONE ASTRAY, and I appreciated how Janine was able to weave and bring together their stories. Instead of searching for reasons to explain their losses, it was wonderful how the characters adjusted to their situations. Of course, much like in real life, some needed a little more time than others to accept the process. How many of us faced with such a traumatic situation would be paralyzed and unable to change? This novel was a bit of a nudge for me to look at my own life; the routines I tightly embrace and even the ruts I might be stuck in.

Janina Matthewson uses magical realism to tell this story. It’s a popular technique amongst fantasy writers today. Readers of Janina Matthewson’s novel, OF THINGS GONE ASTRAY will just have to trust me and pick up her wonderful novel for a beautiful whimsical experience of magic, unlike any other! Thank you, Janina for writing this modern fable!

TLC Book Tours gave me a copy to read and now I’m gifting that copy to a lucky reader of THOUGHTS on THIS ‘n THAT. You can win a copy OF THINGS GONE ASTRAY if you just leave a comment of something you lost in the past that you thought you couldn’t live without. Just leave your thoughts with your email above in the comment area. I’ll announce a winner Monday!

About Janina Matthewson

Janina Matthewson is a writer and trained actress from Christchurch, New Zealand. She now lives in London. Of Things Gone Astray is her first full-length novel.

Other tour stops with TLC Book Tours
Author Links: Website, Twitter
Buy: Amazon, Amazon Canada, B&N, IndieBound

 

The DRESS SHOP of DREAMS by Menna Van Praag

“That would look beautiful on you,” she’ll suggest gently. “Why don’t you try it on?”

Etta Sparks may send a young women into the dressing room with one of her lovely dresses, but what she’s providing is much more than a pretty frock. When a woman comes out and sees herself in the mirror, she rediscovers a lost piece of herself.

In THE DRESS SHOP OF DREAMS by Menna Van Praag, Etta raises her five-year old granddaughter, Cora after her parents are killed in a house fire under suspicious circumstances. While growing up, Cora’s determined to be a scientist like her parents were and says she’s going to “save the world.” She grows up, becomes a PhD, dedicating her life to science and sets out to discover the truth behind her parents deaths.

We have two different worlds merging within THE DRESS SHOP OF DREAMS. One is based in magical realism and dreams, the another with evidence based facts and what can be seen and verified. The question is, can the two coexist? Will the characters destined to be together, overcome the obstacles, real or imaginary, intent on keeping them apart?

THE DRESS SHOP OF DREAMS has many characters and complex plotlines. I needed to jot down notes, which was helpful for me. I found each character rich and  distinct, particularly Cora and Walt. Ultimately, the novel is a beautifully written fairy tale love story for adults.

FYI: I read on Goodreads that Menna’s inspiration for the location was a street she remembered growing up as a little girl in England – All Saints Passage. She found it “enchanting and magical.”  She loves wearing dresses and believes they can be “transformative.” She wears Karen Millen  http://www.karenmillen.com purchased at the Market Street shop in Cambridge. You too, can buy these delightful designs at better stores and boutiques. I’m heading out shopping once I post this.

Thank you to Netgalley http://www.netgalley.com and Ballantine Books http://www.BallantineBooks.com for providing a kindle copy for an honest review. You can go to http://www.mennavanpraag.com to read all about MENNA and feel free to check out http://www.cindyroesel.com for my reviews, as well as my novel.

THE DRESS SHOP OF DREAMS will be published December 30th. NOW is the perfect time to pre-order your copy on-line or at your local bookstore.

Best wishes for a blessed and healthy Holiday season to all my readers. xx