Review – Wishing Cross Station by February Grace

July 16, 2015July 15, 2015 ~ Erika K ~ 2 Comments

Genre: Fantasy / Romance
My Rating: *** (3 of 5 stars)

***NOTE: I was provided a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***

Library page Keigan Wainwright is sent to pick up a donation of books for his school’s collection, and gets a little more than he bargained for. Among the books is a hand-bound leather volume that the donor asks him to hold onto until he can learn more about it. What he discovers about the book is hard to believe, but with it tucked safely in his backpack, Keigan finds himself at Wishing Cross Station in the middle of the night waiting for a train to take him back in time.

What follows is a story of star-crossed lovers, Keigan from 2015, and Marigold from 1880. By reading the book that turns out to be a station master’s journal, Keigan learns that if he tries to return to his time with Marigold in tow, she will die on the train. If he stays, he may just disappear.

At only 153 pages, it is a quick read, but I found myself completely drawn into the past as I read it. The book is described as a bittersweet love story, and that’s exactly what you will get. If that’s something you would enjoy, then definitely give Wishing Cross Station a try.

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A Magical Read – Imaginary Things by Andrea Lochen

April 22, 2015April 21, 2015 ~ Erika K ~ 2 Comments

Imaginary Things
by Andrea Lochen

Rating **** (4 of 5 stars)

***NOTE: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review***

Normally, books categorized as women’s fiction aren’t my favorites. The premise for this one sounded so intriguing though, that I wanted to give it a try as soon as I’d read the description. After losing her job in Milwaukee, Anna Jennings and her four-year old son, David, return to her grandparents home in the rural Wisconsin town of Salsburg to make a new start. As they settle into their new home, Anna is surprised and startled to find that she can actually see David’s imaginary friends, two dinosaurs that follow him almost everywhere and act as his playmates and protectors. Her grandparents’ neighbor, Jamie Presswood, who used to play with Anna when she would visit as a child, has also returned to Salsburg to care for his ailing mother. While Jamie seems intent on keeping his distance at first, the two eventual manage to resume their friendship, and start something more. Not sure if she is going crazy or if what she can see is really her son’s imagination, Anna struggles with her fear of not being a good enough mother to David, and of not being good enough to be loved again after her failed relationship with David’s father.

This story was magical, suspenseful, and heartwarming. Ms. Lochen has done a wonderful job of inserting fantastical things into mundane situations in a way that makes you feel that they utterly belong. The characters were so real, that I almost felt as thought I knew each of them personally by the end of the story. Anyone who is a fan of women’s fiction or sweet romance novels, or has ever tried to raise a child will love this book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andrea Lochen is a University of Michigan MFA graduate. Her first novel, The Repeat Year (Berkley, 2013), won a Hopwood Award for the Novel prior to its publication. She has served as fiction editor of The Madison Review and taught writing at the University of Michigan. She currently teaches at the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha, where she was recently awarded UW Colleges Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

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A Matter of Grave Concern, by Brenda Novak

April 20, 2015 ~ Erika K ~ 7 Comments

A Matter of Grave Concern
by Brenda Novak

Audiobook, 9 CDs, Read by Michael Page

My Rating *** (3 of 5 stars)

I listened to this as an audiobook during my commute back and forth to work. I have to admit that Historical romance is not one of my preferred genres, and someone who enjoys romance novels might have a different opinion of this book. I was in the library one Saturday afternoon with my two girls and wanted to grab something to listen to in a hurry. The title caught my eye, and I skimmed the beginning of the blurb on the back. I read just enough to make me think it was an historical mystery, and not even paying attention to the author’s name (which I would have recognized) I took it and checked out. Driving in to work that first Monday morning after picking it up, it didn’t take long to realize what I had. I might have stopped listening if I’d had another book to listen to in the car, but since it was all that i had with me, I kept going.

The story is about a young woman named Abby who’s father is a surgeon at Aldersgate School of Medicine. She decides to help the college keep their students by providing a corpse for the required anatomy classes. This requires Abby to deal with a group of resurectionists, or body snatchers. Little does she know that one of the gang is not what he is pretending to be. Max Wilder has actually joined the gang of grave robbers in search of his half sister, Madeline, who has gone missing and was last seen in the company of the gang’s leader, Jack Hurtsill.

This story had it’s ups and downs. At times the characters thoughts and concerns seemed repetitive and almost silly. Should she or shouldn’t she give in to Max. Will he or won’t he tell Abby the truth. I know some of that is necessary to help build tension, but it seemed a bit much. I’m not sure how I would have felt in Abby’s position as Max revealed one secret after another, instead of coming clean up front. It also seemed that after spending the first 2/3 of the book searching for Madeline, her part of the story was wrapped up in a rush. It was interesting to hear about what colleges were willing to condone to get the corpses they needed for their students to study medicine, however, and there was enough danger, suspense, and intrigue to keep my attention.

All in all, this was not a bad story, but there was too much graphic sex for my taste. If you don’t mind that, or are willing to do a little skimming, then it might be worth a read.

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