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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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Customer Comments
The Literacy Advocate has commented on (5) products
Stepbrother Mine
by
Opal Carew
The Literacy Advocate
, August 11, 2015
A FORBIDDEN FANTASY BECOMES REALITY IN STEPBROTHER, MINE I read this book in three separate e-books as an electronic serial title. Stepbrother Mine begins with Dana, a dedicated college student with aspirations for grad school, essentially being cut off by her mother and desperate for financial support. She decides to follow her best friend's advice and put herself up for "contract" on a website for rich men looking to purchase a no-strings-attached sexual experience with a virgin. Dana expects to get $50,000 out of this enterprise, but she's shocked to learn that her contract has been bought by none other than her stepbrother, a man whom she had an unforgettable teenage crush on and who, ten years her senior, disappeared from her life without a word after having become her best friend, protector, and confidante. We are introduced to stepbrother Mason in a rather awkward experience with one of his many subs; he has become bored with all of them, he tells us, even though he has a bevy of submissive beauties in his life on a regular basis, all of whom know and seem unconcerned that he sleeps with the others routinely. Mason, when surprising Dana at an arranged weekend tryst (after buying her contract), immediately falls back into the role of the honorable and heroic older stepbrother. He is unable to resist Dana's efforts to cajole him into a sexual relationship, but he tells her that he wants to take things slowly. I liked these characters, and looked forward to seeing how Dana and Mason's relationship progressed. I was not impressed with Mason's behavior during his first appearance, and found his descriptions of his social and sex life to be unappealing. The alternating points of view are a big plus, allowing us to hear both Dana and Mason's perspectives. Part one is a solid start to an interesting three-part serial novel, and I'm convinced by Ms. Carew of the chemistry that her characters have together, and the emotions that run deep between them. The 66-page length of the first of three e-books (which make up the entire print book) had me anxious to read part two to see if Mason and Dana could find enough common ground to build a relationship (hopefully without the sub club!). Parts two and three continue Dana and Mason's story. Dana struggles to reconcile her desire for Mason with his ambivalent behaviors; he wants Dana, but he constantly vacillates between his wish to make her his and his need to break things off with her for appearances' sake. He believes she will be shunned by everyone in their social circles, and become the victim of vicious gossip and backstabbing. Dana does seem to be the passive sort; although honest, she finds herself lacking the confidence to claim Mason, and often falls into emotional, tear-filled moods. The characterization of Mason did not effectively reconcile the two halves of Mason's personality; his Dom persona and his loving, protective older brother nature did not come together as a single personality. Despite the unevenness of the characters' behaviors, and a possibly too-heavy reliance on the sex scene included at the end of the novel, I did feel invested in these characters; I admired their honesty, courage, and commitment to each other. The strength of the bond of Dana and Mason's relationship with each other allowed me to be on board for their journey, anxious for them to find their HEA. In the end, I was not disappointed! Those romance readers who enjoy edgy behavior, taboo themes, BDSM play, and steamy sex scenes are sure to find a lot to enjoy in STEPBROTHER, MINE. **I was granted a complimentary copy of STEPBROTHER, MINE by St. Martin's Griffin in exchange for my honest review.**
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Brown Eyed Girl
by
Lisa Kleypas
The Literacy Advocate
, August 11, 2015
A LONG-AWAITED TRAVIS FAMILY NOVEL: JOE FINALLY GETS HIS STORY! This fourth Travis Family novel almost didn’t happen; the author indicated on her website that she had intended to leave the Travises as a trilogy of stories. Thanks to Lisa Kleypas’ listening to her fans, she was persuaded to write this book to tell the story of the last single Travis sibling, Joe, who’d been seriously injured in a boating accident with brother Jack when we last left the Travises at the end of Smooth-Talking Stranger. Six years have passed since the last book was written, and as Brown-Eyed Girl begins, years have also passed. Joe has healed from his accident, the Travis family patriarch Churchill has passed away, and Joe’s brothers and sister have married and begun their families, all of them becoming parents. We are treated to glimpses of Gage and Liberty, Jack and Ella, and a very touching scene with Hardy, as he anxiously awaits news of Haven and their first baby, when pregnancy and delivery complications threaten the lives of the ones he loves most. Against this backdrop, Joe meets wedding planner Avery Crosslin, who mistakes him for an employee, rather than a relative of the man whose wedding she has been hired to plan. Sparks fly, and there is major chemistry between Avery, who believes that there is a happily-ever-after for everyone but herself, and Joe, who has been burned by love before and is now sure and steady regarding whom he wants and his ability to commit. Their courtship is full of twists and turns: undeniable attraction, Avery’s attempts to deny the significance of her feelings for Joe and her fear of rejection, leading to her pretense that she can keep their relationship to a light affair, the involvement of her close friends (her employees) who provide many comical and serious moments, and through it all, Joe’s steady, reassuring presence in her life, as he waits for Avery to realize, as he already knows, that they belong together. I was thrilled to see Joe finally get his own story, and the conclusion of Brown-Eyed Girl is Lisa Kleypas at her best, weaving a touching, satisfying, mature romance between a strong yet vulnerable heroine, and a sexy, charming alpha male hero who knows exactly who he is and what he wants. Avery’s friends offer terrific potential for yet another sequel….and there is one love-hate relationship among her staff which this reader would love to read more about! Here’s hoping that Miss Kleypas agrees! If I had one wish granted here, it would be to have the ability to hear Joe’s point-of-view directly. All of the Travis family novels are written from the perspective of the female protagonists. While I greatly admire Miss Kleypas’ ability to depict strong, independent, worthy females, I also long to hear the voices of the male protagonists she writes. The Travis men are among my favorites in all romance genres, and my only ungranted wish in this marvelous series is that we’ve never been able to hear what the men are thinking, only what their women hear or observe. Since it’s been years since we’ve had a Travis story, and Avery is completely new to the family, I felt a sense of loss in not being able to hear and experience more from inside the Travis inner circle. It’s a tribute to Miss Kleypas that she’s created characters that her readers have missed so much! SERIES READING ORDER: 1. Sugar Daddy: Liberty & Gage 2. Blue-Eyed Devil: Haven & Hardy 3. Smooth Talking Stranger: Ella & Jack 4. Brown-Eyed Girl: Avery & Joe
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Asking for It
by
Lilah Pace
The Literacy Advocate
, June 04, 2015
A SEXY, GROWN-UP STORY, FILLED WITH HEART, HEAT, AND LONGING, FOR THE OPEN-MINDED READER ASKING FOR IT is a thoughtful, provocative erotic romance about the deepest secrets and desires of two damaged souls. Vivienne and Jonah, both scarred by their pasts, share the same sexual fantasy and should be perfect for each other...if their pasts don't ruin their opportunity for happiness. Jonah and Vivienne grabbed me by the heart; their story is heartbreaking, yet it offers hope for the sequel which I cannot WAIT to get my hands on! Theirs is an unflinchingly honest, painful look at what makes a person tick on a sensual level....and a profound look at the ability to take ownership of one's identity and issues, and reach out for that elusive happily-after-after. I admit to being very pleasantly surprised by ASKING FOR IT...its mature candor, its elegant treatment of the very provocative subject of Vivienne and Jonah's shared fantasy, and its fresh portrayal of these two very likeable characters. Jonah and Vivienne are so well developed that I found myself understanding their choices, completely invested in them, and quite desperately hoping that they can find their way to a shared future. ASKING FOR IT is a sexy, grown-up, scorcher of a story, filled with heart, heat, and longing!
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One Wish
by
Robyn Carr
The Literacy Advocate
, April 20, 2015
ANOTHER WARM, CHARMING ROMANCE IN THUNDER POINT Robyn Carr's books are "comfort food" for the romance reader. I have purchased every book that Robyn has published; of course, I have my favorites, so some are better than others for me. ONE WISH is a solid entry in the THUNDER POINT series and although I preferred The Chance and The Homecoming, I still thoroughly enjoyed this charming story of high school social studies teacher Troy Headly, on the rebound after being rejected by Iris McKinley, and Grace Dillon, the owner of a lovely little floral shop who has not told anyone in town about her past as a world-famous young Olympic figure skater. Troy is a charismatic character; in fact, he's what any gal would love to bring home to mom and dad, despite his recent heartbreak. Grace, too, is an extremely likeable heroine, though she's vulnerable and carries a lot of emotional baggage caused by circumstances surrounding her decision to leave professional figure skating. Troy and Grace, strongly attracted to each other, gradually begin a relationship which morphs from friendship to "friends with benefits," and rather quickly turns into a deeper closeness than either of them expected to find so soon. Troy steps up to the plate with Grace very quickly; despite his former serious interest in Iris, as soon as he realizes that Grace's feelings for him are real, he gets over his former crush in lightning speed. Miss Carr's strength lies in her ability to write characters who touch the hearts of her readers, and ONE WISH is no exception. Although the narrative relies too heavily on monologue to establish Troy and Grace's relationship and growing closeness (they spend a bit too much time giving lengthy descriptions of their pasts, their interests, and their intentions, and as I reader I'd have much preferred to see many of these speeches presented as action or plot rather than monologue), there is still no denying that I cared for these characters and was with them each step of the way as they made their way through more than one challenge (no spoilers here!) to find their way to each other and to their HEA. Was it predictable? Absolutely; even some of their crises were clichéd...but I don't care, because I have fallen in love with Thunder Point, just as I did with the Virgin River Series before it, and I look forward to every story. Thus, 4 stars for me. What's to love in ONE WISH? The scenes with Al and Ray Anne; their romance is so heartfelt and so full of promise and appreciation that it made this book better for me. It's always a pleasure when Miss Carr brings back favorite characters in her series. We hear from Cooper and Sara, Scott and Peyton, Seth and Iris, and the "golden girls" of Thunder Point who gather for their occasional "wine and whine" session! We are also introduced to a new character whose story tugs at a reader's heart...Ray Anne's cousin's daughter Ginger, who has been through two crushing heartbreaks and is sent to Thunder Point by her distraught parents who are praying that "Aunt Ray Anne" can help Ginger find the will to live again. Ginger is one of the most compelling characters Carr has written, and I can't wait to see her journey. ONE WISH also includes a visit from Virgin River series characters Denny and Becca, and a mention of the other folks in Virgin River, as Troy talks about potentially travelling that way to see some acquaintances who share his love of outdoor activities and sports...dare we hope, Miss Carr? Finally, the end of the book takes us to a special wedding (we knew it was coming; not Troy/Grace) at which a number of our Thunder Point friends meet the extended family of one of our other beloved Thunder Point characters...which sets up the next story very nicely...but no hints here! I will say that I am truly looking forward to the next storyline; it sounds like it could be one of Carr's best. Robyn Carr is my #1 "feel-good" read! AUDIOPHILES: I HIGHLY recommend the audiobook narration (I purchase the ones I want to re-"read" from Audible.com, but they are all also produced in audio CD versions carried by many public libraries). I've listened to each title in the series; they're narrated by the incomparable Therese Plummer, who brings every character to life. And if you haven't read the VIRGIN RIVER series, RUN to your book provider and find it! For a list of the correct Virgin River series reading order, please click on my name (above) and see my review of the first book, titled VIRGIN RIVER; for me, it's Miss Carr's finest book. THUNDER POINT SERIES READING ORDER (this series is best read in order): 1. The Wanderer - retired Army pilot (Hank) Cooper & pilot Sara Dupre 2. The Newcomer -- Deputy Sheriff Mac McCain & waitress Gina James 3. The Hero -- coach Spencer Lawson & single mom Devon McAllister 4. The Chance -- auto mechanic Eric Gentry & FBI agent Laine Carrington 5. The Promise -- Dr. Scott Grant & PA Peyton Lacoumette 6. The Homecoming -- Deputy Sheriff Seth Sileski & HS guidance counselor Iris McKinley 7. One Wish -- HS teacher Troy Headly & florist Grace Dillon 8. A New Hope --(expectedly, Ginger's story) to be published 6/30/15 9. Wildest Dreams -- expected publication date 8/25/15 **I received a complimentary copy of ONE WISH from MIRA in exchange for my honest review, but I've already bought my own copy to put on my Robyn Carr shrine -- I mean-- shelf!**
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Night Circus
by
Erin Morgenstern
The Literacy Advocate
, February 23, 2013
A lyrical, lush, and breathtaking treatment of the power of love and its ability to impact even the most determined destiny. Rarely have I lived inside two main characters the way I coexisted with Celia and Marco, as I clung to the hope that love might conquer all...absolutely magical.
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